Decorating Guides
Dreaming in Color: 10 Bedrooms Across the Spectrum
Prefer cool, relaxing shades in the bedroom? Or like to spice it up with warmer hues? Here are 10 colors to consider
2. Orange crush. “Orange is a fun, high-energy color, so it’s a terrific hue to wake up to in the morning,” Ott says. In this Toronto bedroom, both the walls and the built-in cabinets are covered in a bold shade of orange.
Get a similar look with Ember’s Glow from Mythic Paint.
More: Dreaming in Color: 6 Sensational Orange Bedrooms
More: Dreaming in Color: 6 Sensational Orange Bedrooms
3. Mellow yellow. The color yellow “reminds me of happy, idyllic days and makes me feel optimistic for the future,” Ott says. “If you have similar positive associations with yellow, try using it in your bedroom to help you get revved up each morning for the day ahead.”
If you’re a fan of wall coverings, an interesting print on a bold yellow background is a great choice for an accent wall, as seen in this kid’s bedroom.
If you’re a fan of wall coverings, an interesting print on a bold yellow background is a great choice for an accent wall, as seen in this kid’s bedroom.
Get a similar look using paint with Lemon Pepper from PPG Pittsburgh Paints.
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Eye-Opening Yellow Bedrooms
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Eye-Opening Yellow Bedrooms
4. Radiant red. “Bold red is an attention-getting hue, so it’s a great color for those who need assistance getting revved up and energized,” Ott says. “Keep in mind, though, that red has been shown to raise blood pressure slightly as well as increase stress and anxiety levels, so it’s not a good color for those who need their bedroom to be a mellow sanctuary.”
The bedroom here harnesses the attention-getting power of red on an accent wall. Using a bold hue in a few places throughout a room creates harmony and balance.
The bedroom here harnesses the attention-getting power of red on an accent wall. Using a bold hue in a few places throughout a room creates harmony and balance.
5. Glorious gray. “I love gray for its versatility. You can go light or dark, warm or cool, and still pair the neutral with just about any other color,” Ott says. “Cool grays look fantastic combined with warm wood tones, or go for a warmer gray and add in some black, white and/or metallic accents for a clean, sophisticated vibe.”
As seen in this bedroom, dark grays create a nice background for interesting artwork and textiles. If you have a similar setup and keep the remaining walls and ceiling light-hued, your accent wall will really stand out.
As seen in this bedroom, dark grays create a nice background for interesting artwork and textiles. If you have a similar setup and keep the remaining walls and ceiling light-hued, your accent wall will really stand out.
Get a similar look with Sealskin from Sherwin-Williams.
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Gorgeous Gray Bedrooms
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Gorgeous Gray Bedrooms
6. Nuanced neutrals. “For those of you who just aren’t a fan of bold, intense color but want to move beyond white and beige, I’ve pulled together some of my favorite not-beige neutrals that I think look fantastic in bedrooms,” Ott says.
Mauve is a great nonbeige neutral. The trick to making this color appear sophisticated rather than sugary is to go with a shade that has a good amount of neutralizing gray or brown in it, such as in the bedroom here.
Mauve is a great nonbeige neutral. The trick to making this color appear sophisticated rather than sugary is to go with a shade that has a good amount of neutralizing gray or brown in it, such as in the bedroom here.
Get a similar look with Beguiling Mauve from Sherwin-Williams
More: Dreaming in Color: 5 Fab Not-Beige Bedroom Neutrals
More: Dreaming in Color: 5 Fab Not-Beige Bedroom Neutrals
7. Bold in black. While true black is actually the absence of color, it’s a shade that creates instant drama in a bedroom. “Use black to set off your headboard wall. It makes a great backdrop for artwork or other decorative elements,” Ott says. “Just make sure that whatever you hang on the wall contrasts with the dark background; otherwise the object will get lost against the black.”
Get a similar look with Black Bay from Dunn-Edwards.
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Beautiful Black Bedrooms
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Beautiful Black Bedrooms
8. Green with envy. “Green runs the gamut from cooler, blue-tinged jade greens to warmer, citrusy yellow-greens,” Ott says. “Cooler greens tend to make us feel relaxed and soothed — conducive to getting a good night’s sleep. Warmer greens, especially the bolder hues, can help us wake up and feel more energized.”
