Best & Worst Bedroom Colors For Sleep
Are you about to paint your new bedroom or give your room an upgrade? A comfortable, soothing, clean bedroom can set the tone for you best night’s sleep.
Color has the ability to affect our mood, as well as our sleep. When we’re anxious or angry, we have a harder time falling asleep compared to when we’re relaxed and happy.
Pastel and muted shades are typically better for sleep than more vibrant ones, as bold colors can have an energizing effect. Understanding the way these colors affect your mood can help you manipulate your sleep space for better sleep.
Studies suggest that cool color shades should be used in an environment meant for lowered physiological activity, such as a bedroom. Blue and green are generally said to promote sleep or restful feelings, and most people prefer a white ceiling as this makes the room feel more spacious.
#1 Blue
Most experts agree that shades of blue are best for relaxation. One study found that participants in a blue room were more likely to have brain waves characteristic of a drowsy or sleepy state. Some researchers believe the color blue may lower blood pressure, promoting relaxation that is conducive to sleep. Blue is a non-stimulating color, so when you see blue, the hypothalamus produces more melatonin and less cortisol. In contrast, a red room stimulates the brain and produces more cortisol, resulting in poor sleep quality. It may be worth your investment to hire a paint color expert for the best results.
A Travelodge survey (8) of 2,000 British homes found that sleepers with the color blue in their bedroom received nearly eight hours of sleep each night, more than people with any other color scheme. It is not clear exactly why the color blue has such a calming effect, but it may be because it is prevalent in nature, making it easy to conjure images of a blue sky, blue water, and other tranquil scenes.
#2 Green
Green is also one of the best colors for sleep. The color green has a short wavelength, like blue, and it is believed to have many of the same effects on mood. Green is similarly prevalent in nature and is often perceived as calming. If you prefer to avoid painting the walls of your bedroom green, consider adding some green plants, which have the added benefits of improving air quality and helping reduce stress.
Green can be calming and promote restfulness. Therefore, having a cool green wall paint can add to your ability to sleep. Travelodge found that those with a green paint color enjoyed an average of 7 hours and 36 minutes of sleep a night.
Yellow
Warm yellow walls also were conducive to happiness and good rest. They radiate joy.
Remember: Don’t go too bright. Too much yellow moves the vibe from blissful to nuclear. And, unless you’re a toddler, don’t use any other primary colors in the bedroom. Black, white and gray accessories will provide better balance.
What Are The Worst Bedroom Colors?
Picking the wrong color can have the opposite effect for your sleep and ability to fall asleep fast. You may need to put your taste aside on your bedroom of you want the best night’s sleep. Below are a few colors to stay away from. Studies show that sleepers only received 5 hours and 56 minutes of sleep on average in a purple room.
Purple
Purple is said to promote creativity. When used in a bedroom, some theorize that purple could lead to nightmares, with corresponding negative effects for sleep quality. The Travelodge survey found that people who sleep in purple bedrooms obtain less than six hours of sleep per night on average. If you insist on Purple…. Go lighter—go lavender. This pale violet could be the next millennial pink. Lavender can lean feminine or masculine, depending on whether you combine it with lacy white or charcoal gray. Actually, you should use both.
Red
You might think of a red bedroom as romantic, but red is too exciting a color to encourage good sleep. In the study, it didn’t even encourage good sex.
Researchers tend to agree that red is the least relaxing bedroom color. As opposed to cool colors like blue and green that lower blood pressure, red is stimulating and may provoke the fight-or-flight response. One study found that people exerted more physical force during a task when exposed to the color red compared to gray or blue.
What About Gray?
Gray is too popular to ignore.
Gray is the most popular color for home design BUT the most popular color in home design doesn’t help us sleep. According to the survey, gray makes us feel isolated, so we sleep restlessly.
If you’re going for gray walls anyway, use colors in the blue family in the room. Or else, paint the walls blue, and add gray fabrics and accessories.
Does color REALLY Matter?
Considering you are sleeping in the dark does color truly affect sleep? In my opinion it does. Mostly to set the stage for when you go to bed, the soothing colors will set the tone for how well, and how fast you get your mind right for sleep. Additonally, when you wake up it will also set the tone for your day. So yes, it does matter.
What matters most?
In my opinion the quality of your mattress and how well it works for you could be the most important thing to help you sleep. The right size mattress for your bed frame is also important. Which is what RMR is all about, helping you pick the right mattress. See our top mattress picks here – How to Buy the Best mattresses