Should your bedding match your wall color? Designers argue the case and explain the effects

There is much to consider when picking the perfect bedding, from material to texture and style, with color, for many, the most important factor to decide on. 

Choosing the best bed sheets in the right color for your bedroom will have a big impact on the overall look and feel of your space. Bedding that complements your wall color can establish a cocooning, cohesive design that celebrates a favorite shade, whereas opting for bedding in a different color can create a more colorful and visually interesting space. 

But should bedding match or contrast with your wall color? We spoke to design experts to find out.

Should your bedding match your wall color?

To help you make the right decision for your design scheme, we have asked a collection of designers for their advice when choosing the perfect bedding color, and whether it it is best to keep things coordinated or establish contrast.

Yes – if you want to create a calming feel

Whether you keep things simple, for example, with white bedding to match with your white bedroom ideas, or coordinate with bright bedroom color ideas for a more impactful, immersive look, choosing bedding that matches with your wall color will create a seamless and united design, say designers.

Match with your wall color for a 'color-drenched' effect

This neutral bedroom by Lucy Ayres, principle at 22 Interiors, creates a soothing space of cocooned comfort, with the cream and white bedding, bed frame and cushions working with the cream painted walls and flooring to establish a soft and organic look that celebrates a calming, neutral palette. 

If bold brights are more your style however, matching your bedding with colorful bedroom paint ideas will create a similar cocooning effect but with a more striking, saturated presence.

Use shades in the same color family

For a look that feels matched but with a slight hint of contrast, use shades in the same color family for your bedding and walls.

'Bedding can be of the same hue, but lighter or darker than the actual wall color. A big design mistake is having the same exact color for everything without variation in a room. You need highs and lows to make a room feel more interesting and draw attention to specific parts of the design' says California-based interior designer, Jen Dallas.

Jen Dallas

Jen Dallas is a California based interior designer, whose studio has its very own line of textiles tiles, rugs and lighting.

No – if you want to create livelier contrast

As we have explored, coordinating your bedding with your wall color can create a beautiful, calming design, however, it seems that the majority of our designers are in agreement that the bed is a perfect place to get creative with color contrasts.

Bring in accent colors for visual balance

When following basic interior design rules, color rules can help us to achieve a sense of pleasing visual harmony in a room, and using contrasting colors is often key to create an overall balanced color palette in a space.

'The 60-30-10 rule is a great guide to ensure balance. Think about using the main color (60% of the space) on the walls or large furniture. 30% will be your accent features such as rugs, bedding, chairs, and curtains, and 10% is the art, accessories and cushions you display,' says Emma Bestley, creative director and co-founder of YesColors.

In this bedroom, designed by Kimberley Harrison Interiors, the white walls act as the main color (60%), the gray painted window trim, bed frame and throw are the accent features (30%) and the beige blind, throws and cushions the remaining 10%.

Emma Bestley

Homegrown paint brand, YesColors, was founded by friends, John Stubbs and Emma Bestley. Alongside being a paint and color expert, Emma has worked in fashion buying and events within the media industry.

Create a colorful, layered look

Daniela Boleto, design director at UK-based bedding brand, Camomile London says, 'Our design philosophy embraces layering and the idea of a mix and match approach to interior schemes. Wall paint or paper can contrast beautifully with bedding to create a textured and cozy space, and this depth of interest can rarely be achieved with a perfect match.

'A bedroom should be a relaxing sanctuary where you feel truly at home and expressing yourself through contrasts is a lovely way to add character to a room.'

Daniela Boleto

Daniela created London based bedding brand, Camomile London, with her mother, Helen Boleto. Both have, individually and collectively, enjoyed well-established careers in fashion, and developed Camomile London from a kids' bedding brand to a company that now creates designs for the whole family.

Match with your curtain color

Instead of matching with your wall color, why not match with your curtain ideas instead? If your walls contrast from your curtains, then matching your bedding to your curtains will create a sense of unity – whilst establishing a point of difference simultaneously.

'In this twin bedroom, we wanted the room to be filled with light and softer textures, so we coordinated the cream curtains with the cream white of the duvet. We also chose Swiss dot curtains to match with the pure white bed sheets. The Swiss dot texture of the curtains also gives interest to otherwise plain white “boring” curtains,’ says Kristyn Harvey, founder and principal designer at Kristyn Harvey Interiors.

There is more guidance on choosing curtain colors in our dedicated feature, should your curtains match your wall color?

Kristyn Harvey

Kristyn Harvey is founder of Kristyn Harvey Interiors, a residential design firm specializing in home renovations and furnishings based in San Diego, California. Kristyn’s philosophy is to compose efficient home spaces that also feel like a breath of fresh air, and she is known for creating light filled rooms, filled with warm natural textures.

Match and contrast walls with patterned bedding

With patterned bedding, you can not only enrich a bedroom space with color and personality, you can choose a design that contains a palette of colors that both match and contrast with your wall color.

Find the perfect balance with patterns

When decorating with pattern, Daniela Boleto from Camomile London advises, 'Start with the color palette or pattern you enjoy and use layers of interest from wallpaper or paint to duvets covers, pillows and throws. Be bold with contrasting patterns or pick out key tones and build them up through the space for a beautiful depth and texture.'

In this bedroom, the patterned bed frame coordinates perfectly with the soft, blue painted walls, with the eclectic mix of throws and cushions layered together as one to establish an eye-catching, colorful design that draws you into the space.

7. Layer together multiple colors

If you want to introduce a collection of different colors for your bedding ideas without embracing a patterned design, then use accessories such as pillows and throws to create an element of contrast.

In this modern bedroom, designed by Susie Novak Interiors, the black pillows and throw form a striking contrast with the white bedding and white painted walls, with the subtle, cream patterned pillow coordinating perfectly with the neutral bed-frame. 

Our favorite bedding buys to shop now

FAQs

The verdict

Whether your bedding matches the color of the walls can largely be decided by the mood you want to create: match the two for a color-drenched, womb-like effect. Contrast the colors of both for a livelier look. 

The right bedding color should sit in perfect harmony with your overall design scheme for your bedroom. Whether you choose to coordinate, or contrast – the more popular option embraced by designers – ensure to choose a bedding design that brings you joy every time to step foot into the room, and cozy up in bed!