Colour has a powerful impact on many aspects of our daily lives. In fact, certain colours can affect our mood, temperature, blood pressure, metabolism and even eye strain. So when it comes to designing your bedroom - the place you want to feel calm, relaxed and serene - it's really important to consider how colour can enhance or diminish the way you feel. Here are 4 tips for choosing the perfect palette for your sanctuary.
1. Work with the Natural Light in Your Bedroom
The amount of natural light in your room is a great place to start when choosing whether to do a cool or warm colour palette.
Cool colours like blues and greys don't have yellow in them, so they absorb light and can make a room feel cooler and even more spacious. Warm colours like taupe, cream and nude have a significant amount of yellow in them and tend to reflect light, making a room feel warmer and cozier.
Choosing a cool palette for a bright, sunny room is a great way to balance out all the light. On the other hand, using a warm palette in an already light room can create a bright, uplifting and airy vibe. Rooms with minimal natural light can feel a little colder, so a warm palette will certainly add some life to the space.
2. Choose a Colour You Love (& Can Live with For a Long Time)
What's your favourite colour? What colours have you always been drawn to? Start there. We recommend visiting the Choose Your Colour section for an overview of all the possibilities. And while we're big fans of a neutral palette in the bedroom - from greys and blues to whites, creams and taupes - we do encourage plenty of pops of your favourite colours. Forget what's trending. Focus less on the "Colour of the Year" and stick with the colour closest to your heart. You can bring pops of trendy colour into the accents, but when choosing the foundational palette, we prefer soft, soothing tones that promote a calm and restful environment. (And sleep!)
3. Pick a Colour "Scheme"
Once you've picked your palette, there are a number of ways to work with colour, which we call the colour scheme. Here's a simple breakdown of how an interior designer might use a particular colour scheme to design a bedroom:
Analogus - This scheme is achieved by simply combining 3 or more colours that are right next to each other on the colour wheel. Typically, one colour will be the dominant hue and the other colours work as secondary or accent colours. This scheme gives the feel of gradation.
Matteo Woven Linen Striped Throw
Complimentary - This scheme uses colours that compliment each other, and which tend to be on opposite sides of the colour wheel. The result is contrasting and eye-popping.
Monochromatic - This scheme uses a single colour in a variety tones, shades and hues, which creates a sophisticated and relaxing bedroom vibe. Textures and patterns are especially fun to play with when going monochromatic.
4. Always Request a Swatch!
It's always a smart idea to test colours in your room before you commit to any paint or fabric. Colours change under different lighting, so you want to be sure the colours you've chosen are as pleasing in your room as they look at the store. We offer free fabric samples in all our collections, which we send to you or give out in our stores, so you can be 100% sure before you invest.
What is your go-to colour palette? We want to hear, tag us on Instagram at @AuLitFineLinens or tweet us at @AuLitFineLinens.
