Waking up to pleasant, sunny weather in an equally pleasant, sunny room (preferably while on vacation) is a pretty spectacular way to start the day. The colors in our environment affect our mood, and warm shades of red, orange and yellow make us feel happy and energized. 

However, if you live in a predominantly hot climate, you might want to scale back on the warm hues and use them as accents against cooler neutrals. If you live someplace that tends to be cloudy, cool and rainy for long periods at a time, then layering several warm hues in different shades, tints and tones will give you a cozy sanctuary that you might never want to leave.

Keep reading for eight warm and inviting bedrooms, along with sample color and material palettes inspired by each room.

HOT and COOL

Red, being a warm color, is often paired with other warm hues. Shake it up by mixing it with cool neutrals instead, as demonstrated in this modern and elegant bedroom. It’s a great way to inject red into your bedroom without making the space too energetic.

HOT PINK made Cool

Pink, grey and black make an unexpected and striking combination here. This super-stylish bedroom would be perfect in a warmer climate, as the cool neutrals help chill out the pinks.

COLOR BLOCK

This rendering of a stylish bedroom features a daring shade of orange. Using the hue sparingly inside the headboard niche draws the eye toward the beautiful bed wall. Because everything else is neutral, the orange glows without overwhelming.

PAINT Isn’t Just for WALLS

You don’t always have to go with wood-tone or neutral furniture. The orange shelf at the foot of the bed brightens up this otherwise neutral room. With orange, yellow and green (analogous colors on the color wheel) in the bedding, the effect is colorful yet balanced.

RED the Right Way

When I bought my first fixer-upper many years ago, I took great care to pick the perfect shade of red to paint all four walls in my dining room. I ended up hating it. The room didn’t get much natural light and I found it dark and anxiety inducing – not a very comfortable space to be in. This is an example of how to do intense red in a bedroom, with just a chunk of it above the bed. Add a few other red elements, but keep the rest of the palette light.

SMART use of Color

 Use bold colors for items that are easy and inexpensive to change or replace. Here, the walls are painted a mellow shade of yellow and the bolder colors are reserved for the bedding. Imagine this same bedroom with all white linens – it would have a completely different feel.

BERRY ELEGANT

My bad pun aside, this bedroom illustrates a nice trick when using a deep, dark hue: Limit it to the ceiling and one wall. It looks less jarring than painting one wall only, and it helps bring the ceiling down, creating a cozy and intimate effect that’s perfect for the bedroom.