There's much to consider when picking a bedroom paint colour, from personal preference to finding something both timeless and stylish. However, what's most important when selecting a colour for this personal retreat is that the space feels calming and the shade will encourage rest and sleep.
Our bedrooms are our sanctuaries, a place to retreat at the end of a busy day and begin a new one afresh. Being one of the most personal spaces in the house, it needs to strike a balance of showcasing personality while also feeling restful – for which the right paint colour is key.
Whether you've kept up with this year's interior paint colour trends or are looking for something more niche, the home experts have delivered on endless shade options. All aimed at keeping your space as peaceful and welcoming as possible.
Best bedroom paint colors of 2025
Looking at this year's bedroom trends and beyond, opting for a calmer colour palette is becoming increasingly popular. Soothing pastels, neutrals and earth tones are continuing to dominate the trends, and it's no surprise why.
If you're looking to maximise your bedroom's relaxing factor, here are the top hues as recommended by the experts...
1. Timeless neutrals
Creamy barely-there shades have been with us for years and have always been popular living room paint colours as well as bedroom shades.
Neutrals have enjoyed a huge resurgence in recent years, when we've craved somewhere quiet and soothing to rest and as trends like Japandi bedroom ideas have gained popularity. Neutrals are sometimes seen as a ‘safe’ choice, but there is so much you can do with neutrals, given the many different shades to choose from.
Warmer neutrals work well in cooler, north-facing rooms, whereas south-facing light harbours a yellow hue, so cooler whites and creams are better. Layers of similar tones keep a scheme from feeling flat, so choose a palette of your favourite neutral shades to work with. "When using colours in a bedroom, it’s best to think about the tone of the colour rather than the specific colour itself," says Emma Bestley, Creative Director of Yes Colours. "Any colour can be used in the bedroom, but softer, paler, or muted versions of the colour will work best at creating a soothing setting, ideal for sleeping."
RRP: £23 for 2.5L | A beautiful, distinctive, and versatile shade of neutral cream with a touch of warmth, which is perfect for a bedroom. It gives a flat finish on walls and ceilings and is wipeable.
RRP: £59 for 2.5L | An off-white with a pink tinge that is ideal for a feminine bedroom, but without being overpowering. It has a high reflectance value, giving it a luminous feel.
RRP: £63 per 2.5L | Pared back, timeless, and familiar without the cool blue undertones of other neutrals, this off-white is perfect for layering warm accent colours via bedding and soft furnishings.
2. Deep sea blues
Blue has always been a popular choice for bedrooms thanks to its calming qualities. In recent years, the deeper, bolder blues inspired by watery seascapes have proved increasingly popular.
It is a myth often told that dark colours make a room feel smaller, but deeper shades can be suited to small rooms such as bedrooms to create a cocooning sense of cosiness – making a virtue of its darkness. It's also one of the best paint colours for making a room look expensive.
"Blue is a universal favourite colour around the globe, and for good reason. Often associated with the feeling of the ocean or the sky, transporting us straight back to holiday memories," explains Emma Bestley, Creative Director and Co-Founder of YesColours.
"To recreate this feeling, look to incorporate teals and aqua blues, or for something more cocooning, opt for a deeper blue," she adds.
RRP: £57.50 per 2.5L | This strong blue offers a colour scheme with an unrivalled depth of pigment. The green undertones within this deep, dramatic blue mean it sits as happily in large light bedrooms as it does in small dark rooms.
RRP: £59 for 2.5L | As Ruth describes, this rich blue-black ‘Basalt’ welcomes an unquestionably sumptuous depth with a cocooning quality that’s perfect for creating a cosy bedroom space.
RRP: £59 for 2.5L | A cool, deep blue for creating a cocooning feel in the bedroom from this Swedish brand. With grey undertones, it makes the perfect background for creamy whites and dark wood furniture. Eco-friendly and ultra-high quality, when the surface is dry, it feels like the finest velvet.
3. Serene green
Green walls are the ideal colour to invite nature in and create an earthy, grounding feel in the bedroom where you want to feel safe. As with all colours, there are many variations of green to choose from, and all have their own benefits and meaning.
Blue-greens like aqua and teal are associated with emotional healing and protection, grey-green shades of pistachio green and celadon are soft and muted, while olive is the traditional colour of peace.
"We have all seen interior design trends of encouraging the outside world into our interiors, with green shades creating a de-stimulating and calming environment with their biophilic nature," says Tobie Lewis, Senior Brand Manager at Valspar Paint. "Earthier olive tones are ideal for an organic, minimal feel for bedrooms."
"I love a muted palette of greens to create a comforting, soothing scheme - combining a fresh shade like 'Aquamarine' with the tranquillity of 'Ambleside' for a sense of calm and restfulness," says Ruth.
