Picking a bedroom paint colour seems like one of the easiest decorating decisions to make, and yet you end up with 40 almost identical swatches, scratching your head about why they all look different on your wall. It is not the colour, but the undertone. Nail that and your bedroom will instantly feel relaxed, lasting and purposeful.
Bedroom colour families (and the mood they create)
Soft whites and warm neutrals
Perfect for a quick and easy spa-like update with a lovely tranquil feel. Instead of pure brilliant white, opt for creamy whites, warm off-whites or gentle beige tones.
Greige (grey + beige)
A dependable option for contemporary bedrooms due to its combination of warm and cool. It goes well with wood, black accents and soft textiles.
Muted greens
Sage green, olive and eucalyptus are calming, natural colours, perfect for bedrooms. These colours work beautifully with other earthy materials including oak, rattan and linen.
Dusty blues
Blue is calming, and pale blues that are a little greyer feel even more bedroom-friendly than bright or icy shades. These suit both traditional and contemporary styles. For Bedroom Renovations, contact //www.thekitchenrefurbishmentcompany.co.uk/bedroom-renovations/
Warm blush and clay tones
If you want something warmer while staying subtle, faded pinks, terracotta and clay tones are all lovely and can be very flattering, particularly under warm light.
Picking Your Undertones
Undertones are the colours hidden beneath the main one. Using grey as an example, a paint can be grey but lean towards green, blue, purple or brown in undertone.
Here’s how to spot them:
- Compare swatches side by side. When similar colours are put next to one another, undertones make an appearance.
- Check your room’s natural light. North-facing rooms can appear colder, while warm colours can be enlivened in south-facing rooms.
- Notice what is already in the room, particularly flooring, bed linen or furniture like a dark-grey wardrobe, as these can all emphasise undertones.
- Test paint on the wall. Too many people skip this step. Use a sample board and look at it in the morning, afternoon and evening.
- Match the lighting temperature. A warm bulb will make a neutral look creamier, while a cool one will make it look starker.
The takeaway
The best bedroom paint colour is the one that works in your light, with your belongings, and evokes the mood you want. Choose a colour family (warm neutrals, muted greens or blues, off-whites or warm blush tones), then swatch it in your room and check for undertones. A bit of testing now means you won’t have to repaint later.