Navy for a bright bedroom?

[harrietm87]

Our master bedroom is big and has 2 windows, one of which is a bay, and it is south facing, so tons of natural light. We were planning to paint it a dark blue/navy (f&b stiffkey blue) as we thought this would make it seem more cosy, but a few people have said that's a terrible idea and we should work with the room's natural brightness, not against it.

Carpet is a light grey, bed is upholstered in light natural linen colour, curtains will also be a light colour, ceiling and skirting white.

Let me know what you think!

We went for a dark teal in ours and the room carried it really well.

We have since swapped with the dcs into the smaller darker bedroom and are planning full on navy in the little room. Embracing the dark.

I’m doing this exact same thing this weekend! Same colour. Skirting and ceilings white and I have white linen curtains coming.

I have high ceilings and the room gets plenty of light, so I think you’ll be absolutely fine! Start by painting a ‘feature wall’, if you think that’s enough then the other walls white looks good with Stiffkey blue. That’s my plan. Can’t wait, it’s such a beautiful colour! And I love very close to Stiffkey so even nicer.

i personally don't think dark colours work in a room with lots of natural light, especially direct sunshine like yours has. but if you're convinced, then do it. that's what 'learning from experience' is

it's only paint... and time... and many many coats to cover up the dark...

actually, i have painted a wall in my very light study black. it looks great. wouldn't do the whole room though. why not start with a feature wall like teddyisahe suggests?

@NapQueen that looks fantastic!

@TeddyIsaHe great minds! Can you post a pic once you've done it?!

I think trying a feature wall first is a good idea. The room is long but not that wide (standard Victorian terrace front bedroom) so will maybe try the wall behind the bed (opposite windows) and see how it looks.

My thinking was that bedroom should mainly be for sleeping so a dark cosy feeling is preferable to something lighter, but maybe no point trying in such a naturally bright room.

In our last house, we painted our brigh sitting room navy and loved. It was quite a fresh vibrant hue, though and went well with white and bright colours.

No, interior designers always advise having a light bedroom to help you wake up in the morning. A dark bedroom makes your body feel sleepy and dull in the morning.

We have two bedrooms painted navy and white. The walls are navy up to the picture rail and then everything above that is white. All woodwork is white.

DS1s is a dark north facing room and it looks cosy. DS2s is a dual aspect, very bright south facing room and it still looks fab (particularly when his disco ball hits the light and it looks like the room is full of stars!)

We just did our bedroom in F&B stiffkey two weeks ago, and I love it! We have two large windows, and the trim and ceiling are white. It's cosy but also lovely and bright.

I would say that having lived with navy rooms for nearly two years now the upkeep is greater than lighter walls (bizarrely). If something is scratched against them you can see the lighter wall colour underneath through really clearly. I have a navy felt tip pen which I regularly use to touch up.

I can see what you mean about sleeping and coziness, but I'd go for a light color in a sun filled bedroom. I'd have fun using a multi-layered approach to make the bedroom relaxing and cozy. Textured pillows and throws, alternate lighting for a softer look in the evening, things like that.

Think about what makes a bedroom relaxing and cozy for you and use that. If you rely on wall color, you only have one mode. If you have a few different ways to make it relaxing, it can be more versatile. So that it's a room you both enjoy waking up in but also winding down in at the end of the night.

@TeddyIsaHe have you painted yours now? Any chance you could post a picture? I'm still wavering!

My bedroom is stiffley!!! It definitely works. Go for it!!

I'm going to do one wall (the one with bed head) in probably Pitch blue, the rest in something like string or pointing or clunch, in my west-facing bedroom (Windows take up almost whole wall).