Choosing the right bedroom color ideas can help transform a space into a retreat for the body and soul, perfect for a room that should feel like a sanctuary. While you may instinctively be drawn to a pared-back palette, bedroom color ideas can be just as calming (and look just as luxurious) as their neutral counterparts.
As with any room in the home, designing a modern bedroom idea drenched in color is all in the application. The best ideas create impact with thoughtful touches and even the odd, unexpected twist, providing it's not simply about repainting the walls.
We asked interior designers and style experts for their best advice when it comes to bedroom color ideas. Below, we've shared some of the best, which cleverly tap into this year's color trends.
1. Balance a not-so-mellow yellow
Citrus shades might not be your first thought for a bedroom color idea, but the hue can create a welcome sense of energy.
Don’t be afraid of decorating your bedroom in a bold color. "At first glance, bright colors might seem too stimulating for a bedroom, but they can actually be the perfect way to create a restful environment," explains Marianne Shillingford, creative director of paint brand, Dulux.
"Bright, zesty shades can invigorate a space, but too much intensity can disrupt the tranquil atmosphere needed for rest," she adds. "To maintain harmony, it’s essential to complement the bold hue with soft, neutral tones and lots of natural textures."
This space, painted in Dulux's True Joy (which happens to be Dulux’s Color of the Year 2025), is an example of a bedroom color idea that proves the right shade of yellow can bring a burst of sunshine to every morning.
Marianne Shillingford is responsible for Dulux’s color trends, a hugely important role in the decorating giant’s creative team. She works with fellow color experts from across the world to design palettes that inspire millions of spaces.
2. Go for wow-factor in ruby red
The bed is always going to be the centerpiece in a bedroom, so why not pick a bold color?
If you’re looking to make a statement with your bedroom color ideas, why not invest in a beautiful piece of colorful bedroom furniture? This four poster bed picked up a Livingetc Style Award in previous years, and it’s not hard to see why.
"People often default to neutrals in the bedroom, but introducing color on a larger furniture piece gives the space personality and warmth," says Nicola Harding, an interior designer who created the piece for her Nix collection. "It makes such a playful way to enliven a sleeping sanctuary, and it’s a way to add depth, drama, and a touch of theatre without overwhelming the room. One strong piece can speak volumes."
If you’re looking to give your existing bed frame a makeover, painting it with a specialist finish (like Benjamin Moore’s Advance or Farrow & Ball’s Dead Flat) is an excellent way to create a new colored look.
3. “Triple dip” in blue
Embracing three shades of one color can create an indulgent, cosseting effect, especially in darker hues.
Covering a bedroom in one single color (like seen in this blue bedroom idea, above) can create an enveloping, cocoon-like effect, making the space feel cozy. "We like to go one-step further by using multiple shades of the same color, known as triple-dip color drenching," says Alice Bettington of Golden Interior Design.
"It brings complexity and allows the technique to feel alive and interesting," explains Alice. "This can be achieved by using different paint shades from the same family in the same room — opt for one shade for the walls, one for the woodwork, and one for the ceiling. Darker blues are a wonderful choice for bedrooms as they evoke the night sky."
Create a sense of depth through your bedroom color ideas by using soft furnishings and accessories in different tones of your base color.
4. Think of green as a soft option
A colorful velvet headboard is the perfect starting point for this stylish green ‘bedscape’.
As it takes up so much space in a bedroom, the bed itself can become an excellent place to experiment with color. Dressing the bed in colored linen can make a space sing. Case in point? The gorgeous green bedroom in this New York brownstone, created by Crystal Sinclair Designs.
“Colorful bedding is so fun! I find it much more personal than all white bedding,” says Crystal. “The bed is usually the focal point of the room so why not turn up the volume a little?"
"I like to contrast the textures — using linen with a velvet, say, or my ultimate favorite — pairing velvet with leather accents like throw pillows or the piping of a headboard,” she adds. Use a floor-skimming bedspread or top sheet to make your chosen color even more of a focus.
Welcome a positive color into your bedroom with this soft linen bedding, made from sustainably sourced European flax. We love this shade of green, but there are seven other color choices, too.
5. Climb the wall in turquoise
Don’t think of tiles as just for the kitchen or bathroom. Interior designers are increasingly using them in ‘soft’ spaces to add color and texture.
Tiles aren’t normally seen in a bedroom, and even less so on bedroom walls, but as this bedroom color idea proves, they’re an excellent way to introduce color in a bold, graphic way.
“It’s an unexpected move that rally adds a sense of creativity to a space that is often treated as soft and subdued,” confirms Pfeiffer Design’s Eloise Pfeiffer. “Wall tiles, like these from Bert & May, add an extra dimension to bedrooms in a totally unique way. To avoid emphasizing their hardness, opt for tiled headboards, feature walls, or alcoves, rather than all over, and avoid floor tiling unless your home is in a consistently warm climate.”
“Grout color is another design element that shouldn’t be overlooked. It can completely transform the look of your tiling; contrasting grout delivers a bold, more defined result, while color-matched grout maintains a quieter, more cohesive effect,” Eloise adds.
6. Tone it down with brown
Use color to respond thoughtfully to other elements in your space — a warm shade of brown pairs perfectly with wood.
