Soothe with blue

From habitat plus - bedrooms

Blue for bedrooms is a match made in design heaven. It's a soothing colour, it's reassuring and timeless. Blue is a tranquil colour that will help drop your blood pressure and pulse rate after a hectic day.

Pale ethereal blues or those with grey undertones create a dreamy space. At the other end of the spectrum, dark stormy blues will make you want to snuggle under the covers.

Try blues with a greyed quality as these are easier to live with, more gender neutral and versatile when adding accent colours – check out Resene Bluff or Resene Bounty.

Pale, barely-there blues of either icy intensity like Resene Solitude or cloudy softness like Resene Sea Fog look superb as a main neutral for walls in a bedroom that has plenty of sun. Or use these colours where you want a cool beachy or architectural feel.

Washed or weathered blue are hues like ever-popular Resene Duck Egg Blue. With its mellow greyed look, this type of colour has been hugely popular in decorating. Try it with soft fleecy whites such as Resene Merino or Resene Linen and natural materials like linen, timber and jute. Other grey-blues to try are Resene Lynchpin and Resene Freestyling. These colours feel like putting on an old pair of jeans or a chambray shirt – no wonder we feel so comfortable with them.

Mid tone denim or military blues like Resene Kashmir Blue are easy-on-the-eye colours to use in a bedroom. Like a pair of blue jeans, denim blue never seems to go out of style. Give them a slightly playful retro look by mixing in an ikat print duvet cover on a low-profile bed. Or add a touch of steel to the blue – like Resene Waikawa Grey – for a military correctness that's secure and restful.

Blue is an easy colour to mix – literally – with green, resulting in cross-over blues like aqua, turquoise and teal. In paler forms, like Resene Scandal and Resene Jet Stream, these colours have a fresh youthful appeal. Teal blues, like Resene Calypso, also have retro appeal, and can be used in very sophisticated spaces paired with antique bronze or tarnished gold accents and sharp chartreuse green.

Dark blues and rich navies hint of the night sky and they are also very adaptable in regards to style. Blues with a stormy edge, like Resene Coast, can be casual and modern combined with faded taupes and woollen rugs or use deep inky blue or sapphire blue, such as Resene Indian Ink or Resene Aviator, as the basis for a very luxe scheme – team them up with other jewel tones like ruby or jade, along with velvets and mixed warm metals like gold and brass, for a boudoir vibe. Paint accessories in a Resene FX Metallic paint for a touch of extra glamour.

Best bedroom colours
View a selection of other Resene colour palettes to gain inspiration and help design your ideal bedroom!

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

• Specifiers: Sign up for habitat here. You can earn CPD points reading habitat.
• Sign up for a DIY card and save! Australian residents | New Zealand residents.

If you have an idea, project or story that you think would suit habitat plus, we’d love to hear from you. Please drop us an email with your details and include photos if submitting a project.

habitat plus are not mailed directly. They are available free from Resene ColorShops and resellers while stocks last and available for viewing online.