Calming Paint Colours
Calming colours are soft, muted and fairly light. Research into colour and mood suggests pale, greyed greens, smoky blues and dusty pinks tend to feel more restful than bright, saturated shades. They suit bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms, anywhere you want to unwind. Every shade below is available as a 60ml sample.
The most calming paint colours are soft rather than strong. Researchers who study colour and wellbeing find that colours which are relatively light and not very saturated, such as pale sage greens, smoky blues and dusty pinks, tend to feel the most relaxing. Low contrast helps too, so pair them with soft whites rather than brilliant white. Everyone responds to colour a little differently, so sample a few before choosing.
At a glance
- Start here
- Soft, light and muted. Calming colours are relatively light and softened with grey. Bright, saturated colour tends to feel energising instead.
- North light
- Warm pinks and soft greens. Cool north light can make pale blues feel chilly. Dusty pinks and warmer greens stay restful.
- South light
- Smoky blues and cool greens. Warm sun keeps cool, muted colours fresh rather than cold. It is the easiest room for calming blues.
- East light
- Gentle mornings, cool afternoons. Soft greens and blues feel fresh in the morning sun. Check them in the afternoon, when the light cools.
- West light
- Cool mornings, warm evenings. Muted greens and pinks look soft in the flat morning light and glow gently in the evening.
- Contrast
- Keep it low. Pair calming colours with soft whites and similar tones on woodwork. Stark contrast feels livelier and less restful.
- Best rooms
- Bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms. Anywhere you want to unwind. Calming colours also suit nurseries and reading corners.
- Sample tip
- Check every change of light. Move your sample between walls. Check it in morning and afternoon daylight, then under the lights you use at night.
Tap any tile to read more.
Pale, muted greens
Soft greens that rest the eye.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Pale, greyed greens are often described as the most restful colours of all. They suggest gardens and open countryside and suit almost any room.
Best in any direction with Glaed™, Loxley™ or Pippin™, and south-, east- and west-facing rooms with Ravenshede™, Escape™, Haz™, Linby™ or Caunton Grey™.
Smoky, softened blues
Hazy blues that feel quiet, never icy.
Best in south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Blue is closely linked with calm, but a bright or icy blue can feel cold. These are softened with grey, so they feel hazy, quiet and easy to sleep beside.
Best in south-, east- and west-facing rooms, where warmer daylight keeps soft blue from feeling chilly.
Dusty pinks and soft apricots
Muted warmth for a gentle, restful room.
Best in north-, east- and west-facing rooms
Dusty pinks and soft apricots bring gentle warmth. They are especially restful in bedrooms and are kind to cool, north-facing light.
Best in north-facing rooms with Camisole™, Sillygoose™, Infirmary™ or Bramley Bloom™, and east- or west-facing rooms with any of these. Debutante™, Lottie™, Sakkal™ and Lilly™ are best kept to east- or west-facing rooms.
Soft greys and gentle neutrals
Low-contrast neutrals for an easy backdrop.
Best in north-, south-, east- and west-facing rooms
Soft, low-contrast neutrals let a room feel quiet without any colour at all. These greys carry hints of warmth, green or lilac so they never feel flat.
Best in any direction with Dusted™ or Parchment™, north-, east- and west-facing rooms with Creswell™, and south-, east- or west-facing rooms with Millstone™, Busli™, Crocus™ or Pierrepont™.
Sample it the way we would
Step 1
Paint your peel-and-sticks
Each £5.99 sample comes with three paintable peel-and-sticks. Give them two coats and let them dry fully.
Step 2
Stick them around the room
Put them on two or three walls, including the wall opposite the window, at eye level and lower down.
Step 3
Live with them for a day or two
Look in the morning, the afternoon and under your evening lamps. Move them around until you are sure.
Your questions, answered
What is the most calming paint colour?
There is no single answer, as everyone responds to colour a little differently. Research suggests soft, muted colours that are fairly light, such as pale sage greens, smoky blues and dusty pinks, tend to feel the most relaxing.
What colour is best for a relaxing bedroom?
Soft greens, hazy blues and dusty pinks are popular bedroom choices. In a north-facing bedroom, the warmer pinks and greens are kinder to the cool light.
Bedroom paint coloursAre bright colours relaxing?
Usually not. Bright, saturated colours tend to feel energising. For a restful room, choose the softer, greyed version of the colour you love.