Interiors expert reveals the colour to paint your bedroom ceiling to help you fall asleep quickly
When it comes to bedroom ceilings, the default colour is often white, thanks to it being neutral and reflecting light well.
However, it’s not always the best option when it comes to creating a restful environment to help you sleep well.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, interior designer Benji Lewis said that the colour of the ceiling is going to have a significant impact on the overall feel of the room and should be considered within the design approach as a whole’.
He recommends calming hues such as blue and green to promote restfulness, rather than stark white.
‘The sanctuary approach to bedroom décor has really stepped up a notch in recent years, not least with the vogue for using a coloured paint on the ceiling, instead of just selecting a standard white,’ he said.
Bright colours can stimulate the mind too much, something people will be keen to avoid when the time comes to sleep.
Struggling to sleep? Changing the colour of your bedroom ceiling from white could help (stock image)
However, by the same token, calm hues – notably blue and green – are said to promote restfulness.
And white is also one to avoid: it is so efficient at reflecting light (from nearby streetlights to phone screens) that it brightens and opens spaces, which can promote alertness and energy, not ideal for sleep.
In addition, pure whites can feel clinical, even cold, when it comes to homes.
Instead, when it comes to creating a sleep provoking space, blue for ceilings is a favourite (though not the brightest shades of the colour) as it is said to invoke feelings of nature and the natural world.
Greens are also recommended, though again, the brightest tones are not recommended.
Instead, people should opt for cooler notes of the colour is optimum – for example, sage green.
Medium brown tones can also work here, though very pale shades are recommended: while brown can be relaxing, it tends to work better on walls than ceilings.
However, dark tones are not completely out of the running, according to interior expert Benji.
According to Benji, colour drenching (when the same colour is applied to walls and the ceiling) can be a good way to incorporate a coloured ceiling. He used the technique in this room
He explained: ‘I’m a fan of dark colours anyway, but particularly in a bedroom, where it stands to reason that being the room you spend most time in at night, you can choose dark for your paint choices, going all out and using a colour that’s not white on the ceiling too.’
One way to incorporate coloured ceilings into a bedroom is to use a technique known as ‘colour drenching’.
According to Benji, who can be found on Instagram, where he uses the handle @benjilewisinteriors: ‘There’s a definite enjoyment at the moment for colour drenching a room whereby one colour is applied to walls, woodwork and ceiling, and this works particularly well in a bedroom to create an all-round feeling of wellness.’
It’s also been said that this technique can work particularly well for bedrooms as it can create a ‘cocoon’ effect.
Those who want to retain a more neutral feeling in their bedroom have options other than white, according to Benji.
He explained: ‘You can still keep things light, without going for white on the ceiling.
‘A shade like Drop Cloth from Farrow and Ball is lovely with a slight soft grey tone to it, or if that’s still too strong for you Little Greene’s Slaked Lime steps far enough away from white without tipping into custard cream.’
