20 Calming Paint Colors That Will Change the Way You Live (2024)

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  • Shades of Blue and Green
  • Pale Pinks
  • Warm Neutrals

Understanding the psychological effects of color can help you achieve a specific mood, energy, and ambience at home. “It’s not just plush pillows and cozy throws that create a tranquil environment,” says Benjamin Moore color and design expert Hannah Yeo. “A wall color can have a big impact on the overall feel of the room.” Chromotherapy, or color therapy, is the increasingly popular practice of using color to stimulate positive emotion and improve mental health. We spoke with top color experts who explained which colors will help you find your zen.

Shades of Blue and Green

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Inside L’Objet founder Elad Yifrach’s soothing pale blue living room in Lisbon.

“Shades of blue or green are known to have a relaxing effect—perfect for creating a serene feeling at home,” says Nicole Gibbons, interior designer and founder of the paint company Clare. “Everyone has their own preference on relaxing colors, but soft, cooler colors seem to feel right for most,” adds Yeo. “Light sages and light sky blues are often associated with spa-inspired rooms. There’s also some scientific research indicating that due to the short wavelengths of cooler colors and how our cones perceive them, greens and blues are the most relaxing to our eyes,” she says. Here are a few of our favorites.

1. Smoke by Benjamin Moore

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This pretty gray tone is softened by blue-green undertones.

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2. Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball

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Made for dim as well as brightly lit spaces, this frosty blue evokes a summer sky.

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3. Headspace by Clare

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A soft, delicate blue-green, like a faded turquoise.

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4. Skylight by Farrow & Ball

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This pale blue tone is cool and calming.

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5. Views by Clare

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A seafaring blue-green hue that doesn’t scream beach house.

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6. Early Stuff by Backdrop

An enchanting light blue with gray undertones.

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7. Cromarty by Farrow & Ball

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A misty gray-green that brings atmosphere to any room.

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8. Sterling by Benjamin Moore

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This light gray has soothing blue-green undertones, reminiscent of well-loved cutlery.

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9. Skywalker by Backdrop

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A light blue with milky green undertones.

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10. Northern Air by Benjamin Moore

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A powdery cornflower blue that invites country-fried comfort.

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Pale Pinks

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The warm pink “rosé room” of Mara Brock Akil’s family home in Los Angeles, designed by Tiffany Howell of Night Palm.

ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ghislaine Viñas says that a slight pink with warm undertones is “like a warm hug—super soothing but never dull.” ELLE DECOR A-List designer Jean Liu agrees. She champions “neutral-adjacent” shades that have enough depth of color to make an impact but never overpower. Here are a few of our favorites.

11. Pink Ground by Farrow & Ball

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Large doses of yellow pigment keep this soft pink subtly glowing.

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12. Peignoir by Farrow & Ball

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This shade of gray-pink is inspired by the Victorian-era garment of the same name.

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13. Bridal Pink by Benjamin Moore

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A faded, almost pastel shade of orange with peach undertones.

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14. Rosé Season by Clare

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This vibrant bubblegum pink is just what the Barbs ordered.

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15. Modern Love by Backdrop

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A yummy, warm pink, like faded bubble gum.

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16. Uccello Pink by Donald Kaufman Color

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A unique shade of pink inspired by the painting techniques of Old Masters.

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Warm Neutrals

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“I hate when things are too matchy-matchy,” says designer Augusta Hoffman, who uses tone and texture to create depth.

Warm neutrals are another ever-popular option, known for their calming effects. “Think of a soft champagne with just enough shimmer to put you in a great mood,” says Yeo. “The tint of warmth makes the room feel welcoming.” That’s a sentiment echoed by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Tiffany Howell of Night Palm, who describes the creamy neutral she doused this Los Angeles living room in as “candlelight.” Here are a few of our favorite ways to get your own glow.

17. Turbinado by Clare

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Like its namesake “honey-colored sugar crystals,” this warm beige will bring a hint of sweetness to your living space or bedroom.

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18. Opal by Benjamin Moore

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An opalescent, muted white with peachy undertones.

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19. Slipper Satin by Farrow & Ball

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A perfectly pretty off-white that takes its name from the color of ballet slippers.

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20. Palo Santo by Backdrop

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A muted beige with yellow undertones, this earthy hue is reminiscent of butter (European unsalted, naturally).

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Sean Santiago

Deputy Editor

Sean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality, travel, and luxury. He writes the So Courant! column for the magazine and elledecor.com.

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Lucia Tonelli

Assistant Editor

Lucia Tonelli is an Assistant Editor at Town & Country, where she writes about the royal family, culture, real estate, design, and more.

