Best bedroom colours and combinations for a good night's sleep

When it comes to bedroom design, choosing the best bedroom colours is a bit like match-making. If you pair this colour with that colour will they cohabit well together? Will they compliment each other or will they clash? And is that clash manageable or is it a deal-breaker that you just can't live with? 

Either way, get the colours right and you've created a harmonious relationship that will hopefully last and you're happy to be embraced by. But with thousands of different shades on offer, just how do you find that match made in heaven?

There were clear winners from our experts with neutrals, pinks, greens, blues and grey all coming top of the best bedroom colour charts. Find out why and how best to use them in your home.

Choosing the best bedroom colours - start with small test squares

Picking the best bedroom colours is best done by starting with a practical approach to the task as it is with picking the best colours for any room - after all if you're about to embark on bringing your master bedroom ideas to life, you'll want to be happy with the final results. The key to success? Starting small.

“Lighting and other factors within your space will impact the final shade, so it’s always a good idea to paint a small section of a wall in your bedroom with the colours close to one another," says Tracy Lester, a design director at Time4Sleep.  "This will help you get a better idea of what they will look like together, rather than just looking at them on paper or on your computer screen. Ideally, do this in different places in the bedroom as each corner will have different levels of light.”

1. Choose neutrals for a calm and collected space

Neutral bedroom ideas are a fail-safe option when it comes to choosing the best bedroom colours, and for good reason.

Ellie Kennedy, interior expert at 247 Blinds says, “your bedroom should be a place in which you can decompress and escape from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. That’s why when choosing colours for your bedroom, you should opt for tones that are calming and peaceful, cultivating the perfect environment for rest.”

Caroline Thornborough, director of design for Thorndown, adds, “the best colour for a restful bedroom space is one you love. Some people find plain neutral colours and off-whites to be deeply relaxing and calming for the mind, enabling it to totally unwind. If this is the case," she says, "you can colour drench the whole space in an off-white shade or contrast with a pure white on the ceiling to keep it light and bright."

Try this Cow Parsley White wall paint from Thorndown or for a white with slightly greyer tones, try Bone White from Fired Earth.

Ellie Kennedy

Ellie Kennedy is an in house interior expert at 247 Blinds. She is an authority on window dressings offering creative and practical styling advice for both blinds and curtains.

Caroline Thornborough

A creative professional with a passion for design, Caroline is responsible for marketing, branding and curating Thorndown's colour palettes. When not working, Caroline can be found indulging in her twin passions: gardening and decorating. Whether transforming a neglected corner of her garden, wielding a paintbrush, or upcycling forgotten treasures, she thrives on breathing new life into things.

2. Pair pink with a bolt of navy blue

Our love of pink in interiors has never been stronger than since the arrival of Barbiecore trend last year. And while most of us wouldn't choose a completely pink coated world throughout our entire home, it's a great contender in the search for the best bedroom colours.

Pick the right tones of pink and it creates a warm and cosy cocoon for your bedroom ideas and you can dial down the saccharine with a bolt of navy blue. "Blue and pink are a great and fashionable colour pairing," says Caroline Thorndown, "that can offer both a dark embracing hug from a dark blue with the warm lighter comforting colour of a pink to soften and lift."

3. Not a fan of blue? Go for green and pink instead

“Two colours that I think work harmoniously together, and work well in creating a peaceful place to rest," says Ellie Kennedy, "are leafy greens paired with blossom pinks. Green is often associated with the tranquillity of nature, whereas pink helps to bring a warming feminine essence.”

“Whilst there are patterns and fabrics that feature these colours harmoniously, it is also worth considering solid blocks of colour," she adds. "One great way to do this is to opt for soft green blinds in a pink-painted room."

Keen to explore green further? Green bedroom ideas are now so popular it's led to some experts citing certain shades of green as a netural colour, making it a potential partner to everything from cream through to red.

4. Colour drench in one shade for less bedroom distraction

Although we've chosen green to demonstrate this painting technique, it can be applied to whichever you feel is the best bedroom colour, but take time to decide on the right colours say the experts as it can have more of an impact in the bedroom than in other rooms. 

"Picking the perfect colour scheme for the bedroom can significantly enhance your wellbeing by creating a serene, restful environment," says Victoria Yardley, managing director of Victory Colours. And it's this quest for serenity that makes nature a source of so much inspiration when it comes to the best bedroom colours.

The reason green works so well? "Soft greens are synonymous with tranquillity and relaxation, so they are an ideal choice for the bedroom and gentle greens bring the soothing essence of nature indoors," explains Victoria. You can find this exact shade at Victory Paints and it's called Into the Wild.

For a seamless paint finish, be sure to follow advice on painting a ceiling to get a professional finish and if you're looking for a matt paint finish, read what is vinyl matt paint to ensure you buy the right product.

Victoria Yardley

Victoria Yardley is the visionary behind Victory Colours. Their paints are proudly certified vegan and cruelty-free, ensuring no harm comes to animals in any stage of production or testing. Together, Victoria and her team are leading the way in sustainable, ethical manufacturing practices, proving that beauty and conscience can go hand in hand.

5. Add texture to neutral schemes to make them feel warmer

"Embracing a serene and sophisticated look, layering shades of white with off-whites and neutral tones can often take centre stage in bedrooms," 

"In a departure from the starkness of recent years, we are seeing natural, earthy tones take centre stage," say Emily and Jonathan Atwood, co-founders of Scooms. Warm beiges, off-whites and blush pinks dominate the colour palette, creating a sense of tranquillity and serenity, ideal for the bedroom. 