If you have natural materials in your bedroom, why not use them as the jumping off point for your color palette? Whether you’ve got exposed stone walls or metallic pipes running along a ceiling, it can be a wonderful idea to decorate in a way that celebrates these elements rather than diminish them.
The wooden wall panelling in this bedroom lends itself beautifully to the cappuccino brown of the walls, for example. “Having natural textures in a bedroom can create a simple warmth,” explains the interior designer Lucinda Sanford. “Highlight these with complementary colors to create interest.”
“It’s a chic, elegant way to decorate that is definitely trending,” confirms Dara Huang from Design Haus Liberty. “We’re in a moment where taking color inspiration from natural materials is very attractive to our emotional states.”
7. Fade to black
Interior designers are looking to shades of black to create sophisticated color schemes.
While not strictly a color itself, decorating with black accents can embolden whichever shade it sits beside. Combining a bold color with black as you bedroom color idea can help to create a dramatic look that is perfect for making contemporary bedrooms cozy and inviting.
“Black helps to create a calm, intimate ambience, reducing light reflection and promoting the perfect atmosphere for unwinding and drifting off to sleep,” explains Andy Greenall, Head of Design at Paint & Paper Library. “Using black can feel surprisingly sumptuous and soothing.”
But how to use it? Create a sense of drama by using the darker hue as a ceiling color (which is a far more important element in a bedroom compared to other spaces) and woodwork, allowing your other color free rein on the walls.
Andy Greenall steers the color direction of Paint & Paper Library, a paint and wallpaper brand renowned for its commitment to quality. He has championed the use of environmentally-friendly ingredients and sustainable manufacturing processes.
8. Make drapes dreamy in orange
A bed canopy creates a sense of whimsy and romance, but there’s no need for it to look fussy. Opt for colorful silk curtains for elegance.
“I’ll go out on a limb here and suggest that most of us won’t be painting our bedrooms in bright colors,” says stylist Twig Hutchinson, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t use color to make a big, unashamed statement.”
“A bed canopy makes a bedroom instantly interesting, and is a very clever way of using color,” she expands. “I love this bed by Rose Unaicke, which updates the traditional canopy by using a completely plain, rust orange silk-wool fabric. Use the palette for the rest of the bed — uniformity is key to the simple, crisp look.”
Keep the look contemporary by opting for a more minimal canopy design: Rose Unaicke’s simple suspension system (made from wrought iron) will allow the color to take center stage.
9. Use two pink hues
Using darker versions of the same color can give pastel shades a more modern and polished look, especially in a bedroom.
Decorating in two extremes of the same color can be a wise decision, especially in bedrooms where a cohesive scheme can help to create a relaxed mood.
“This is a modern and refined take on the classic monochrome design scheme,” explains Emma Deterding, founder of Kelling Designs. “Exploring the full tonal spectrum of a single color can create an intimate, relaxing and warming space.”
“We prefer to use lighter tones as the foundation on walls,” explains the designer. “Bring the darker tones in more sparingly as accents to help anchor the space and create layers of depth. The contrast between the two colors enhances that monochromatic aesthetic by playing with light and shadow for a rich and layered feel.”
This bolster cushion features complementary shades of red and pink, perfect as a darker accent in a blush bedroom.
10. Wash it out in green
If you want to create a space that feels serene, don’t dismiss color. The softest shades can create a calming retreat.
For a bedroom color idea that feels more traditionally ‘neutral’, you shouldn't be afraid to use color, just embrace it in a very soft way.
Color drenching bedrooms is an effective way to use a ‘barely-there’ color, as this bedroom in Stockholm proves. “Choose a washed out color,” says the project’s designer, Susanna Wålin from Note Design Studio.
“This soft green becomes neutral as there’s an absence of contrast, helping to create a feeling of calm,” she explains. “It doesn’t seek your attention but it gives the space identity in a way that white would not.”
This soft shade of sage green has subtle blue undertones that lower its intensity, while leave it feeling light and fresh.
FAQs
Which colors work best in modern bedrooms?
Natural shades of blue, green, and yellow are known for their soothing qualities, making them an excellent bedroom color idea, a space dedicated to relaxation.
Can I use bright colors in a bedroom?
Absolutely. Bold statement shades should be used thoughtfully, though — choosing one color and then balancing it with more neutral tones is an effective way of stopping the brightness from overwhelming the senses.
How does light affect color in a bedroom?
As with every room of a house, light has a huge impact on bedroom color ideas. (We've previously gone into depth as to how light affects green paint.)
In rooms with low light, use warm shades to balance blue light. In rooms with more light, bolder colors will appear more energizing. If you’re painting, it's best to always use sample pots and compare the effect during the day.
Can I use color to make a bedroom feel bigger?
Yes. Color-drenching (using the same shade on walls, woodwork and the ceiling) is an effective way to blur the boundaries in a bedroom, reducing a ‘hemmed-in’ effect from walls and creating the illusion of additional space.
If I’m not redecorating, how can I add color to my bedroom?
The bed becomes the natural focal point of any bedroom, so take advantage of its surface area by choosing a colorful set of bedding.
Switching up lampshades and adding a new rug is another clever way to layer in complementary shades.
It’s simply not true that bedrooms have to be neutral to help you sleep better, and the best bedroom color ideas are all about using different shades in creative ways.
The right color can make all the difference in creating a bedroom that is not only a beautiful place to fall asleep but somewhere that’s full of character, too.
