What Color to Paint a Zen Bedroom
A zen bedroom is meant to be a haven where you can relax and rejuvenate. Zen bedrooms are good environments for meditation, sleep and quiet activities. By integrating elements of color with furniture and accessories, you can create a balanced and relaxing environment where you can retreat after a long day of work.
Calming Colors
Bright and bold colors are often less appropriate for a zen bedroom than subdued, natural colors. But it comes down to this: You can paint your bedroom any color of the rainbow, but choose a shade that won't excite your emotions. For example, if you want red walls, select a shade that has been mixed with a brown or deep purple. You can also create a deep, soothing red by mixing red paint with a little bit of its complement (which would be green--see the color wheel for more examples of complementary colors).
When in doubt, choose a color that you could easily describe as "dark and soothing" or "light and calming." For color ideas, stop at the paint department of a home-improvement store, where you should find hundreds of color ideas in small paper swatches.
Visual Balance
An scheme--that is, a scheme based on colors that appear next to each other on the color wheel--is the most appropriate for a zen bedroom, because these colors often have the most obvious relationship to one another. Base your color selections on what you already have in your room. The color of your bedspread and the color of your floor should come into consideration. Your walls should not clash with any other element of the room--everything should match. This is because you have decided to create a bedroom that is balanced and appears to be in harmony. When you enter the room, no single element should stand out or appear to be out of place.
So, for example, if you own a number of items that are primarily cool colors (such as a dark-blue bedspread, blue curtains and purple pillows), your walls should be blue, purple or green to remain in keeping with your analogous color scheme and to create visual balance in your room.
Maintaining Zen
It isn't enough to have the walls painted a calming color--zen bedrooms must be clean and free of clutter. Decorate your room with natural items such as beautiful stones, sand gardens and plants. Allow natural light in your bedroom by putting up sheer or light-colored curtains. Sort through your personal items. Organize and throw away things you no longer need or use.
Tags: your room, analogous color, appropriate bedroom, color ideas, Color Paint, Color Paint Bedroom