Complementary color palettes for trendy bedroom design

It’s been a few years since “shabby chic” entered the lexicon of professional interior designers and DIY decorators alike. The farmhouse look is well-suited to a kitchen, but why not try it in the bedroom? To make your space as fresh as a basket of just-harvested vegetables, choose a classic neutral and build on it with subtle shifts in tone. A weathered-wood gray is the definitive farmhouse background, but creamy off-white can work as well. Either one makes for dead-simple decor choices; since there’s such wide variety of shades that work well in symphony with one another, you can mix and match to your artistic little heart’s content. An all-gray palette, however, can get boring fast—so add some thoughtful details. Look for furnishings like throw pillows, rag rugs, and window treatments that can be swapped out seasonally in shades of barn red or a medium-toned All-American blue. Other possibilities include apple green or the vibrant yellowy green of a July cornfield. Make things even farm-ier with some gingham or buffalo check fabrics.

Mention the 1980s to the nearest Gen Xer and stand back as the tsunami of nostalgia rolls in. There was a lot to love about this era of excess, and the beloved colors—mint, mauve, dusty rose, royal blue, bubblegum pink, and kelly green—are no exception. Go for a preppy-inspired grass-green and flamingo pink, accented with floral fabrics à la Lily Pulitzer. Another option involves channeling your inner Laura Ashley with toile, calico, and a rainbow of rose shades. First, paint the walls in palest ice pink, then accent with mauve or muted fuschia trim, lastly adding in accessories and textiles of deepest burgundy. A little sage green wouldn’t go amiss among these uber-feminine colors, too. Of course, there’s no color combo that evokes the Reagan era quite like pink and gray (go back to that Gen Xer and just say “jazz shoes.”)—unless it’s neon, that is. What color neon, you ask? Any color neon, but back in the day, blues, purples and the ubiquitous pink prevailed, so for true 80s aesthetic flair, get your hands on some neon signage or any artwork that evokes it.

Mid Century modern decor is beloved, and although it dates back decades, it has graduated from trendy to timeless in recent years. If you favor geometric angles, teak and walnut tables, and chairs that are a collection of streamlined curves, there are several color palette options that will show off your individual style as seen through a midcentury modern lens. For a sophisticated MCM aesthetic, try warm and fairly dark earth tones like bottle green, pale olive, pumpkin, and chocolate brown, accented by bright, vibrant teal. These might prove a little too intense if used to paint all four walls, but try just one wall painted in a muted cocoa hue or an autumnal raw sienna. Pale olive green could also serve as a backdrop to more saturated shades. Another approach evokes the lighthearted spirit of a swingy, 50s-era cocktail party: think aqua and dark teal paired with pale pink or cantaloupe evolving into classic orange. While this isn’t a color combo that most folks would choose for a living room, it’s a cheerful, whimsical choice for a bedroom. Round out the fun factor with shaggy, soft pillows, an orange lava lamp, stainless steel floor lamps, and a few pieces of solid-black furniture.