These are common pieces of advice given to "optimize" your sleep and gently wake up each morning. Most of these tips are solid, but Michelle Lewis, a color psychology expert and certified color analyst, thinks we're missing another key factor: Calming bedroom paint colors can make waking up feel like less of a drag (ditto for powering down).
Lewis says that the colors that surround you in transitional moments—like when you wake up or get ready for bed—actively influence your cortisol (stress hormone) levels, heart rate and your brain's ability to pivot between "alert" and "at-rest" states.
But which colors can soothe the nervous system first thing in the morning? Lewis shares that a specific bedroom color is the most calming to wake up to—and can even help you rest more deeply at night.
Yes, Lewis notes that some colors are more calming than others, according to color psychology. She also points out that color psychology is backed by actual science, and this is a perfect example of how.
While the brain will eventually need to go into an "active" state, it's unnecessary to jump straight from dreamland into hustle mode. Calming, cool hues let you ease into your day. That said, Lewis reports that saturation is an oft-overlooked factor that matters just as much as hue.
For this reason, designers and color psychologists alike prefer recommending soft, slightly hushed paints over bold, vivid ones for restful bedrooms.
The 'Most Calming' Bedroom Paint Color, According to a Color Psychologist
Lewis says that blue is the most calming bedroom paint color. Specifically, a soft, muted blue with gray undertones can promote better sleep quality and a gentler wake-up.
This type of blue slows the heart rate (or keeps it slow) and lets you know it's OK to relax.
When you soften the blue with gray, it can sedate you (great for bedtime) or support a softer start to your day.
Warm gray uses a different mechanism than a soft, muted blue. Lewis says it leans into the "absence of chromatic stimulation."
"A warm gray achieves this without the anxiety-inducing sterility of white or the coldness of pure cool gray," she says. "The warmth in the undertone—pulling toward taupe or greige—keeps it from feeling clinical. Emotionally, warm gray is the color equivalent of silence—not empty, just quiet."
"For those of you neutral-lovers out there, you can stick with what you love and bring in color with accent pieces like bedding, chairs, rugs and curtains," she adds.
2. Sage green
Lewis notes this study shows the power of green's effect on our nervous system. She also cites other research suggesting that green environments tend to "produce stress-reducing effects in clinical settings compared to white."
Lewis describes deep teal as "one of the most scientifically sound calming colors."
She points out that a 2024-25 study at a hospital suggested that patients in green and blue rooms had significantly better mood improvements and shorter recovery periods than their peers in white and gray rooms.
4. Soft lavender
Soft lavender's calming properties are grounded in its violet wavelength color," according to Lewis.
The color analyst notes that a grayed-down, muted lavender remains in the "cool wavelength range," supporting a rested state.
Honestly, that sounds like a heavenly way to wake up (and wind down).
3 Paint Colors To Avoid in a Bedroom
If you want to create a calming bedroom, Lewis warns that painting it bright red is counterproductive.
Related: Color Psychologist Says These 5 Favorite Colors Are Loved by ‘Especially Creative’ People
2. Vivid yellow
"These are the qualities that make yellow powerful in a workspace or kitchen," she shares.
"The eye processes yellow's high reflectivity quickly, and that visual energy doesn't quiet down just because the lights are off and the undertone is muted," Lewis says.
3. Bright white
"Since the bedroom is a space where you spend up to a third of your life, it’s not a great choice for relaxation," she explains. "White's brightness and lack of chromatic information create a visual flatness that the nervous system reads as sterile rather than restful. If you love the clean feeling of white, a warm cream or off-white greige achieves visual simplicity without the stress response that pure white can trigger."
You bookend your day in your bedroom, so it's useful to have a color proven to put you in a calmer state of mind. Here's what to keep in mind when creating a zen den:
Some colors are more calming than others. Cool, muted colors are calming colors, especially in a bedroom. Lewis, a color psychology expert, specifically a "soft, muted blue with gray undertones." Other calming colors include sage green, deep teal and soft lavender. You'll want to avoid some colors in your room. Deep red, vivid yellow and bright are shown in research to induce alertness, stress and anxiety—none of which stage whisper, "calm."Saturation matters. A bright green or blue can trigger anxiety. Lewis says soft and muted versions of hues promote calm.Related: Color Psychologist Says Your Favorite Color May Be Connected to Type A or Type B Personality Traits
Sources:
Michelle Lewis is a color psychology expert, certified color analyst, author and the founder of ColorAnalysis.com and The Color Institute. She is also the author of Color Secrets: Learning The One Universal Language We Were Never Taught.The influence of color on student emotion, heart rate, and performance in learning environments. Color Research and Application.Effects of illuminance and correlated color temperature on emotional responses and lighting adjustment behaviors. Journal of Building & Engineering. Blue light and melatonin suppression. Nature Scientific Reports.Detrimental Effects of White Valued Walls in Classrooms. Educational Planning, 21.Adaptive Effects of Seeing Green Environment on Psychophysiological Parameters When Walking or Running. Frontiers in Psychology.Do the hospital rooms make a difference for patients’ stress? A multilevel analysis of the role of perceived control, positive distraction, and social support. Journal of Environmental Psychology. The Influence of Hospital Room Wall Colors on Mood Elevation and Recovery Rate in Postoperative Patients: A Comparative Study. Med Science Group.Blue or Red? Exploring the Effect of Color on Cognitive Task Performances. Science.Hence then, the article about color psychologist says this bedroom paint color is the most calming to wake up to here s why was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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