"For those who want a more subtle and subdued look reminiscent of a spa-hotel, you can really create a calming and zen-like atmosphere that will transport you to far-flung destinations. 

"Playing with materials however is key too," they add. "The use of textiles with natural fibres, such as linen and cotton, is a hallmark of this trend. These fabrics are naturally breathable, beautifully tactile and play to the relaxed and laid back approach synonymous with this aesthetic. This not only creates a timeless design scheme, but also provides a versatile backdrop that that can work in any interiors. 

"Whether you go modern minimalist with linens, cottons and accents in black, grey and white, or go more rustic with warm woods and hand-crafted ceramics," they add, "this look can really be dressed up or pared down. Whichever you choose, you'll be sure to create a tranquil bedroom that is set for rest and relaxation."

Emily & Jonathan Attwood

Emily and Jonathan Attwood created Scooms after returning to live in the UK and being unable to source bedding to meet their needs. Scooms was established to offer a range of environmentally friendly, sustainably sourced duvets, pillows, mattress toppers and bed linen that are also suitable for dust mite allergy sufferers. 

6. Try peach as an alternative to pink

"Peaches are a really popular hue right now," says Victoria Yardley. "In fact, all soft pastels such as lavender, blush pink, and light peach can add a touch of subtle elegance to a bedroom," she adds. "These colours are gentle on the eyes and can foster a sense of peace and relaxation."

For a rustic but soothing space, choose a peach with terracotta tones, opt for wood for your bedroom flooring ideas and keep tactile fabrics front and centre with soft, velvet covered chairs, and add some drama to your bedroom lighting ideas with striking floor lights and basket weave ceiling pendant lights.

7. Relax with coastal tones of sea-foam green and blue

“Muted shades like seafoam blues and greens are some of the most soothing colours you can decorate with," says Ellie Kennedy. "This is especially true since they’re reminiscent of elements in nature, such as the ocean and blue skies, which are known to reduce stress and promote a sense of peace.”

"Combine sophisticated shades of grey with moody blue hues," suggest Emily & Jonathan Attwood, "for modern bedroom ideas that are an alternative to the traditional coastal style. The cool, muted shades of this scheme harmonise beautifully and it's all about striking the balance between the blues and greys to successfully bring that contemporary edge to your bedroom."

“These colours would also look great painted up walls," says Ellie Kennedy, "but for a more unusual yet serene choice why not consider painting them across your ceiling to create an open-air feeling?"

8. Grey is a timeless and classic bedroom colour

Grey bedroom ideas are a firm favourite when it comes to the best bedroom colours. For a light and airy feel, paler shades work in the same way as neutrals. Providing the perfect backdrop for the addition of accent colours - in pretty much every shade of the colour wheel, they are a softer alternative to an all-white scheme.

"If you prefer more neutral tones in the home, shades like soft grey are timeless choices for a bedroom," says Victoria Yarley. "They create a cosy, inviting space that feels warm and secure. Plus, these colours are also versatile, allowing for seamless coordination with various accent pieces and furnishings."

For more cosy bedroom ideas, coat your walls in dark grey and pair with rich reds and gold for your metallic accents. 

9. Combine the best bedroom colours for a more eclectic end result

Can't decide which are the best bedroom colours for you? Then don't. All of the top colours suggested by our experts actually work well together so be brave and try mixing them all into the pot. 

The trick to getting it right? Make sure you have the right balance of plain and patterned finishes so that the end result seems considered and well curated.

Bedroom wallpaper ideas can be a great starting point for eclectic bedroom ideas like this, and are an easy way of introducing a variety of colours. With the patterned box ticked, you can then move onto adding blocks of colours either through paintwork, flooring or your final bedroom decor ideas.

10. Add some sunshine with shades of yellow

Although waking up to warm sunshine tones isn't always an option when you live in the northern hemisphere, thankfully choosing yellow as one of the best bedroom colours isn't restricted to your geographical location.

If you're at the design stages of your self-build, include full height glazing for your bedroom window ideas as a way of allowing the maximum amount of natural daylight to flood your room each day. 

And allthough this bedroom idea is based on a neutral scheme, warmed up with yellow furniture and soft furnishings, yellow also works well with blue, grey and green. 

Or, for more of a yellow hit, "if your bedroom window gets the sun in the morning then why not go for a sunny scheme with shades such as Ginger Gold," says Caroline Thornborough, "for an enriching and uplifting start to the day, warmed by the sun’s rays that will put an instant smile on your face."

Still unsure as to which are your favourite best bedroom colours and wondering if you might prefer a different combination ? 

“To know which colours go together, turn to the colour wheel," says Ellie Kennedy. "Colours that sit opposite together are considered complementary. The key to getting these two colours balanced is sticking to similar tones or hues."

"To help choose," adds Caroline Thornborough, "get some A3 sheets of paper and paint them in a range of colours then stick them onto your bedroom walls, living with them for a while and moving them around to make sure they suit you and your furnishings before you commit to a purchase.”

Or, for more of a try before you buy approach try out our favourite home design apps and get creative with your full bedroom design and decor before you even pick up a tester pot of paint.