While you may not think much about the color that your rooms are painted, you might be surprised at the effect they can have on your mood.
Everything from your stress levels to your appetite can be affected by the color of the room you are in. Introverted people are especially susceptible to the effect of room color and are more likely to be put in a negative mood by an unsuitable color.
There is a whole field of psychology on how to choose colors that best suit you based on the science of people’s response to them.
Let’s take red as an example. Many people love red as the color of passion and find it exhilarating, but research published in the journal Color Research and Application shows that it can put your brain in a more excited state. This color can excite you to such an extent that it has been linked to an increase in blood pressure!
Effect of Your Bedroom Color on Sleep
Given the strong effect that color can have on you, it is not surprising that the color of your bedroom walls can have a significant effect on the quality of your sleep.
Studies comparing bedroom wall color to the amount of sleep that people get have revealed some striking trends.
One notable study conducted by the hotel brand company Travelodge analyzed 2,000 bedrooms in the United Kingdom (UK) to find out which colors helped people sleep and which led to disrupted sleep.
This study tracked the amount of time that people slept and compared it to the colors that their bedroom walls were painted.
Worst Colors for Bedroom Walls
Purple. As the traditional color of royalty throughout the ages, many people consider it to epitomize luxury. However, you may want to think twice before painting your bedroom purple. It can have such an effect that it has been linked to vivid dreams and nightmares.
Red. As the universal color of danger, red can be too aggressive for many people as described above. However, if you really like red, you could consider a muted version for your bedroom.
Brown. Many people like brown because it is a neutral color and often choose it for their bedrooms. However, in the Travelodge study, it was the second worst color when the amount of sleep was measured.
Gray. Another neutral color that could be soothing, many people find the color depressing, and people that slept in gray bedrooms did not get much sleep in the Travelodge study.
Best Colors for Your Bedroom Walls
Blue. This color has been studied quite a bit because of its calming effects on people. There is a reason for this! Our eyes have receptors that are the most sensitive to blue light and interact with the area of our brains that affects sleep.
Blue can even lower your blood pressure and heart rate. Therefore, it helps to promote relaxation before sleep. Many color psychologists advise it as the best color to paint your bedroom, and people in blue bedrooms slept the longest in the Travelodge study.
Yellow. People in yellow bedrooms got almost as much sleep as those in blue bedrooms in the UK study. Most people find yellow to be warm and comforting, and it has been shown to promote relaxation by stimulating the nervous system. However, you should consider a more neutral shade.
Green. If you don’t like blue or yellow, you could consider green, especially shades like olive or moss. The study found that people in green bedrooms got the third highest amount of sleep.
Silver. Silver has been found to be a soothing color that helps to induce sleep. This could be the case because it glows like moonlight.
Only You Can Choose the Best Color for Your Bedroom
All the science in the world won’t help you sleep well if you hate the colors advised for sleep. Take the suggested color choices under advisement and consider other factors that can help you have a good night’s sleep.
You might not have much choice for your bedroom wall colors if you are renting, but if you are looking to buy a home, consider professionals to help you find your dream home.