It might go against conventional wisdom, but colorful bedroom ideas can be just as relaxing as more pared-back ones. But, of course, if you want to create a modern bedroom scheme using lots of different colors, there are things to bear in mind to make sure you’ll sleep soundly.
The best bedroom color ideas can be bright and beautiful, rich and reserved, or a mix of both. It's not just about the colors you choose, but the artful layering of textiles and furniture, too — no matter how many different shades you use, there has to be a sense of softness in the space to help make it easy to drift off at night.
From what to do with the ceiling to experimenting with pattern, interior designers and color consultants employ smart techniques to create colorful bedrooms worth waking up to. Below, 10 experts share their best tips.
1. Create A Graphic Look
Color doesn't have to be flat — but opens you up to a world of creative possibilities.
"For a bold statement, it’s all about the technique or application of different colors rather than the shades themselves," says Alex Alonso from Mr Alex Tate Design. "For a design-forward application, go for a graphic style," he says.
This colorful bedroom’s playful weave-style striped walls use four different shades of paint which form the basis of the other elements in the space. By keeping the ceiling and lower half of the walls in simple white, there’s a ‘rest’ for the eyes that ensures the bold look doesn’t completely take over the senses.
2. Enhance The Details
It's typical to paint your trims a different shade to the walls, so why not use it as an opportunity to add color.
Woodwork can often be a forgotten element in a bedroom, but when it comes to colorful bedroom ideas, painting the doors, window-frames, and cornicing can be a real opportunity to introduce color and personality.
"For this project, we wanted to inject a sense of excitement and playfulness into the room," explains the interior designer Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay. "By keeping the walls relatively neutral and instead applying bold, glossy color to the architraves and cornicing, the effect is both refined and fun. The colored trim not only draws the eye to the architectural details, but also allows the color to pop in a more controlled, design-conscious way, bringing energy to the space without overwhelming it."
Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay is an award-winning interior designer, known for creating elegant, beautifully layeredd spaces. Before setting up her studio, she worked in art direction for famous American retailers including Bergdorf Goldman and Bloomingdales.
3. Paint The Ceiling
It's the surface we spend the most time looking at in your bedroom, so it makes sense to decorate it.
When you’re lying in bed, why not look up to something a little more interesting than a plain white ceiling? If you’re painting walls in a relatively neutral shade, why not experiment with bolder hues up top?
"The ceiling is often overlooked, full-stop, as a decorating opportunity," reflects Farrow & Ball’s Patrick O’Donnell. "However, it can be a great area for a little decorative flourish."
He recommends painted ceiling ideas that harmonize with the bedroom's other elements, "but ultimately this is about creating something fun in what would otherwise be a predictable white space," he says.
Stripes make a simple, not-too-fiddly way to experiment with paint.
Patrick O'Donnell has worked with Farrow & Ball since 2012, using his creative eye to guide the brand's clients towards individual colors and paint techniques for their homes. He is also a freelance design consultant.
4. Treat The Bed As A Canvas For Color
Bedding is a less intimidating way to start experimenting with mixed colors in your bedroom.
Bedscaping is the art of dressing your bed in a way that transforms it into a colorful focal point. "Bedding has become about self-expression, and you can change the look of your bedroom completely with a colorful new set of pillowcases or contrasting fitted sheet," says Genevieve Rosen, the founder of linen brand, Bed Threads.
If you're just starting to experiment with colorful bedroom ideas and moving on from white sheets, she suggests you "Start by layering complementary tones like olive, sage, and pistachio greens."
5. Make A Headboard The Star Of The Show
A colorful headboard can anchor your bedroom and set the scene for a colorful palette in all other details.
Statement headboards in unique shapes and sizes can become an instant statement, and they’re an excellent starting point for a colorful bedroom ideas.
"Based on the idea that colors and shapes can inspire and persuade cheerfulness, this is an environment that will foster creativity, artistic energy, and imagination," explains Emma Jesberg, who created the bedroom as a project for EJ Interior Design.
"I was inspired by the 1980s Memphis movement," she says. The headboard’s velvet texture helps to soften the effect of its boldest colors, which are used as accents throughout.
6. Set A Sophisticated Tone With Pastels
Don't want your colorful bedroom idea to feel overwhelming? Use pastels.
Decorating with pastels is an excellent way to bring lots of different colors into a bedroom without veering too much into vibrancy.
"Use pastels on larger surfaces, like flooring, upholstery, or curtains to create expanses of soft color that will bring a sense of calm to a bedroom," says Melissa Hutley, co-founder of interior design studio Hutley & Humm. "Pair them with earthy tones, though, to add weight and dimension and stop the scheme from feeling too washed out."
A curved headboard gives this upholstered bed frame an eye-catching profile. The yellow twill fabric — one of the 145 choices available — is a smart pastel option that will work beside a mix of brighter and earthier shades.
7. Go Bold With Pattern
Pattern can actually be a wonderful way to disguise a bold mix of colors in a bedroom.
If you’re mixing lots of different colors together in a bedroom, it’s wise to still create some sense of uniformity somewhere. "Using just one pattern is a really impactful way to create a tasteful, chic space," says Alexandra Childs, founder of Studio Alexandra.
"I always choose two main colors to start a scheme, and bring in a third color to offset these," she continues. "Varying the scale of a pattern like a stripe will help to create a layered, harmonious aesthetic and stop different pieces vying for attention."
Livingetc has previously dubbed this idea as 'pattern sprinkling'.
