What Are Calming Colors? 9 Soothing Shades for Your Space
Create calm with color.
Coming home to a space that makes you feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and at ease is a must for us – and one of the best ways to achieve that vibe is through your chosen color palette! Wondering what calming colors can make this happen? Keep reading to find the best shades to help you relax and unwind.
Denim Blue
Blue is one of the best calming colors because it creates feelings of serenity. When it comes to our sleep sanctuaries, it's important to choose a color that will make you feel relaxed and safe – and nothing feels more secure than a deep denim blue. We love choosing larger blue pieces to allow the color to coat the room in its rich hue. Choose a dark blue headboard or bedding for something that looks extra cozy to climb into, or match blue accents like throw pillows or an area rug to the wall color.
Pro Tip:
Read our guide Decorating With Blue for styling ideas that will fill your space with calming shades of blue.
Shades of White
A classic white shade makes a space feel larger, cleaner, and brighter. We love using white as a color palette base because it plays well with any other accent shade – warm or cool. One of our favorite ways to use white is by layering different variations like beige, cream, or ivory to create subtle depth while keeping the room crisp and soothing. The living room styled above has a light, airy look with a modern edge thanks to the different shades of white: the plush ivory sofa, bone-colored modern coffee table, and bright white chandelier with gold accents.
Taupe is a great calming shade for all rooms because of its versatile undertones – a taupe with cool undertones has a calming effect, while a taupe with warm undertones adds a coziness to any space. We love how well taupe plays with other neutral shades like beige, tan, and black. Pair a rich brown or bold black wood dining table set with taupe accents like benches, an area rug, pendant lighting, a vase, or wall decor to create contrast that's vibrant but still easy on the eyes.
Green evokes a feeling of peace, refreshment, and security, making it an ideal color with a stress-reducing effect. We love using this calming color in a more sophisticated shade like sage – use it in spaces styled with natural materials like wood, stone, and fiber to embrace a nature-inspired aesthetic. Give your room an earthy feel with sage wallpaper on an accent wall, a cozy green sofa, or hang a gallery that features a green color palette.
Pro Tip:
Check out our guide Hit Reset WIth These 6 Green Room Ideas to find more green inspo.
Warm Citrus
While citrus is normally a shade that evokes high-energy, its relaxed, muted side can be very calming and dreamy. This shade is perfect for a living room, as it brings that feeling of energy tempered with an enjoyable easiness to help you stretch out and relax for hours. Pair this warm shade with neutrals like beige, ivory, or taupe and choose a touch of brighter orange like the wall art and vase styled above for a fun pop. We also love how this muted citrus room includes copper metallic coffee tables that fit the orange palette and add a new texture to the space.
Nothing feels quite as cozy as curling up in a room full of warm brown shades. This sophisticated neutral can be introduced in many different ways, such as: a wooden bed frame, coffee, or end table, a luxurious leather accent chair or sofa, or cozy bedding, throw blankets, and pillows. We love how this chic living room adds extra brown tones through the table lamps, throw pillows, and decor for some monochromatic dimension.
Pro Tip:
Looking for more ways to incorporate stylish shades of brown into your living room? Read our guide Brown Living Room Ideas That Will Make You Want to Redecorate.
Pale Blue
Pale blue is a subtle shade that brings positive energy, a sense of calm, and stress-relief to a space. This color reminds us of the daytime sky – use pale blue in a space with large windows and a lot of natural light to get the most out of this shade. If a clean, contemporary space is your aesthetic, then pale blue is your hue: It pairs perfectly with natural elements like wood, stone, or rattan, and its softness blends with the curves of a modern sofa, accent chair, or round table.
This muted, dark shade of yellow is a relaxing color that perfectly accents warm neutrals. Mustard is a rich shade, so use it sparingly – we love how mustard throw pillows and blankets look on a beige sofa or brown bed, or how mustard decor or framed art pairs with a distressed wood console or nightstand. If you want a little more of this moody hue, try mustard curtains for an extra glow as the sun rises and sets, or lay down a mustard area rug for an unexpected pop of color to anchor your furniture.
One of our favorite calming colors for bedrooms is gray. This cool-toned neutral connotes feelings of coziness and luxury – perfect for a modern or glam aesthetic. We love pairing slate gray with other cool-toned neutrals like white, greige, or charcoal for a sleek and sophisticated style. Give this shade the spotlight with a gray velvet headboard, patterned rug, or metal nightstands. Emphasize a slate-gray color palette with neutral bedding, bright lighting, and cool-toned decor for a balanced look.
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