4 Colors You Should Never Paint Your Bedroom

Nothing feels better than jumping into bed for a rejuvenating night’s sleep. But our rest can be disturbed in many ways, so we strive to create a comfortable cocoon with pillows just the way we like them, soft sheets, and maybe a noise machine to overtake aural distractions. However, there is one element we might be overlooking that contributes to the lack of Zen: the color of the walls. While the paint color of a room is intended to create ambiance, it can unintentionally affect our feelings. In the bedroom, where relaxation is the goal, you’ll want to stay away from loud and bright hues that energize, especially these four colors. 

Red

Long considered a power color, red has many meanings. It can mean you need to stop when driving, or it can signify love when shaped as a heart. It’s a color that grabs your attention and is hard to overlook. As a result, red energizes you — and when you’re falling asleep, you want the opposite. A red accent pillow or two likely won’t do any harm, but red walls are likely to increase stimulation, working against your well-earned rest.

Purple

Initially considered the color of royalty, deep purple should be avoided on bedroom walls. While the color might increase productivity or creativity, that’s not what you want when you need shut-eye. According to a 2013 study by TraveLodge, people in purple rooms generally got less sleep — under six hours, to be exact. That’s because the color, which is nown to stimulate the brain, can make it harder to shut off before bed.

Black

Black is a striking color that works well as an accent or focal point in a room. But as a bedroom wall color, black is too much of a good thing. Instead of evoking feelings of comfort, black can present as aggressive and foreboding. Plus, black walls will make a room feel smaller, as they absorb rather than reflect light. If you must have black, use it on the wall behind your head so it won’t be the first thing you see when you wake up.

Brown

While brown furniture can warm up a room, brown walls can feel dismal and dreary, which isn’t likely to inspire you to jump out of bed when the alarm goes off. Also, brown is the color of mud and dirt, which aren’t the most appealing associations. If you want that earthy feel, try brown in a room that gets good light and won’t leave you feeling closed in.  

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