Selecting paint colours for bedroom schemes
Bedrooms can provide one of the most atmospheric areas of the home. Dedicated to rest and relaxation, these spaces should be a sanctuary of peace to retreat to at the end of each day. More than any other setting, bedrooms offer the opportunity to combine colour with fabrics, patterns and textural elements for a scheme that is both comforting and cohesive, with a wealth of character.
Discover inspiring bedroom paint colours and design ideas to inform your scheme…
Choose soft blue colours for a calming bedroom
With their connotations of light and space, blue shades are some of the best colours for a bedroom. Their inherent peaceful quality makes them well-suited for creating a calming feel. Bright or pale blues can sometimes be considered cold. However, by selecting softer, muted blues with warm undertones, it is possible to create a space that feels truly comforting.
Blue Gum is a warm and traditional blue that has beautiful confidence without being too intense. Emphasise its soothing qualities by using it across walls and woodwork for a wraparound effect. Coordinate with delicate pink accessories and plush textures to complement the warm pigments contained within this colour.
Walls: Blue Gum
Cornicing: Plaster I
For a moodier, more introspective atmosphere, BTWN Dog & Wolf is a smart, French mid-tone blue. Its complex pigmentation means it pairs well with reds – incorporated through artwork, fabrics or colour accents – for an enticing scheme.
Alternatively, accompany BTWN Dog & Wolf with understated, natural tones to create a relaxing bedroom scheme. Use Stone I on the ceiling alongside light wood and a soft neutral carpet. Add a contemporary touch with geometric patterns and dark grey accents.
Walls: BTWN Dog & Wolf
Ceiling: Stone I
Trim: Lead III
Skirting: BTWN Dog & Wolf
Discover our complete palette of blue shadesAdd a contrasting accent to create a focal point in large bedrooms
As personal spaces, bedrooms provide the chance to utilise impactful colours. Add an intriguing contrast to your overall colour palette and interior design with a bold colour scheme.
If you’re looking to introduce a strong colour contrast, consider where you will create emphasis to draw the eye. Colour blocking allows you to establish a focal point that will anchor your scheme – ideal for more spacious bedrooms.
Monochromatic pairings are a timeless option for creating a chic and sophisticated contrast. Rather than a stark black and white pairing, use the deep grey Sharkskin alongside the complementary light grey, Slate IV. Containing a dash of violet for added warmth, Sharkskin coordinates with grey fabrics to produce a dark focal point in the middle of the space. This combination contrasts with the surrounding Slate walls and ceiling for an overall sense of balance.
Ceiling: Slate II
Wall: Slate IV
Colour block: Sharkskin
If your style favours more vibrant, statement shades, consider a rich deep green like Sencha. Redolent of nature, greens have a reassuring quality that works well in bedrooms where a restful ambience is desired. Use this strong shade across walls and woodwork for a cocooning effect. Introduce the warm yellow, Pollen II, on the ceiling for a contrasting focal point.
Walls: Sencha
Cornicing: Pollen II
Discover more ideas for using light and dark coloursIntroduce panelling in small bedrooms for added character
Avoid trying to counteract the natural character of smaller bedrooms by attempting to make the space feel larger. Instead, harness their innate atmosphere for a more coherent finish. This can mean using rich and earthy colours to create an intimate and cocooning space.
Add to the cocooning feel with layered soft materials and wood panelling. Panelling enables you to add another element of texture to the space, enhancing the character of smaller bedrooms.
Embrace the sumptuous deep purple, Pontefract, across panelled walls, woodwork and radiators to envelop the small space in its elegant warmth. To soften this intense shade of purple, opt for a complementary white paint with pink pigments – Eau de Violette. Use a combination of inviting materials like delicate pink linen, velvet and rattan to bring depth to the scheme.
Ceiling: Eau de Violette
Main Wall & Radiator: Pontefract
Door & Radiator: Pontefract
Consider balancing stronger shades with softer, coordinating paint colours in a small bedroom. Beetlenut is a rich and exotic hue that can provide an attractive bedroom accent wall. Pair with the muted peach, Desert Rose, on the upper wall, and complementary linen bedding.
Upper Wall: Plaster V
Panelling: Beetlenut
Side table: Grenache
Use muted pinks to add gentle warmth to your bedroom
Soft, comforting and redolent of nature, muted pinks have been used in interior design for generations. These shades are esteemed for their ability to instil a scheme with gentle, pleasant warmth. They are ideal bedroom colours, teaming beautifully with soft furnishings. Pink bedroom walls also bring an air of opulence alongside their calm and graceful qualities.
The harmonious colour pairing of pink with complementary warm neutrals offers real elegance. Use the diluted rose colour, Ruse, alongside Stone II and Topi, with pink and neutral textural elements. Pure white accents on the bedding and lighting provide a touch of contrast. These warm tones work especially well in north-facing bedrooms which lack the abundance of natural light.
Walls: Ruse
Shutters: Topi
Ceiling: Stone II
Due to its natural associations, pink can be paired with green to evoke the tranquillity of nature. Use pink and green in combination for a scheme inspired by biophilic design. Combine Rouge II with the muted green, The Botanist, for a subtle, gentle contrast. A bright teal cushion provides an unexpected colour highlight within this quiet and subdued scheme.
Main Wall & Skirting: Rouge II
Left Wall & Skirting: The Botanist
Architrave Detail: Bronze
Browse our inspiration gallery for more interior design schemes or order a complimentary colour card.