And bedroom Feng Shui can equally stem from a desire to create a particular mood or feel – with color the route to its creation. Feng Shui bedroom color ideas can soothe, warm, or nurture, and in doing so bring better sleep, make you feel more energized, or promote wellbeing. Here, we’ve curated a host of beautiful Feng Shui bedroom colors, both classic and contemporary, for inspiration and asked the experts to share their advice as well.
Feng Shui bedroom colors
Our selection of Feng Shui bedroom color ideas are sure to inspire you, whether you are looking for bold shades for your walls, or accents to enliven a simple scheme. From wellness-inducing blue to fiery, passionate red, these room color ideas will help you choose the perfect hue for a bedroom that benefits from the principles of Feng Shui.
1. Inspire optimism with yellow
At the lighter, bolder end of the spectrum, yellow is the Feng Shui color of optimism. ‘Yellow can create a mellow and uplifting interior all at the same time. It transports us back to long lazy sun-drenched days in the Mediterranean and it can brighten us up on gloomy days. It works brilliantly with blues, teals, greens and reds, and for real crisp freshness use with white,’ says Martin Waller of global design brand Andrew Martin (opens in new tab). For a calming and balanced Feng Shui bedroom scheme, opt for sandy yellows or ochres and pair with blues. ‘As a warm and vibrant tone, yellow creates an emotional response that is both joyful and exciting,’ says Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord (opens in new tab). Architect Richard Parr suggests choosing a natural palette that will enrich yellow, rather than work against it. ‘We recommend paring yellow with earthy and deep tones, from terracotta to rust, incorporating natural materials such as rich timbers and warm metals that will pick up and enhance the color.'
2. Keep calm with a tranquil blue
Blue runs the whole gamut of shades from delicate eau de Nil to the deepest, darkest, inky blues – they are easily the palette of choice for many, from amateur decorators to interior designers as they’re incredibly easy to live with and perfect for layering, believes Patrick O’Donnell of Farrow & Ball (opens in new tab). ‘Blue bedroom ideas also come with positive attributes in both color psychology and Feng Shui, such as enthusiasm, sympathy, warmth, encouragement, spirituality, loyalty, and thoughtfulness.’ Pale blue meanwhile makes for a calming backdrop for a bedroom which can be instantly warmed up with reds, oranges, pinks and yellows. ‘We are very careful when picking blues for a room that doesn’t get too much natural light to make sure that the undertones are not too grey,’ says Liv Wallers and Cath Beckett, co-founders of Yellow London (opens in new tab). Another way to ensure there’s warmth is by introducing a pattern, adds interior designer Rosanna Bossom. ‘I’d steer clear of geometric patterns for blue bedrooms and add some brown furniture. Brand-new shiny furniture can make a bedroom feel stark.'
3. Evoke the beauty of nature with green
Green is in general a calming and relaxing color and is generally considered the best color for a bedroom by paint experts. Being the Feng Shui bedroom color that represents nature, it’s one that makes us feel good and positive. ‘The poet and philosopher Goethe used to describe green as a useful color, a good color to have around,’ explains Francesca Wezel, founder of Francesca’s Paints. ‘Dark green is often used in traditional gentlemen’s clubs and libraries, goes well with wood and is a color that stimulates concentration and deep thinking. Light green is a perfect tone for bedrooms, as it is calming and relaxing and helps us to sleep well.’ When it comes to choosing color combinations for rooms, Francesca adds, look to nature for inspiration. ‘Green bedroom ideas look marvellous with pink, red, orange and brown. I also love green and blue together.'
4. Introduce subtle sensuality with pink
Pink room ideas are an excellent choice for your Feng Shui bedroom color scheme as it doesn’t distract or stimulate the brain. ‘Choose a warm and cozy hue,’ recommends Irene Gunter of Gunter & Co (opens in new tab). ‘My current favorites include Temple by Paint & Paper Library (opens in new tab) and Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball. Using blush shades like these, particularly in a bedroom, creates a soothing and inviting atmosphere.’ She likes to pair these shades with natural wood floors and textured materials such as velvet in a deep grey. Color conjures up different reactions in everyone, adds designer Sarah Fortescue. ‘Pink warms my heart, cushions my body and I feel its warmth and comfort. There is an infinite spectrum of pinks, however, depending on the room, the history of the house, its scale and function, pinks can vary hugely. Pinks with orange or ochre hues are wonderful – I’ve used a pale orangey-pink for my bedroom as it exudes passion and vitality – the kind of pink you need.’