Interior designer Alexandra Childs work on projects across the UK and Europe, creating colourful spaces filled with pattern and texture. She also offers a color consultancy service, advising clients on paints, fabrics, and wallpapers.
8. Refine Your Accents
Colorful bedroom ideas aren't reserved for contrasting colors — it works just as well with tonal schemes.
"It might feel counterintuitive, but in a bold room with only one or two colors, adding another hue or two can be exactly what’s needed to stop it feeling too matchy-matchy or overly co-ordinated," explains interior stylist and color consultant Sam Grigg.
Soft furnishings and decorative accessories are the best way to layer in additional colors. "The key is to make sure the new shades don’t feel random," Sam explains. "In this green bedroom, the yellow cushion works beautifully as yellow and green are often seen together in nature, while the orange, which sits right next to yellow on the color wheel, helps the room to feel more connected and energetic."
9. Don’t Forget Black And White
Some people argue black and white aren't actually colors, but we'll let it slide this time.
Colorful bedroom ideas can sometimes benefit from the visual ‘break’ that flashes of black and white can create. The simplicity of these two colors introduces a grounding element in this pink, green, and blue bedroom that helps to accentuate the colorful shades rather than diminish them.
"It is all about balance," says Sabrina Panizza from PL Studio, who created the space. "Colors can instill so much energy and help push the design to the maximum, but you have to make sure there’s harmony and cohesion. You have to stop just before it becomes too much."
The organic shape of this pendant will make it an eye-catching addition to a colorful bedroom, especially in black ebonised wood. Try hanging low from a ceiling in lieu of bedside lamps.
10. Have A Sense Of Fun
The best colorful bedroom ideas don't take themselves too seriously.
Color can (and should) be a playful element in a bedroom, but that doesn’t mean mixing lots of shades together has to be any less sophisticated.
"I always like to keep one consistent hue running through a bedroom, to act as the thread that ties the whole space together," says Caroline Woolmer, head of design at Lust Home.
"Use additional colors to add rhythm — the trick is to repeat key colors in different places, from soft furnishings to artwork, and position bold colors lower in the room," she adds. "This will give a bedroom gravity, while lighter tones rise up the walls for a sense of airiness."
A subtle but whimsical print, used in a practical way, can combine the mix of colors beautifully.
A vibrant rug to add color underfoot. The neutral linear border of this design brings a sense of order to the mix of shades, while the curved motifs give a contemporary look.
11. Pick a Daring Wallpaper
Colorful bedroom ideas aren't just about paint — don't forget wallpapers, too.
But when it comes to your walls, it's not just about paint. Bedroom wallpaper ideas — particularly bold ones — are also a great way to introduce color to your space. You just need to think carefully and really consider the pattern.
The Temple Newsam Chinoiserie design shown above in the London bedroom of de Gournay director, Rachel Cecil Gurney, is a hand-painted scene of an idyllic country garden. The fresh, colorful pattern combats the gray nature of London, while the use of trees and flowers adds a tranquillity to the interior and gives the scheme a luxurious feel.
12. Use Your Curtains as a Canvas
When considering colorful bedroom ideas, think about all surfaces available, including your curtains.
When considering how to bring personality to your colorful bedroom ideas, bedroom curtains can be a great canvas for adding those bold pops.
In this vibrant bedroom by French interior design house, Pierre Frey, the hand-embroidered linen curtains and fabric dyed in a vibrant primary pattern makes a joyous addition.
The colors of the curtain are continued throughout the entire space, in the throw, bedside table, and bedding.
13. Use a Rug to Add Color to the Floor
We've thought about the walls, ceiling, bed, and furnishings — but don't forget your floors.
A colorful rug is a nice addition to a colorful bedroom scheme and a great way to add a bit of personality. "The floor is often described as the fifth wall of a room, and it can either be a strong focal point or it can provide a base of color to highlight other aspects of a room without being too distracting," says Sarah Henry, managing director of French rug brand, La Manufacture Cogolin.
"A rug can cover a lot of space, so it’s a way to introduce color in a more subtle way than on a vertical surface," she says. "Any rug will immediately warm up a room and make it more cozy and inviting. A statement rug, like a nice bag and a good pair of shoes, can really add personality to a space and set the overall tone."
FAQs
Which Colors Work Together Best In A Bedroom?
From soft, soothing shades to bolder, more energizing hues, the best colorful bedroom ideas combine shades to create stylish sanctuaries. Here are some sophisticated pairings to inspire your decorating palette:
- Green and Purple: pared-back versions, like pistachio and lavender, will create a gentle look.
- Green, Yellow, and Blue: rich shades of olive and ochre will create pleasing contrast beside powdery blue tones.
- Orange and Gray: a contemporary peachy hue will give dark charcoal a surprisingly fresh twist.
- Red and Green: a warm coral shade will work beautifully with a soft, cool green.
- Blue, Orange, and Green: a bold, Yves Klein blue makes an energetic accompaniment to chalkier versions of the latter two hues.
When decorating modern bedroom ideas, color should always be a priority. The right shades can make a space look and feel soothing — somewhere not just to rest your head, but to relax while reading a book or enjoying breakfast in a bed.
And while paint is a transformative tool, colorful bedroom ideas are about your furniture and furnishing choices, too. Even the most vibrant spaces can still feel calm, and these ideas prove that the key to finding the right colorful bedroom idea for you is less about the colors themselves, but more about how you use them.
