Jump to:
- Shades of Blue and Green
- Pale Pinks
- Warm Neutrals
Understanding the psychological effects of color can help you achieve a specific mood, energy, and ambience at home. “It’s not just plush pillows and cozy throws that create a tranquil environment,” says Benjamin Moore color and design expert Hannah Yeo. “A wall color can have a big impact on the overall feel of the room.” Chromotherapy, or color therapy, is the increasingly popular practice of using color to stimulate positive emotion and improve mental health. We spoke with top color experts who explained which colors will help you find your zen.
Shades of Blue and Green
Inside L’Objet founder Elad Yifrach’s soothing pale blue living room in Lisbon.
“Shades of blue or green are known to have a relaxing effect—perfect for creating a serene feeling at home,” says Nicole Gibbons, interior designer and founder of the paint company Clare. “Everyone has their own preference on relaxing colors, but soft, cooler colors seem to feel right for most,” adds Yeo. “Light sages and light sky blues are often associated with spa-inspired rooms. There’s also some scientific research indicating that due to the short wavelengths of cooler colors and how our cones perceive them, greens and blues are the most relaxing to our eyes,” she says. Here are a few of our favorites.
1. Smoke by Benjamin Moore
This pretty gray tone is softened by blue-green undertones.
2. Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball
Made for dim as well as brightly lit spaces, this frosty blue evokes a summer sky.
3. Headspace by Clare
A soft, delicate blue-green, like a faded turquoise.
4. Skylight by Farrow & Ball
This pale blue tone is cool and calming.
5. Views by Clare
A seafaring blue-green hue that doesn’t scream beach house.
6. Early Stuff by Backdrop
An enchanting light blue with gray undertones.
7. Cromarty by Farrow & Ball
A misty gray-green that brings atmosphere to any room.
8. Sterling by Benjamin Moore
This light gray has soothing blue-green undertones, reminiscent of well-loved cutlery.
9. Skywalker by Backdrop
A light blue with milky green undertones.
10. Northern Air by Benjamin Moore
A powdery cornflower blue that invites country-fried comfort.
Pale Pinks
The warm pink “rosé room” of Mara Brock Akil’s family home in Los Angeles, designed by Tiffany Howell of Night Palm.
ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ghislaine Viñas says that a slight pink with warm undertones is “like a warm hug—super soothing but never dull.” ELLE DECOR A-List designer Jean Liu agrees. She champions “neutral-adjacent” shades that have enough depth of color to make an impact but never overpower. Here are a few of our favorites.
11. Pink Ground by Farrow & Ball
Large doses of yellow pigment keep this soft pink subtly glowing.
12. Peignoir by Farrow & Ball
This shade of gray-pink is inspired by the Victorian-era garment of the same name.
13. Bridal Pink by Benjamin Moore
A faded, almost pastel shade of orange with peach undertones.
14. Rosé Season by Clare
This vibrant bubblegum pink is just what the Barbs ordered.
15. Modern Love by Backdrop
A yummy, warm pink, like faded bubble gum.
16. Uccello Pink by Donald Kaufman Color
A unique shade of pink inspired by the painting techniques of Old Masters.
Warm Neutrals
“I hate when things are too matchy-matchy,” says designer Augusta Hoffman, who uses tone and texture to create depth.
Warm neutrals are another ever-popular option, known for their calming effects. “Think of a soft champagne with just enough shimmer to put you in a great mood,” says Yeo. “The tint of warmth makes the room feel welcoming.” That’s a sentiment echoed by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Tiffany Howell of Night Palm, who describes the creamy neutral she doused this Los Angeles living room in as “candlelight.” Here are a few of our favorite ways to get your own glow.
17. Turbinado by Clare
Like its namesake “honey-colored sugar crystals,” this warm beige will bring a hint of sweetness to your living space or bedroom.
18. Opal by Benjamin Moore
An opalescent, muted white with peachy undertones.
19. Slipper Satin by Farrow & Ball
A perfectly pretty off-white that takes its name from the color of ballet slippers.
20. Palo Santo by Backdrop
A muted beige with yellow undertones, this earthy hue is reminiscent of butter (European unsalted, naturally).
..
Sean Santiago
Deputy Editor
Sean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality, travel, and luxury. He writes the So Courant! column for the magazine and elledecor.com.
Lucia Tonelli
Assistant Editor
Lucia Tonelli is an Assistant Editor at Town & Country, where she writes about the royal family, culture, real estate, design, and more.
