We Asked Designers to Pick the Most Timeless Bedroom Paint Colors—Here’s What They Said

A bedroom is often thought of as a cocoon—the one place in a home that should be a soothing sanctuary. When designing it, it’s only natural to think about the specifics (like blackout curtains and light fixtures) that will help create such calm. But how much would any of the small details matter if you painted your bedroom a color you ended up hating? It could stop you from feeling anything close to serene. 

“So much of the paint color choice is dependent on how you want the space to feel,” says Malorie Goldberg, a partner at Noa Blake Design. “Is it going to be light and bright, warm and cozy, or dark and moody? I regularly create bedrooms with all of these tones.”

A bedroom’s design can be highly personalized, but it’s safe to say that most people hope their individual choices still have a timeless feel—after all, the goal is to put this project to bed, at least for a few years. If you’re looking for an update that you can hit the snooze button on, we asked six designers to share the timeless bedroom paint colors that never go out of style, plus tips for how to choose. Here’s what they said.

How to Choose a Paint Color for Your Bedroom 

Designers share their go-to processes for finding the best hue—because in a room meant for rest, the right paint color does more than just look good.

Imagine What Color “Calm” Feels Like to You

As one of the most private parts of your home, a bedroom’s design should feel much more intimate than, say, a living room or kitchen. It may incorporate details that you hold dear, like a beloved quilt or inherited dresser, while highlighting the importance of rest and relaxation. Interior designer and attorney Jennifer Daskal tries to strike this balance in her work and recommends the following exercise for finding the best paint for the space. 

“Sit in your bedroom, close your eyes, and imagine what color ‘calm’ feels like to you,” she says. “I try to imagine the light in the room during the day and how the color will feel in the dark. It seems strange to imagine a color in the dark, but a white versus a blue color will feel incredibly different at night with the lights out.” She adds that the right color is all about how you feel, and “for a bedroom, it should feel like a vacation from the rest of your home.” 

Pick Colors That Promote Deep Rest

For those who could point to a kaleidoscope of colors that make them feel calm, David Quarles, principal designer of Studio 417, can help narrow it down. “Try to select colors that promote not just sleep, but deep rest,” he says. “I’d recommend sticking to blues, greens, and occasionally deep reds (almost wine-adjacent)—these hues have a classic quality that rarely falls out of style.”

Consider Warm Neutrals

The aforementioned options may seem too daring for sleepers who stick to brighter classics, and designers Mallory Robins and Elizabeth Bennett of Kobel + Co agree. “Warm neutrals with a flattering tone will always feel inviting,” Robbins says. Jessica Nicastro of Jessica Nicastro Design would also pick creams and beiges, adding dimension through soft and natural accessories. “I’d layer lots of materials, like a velvet or linen bed, wool rug, wood nightstands, and fabric lighting,” she notes.

In a bedroom, the pursuit of timelessness feels much more open to interpretation than common areas of a home. As long as it feels cozy to the inhabitants, perhaps that’s the best indication that it won’t go out of style anytime soon.

Timeless Bedroom Paint Colors That Never Go Out of Style

While there wasn’t a single choice that the designers shared in their definition of a “timeless” bedroom, they did narrow their choices down to two enduring options: warm neutrals or bold blues. Pick from their six choices below.