The best colors for sleep are blue, yellow, green, silver, orange, pink, and white. These colors reduce stress and soothe the nervous system. Try to stick with neutral or pastel shades for a soft, welcoming atmosphere.
Exposure to white light during the day can have positive effects, including boosting alertness and mood. Red light has no effect on the circadian clock, so you can use a dim red light at night. Yellow and orange light have little effect on the clock so you can use a very dim yellow or orange light at night.
Red: Red is an invigorating color that stimulates alertness and increases heart rate. Moreover, one study found that the color red also increases brain activity—something you don't want when you're trying to relax and fall asleep, says McKinnen.
Red light is by far the best calming light color for sleep. Choosing a red light as a nightlight ensures that you don't disrupt your circadian rhythm. So switching to a red light a few hours before going to bed will surely help you fall asleep easier.
What Color Light Helps You Sleep? Light is known to impact sleep quality. For bedroom lighting, experts recommend low color temperature lights in warm hues such as red, orange, and yellow. This is the opposite of the cool greens and blues recommended for wall hues.
Green – Quiet and restful, green is a soothing color that can invite harmony and diffuse anxiety. Blue – A highly peaceful color, blue can be especially helpful for stress management because it can encourage a powerful sense of calm. Purple – In many cultures, shades of violet represent strength, wisdom and peace.
Light from electronic screens comes in all colors, but the blues are the worst. Blue light fools the brain into thinking it's daytime. When that happens, the body stops releasing a sleep hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is nature's way of helping us wind down and prepare for bed.
How do different colors of light affect our ability to fall asleep? Scientists from Oxford University have the answer. Last year, the team tested green, blue, and violet light on mice. They found that green light produced rapid sleep onset — between 1 and 3 minutes while blue and violet delayed sleep.
"Shades of blue or green are always very calming. Blues are especially known to have a relaxing effect perfect for creating a serene feeling at home," says Nicole Gibbons, interior designer and founder of Clare Paint.
According to color psychologists, the most stressful and anxiety-inducing color is 'red'. Red room ideas can be too intense for some people – could your red decor be one of the reasons why your friends hate your house? It reminds us of danger and is a color that makes you angry.
Red. Red has always been associated with health, vigor, and love and has increased metabolic activity. This trait makes it the perfect appetite accelerator and a prime color for drinks. Being associated with the red color means raised temperature and blood pressure, which leads to increased thirst.
Red – This bright hue is very energetic and stimulates many senses, which lead directly to your appetite. This is why many fast-food chains include red in their signage and decor. Yellow – Many restaurants also include yellow in their decor, as it is known to increase appetite as well.
Happy colors are usually thought to be bright, warm shades, like yellow, orange, pink and red, or pastels, like peach, light pink and lilac. The brighter and lighter the color, the happier and more optimistic it can make you feel.
Green light therapy for improved sleep
Researchers have found that green light promotes sleep while blue light delays it. In a study conducted by Oxford University, green light produced rapid sleep onset in mice - between 1 and 3 minutes.
The color red was most associated with anger, green with disgust, black with fear, yellow with happiness, blue with sadness, and bright with surprise. These associations may be a result of various expressions containing color terms that are used in the English language—for example, “seeing red” or “feeling blue.”
Yet “red” was also the most frequent color listed for contempt, fear, and surprise; and “green” was also the most frequent color for disgust; “yellow” also for joy; and “blue” also for pride.
Studies have shown that blue and green can create a calming atmosphere; orange and yellow can stimulate appetite; red and pink can inspire passion and energy; while purple can boost creativity and productivity.
Protect yourself from blue light at night
Use dim red lights for night lights. Red light is less likely to shift circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin. Avoid looking at bright screens beginning two to three hours before bed.
Red light, night light. The human eye is less sensitive to longer wavelengths, so red light is chosen to preserve the night vision of the crew while still allowing them to still see their instrument panels.
Overall, while red light doesn't necessarily promote sleep, it is less disruptive than other types of light, experts said. The bottom line is that when it comes to sleep, “what's better than red light is no light,” Dasgupta said.