We get it – with thousands of paint colours at your fingertips, decision fatigue can creep into the picture and keep you frozen in place… your bedroom renovation plans gathering dust the longer you wait. Don’t get us started on the pain of narrowing down a pair of similar colours!
There’s good news, though. It doesn’t have to be that way. A simple and effective solution is to opt for a two-colour combination for your bedroom walls. This way, you sidestep the agony of picking just one shade.
Still sounds like a headache? Don’t worry about it – the paint nerds here at splat are ready to share some helpful insights along with 15 bedroom paint combos close to our hearts. But first, let’s look a bit closer at this colourful concept by interrogating why bedroom paint works so much better when there are 2 colours.
Besides breaking free from the analysis paralysis tied up with picking a single shade, there are many upsides to refreshing the walls with a duo of paints.
By focusing on just two complementary shades, you can create a balanced, cohesive look that’s both visually pleasing and easy to live with. After all, as the old saying goes, “two’s company, three’s a crowd.” While this phrase usually refers to social situations, it also rings true when it comes to wall colour schemes. Adding a third paint colour can complicate your design, making it feel busy or overstimulating – not what you want in a bedroom!
Really what you ought to be doing is focusing on two for the walls, and three in total if you include accents like cabinetry. To get the overall look to balance just so, think about it like this: your main colour should represent 60% of the room, the secondary colour should be 30% and the accent colour 10%. Interior designers call this the 60-30-10 rule, and it explains why feature walls and panelling work so well. In both instances, you typically have two complementary colours on the walls, which contribute to the 60 and 30 colours.
Now you know a little bit more about the “60-30-10” interior design rule and the benefits of going down the two-colour route, you’ll be in a better position to think about the type of design you’ve an affinity for.
If you want to walk on well-trodden ground, two-tone walls are tried and tested. We have the classic horizontal half-painted walls in their paired back elegance, the quiet luxury of painted panelling against a whitewashed backdrop and then the exuberance of a vertical two-tone wall, which doubles up as a playful colour-blocking accent wall.
Whichever speaks to you, know that these options are timeless for a reason and can help your home accrue property value when executed well. The trick to doing so is pinpointing the space’s strengths and weaknesses and working with them rather than against them. To give you an example, if you’re suffering from a dark room, you can try a horizontal two-toned design with the heavier colour on the bottom. This lifts the ceiling up whilst creating a sense of depth thanks to the perspective.
Painting a feature wall is a good idea if adding character, complexity and cheer is on the menu. But before you scoff that painted feature walls are outdated, think again. Whilst you might be picturing an old-fashioned accent wall, they have significantly evolved since they were all over the place.
Rather than simply slapping a bold colour on one wall, interior designers are more compelled to subtly incorporate it into the scheme via the use of gallery walls, built-in storage units and lighting fixtures. This way, you can effortlessly modernise the look and draw focus naturally.
Another duotone bedroom design with untold power is engineering an elegant contrast between the ceiling and the walls. The best bit of ceiling colour advice we can give you here is to resist reigning yourself in – the “fifth wall” doesn’t have to be white or cream. In fact, it can be anything you desire it to be.
So, if you really want to take your bedroom to the next level (pretty nice to jaw-dropping), you might want to opt for a darker colour on the ceiling than the walls. This achieves an editorial effect; the paint pops and the eye is drawn upwards, ideal if you have interesting features to show off like crown moulding.
When redesigning the bedroom don’t leave your flooring out of it! The floors might just be the lynchpin holding the scheme together – you just don’t know it yet. For instance, if you have some hardwood you’re not too fond of, have you considered giving it a new lease of life by painting the floorboards? With a colour reset, you can completely overhaul the vibe of your bedroom, opening up so many colourful possibilities.
Without further ado, here are our 15 favourite two-colour combinations for bedroom walls. From tranquil and laid-back to zany vitality, our curation has something for all tastes.
Bedrooms have a natural inclination towards the softer, quieter and calming colours in the spectrum, but this doesn’t mean you can’t make a powerful impact – far from it. By getting the pairing, DIY execution and styling down to a T, you can take guests’ breath away. Plus, demure and mindful is all the range…
Farrow and Ball is one of our favourite brands showing initiative when it comes to environmental impact, and their selection of calming mid-tones is practically unmatched. Case and point, this eyewateringly beautiful combination of Pigeon and Skimming Stone.