5. Instil purity with a pure white space
Evoking purity and cleanliness alongside confidence and sophistication, white bedroom ideas are a timeless choice for your Feng Shui bedroom color ideas, regardless of the style of your home. Connected to the metal element in Feng Shui, white also represents precision, communication and happiness. ‘The reason people like decorating with white is because it is so versatile,’ says artist and color expert Annie Sloan (opens in new tab). ‘There are so many varying shades of white from warm white to cool white and the great thing about decorating with it is that whatever your style of interior – white-on-white is a scheme that is guaranteed to look sophisticated.’ The secret to a stylish, all-white bedroom scheme is appreciating that white comes in many forms. Don’t feel like you have to stick to one white – build them up to create a room with depth.
6. Decorate with sophisticated neutrals
‘Not to be confused with cold and bland palettes, new neutrals are warm by nature,’ says Charu Gandhi, founder, Elicyon (opens in new tab). ‘Typically matt in finish, they have the ability to flex, and so it’s possible for them to suit any type of home, be it traditional or contemporary – in fact, their elasticity is the reason we’re calling them “new”.’ ‘For a warmer, cozier aesthetic, consider a red-based neutral shade such as Wimborne White or Dimity by Farrow & Ball,’ recommends Louise Wicksteed, design director at Sims Hilditch (opens in new tab). Henriette Von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors (opens in new tab) agrees: ‘For me, neutrals such as taupe are grounding wall colors. It’s important to remember that sometimes a classic interior is just the ticket: calm colors, gentle schemes, traditional furniture and antiques – no pattern clashes, no huge color pops, just comfort and a quiet space to relax in.’ A neutral bedroom color scheme can also be paired with other materials to truly sing out: timber and marble work well. I also love teaming them with suede and woollen rugs. Ceramic, clay and colored glass are great options for creating a decorative room.
7. Conjure up self-reliance with gray
Gray bedroom ideas have soared in popularity, and luckily there’s a shade to suit every style. Undeniably the new but enduring neutral, this contemporary shade will add a modern edge, elegance and a refinement to a bedroom, and is a go-to for anyone who wants an easy-to-live with tone. The best choice for a west-facing front space, gray also represents the metal element, so it is color scheme associated with determination, self-reliance and sophistication. In addition, it’s the color associated with balance and knowledge.
8. Dispel negative energy with purple
Lilac is a calming, comforting Feng Shui bedoom color – it makes you want to relax and stay in an interior longer. Ideal for bedrooms to help you rest. Lilac fell out of favor for a time but this season it’s making a comeback – albeit in a more sophisticated and less saccharine incarnation. ‘This shade conjures a charming and sophisticated feel, visions of rolling purple fields in Provence with delicate floral scents,’ says David Harris, design director, Andrew Martin. ‘Having all the walls in a bedroom painted in a pale violet can be a bit too much so an accent wall is preferred. To add a modern touch to this relaxing shade, I’d pair it with soft grey hues for a cool and contemporary scheme.’
9. Take a dramatic turn with black
Black bedroom ideas may not be for the faint-hearted, but you should never be afraid of the dark when choose Feng Shui bedroom colors. A smart choice for north-facing bedrooms, black is known for releasing positive energy. It’s intertwined with the water element, which represents wisdom, maturity and communication. ‘We would usually lean towards quieter palette combinations, but darker shades can work really well within smaller spaces,’ says James Thurstan Waterworth, founder, Thurstan (opens in new tab). ‘They create a perception of depth and lend a cozy, cocoon-like feel – welcome in every bedroom. For the walls, we suggest a deep midnight black or a petrol gray, then lift this by layering careful accents of color, perhaps a burnt orange or a similar earth-toned hue – ochre, terracotta or a softer peach.’
10. Energize with red
Contemplating red bedroom ideas? While the color might sound like a dramatic choice for the bedroom, it’s actually a hue that’s easy to live with, and definitely worth your consideration. The qualities that make red a great option for your Feng Shui bedroom color ideas? Its warmth, the ability to make the bedroom feel cocooning, and its appearance under artificial light. After all, for many of us, the bedroom is a space we frequently occupy after dark. As with any color used in decorating, there are many variations of red to choose from, and it’s a good idea to think about which way your room faces when selecting. The principles associated with Feng Shui suggest that this color would be best suited to south-facing bedroom. It is also a fantastic color choice for those living in colder climates.
What is the lucky color for a bedroom?
Much like for Feng Shui front door colors, red is the most prosperous and lucky color for Feng Shui bedroom ideas, as well as a compelling and dominant color choice for the transformation of negative energy. Red is also connected to the fire element, which represents passion, aspiration and warmth. If red is too bold of a choice for your Feng Shui bedroom color scheme, consider toning it down with a pale or muted pink instead. Pink has long been used to great effect by architects. The key to a timeless interior is to ensure they are neither too sugary, blue, babyish or garish. Emma Bulmer, head of color consultancy at Edward Bulmer Natural Paint (opens in new tab), recommends pairing dusky pinks with deeper hues of blue or green.
