Does the colour of your bedding matter? Here are the best and worst colours for sleep.

 

The top-ranking colour: Benji Sky Blue (Click to shop) 

 

 

Best Bedroom Colours for Sleep

 

Blue Bedding 

One of the highest-ranking colours to sleep on is none other than our famous Benji Blue. Blue is strongly associated with a calming response and relaxation. Blue acts as a non-stimulating colour, allowing stress hormones to settle.

 

The brain is most perceptive to the colour blue. It ranks higher above any other colour thanks to special receptors called ganglion cells, which are located in the retinas. These cells are responsible for gathering and transforming information from our visual surroundings into chemical signals. These chemical signals are part of the brain's response to surrounding stimuli.

 

"Stressors" stimulate cortisol - cortisol stimulates alertness  - but what is considered a stressor? The answer is many things, and colour is one of them. Melatonin is also a stimulus-based hormone. It is in fact a sleep hormone that influences our sleep-wake cycle.  When we see blue, it has been noted that the hypothalamus produces more melatonin and less cortisol.

 

Yellow Bedding

Softer shades of yellow create a tranquil environment because the muted tone imitates sunshine. Soft yellows alleviate stress and promote tranquility, so you can sleep peacefully.

Brighter hues boost energy and should be avoided. Choose pastels that are light and gently creamy, like an ivory colour that’s faded to yellow with time.

(Click to Shop our Sand Colour)

 

Green Bedding

The colour green is another excellent colour choice for relaxation. Green is also another easy colour for the eyes to see because, like the colour blue, they are sensitive to green light.

Similar to blue bedding, green bedding helps us feel calm and peaceful as it is a non-stimulating colour. It is also subconsciously linked to nature which helps emulate a calming sense. 

(Click here to Shop our Forest Green)

 

 

Pink Bedding

Pink may not seem like a good colour for the bedroom because of its red tones, but a soft, natural pink gives off a muted and calming feeling. 

(Click here to Shop our Rosé Pink)

 

White Bedding

White is a simple, neutral colour that is unlikely to create any distracting or stimulating feelings. It is always a good choice... it goes well with everything, after all.

(Click here to Shop our White)

 

 

Purple, brown, black, and red are the worst colors for sleep. Dark Brown, and black promotes negative emotions, while purple and red boost alertness. Individuals with these bedroom colors are more likely to sleep less than 7 hours each night.

  

Bright Purple Bedding

Bright purple is not a good choice for the bedroom. Bright purple hues have reddish undertones, increasing energy levels and keeping you alert, however softer purple shades can boost sleepiness.

 

Brown Bedding

Brown is a gloomy colour, as one 2018 study noted. The shade can increase subconscious feelings of sadness and cause restlessness instead of sleep—not exactly a cozy feel for the bedroom atmosphere.

Warmer browns with orangish tones can feel calming and soothing, but darker, cooler browns may make it hard to relax.

 

Black Bedding

Black might sound like a soothing way to improve sleep, promoting a dark sleeping space. However, black can feel depressive and create feelings of gloom and sadness, similar to how dark brown shades have been shown to increase negative emotions.

 

Red Bedding

The final colour and the worst overall - Red. For many, red is a colour linked to a perceived threat. Red is an invigorating colour, increasing heart rate. One study found the colour red can trigger cortisol release, increasing and boosting alertness, all of which is something you don’t want when trying to relax and fall asleep. 

If you love the colour, we recommend pastels that are closer to pink in hue. Or, you can always have some accent pillows that can be removed at night.