Independent homes

Bedroom Colour Palette for Independent homes

Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.

Bedroom inspiration: textured wardrobe fronts and soft bedside materials.

Compare the options

Set the brief: Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
Compare: Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
Before buying: Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.

Worked example

A bedroom with dark timber furniture feels heavy under warm evening lighting.

Test wall samples behind the headboard and beside the timber at night; use quieter contrast rather than matching the wood exactly.

How to test it

Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.

Apply it to this space

Layout: Keep the bed away from the direct door sightline and reserve a continuous wardrobe access strip.
Detail: Use blackout window treatment with layered bedside and general lighting.
Trade-off: A walk-in closet adds separation but takes area from sleeping or daylight.

The Elixir portfolio

Photographs for design inspiration