Ready for a bedroom redo? Refreshing your walls with a coat of paint should be right at the top of your priority list — it's a surefire way to make the whole space look like new.
While you may have a general idea of what you'd like your new bedroom palette to be, it can be tricky to nail down the exact shade and saturation of the best wall paint to use. Besides, if you've ever picked out color swatches at the hardware store, you already know that the rainbow of paint possibilities extends well beyond just ROY G BIV!
We talked to a few of our favorite interior designers and color experts about what prospective painters should keep in mind as they decide on a new wall color, and also for some insight on their most recommended hues for showcasing a bedroom in its best (and most calming!) light. Make some space on your mood boards, and read on for the best designer-approved bedroom paint colors.
Note: The following responses have been condensed and edited for clarity.
Nicole Gibbons, Interior Designer and Clare Founder
"When it comes to choosing a paint color for bedrooms, understanding the vibe you want to create in the space is super important, and people are often very divided on this! If you love your blackout shades and want your space to feel dark and cozy, opt for deep, dramatic colors that will absorb light and keep your space feeling like a cozy cocoon. If you love waking up with the sun and prefer a bright, sunny bedroom, opt for soft colors that will reflect a lot of natural light and keep the space feeling bright and airy."
Nicole's Bedroom Color Picks
Erika Woelfel, Behr Color Expert
"While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to picking paint colors, there are many different factors to consider to ensure you’re happy with your refreshed space. First, consider what type of feeling you want to create within the room — are you hoping to promote rest and relaxation, infuse a sense of energy, or create a sophisticated look? It’s also important to know how natural light shines through your bedroom windows. Southern light tends to appear warmer, while northern light is cool and more shadowed."
Erika's Bedroom Color Picks
Douglas Graneto, Interior Designer and Founder of Douglas Graneto Design
"Similar to most rooms, when choosing a bedroom color, we want to think about what feeling this room hopes to encourage. For most of us, it’s a feeling of calm and serenity. Therefore, we tend to choose warm, soft tones for the master bedroom. When choosing for a child’s bedroom, we like to choose something cheerful that matches their personality and interests."
Douglas's Bedroom Color Picks
us.farrow-ball.com
"I like that this color has a subtle moodiness to it. It provides a rich backdrop for both feminine and masculine decoration."
benjaminmoore.com
"This is a versatile gray that works well with most colors, including warm beige tones … which can be hard to come by."
benjaminmoore.com
"Finding a pink can be tricky but this shade is not too pink and not too purple. It’s a delicate blend of both which works beautifully in a girl’s room."
Susan Bunting, Director of Marketing for Consumer Solutions at Datacolor
"Sample your potential colors throughout different areas of the bedroom being painted, and watch how the light changes and influences the color throughout the day ... Our data is pulled based on what objects, samples, and inspiration colors people are measuring with our ColorReader device and app. It then matches those inspirations to paint colors across all major brands."
Susan's Bedroom Color Picks
benjaminmoore.com
"We are seeing blues trending in our data. Blue can be a great bold choice for a bedroom as it still has a very calming tone to it. It brings the space to life and is a great background to incorporate other pops of colors with white accents."
Sue Wadden, Color and Trend Expert at Sherwin-Williams
"A bedroom is space where you spend lots of time, and should be a place of relaxation. Painting your walls with neutral and muted colors will help make your space feel more calming."
Sue's Bedroom Color Picks
sherwin-williams.com
"I love blue shades in bedrooms because they invoke a sense of calm that helps one relax at the end of the day. Aleutian SW 6241 is a dusky gray-blue that does just that."
sherwin-williams.com
"Rosy Outlook SW 6316 is a happy and positive color that is great for a bedroom, because it’s calming while still showing some personality."
sherwin-williams.com
"For those who prefer a blank canvas, Dover White SW 6385 is a longstanding popular white. It’s perfect for bedrooms because it’s on the creamier and richer side, creating a warm and welcoming appearance."
Natalie Kraiem, Interior Designer
"For master bedrooms, I prefer to choose soothing colors that calm the senses and relax the mind ... Try to go with shades that are muted and not overly bright. I like to add metallic accents and lots of texture and patterns of the same shade throughout the furnishings to add depth to the space."
Natalie's Bedroom Color Picks
benjaminmoore.com
"China White is a gorgeous shade of taupe/beige. It is very calming and light at the same time. It goes very well against cream and other light elements."
benjaminmoore.com
"Classic Gray is pretty when you are looking for the perfect gray that is still light and airy. I love to use this shade, when the client is looking for a neutral gray, that is not overpowering."
benjaminmoore.com
"Beacon Gray is a beautiful soft blue, that is calming and relaxing as well. Blue is my go-to color for most rooms. You will never get tired of this shade."
Read More:
We Slept on These Bed Pillows for a Month to Find the Best of the Best
Can't Catch Those Zzz's? Here's How to Sleep Better, Starting Tonight
Channel Your Inner Marie Kondo With These Genius Home-Organization Products
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
