Step 2 in creating a bedroom that promotes sleep and healing: Colour.
After decluttering your bedroom you are now ready for Step 2 in Ann’s, The Wellness Decorator, three step process to creating a space that promotes healthy sleep hygiene (for step 1 please visit our blog: From Bedroom to Sanctuary Step 1 in creating a bedroom that promotes sleep and healing). The second step that is crucial to creating a healing bedroom is choosing your colour.
Colour has a massive influence on our physical and emotional wellbeing, which is why it is a crucial step when transforming your bedroom into a sanctuary. Ann has some important tips and things to remember when you are first considering which colour you may want to paint your room. The first thing to keep in mind is to avoid high contrast colours. These are colours that are very different from each other and do not complement one another. High contrast colour schemes can be emotionally overwhelming and may promote stress instead of relaxation. As such, Ann recommends monochromatic and tertiary colour schemes. Monochromatic colour schemes are when you use variations of one colour (for example variations of yellow), and tertiary colours are the colours found in between a primary and a secondary colours on a colour wheel. An example of a tertiary colour is yellow-green because on a colour wheel it is found between yellow (a primary colour) and green (a secondary colour).
Another tip when choosing your colour for your sanctuary is use lighter hues in small spaces. For example, if your bedroom is a little small, or if you have a small reading nook in your bedroom, it is best to paint your space a lighter colour in order to make it feel more open. Dark and bold colours tend to make a room feel smaller and claustrophobic, which can induce stress, anxiety and uneasiness. In order to ensure your bedroom is a true sanctuary remember that lighter hues will make your space feel bigger, more open, and less cluttered which will promote relaxation.
Finally, Ann’s last tip when picking a colour for your room is to use your décor to bring in pops of colour. If you are someone who loves bold colours you can still use them in your bedroom, but Ann would encourage you to use them sparingly. Instead of painting your walls a deep bold blue, instead opt to paint your walls a lighter blue. Then once your walls are finished you can incorporate your deep bold blue into your décor to create colour accents. This way you have the best of both worlds: a lighter colour on the wall so your space feels open, and bold décor pieces to incorporate the bold colours you love into your sanctuary.
Now that we have covered all of Ann’s helpful tips, let’s talk about how specific colour schemes promote different emotional, physical, and spiritual feelings. For example, a blue colour scheme is an excellent colour choice for your bedroom because it lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. It encourages healthy sleep hygiene, and is calming and cooling, which is helpful for reducing inflammation. In contrast, a yellow colour scheme stimulates the nervous system and energizes your muscles while making you feel relaxed, whereas a green colour scheme makes your room feel fresh, clean, and tranquil, and promotes stability. Ann highly recommends blue, yellow, and green colour schemes for your bedroom because these three colours are linked to helping people achieve 7-8 hours of sleep, which is the recommended amount of sleep an individual should get each night. On the other hand, purple colour schemes promote transformation, soothe the nervous system and promote immunity. People who are introverted tend to prefer purple colour schemes because they foster good energy and creativity. Finally, neutral and pastel colour schemes are an excellent choice for turning your bedroom into a sanctuary because these colours are soft and energizing at the same time.
With all of these tips in mind, you are now prepared to pick the colour of your sanctuary. Remember that you can pick any colour you like, and what truly matters is how the colour makes you feel. It is important to select a colour that will promote your emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing, and if you follow Ann’s tips you can certainly accomplish that goal. If you are having trouble deciding on what colour to choose, Ann can assist you in your selection by leading you through a visual guided meditation. Through this meditation she will ask you to visualize your room and to imagine what colour you see. She will ask you questions like: what will your room look like finished? How do you want to feel in this space? What items do you see in your room? If you would like help choosing a colour please contact Ann so that she can assist and guide you through this meditation.
When you have finally decided on your colour, Ann’s final tip before painting your room is to use a Volatile-Organic Compound Free Paint (VOC Paint). This type of paint is free of unhealthy substances and volatile chemicals, which will truly make your bedroom a place for healthy sleep hygiene. Now that you have completed Steps 1 and 2 of Ann’s process for turning your bedroom into a sanctuary, all that remains is Step 3: Decorate. Stay tuned for our next blog to learn about Step 3!
If you would like a Colour Consultation you can contact Ann through her website www.www.annpowell.ca, via email ann@www.annpowell.ca or by phone 905-441-9472.