Serene Bedroom Colors provides ideas for paint colors to sample when you’re into a timeless tranquil look and could use a starting point. You’ll discover a gallery of inspiration images and suggestions inspired by designer projects (exact paint colors in some cases). Which color is right for your bedroom retreat?
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Serene Bedroom Colors
Sherwin-Williams NATURAL CHOICE
Time to sweetly dream of serene paint colors that promote a restful vibe. I’m in Arizona at the moment, and here’s the warm ivory I painted our bedroom:
SW Natural White is a very soft neutral that may remind you of creamy plaster walls or even a stone-like limewash.
Frequently someone will ask me for the name of a paint color they saw and I have to reveal that the color they are seeing is plaster and not paint at all. Take a peek at this gorgeous sanctuary of a bedroom:
Isn’t it lovely? While I am unsure of the exact paint used in this designer bedroom, it also reminds me of Natural Choice:
Since paint colors have undertones and will look completely different across lighting situations (and the region of the country!), it actually makes sense to find an image you like and then sample colors in the range without knowing the exact color used in your inspiration! Here’s another warm ivory example where a bit of contrast is created with a brighter white trim and black:
Again, sample at least three similar colors in your space to decide on a winner.
From gentle whites to soft blacks, keep reading for ideas from designers and homeowners across the web.
Sherwin-Williams ALABASTER
Alabaster is similar to Natural Choice, and you may be more familiar with it since it is a designer favorite.
This is the creamy white color that shot to fame many years ago when Fixer Upper’s Joanna Gaines painted a fair share of shiplap and modern farmhouse style surged.
Don’t count it out just because of its popularity.
It works beautifully with other design styles beyond farmhouse.
See more lovely Country French bedrooms by Brit Jones featuring this versatile white.
Will This Hue Be Too Yellow?
I am often asked about white paint colors that can lean yellow since “warmth” may hail from yellow undertones. Undertones in Alabaster include gaey and beige – so it isn’t going to strike you as yellow. That said, the contrast of a crisp cool white next to it will affect your perception of it.
Another factor to consider is how Alabaster interacts with sunlight. In this particular photo below, Alabaster appears slightly yellow:
There are so many reasons it may not look yellow in person! Photography edits, time of day, etc. So don’t write off a color straight away from one photo.
It helps to see a color in context with surrounding colors. For example, here’s a tranquil bedroom with Alabaster paired with SW Accessible Beige painted paneling:
Isn’t Alabaster pretty paired with blush pink hints of the contrasting neutral? Here’s another helpful example where Alabaster meets wallpaper and Austere Gray:
Don’t underestimate how the same wall color is influenced by the balance of the room’s other colors and lighting!
Soft Green-Grey Bedroom Paint Colors
Light greens and pastels with soft green undertones may bring the serenity you’re after. It’s not just for the walls since you can introduce soft green for trim, doors, furniture, curtains, and accents. Here’s a bedroom where the warmth of rustic wood is softened with green, creating a restful cocoon:
Another designer trick for creating a cozy mood? Think beyond white for painted trim and ceilings. Here’s Farrow & Ball Pigeon on the ceiling in a tranquil bedroom:
I remain a fan of light greys for bedrooms (still loving the colors chosen for our current home with assorted greige hues.)
Sherwin-Williams EIDER WHITE 7014
Layering whites is one strategy for an evolved, more sophisticated result. If you are a fan of Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray or Agreeable Gray, here’s a white in that family to consider:
Eider White was chosen for this showhouse bedroom a few years back:
It’s well established that a warm white can calm a bedroom to create a restful backdrop, but what about at the end of the spectrum?
Benjamin Moore IRON MOUNTAIN
Soothing wall colors for a tranquil bedroom need not be limited to pastels.
Designers love Iron Mountain for its natural, earthy, atmospheric boldness.
One of the questions to ask if you’re looking to re-paint a bedroom is how and when the room will be used. If the bedroom is exclusively for sleep, maybe a deep moody tone makes sense.
A word of caution about a color such as this one. It may appear brown when viewed as a small swatch. Even the first coat going on wet could give you pause. However, most colors darken as they dry.
Farrow & Ball RAILINGS
Dark and moody can be soothing indeed, and if you’re seeking a soft black with a heap of depth and character, F&B’s Railings may suit you.
It can work on all of the walls…
or on mill work:
Here are a few more wise tips from a pro for creating a relaxing bedroom retreat:
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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