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Gorgeously Green Bedrooms
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Gorgeously Green Bedrooms
Green paint picks for bedrooms (clockwise from top left):
1. Glacial Green 21-32 from Pratt & Lambert
2. Soft Green 066-2 from Mythic Paint
3. Timid Absinthe 6003-5B from Valspar
4. Celery Ice 410E-2 from Behr
5. Pear Green 2028-40 from Benjamin Moore
6. Green Jeans KM3335-3 from Kelly-Moore Paints
7. Eco Green SW6739 from Sherwin-Williams
8. Arsenic 214 from Farrow & Ball
1. Glacial Green 21-32 from Pratt & Lambert
2. Soft Green 066-2 from Mythic Paint
3. Timid Absinthe 6003-5B from Valspar
4. Celery Ice 410E-2 from Behr
5. Pear Green 2028-40 from Benjamin Moore
6. Green Jeans KM3335-3 from Kelly-Moore Paints
7. Eco Green SW6739 from Sherwin-Williams
8. Arsenic 214 from Farrow & Ball
9. True blue. “Soft blues with a touch of green or gray remind us of the sea and sky and tend to bring in a tranquil vibe,” Ott says. “Bolder blues, such as aqua, turquoise and cobalt, have a fun, youthful vibrancy and work well in modern bedrooms. Deep, dark shades of navy are cool and elegant — and play well with almost any other color and with all styles of decor.”
More: Dreaming in Color: 10 Beautiful Blue Bedrooms
More: Dreaming in Color: 10 Beautiful Blue Bedrooms
Blue paint picks for bedrooms (clockwise from top left):
1. Dreamy Clouds 5002-5B from Valspar
2. Surf’s Up 042-3 from Mythic Paint
3. Goddess 252-2 from PPG Pittsburgh Paints
4. Sleepy Blue SW6225 from Sherwin-Williams
5. Tahoe KM3127-3 from Kelly-Moore Paints
6. Laguna Blue 2059-30 from Benjamin Moore
7. St. Giles Blue 280 from Farrow & Ball
8. Surfer 510D-5 from Behr
1. Dreamy Clouds 5002-5B from Valspar
2. Surf’s Up 042-3 from Mythic Paint
3. Goddess 252-2 from PPG Pittsburgh Paints
4. Sleepy Blue SW6225 from Sherwin-Williams
5. Tahoe KM3127-3 from Kelly-Moore Paints
6. Laguna Blue 2059-30 from Benjamin Moore
7. St. Giles Blue 280 from Farrow & Ball
8. Surfer 510D-5 from Behr
10. Purple passion. “Purported to be a calming hue, purple is an excellent color choice for a bedroom,” Ott says. “Darker, cooler purples can feel a bit heavy in a space, so they need to be offset with a good amount of natural or artificial light. You can warm up cooler purple hues with a healthy dose of light to medium wood tones.”
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Enchanting Purple Bedrooms
More: Dreaming in Color: 8 Enchanting Purple Bedrooms
Purple paint picks for bedrooms (clockwise from top left):
1. Purple Haze KM3065-1 from Kelly-Moore Paints
2. Fragrant Lilac 4001-5B from Valspar
3. Lavender Lining 006-4 from Mythic Paint
4. Violet Petal 1382 from Benjamin Moore
5. Painted Sunset 29-9 from Pratt & Lambert
6. Purple Rhapsody 244-6 from PPG Pittsburgh Paints
7. Blueberry Popover 610D-5 from Behr
8. Vesper Violet SW6542 from Sherwin-Williams
More
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Browse bedroom decor in every color
1. Purple Haze KM3065-1 from Kelly-Moore Paints
2. Fragrant Lilac 4001-5B from Valspar
3. Lavender Lining 006-4 from Mythic Paint
4. Violet Petal 1382 from Benjamin Moore
5. Painted Sunset 29-9 from Pratt & Lambert
6. Purple Rhapsody 244-6 from PPG Pittsburgh Paints
7. Blueberry Popover 610D-5 from Behr
8. Vesper Violet SW6542 from Sherwin-Williams
More
How to Add Color if You’re Color-Shy
Myth-Buster: The Right Way to Test Paint Colors
Find professional painters in your area
Browse bedroom decor in every color
The bedroom here achieves high impact with a raspberry hue on the walls. The white floral accents on the wall stand out against the hot-pink background in this fun bedroom. It’s wise to keep the palette simple with such a bold color dominating the room.
Here we offer Ott’s picks for colorful bedrooms, and links to even more ideas in every color category.