Dark blue bedroom walls feel enclosed and calm, but the shade matters. These six colors were measured from paintings: three deep blues and three companions, each with its LRV and closest paint match.
Quick answer
Use charcoal blue #3F4855 on an accent wall or all four walls, add the pale gray #DEE1DF on trim and bedding, and warm it with brown #63544B and peach #FFD9B6.
Every color on this page was measured from one of these public-domain paintings.
Shades of navy
#3F4855LRV 6
Charcoal Blue
A deep cool blue with an LRV of 6, the lightest of the three dark blues and the easiest to live with. It was measured from Monet's Boats on the Beach at Étretat, and its closest match is Sherwin-Williams SW 2739 Charcoal Blue.
A very dark blue with an LRV of 2, close to black. It suits a small bedroom, a ceiling or a headboard wall. It comes from Renoir's portrait of Alfred Sisley.
A very light neutral with an LRV of 75, useful for trim, bedding or a ceiling to relieve the dark blue. It comes from Monet's Boats on the Beach at Étretat.
A very light warm color with an LRV of 74. Use it for lamp shades, a throw or a small painted detail. It comes from Cosmè Tura's Portrait of a Young Man.
The same paint reads differently in cool north light, warm south sun and under evening lamps. Find the column closest to your room.
Color
Neutral daylight
North light
South light
Evening lamps
Pale Mist Gray
Warm Peach
Try these colors in a room
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is Boats on the Beach at Étretat.
Which dark blue should you choose for a bedroom?
The three blues are close in depth, with LRVs of 6, 3 and 2, so the choice comes down to undertone and mood. Charcoal blue #3F4855 looks slightly gray and softer. The dark night teal #1A3037 leans green and feels deeper and more moody. The ink navy #272835 reads almost black in low light.
If you are painting all four walls, charcoal blue is the least tiring choice. If you only want an accent wall behind the bed, any of the three works, and the darker ones give a stronger effect.
Because all three absorb most light, plan the lighting before you paint. Bedside lamps and wall sconces do much of the work in a dark room.
What goes with dark blue: trim, ceiling and floor?
Dark blue needs a light partner. The pale mist gray #DEE1DF has an LRV of 75, so it brightens trim, ceilings and bedding against the walls. Its closest match is Sherwin-Williams SW 6231 Rock Candy.
If you want a softer look, paint the trim the same blue as the walls. This hides the edges and makes the room feel calm and wrapped.
For floors, warm wood is the natural match. The cocoa brown #63544B shows the depth of a dark wood or leather bench that works with the blue. A light rug helps keep the floor from disappearing. For a small accent, the warm peach #FFD9B6 adds a glow that offsets the cool wall.
How do dark blues look in bedroom light?
Dark blues change more than most colors as the light changes. In north light they can look gray or nearly black. In strong south light they show their blue more clearly and look a little lighter.
Under warm bulbs in the evening, the blue deepens and the room feels enclosed, which many people want in a bedroom. Cool daylight bulbs make the same walls look colder and flatter.
Sheen also matters. A matte finish absorbs the most light and looks richest, but it marks more easily. A washable matte or eggshell gives a small amount of reflection, which can help if the bedroom is small.
How do you test dark blue samples?
Dark colors look different on a small chip than on a wall, so use a sample board of at least two feet. Apply two coats and let them dry fully, because wet paint looks darker.
Place the board beside the bed and again near the window. Hold it next to your bedding and your wood to see how they sit together.
Check the board at three times of day, and again at night with the lamps you actually use. If the room gets little daylight, test the color in the corner as well, where it will look darkest. Choose the sample you still like at night, because a bedroom is mostly seen then.
FAQ
What is a good dark blue paint color for a bedroom?
Charcoal blue #3F4855 is the softest of the three dark blues here, with an LRV of 6, and it is easy to live with on all four walls.
Should I paint one navy accent wall or the whole bedroom?
An accent wall behind the bed is the safer first step. Painting all four walls works best with the lighter charcoal blue and good lighting.
What colors go with a navy blue bedroom?
Pale gray on trim and bedding, warm brown wood and a light peach accent keep a dark blue bedroom from feeling cold.
Does a dark blue bedroom look smaller?
Dark walls with an LRV under 10 absorb light, so the walls feel closer. Keeping the ceiling and trim light helps.
What trim color goes with dark blue bedroom walls?
A light gray such as #DEE1DF for contrast, or the same blue as the walls for a wrapped look.
Save these colors
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Painting images: The Art Institute of Chicago, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain (CC0).
Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
From Boats on the Beach at Étretat, Claude Monet