RRP: £50 for 2.5L | A muted sage colour that is restful on the eye, this soothing shade will create a calm atmosphere – ideal for sending you off to sleep. This greenish-grey lends towards a stone or putty shade in tone and is ideally paired with pink or deep greens.
RRP: £41.95 for 2.5L | An elegant colour that looks amazing when paired with pinks and blushes. This rich green paint colour will transform your home and will change with different lights throughout the day.
RRP: £56 per 2.5L | A vintage green that would really brighten up a room, especially one that overlooks the garden. It’s vibrant like a spring meadow but has a softness that will create a sense of calm in a bedroom.
4. soothing grey
Pale grey has become the new neutral. The secret to using it successfully in the bedroom is to pick the right tones for the type of light within the room. Warm greys work well with cool shaded light, whereas cooler greys work best in warmer, sunnier light.
"A soothing palette is a perfect way to create a restful ambience. Walls in soft grey, white, or cream will create a cocooning feel that is calm and serene," says Caroline Milns, Head of Interior Design at architectural practice and design specialists Zulufish.
"Lighter colours such as these across the walls will gently suffuse the light; grey hues will cool the space, perfect for more sunny rooms, whereas white and cream will warm and bounce the light, ideal for rooms with less natural light. Keeping the main framework of the room more refined and neutral will also create an easy backdrop to layer touches of colour and pattern through the choice of accessories."
Just make sure you avoid the common mistakes made when decorating with grey.
RRP: £59 for 2.5L | This warm grey shade is an amalgam of silver and mercury and will sit comfortably against similar materials in the home, a natural partner for a silver or chrome bed or pewter side tables for a sophisticated look
RRP: £56 per 2.5L | A clean, simple, and unpretentious colour offering a versatile, contemporary sophistication in the bedroom. This pale and interesting cooler shade of grey is a calming neutral on which to build strong accents with textiles and furniture choices.
RRP: £46 for 2.5L | A barely-there grey which is the perfect shade for a soothing bedroom and the ideal base for adding stronger, mid-to-darker tone greys. It is accentuated by natural light and by architectural details, adding interest to the tone by the way it plays with the light.
5. Sophisicated pinks
Pink has become another neutral because it goes with so many other colours. Pink paint colours work particularly well with ochre, green, mulberry, coral, and orange. Depending on which shade you choose, it can be sophisticated and feminine or punchy and vibrant.
A bedroom painted pink will look inviting no matter how much natural light is present, and at night it will look wonderfully cosy, giving a warm, welcoming glow.
"Bedrooms and north-facing rooms are perfect spaces for blush pink," says Marianne Shillingford, creative director of Dulux. "All pinks have become popular in the past few years, but none so much as the blush pink shades that capture the essence of what it is to be happy and loved."
RRP: £56 for 2.5L | A sugary, slightly grey pink. Warm and pretty without being sickly sweet. It will remain cool in natural light but with enough warmth due to a rich pigment. The durable flat matte finish hides imperfections if your walls aren't perfect.
RRP: £57.50 per 2.5L | This dusty pink is the perfect bedroom paint colour for those who want to embrace a heavier pink pigment. Thanks to a generous dose of yellow pigment, this soothing shade of pink offers a warmth that doesn’t feel in any way sugary.
RRP: £56 for 2.5L | Described as a 'pink-light brown', this dusky pink is one that will soothe the senses and aid restful sleep. Team with beige and taupe for a relaxing colour scheme you won’t tire of, proving timeless for a bedroom decorating scheme.
6. Fresh lilac
Lilac is the shade taking the interior world by surprise as it makes its way firmly back into the top spot, after years of falling out of favour. It's also become one of the best living room paints to choose from.
“Pastel shades are easy on the eyes and offer a perfect blend between relaxing hues and positivity-inducing bright shades to ground a space and create a sense of calm," says Bailey Oates, Colour Expert at Earthborn.
"Using different hues of pale lilac can promote feelings of calmness, which are great for a bedroom environment, whilst they also inject character into a space without being too daring. Pair these soft tones with neutral colours and natural materials," she continues.
RRP: £48 for 2L | Described by the brand as "a cooler, paler tone of lilac" reminiscent of amethyst stones and springtime hyacinths, this fresh take on lilac is guaranteed to welcome warmth to a bedroom scheme.
RRP: £57.50 per 2.5L | Soft pink with a dash of black creates the diluted purple tones of lilac. This sophisticated shade offers an alternative approach to using lilac because its warming undertones offer a unique depth that brings bedroom walls to life.
