The scientific-approved paint idea consists of three palettes: Color for Sleep, Color for Stress Relief, and Mood Boosting Colors for Winter (SAD). Each category includes eight shades with wellbeing benefits, so customers can ‘optimize their homes for calm and restoration.’ This apt launch follows the news that around 40% of adults will experience sleep issues at some point in their lives.  ‘A sleep-friendly bedroom needs to make you feel safe, relaxed and contented, so where better to start than with the color you put on your walls,’ explains Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity (opens in new tab).  ‘Often, we associate a calming environment with more muted or pastel colors – and neutrals are great at providing a soothing backdrop – but don’t be afraid to explore darker shades too. They create tempting, intimate interior spaces that you can retreat to.’ Each of the shades is accredited by applied color psychology expert Justine Fox, along with Naomi Pollard, Head of Home and Interiors at Trend Bible (opens in new tab). So, you can rest assured that you’re following color trends whilst sleeping in serenity. But how do they work as palettes? Here we break down Valspar’s three selections. 

1. Color For Sleep Palette

With its dark blues, greens, purples, and versatile neutrals, the Color For Sleep palette is the bedroom color idea that not only looks good – but does good too. Valspar hopes the colors will provoke your body and mind to relax and switch off, so you can sleep in a therapeutic space.  The label suggests choosing their Kindness of Strangers (opens in new tab), Gray Berry (opens in new tab), Crushed Nutmeg (opens in new tab), Indigo Dreams (opens in new tab), Ethereal Dance (opens in new tab), Sea Crest (opens in new tab), Pink Alabaster (opens in new tab), and Toasted Beige (opens in new tab) for an optimum sleep environment. 

2. Color For Stress Relief  

While the Color For Sleep Palette introduces you to nature-inspired hues, the Stress Relief selection continues this further by combining hazy greens, blues, and grays. These colors include Palace Walls (opens in new tab), Heather Haze (opens in new tab), Quiet Storm (opens in new tab), Silver Mauve (opens in new tab), Peaceful Soul (opens in new tab), Calm Water (opens in new tab), Zinc Blue (opens in new tab), and Mother Nature (opens in new tab). These colors pay homage to the ‘Biophilia’ interior design trend and prompt you to reconnect with nature in your place of sleep. ‘Softly faded and cool greyed colors rooted in the natural world create the perfect environment for us to practice mindfulness, taking a mental pause and quietly focusing on self-care,’ Justine says in her discussion of the palette. 

3. Mood-Boosting Colors for Winter (SAD) 

With the season’s limited sunlight comes more frequent low moods as the production of hormones decreases. However, Valspar’s Mood-Boosting colors are designed to bring joy and positivity while reflecting as much natural light as possible. The shades featured in this pack include Sea Silk (opens in new tab), Toque (opens in new tab), Teal Time (opens in new tab), Golden Sue (opens in new tab), Soft Focus (opens in new tab), Cozy Glow (opens in new tab), Woke Up Like This (opens in new tab), and Peach Rose (opens in new tab).  ‘When nights get shorter, and the world outside turns cold, our instinct is to draw in and conserve energy. Bringing vibrancy and energy into our spaces using uplifting color goes some way to counteract this feeling,’ Justine explains. ‘Clean, fresh shades are optically brightening and reflective, enhancing the sense of light in any room.’ The science behind a stylish (and serene) bedroom has never felt quite so simple.