Bedroom Decorating – Choosing a Color For Your Bedroom

We have all heard that color makes a difference in how we feel and how we behave. For instance, I have always heard that restaurants use a lot of red because it causes people to hurry; therefore, they are able to cycle people through with fewer tables. I have also always heard that blue is very relaxing because it is the color of the sky and of water.

You may be thinking, “It doesn’t matter what color it is since I’ll be asleep.” Yes, that is true up to a point; however, you have to get to sleep! Sometimes even when we are totally exhausted it is hard to unwind and relax. The colors you put in your bedroom could very well affect your ability to do just that.

I recently read a story about a theater actress who had difficulties with fatigue and being able to get the rest she needed. She had not always had this problem, but had developed it after having her bedroom redecorated.

As an actress in the theater, she spent many nights out late which required her to catch up on her sleep during the daylight hours.

Her designer painted the walls of her bedroom a bright cheery yellow - bright and cheery just like the sun. When the sun comes up, this signals to our brain that it is time to rise and shine. This color caused her to have the same feeling. She had difficulty sleeping until she changed the walls to a much more soothing and relaxing color.

• Pale or light colors can make a room feel larger, open, brighter and airy. Lighter colored walls can make a room feel larger.
• Darker colors can make a room feel sophisticated and warm, and can make an expansive room feel more intimate. Darker colored walls can make a room feel smaller.

• Blue is relaxing, calming and serene. It is often recommended for bedrooms and is also often used in hospitals. Pastel blue can make a room feel chilly (think iceberg), unless balanced with furnishings and fabrics using warmer hues or colors. The warmer blues, such as periwinkle, or bright blues, such as turquoise will encourage relaxation. The very dark blues can make some people feel sad; therefore, it is best if a dark blue be used as an accent color rather than a main color when considering your bedroom decorating scheme.

• Green, a very calming color, is an excellent color choice because it combines the relaxing qualities of blue with the pleasant qualities of yellow. Green is believed to reduce stress levels and is believed to help with fertility. Hospitals often use green because of its calming and relaxing qualities.

• Purple, a dark, rich purple, can make a room feel dramatic and sophisticated. It especially works well as an accent color, adding depth to a color scheme. Lighter shades of purple make a room feel relaxed and restful, without that chilly (light blue) feeling.

• Neutrals (black, gray, white, brown) are safe colors to use. Black should be used judiciously, usually only as an accent. Neutrals can be used as a base color, with the exception of black, and then add other colors to liven things up a little.

• Red evokes excitement, raises a room’s energy level, and stimulates conversation. Red can also make some people feel angry, agitated and hostile. Crimson, another form of red, can also make some people irritable.

• Yellow is energizing, welcoming, sunny and uplifting. Yellow can also cause some people to feel frustration and anger. When used, it is best used as an accent.

• Orange stirs up excitement, energy and enthusiasm. This would not be a good color choice for a bedroom.

Although the ceiling is one-sixth the color space available for you to work with in a room, very few people think about using a color other than white on their ceiling. There are other options. As long as a ceiling is lighter than the walls, it will feel higher. While a darker color will make a ceiling feel lower, it does not have to make a person feel claustrophobic. A higher ceiling can be visually pulled down by using a darker color, making the room feel more cozy and intimate.

That’s a basic run-down of color choices good for bedroom decorating. After choosing the theme of your room, choosing the color would be your next step. Using the color choices above, your sanctuary will be relaxing, peaceful and restful - just like a bedroom getaway should be.

All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2011 Cindy Murdoch (homesteadbound)

Your Future is Waiting! Do you feel you have great information or stories to share with others? Sign Up Here. . . It’s quick, easy and free to join HubPages!

Bedroom Decorating – Your Refuge, Your Sanctuary! - discusses the importance of having a bedroom we can escape to in order to refresh and revitalize ourselves.

Bedroom Decorating – Creating a Refuge and a Sanctuary. - using a thematic approach to bedroom decorating to create a room that provides a place where you could be relaxed and refreshed.

Bedroom Decorating - Finishing Your Sanctuary or Retreat - personalizing your special living space and making it into a place that conjures up many happy memories.