A professional color consultant shares the 9 shades you should never have in your bedroom (2024)

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Black absorbs the light — and life — from a bedroom.

Though many people see black as edgy or sophisticated, Woolf told Insider it was the last color she would use in her bedroom because it could "suck the life out of any space." She cites black as a big no for the bedroom walls and the floors.

"I actually don't think black makes sense for any interior wall, with the possible exception of a home theater," she said. "But even then, I would prefer a very dark blue or aubergine instead."

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White can be a surprisingly tricky choice.

White may feel like a safe choice, but Woolf says it's actually more complex than it first appears.

"There are so many whites with a variety of different undertones, so getting the right white can be really tricky," the color expert said. "And what looks good on a paint chip can give you a big shock when it's on all four walls."

She also thinks white can be hard on the eyes due to its strong reflectivity and "could make it harder to settle down to rest."

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Gray is feeling its age.

Gray trended for a while, but Woolf says "that ship has sailed." She says cooler grays can take on a "battleship vibe" and warmer hues can "turn pink," making the color surprisingly hard to decorate around.

"Not only is gray potentially depressing, it is also about to feel oh-so-2021," she said.

On the other hand, she says, colors with a touch of gray in them — like grayed-down blues or greens — are terrific options for a bedroom.

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Browns and beiges are boring, not joyful.

Though colors like camel and terracotta are trending, Woolf says she needs "actual color" to make her "happy at the beginning and end of each day."

She says trends are less important than joy in the bedroom and that people need to "honor their instincts" when it comes to color. "This is especially important in your bedroom, which should provide you with a sense of safety and contentment," the color expert said.

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Orange can be overly stimulating.

Woolf also avoids bright and deep oranges because they can be too stimulating for a room that's meant to be relaxing.

Instead, Woolf recommends using a very pale orange, "like the apricot glow of the sky at sunrise" and considering how light or dark the color is.

"Even though a bright or deep orange would never be my choice for a bedroom, a softer, paler version can be cozy and soothing in the evening and pleasantly energizing in the morning," she said.

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Shades of green get dated too quickly.

Shades of green have trended in recent years but Woolf still votes "no" for most greens in the bedroom.

"Greens that are too yellow can get murky and take on a sickly quality," Woolf told Insider. "Greens with a little blue in them can end up looking like hospital green, which is one of the most universally disliked colors. And vibrant greens can be energetic and overstimulating."

She says darker greens such as emerald and olive also present challenges. She recommends using green in smaller details like throw pillows or preparing to repaint the bedroom walls a different color once the excitement for darker greens wanes.

But because repainting a bedroom every year takes away from the sanctuary-like quality of it, she suggests sticking with a classic color instead.

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Yellow's bold energy isn't ideal for resting.

Yellow may be bold and fun, but for Woolf, it's not great for a bedroom.

"Yellow is the most luminous hue on the color wheel, so even its palest shades can still buzz with energy in a space designed for calm," she said.

According to Woolf, toning a yellow with brown or gray can yield a sickly result, and adding white to the color can create a pastel "that may feel like your grandmother's yellow."

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Purple can overwhelm the space.

Woolf says it can be hard to find a good purple hue for walls.

"Many purples in the fan decks have no business being on walls," she said. "They're too bright, too dark, too sickeningly sweet, and so on."

The expert recommends opting for soft gray with a touch of purple in it. "Once it's up on the walls, that purple will become stronger as color always does, and hopefully, you'll have an ethereal shade of violet that feels just right," Woolf told Insider.

If you really want to include a bold purple, she says to remember "a little bit of a bold color can go a long way" and consider wallpaper with vibrant accents on a softer background color.

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Barbie pink is a fad.

Barbie pink may be all the rage right now, but Woolf is not a fan and believes it's a fad.

"Unless you are 8 years old, just don't do it," Woolf said. "Even if you are 8, we need to talk."