20 Calming Paint Colors That Will Change the Way You Live (2024)

FAQs

20 Calming Paint Colors That Will Change the Way You Live? ›

Blue – A highly peaceful color, blue can be especially helpful for stress management because it can encourage a powerful sense of calm. Purple – In many cultures, shades of violet represent strength, wisdom and peace. Purple can invoke a tranquil feeling that helps reduce stress.

What paint colors are good for calmness? ›

The best bedroom colors for sleep
  • Blue could evoke a sense of calm. ...
  • Green can bring tranquility. ...
  • White and light gray could feel clean and spacious. ...
  • Beige and cream may be more inviting. ...
  • Light pink can provide comfort.
Jan 9, 2024

What color helps you stay calm? ›

Blue – A highly peaceful color, blue can be especially helpful for stress management because it can encourage a powerful sense of calm. Purple – In many cultures, shades of violet represent strength, wisdom and peace. Purple can invoke a tranquil feeling that helps reduce stress.

What is the best color to sleep in? ›

Good Colors for Sleep: The colors in your bedroom can significantly impact your ability to sleep well. Choosing calming and sleep-inducing colors, such as blue, yellow, green, silver, orange, pink, and white, can reduce stress and help soothe the nervous system, contributing to a better night's sleep.

What is the most relaxing color for your eyes? ›

Blue is the Most Relaxing Colour, Scientists Say
  • New research claims that dark blue is the world's most relaxing colour. ...
  • A new study of Leonardo da Vinci's earliest-known drawing has revealed that the Renaissance master was ambidextrous.

What color is most peaceful? ›

According to a study, the secret to a calming room is navy blue—and there's science to prove it. The University of Sussex and British papermaker G.F. Smith did research that found navy blue is a calming color—in fact, the most relaxing color in the world.

What color means anxiety? ›

The study found that people with or anxiety were more likely to associate their mood with the color gray, while preferred yellow.

What color is best for mental health? ›

Blue has the opposite effects of red and is the most soothing color. Primary blue is used in therapeutic settings for meditation and relaxation because it helps you unwind, find peace, and become more comfortable expressing your inner feelings.

What color calms anger? ›

Cool colors—green, blue and purple

Green, blue and purple are cool colors; they can be seen as calming, soothing, nurturing, subdued or even sad (e.g., blues music, the “baby blues” or Picasso's Blue Period).

What is a healing color? ›

Hospitals and clinics often use green for its soothing and healing qualities.

What color makes you happy? ›

Happy colours are bright, warm colours like yellow, orange, pink and red. Pastel colours like peach, light pink or lilac can also have an uplifting effect on your mood. The brighter and lighter a colour, the more happy and optimistic it will make you feel.

What color wakes you up? ›

'Bright shades of yellow and orange are great for helping wake you up in the morning because they are both attention-grabbing, cheerful, and energizing colors that stimulate the brain and make us feel more alert,' explains Vanessa Osorio, a sleep expert and sleep health content specialist at Sleepopolis.

What color makes you fall asleep faster? ›

Red is the answer to the question of what color of light helps you sleep. Red light causes your brain to produce the sleep hormone melatonin, a hormone released into the body from the pineal gland that helps you mentally and physically relax while you drift off to sleep.

Which color gives peace of mind? ›

Peaceful, calm and gentle, blue has tremendous power to manage stress. It's a very soothing color that helps calm your mind, slow down your heart rate, lower your blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Blue is believed to have a cooling and astringent effect.

What is the most stressful color? ›

According to color psychologists, the most stressful and anxiety-inducing color is 'red'. Red room ideas can be too intense for some people – could your red decor be one of the reasons why your friends hate your house? It reminds us of danger and is a color that makes you angry.

What is the most relaxing color to paint a bedroom? ›

Blue promotes a feeling of calmness and serenity. It can also be linked to feelings of trust, stability, and dependability. One study by Travelodge found that households that have blue bedrooms received the best night's sleep compared to any other color.

What colors make you feel peaceful calm or sad? ›

Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple, and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.

What is a calming color scheme? ›

Green is classically known as a comforting harmonious color. Blue is calm and soothing hue. Soft neutral tones help us relax. Even purples, pinks, and yellows can be peaceful colors when used in soft shades.

What is the color of peace? ›

White: White color itself is a symbol of peace and purity, humility, innocence and silence. It represents the heavenly, pious and sincere feelings. The white blossoms convey an elegance and modesty.

What colors make a room feel cooler? ›

Lighter colors, including pale blues and greens, are typically cooler. But, the color white is one of the coolest paint colors to help cool a home. In fact, white paint will be your best bet as it reflects 100 percent of available light.

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