1. Vibrant Yellow
Yellow has been a trending color in recent months, and while you'll frequently see it used in bedrooms, not every shade of the color is well suited for a restful space. Vibrant yellow hues channel an intense energy, stimulating the brain and preventing you from falling asleep easily.
"While these colors can be wonderful in spaces meant for socialization and activity, they can elevate your energy levels, leading to restlessness," Cosenza says. Many people are drawn to the color yellow because of its cheery and positive nature, so if you're set on using yellow paint in the bedroom, simply be cautious and pick a shade that's soothing. Opt for a soft, pale butter yellow to create a light and airy space, or pick a muted tone that leans towards restful beige.
2. Bright Red
Stay away from bright red hues that energize the body and stimulate the mind. "While bright red, vibrant yellow, and fiery orange feel very warm, they also have a stimulating effect on our bodies and minds," Cosenza says. A red paint color makes a bold design statement, but it's also intensely saturated and can affect your mood and energy so much that your heart rate increases—which is not something that promotes restful sleep.
Reds are associated with passion, energy, and excitement, and their intensity doesn't couple well with sleep. If red is one of your favorite colors and you want to incorporate it into a bedroom, go with a muted shade, only apply it to an accent wall, or bring it in through accessories instead of committing to the bold color on the walls.
3. Eggplant Purple
Just like yellow, the color purple is frequently used in bedrooms. While some shades are okay to use, others do anything but create a soothing environment where you can easily fall asleep. Stay away from the dark end of purple, which includes deep eggplant hues and dramatic purple jewel tones. They may feel elegant and luxurious, but they also evoke a sense of mystery which keeps the brain stimulated and doesn't allow the mind to rest.
For a purple that helps reduce stress and sends calming signals to the brain, opt for a muted lavender shade. Depending on what you pair the color with, it can either lean sophisticated or laid-back, but always calming and serene.
4. Fiery Orange
Similar to bright red, a fiery orange hue energizes the body and mind instead of calming it. While it may seem like the warmth of an orange tone would make a bedroom feel cozy and inviting, the opposite is true for most hues in this color family. Orange is bright, bold, and energetic, and even though it carries an optimistic feel, it's not conducive to relaxation.
Take Cosenza's advice and "avoid bright and energizing colors that overstimulate the mind and fight against the instinct to rest." To make orange work in a bedroom, take the pale pastel route and opt for a soft peachy hue that sets a gentle and calming backdrop for a good night's sleep.
5. True Black
Black may seem like the ultimate way to add a sophisticated design edge to a bedroom, but it's not the best choice if you want to invest in your sleep quality. At first glance you may think the dark hue would darken the room and therefore make it easier to fall asleep, but that's actually not the case. The color black is highly saturated and it absorbs a lot of light, which can lead to a bedroom feeling unnecessarily cramped and smaller than it actually is.
Feeling like you don't have enough breathing room fights against the body's instinct to relax, so it may potentially take longer to fall asleep. Additionally, black is often associated with negative energy and may not evoke unwanted feelings before bedtime, causing your mind to be preoccupied. In the morning, the dark hue can also negatively impact your energy level, given how much light it absorbs. Instead of black, opt for a cool steely blue that possesses depth but evokes a sense of calm.
