Ten Smart Ways To Use Colour To Create The Personal Sanctuary

Bedrooms decked out in bright hues can be delightfully fresh—here are ten smart ways to use colour to create the personal sanctuary you’ve always dreamed of

- Robyn Alexander

BRIGHT STUFF

Yellow adds loads of energy to a space, so don’t use it in a bedroom if you prefer to sleep in. This shade is best suited to someone who sleeps well and wakes up early and ready to take on the day; it’s also similar to Illuminating, one of two hues named as the Pantone colours of the year for 2021.

Sunny yellow and turquoise work well together to create a sophisticated space (opposite), with the clever use of black and white to break up the blocks of bright colours. The headboard in a monochrome print is an unusual addition that pairs beautifully with the angular pieces to make for a stylish room. Do consider bedlinen as a key part of a bedroom’s design—the textured bedspread in pure white imparts a sense of calm.

GLASS ACT

If you are fortunate to have vintage architectural features in your home, use them to inspire the design of your room. Taking its colour cues from the existing stained-glass window, this bedroom in a renovated Paris apartment proves that a vibrant space can be elegant, too.

Blue and yellow are hues that can be energising as well as restful, so use both with restraint to create a space in which it’s possible to sleep well and wake up refreshed. The black-and-white throw draped across the base of the bed is the ideal final touch that smartly and seamlessly combines graphic shapes with elements of softness.

CHILD’S PLAY

A colourful kids’ room need not take inspiration from popular culture—this shared sleeping space in a vacation home on the Balearic island of Mallorca is full of old-fashioned charm. With its mix of fairy lights, handdyed textiles, tactile baskets and vintage treasures, this is the perfect place to create childhood memories worthy of a fairy tale.