RRP: £50 per 2.5L | For those looking for a stronger saturation of purple, this shade by Graham & Brown is just the thing. Perfect for creating a calming environment, it has a stunning blend of red and blue pigments.
7. Earthy brown tones
Earth tones are key to making our homes feel cosy. Inspired by the pigments found in the natural world, brown and other warming shades create a safe space where we feel grounded and at one with nature, a place to feel nurtured and safe. These comforting qualities are what make brown hues such ideal bedroom paint colours.
"Succulent earth tones are an incredibly important element of this year's bedroom trends," says Laura Burnett from bedroom design specialists Feather & Black. "Particularly when placed alongside colored patterns and textures."
This rich colourway is also returning thanks to the resurgence of 70s-style fashion and decor. "Warm browns evoke instant nostalgia and pair beautifully with tactile wooden accents such as rattan or shiplap. Combine these warm toasty elements with fringed curtains, cushions, or lampshades, and weave in touches of gold for unbridled 70s flair."
RRP: £50 per 2.5L | Inspired by 'the beauty of blossoming cherry trees,' this rich, earthy tone heavily features pink and red undertones, which give the brown shade a tremendous amount of depth. The redness prevents this brown from feeling flat and cold; in fact, it does just the opposite – it provides an overwhelming sense of warmth and comfort.
RRP: £57.50 per 2.5L | For those looking for a light brown, this cool beige with a faint green undertone gives an easy, earthy quality – ideal for cooling down a south-facing bedroom. Though muted, it feels incredibly uplifting thanks to its warm caramel tones.
RRP: £35.50 per 0.94L | A stylish brown-black, this full-bodied shade offers an unapologetic dose of rich brown. We'd say it's probably best for bedroom feature walls, rather than immersing the whole room in such a brooding tone of brown.
FAQs
How do I choose a paint color for my bedroom?
The best way to settle on a colour choice for your bedroom is to take into account what you already have in the room first. Or, if the room is empty, think about the furniture, textiles, and decor you want to have in the room and use that as a starting point.
"Consider the textiles and finishes you own or are drawn to, as these play a crucial role in setting the mood and colour for your bedroom," says Betsy Smith, Colour Consultant of eco-paint brand Graphenstone.
"Textured fabrics such as linens, textured wools, natural woods, and cane will appear elevated against neutral paint shades. Light tones, such as Stone, set a calming, serene ambience. Increase the contrast with a dark neutral such as grey for a moodier atmosphere."
What is the most peaceful color for a bedroom?
The most peaceful colours for a bedroom are soft neutrals that don't stir overwhelming emotions. "If you want to create a subtle scheme, light hues with a pink undertone make for a perfect alternative neutral," says Helen Shaw, UK Director of Benjamin Moore. "They can be used from floor to ceiling or combined with crisp whites and soft greys to create a smart Scandi-style scheme."
"Also, consider natural plaster tones or light terracotta shades as they create a wonderful, earthy, natural feel in a room and look particularly eye-catching in well-lit spaces and when paired with natural materials or painted wood."
Should bedrooms be painted dark or light?
"The most important thing is to select a colour you can relax in - something you can fall asleep in and be happy to wake up to – so that could be dark or light – both work," says Patrick O’Donnell, colour ambassador for Farrow & Ball.
"South-facing bedrooms full of natural light are ideal when enhanced with lighter colours on the walls. Whereas north-facing rooms lack natural light. These spaces can often be challenging to decorate, so embrace the light limitations and create a cocooning environment with something dark."
Patrick adds, "Deep greens such as Bancha help create a symbiosis between the interior and exterior, especially if you are fortunate to look out over nature. Or even more bold colours, such as Railings, can work very successfully."
What is a soothing colour combination for a bedroom?
Similarly, there are the best colour combinations for a living room, and when finding a soothing palette for your bedroom, there are a few recommended choices.
"Some of our favourite colour combinations that feel really relaxing and soothing include soft blue and warm beige. The blue helps to deliver the calmness of water and sky, whilst the beige grounds this warmth, preventing the bedroom from feeling too cool," starts Anna Hill, Brand Director and Colour Consultant at Fenwick and Tilbrook.
"When used together, they create a really layered and tranquil look that's easy to accessorise and bring to life. Combining pale green with soft cream is another great choice, capturing the freshness of spring mornings. Creating a more rejuvenating feeling, it can be truly restful in the bedroom," she continues.
Anna points out that the key to any soothing colour combination is balance. She recommends pairing a psychologically calming hue with a softer neutral to avoid the bedroom from being too stimulating and to maintain a gentle visual flow.
Now you're up to date on the biggest interior colour trends, you can create your own serene retreat, both personal to you and timelessly on trend.