The way that serial DIYer, Sophia Nikolaides, has decorated this children’s bedroom is no less than inspired. Somehow striking a balance between classy and playful, the uplifting green is perfectly matched with the warm undertones of the light taupe, and her decision to bring the colour across the trim, fireplace and wardrobe is genius. 10/10.
Blues can be divisive – some think them boisterous and moody, others calming and cool – but this particular shade by Little Greene is a match made in heaven for a small cosy room. Paired with a cool-toned neutral like Slaked Lime, it’ll help diffuse any tiredness in the room with a fresh breath of tranquillity.
If you want something with a pinch of more energy than a minimalist neutral, try this wonderfully pigmented architectural colour from Paint and Paper Library. To seal the deal pair it with a bright white paint or a pink and you create a contemporary, relaxed feel just as comfy.
Sometimes classic and conventional isn’t enough. When there’s a whole rainbow to pick from, why not go for the ones that stand out? For those who have the bug for colour, you’ll love these punchy two-colour combinations for your bedroom walls.
If you’re decorating a kid’s bedroom or you simply want to appease your inner child, this colour duo works magic. Incorporate accents in orange and you have a quirky scheme, reminiscent of a glorious sunset. In terms of shades, F&B’s Shallot is a great option for the pink, as is Little Greene’s Carmine. And for oranges, why not try Orange Aurora by Little Greene?
This combination has us in a chokehold. You wouldn’t expect it to work so well, and yet this DIYer’s bedroom is proof in the pudding. Pea Greenshines when placed next to a warm yellow, then add some pink accents in your styling and – bam – you have a cohesive scheme trendy enough to grace the pages of a home magazine.
The way that this grey-green shade has been brought up from the walls to the ceiling is so playful and fun, whilst maintaining a sense of elegance.
I don’t think you can get any more impressive than this stunning partnership! With the brown-green tones of the paint, you can bring a sense of the countryside into your nighttime retreat, allowing for sweet dreams and contented guests.
There’s something so refined yet cosy about this light blue scheme. The soft, soothing blue side-by-side, combined with the intricate panelling invites the eye to linger and take in all the colour.
Whether you have a penchant for a rustic theme, boho style or a bit of
This warm red has earth in the name so you can be sure that it’s positively grounding. Combined with the denim notes of De Nimes, it’s bound to bring the house down.
We love this Lichen feature wall and the way it adds a whole new dimension to this modern bedroom. While the owners of this space have paired it with a darker navy, you could also try Light Blue.
I don’t know about you but Setting Plaster lives in my head rent-free. This combination offers an alluring grounding feel, perfect for unwinding in the wee hours of the morning before sleep.
Before you go, you’ll want to listen to our parting words of wisdom. Here are some last-minute tips to help you select the right paints for the job.
It’s always worth considering whether your chosen colour scheme is going to flatter any period features in your bedroom from old fireplaces to ceiling cornices. For instance, in a room with vintage beams, you want a colour that will match the wood. With this accounted for, you’ll know for sure that your envisioned design is going to work – just make sure you think about how many coats you need to cover said features, so you can pick up the right amount of paint.
Lighting is super important in the world of paint. The type, direction and amount of light all affect how we perceive its colour and can change throughout the day. With this in mind, make sure to put a small patch test on your wall to observe how it behaves in the room before making the big commitment.
When choosing a paint is hard enough, many neglect to put the same amount of thought into the type of finish – don’t let this be you! A paint’s finish can have a huge impact on the final result, including how the light reflects off it. Therefore, we suggest checking out our full guide on picking the right finish for your project.
Don’t forget that if there’s a designer shade that falls outside your budget, you could always colour-match it with a trade paint. This way, you save a little without compromising too much on performance. Explore our trade paint range if this applies, we have a variety of brands and finishes available.
That's enough bedroom paint advice on choosing a couple of colours for one day. We hope this has given you all the inspiration you could possibly need to get the ball rolling with your next renovation project. Next steps are ordering your samples and getting them on the walls. Have fun!
With our DIY specialist duties over, why not explore the rest of our DIY blog in the meantime?
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