What Is the Best Colour for Bed Sheets?

Learn about different colours that suit bed linens and discover the best colour for bed sheets.

Oftentimes, bed sheets are an afterthought, but their impact on a room is huge.

While your bed covering – whether a duvet, quilt, or bed cover – might be the first thing people notice when they walk into your room, it’s the sheets that tie everything together.

To create a bedroom look on par with the best interior designers, it's important to consider the colour of your bed sheets and how they play with your bedding colours. Read on to learn more about different colour options and discover the best colour scheme for your bedroom.

Neutral Colours

Neutral tones are some of the most versatile colours for bed sheets. Not only do they complement other colours beautifully, but they also create a calm, peaceful vibe in any room. If you want to keep your colour palette simple, neutral hues are a great way to add visual variety with texture and layering without adding more colour to the mix.

A few neutral colours to consider:

Crème: Crème (cream) is a beautiful choice that matches nearly any other colours that may be a part of your bedroom decor. The natural warmth in Crème coloured sheets is a great way to pull more natural light into a room and give a space an overall warmer atmosphere.
Oatmeal: Oatmeal is a great colour to choose if you'd like slightly cooler-toned beige sheets. Like Crème, Oatmeal pairs well with other colours, but has a more earthy look. If you're prone to mess, this colour is a great option, as the natural colour is better at hiding stains and marks than a bright white or light cream would.
Fog: Nothing brings a sense of calmness into a bedroom like grey sheets. A light colour, like Fog, has a soothing impact that can even influence how you feel as you drift off. If you're aiming to make your room a sleep sanctuary, this may be the perfect colour for you.
Terracotta: If an earthy vibe is what you're after, consider going for terracotta sheets. Because of its warm, rich tone, Terracotta is a good choice for those trying to make their room feel more inviting. As a bonus, this earthy neutral looks great with almost any colour, making it an easy choice regardless of your other bedding.

Bright Colours

On the other side of the spectrum are bright, vibrant colours. While it might sound like a bit much, brightly coloured bed sheets can transform the overall look and feel of a room without being too over the top. Colourful sheets are one of the best ways to revamp your bedroom decor with little effort. Change your sheets each season for a fresh look and have fun seeing how each new colour changes the space.

Pistachio: A bright green, like Pistachio, is an ideal choice for those who want a natural feel but still love a pop of colour. While the bold colour stands out, the green still comes across as natural and earthy, giving you the best of both worlds. According to colour psychology, green also encourages positive thinking, so if you're trying to be more optimistic in life, pistachio is an excellent choice.
Coast: This bright, light blue instantly draws to mind the sea or sky. Layer it with white bedding to create an airy feel, almost like sleeping on a cloud. In addition to creating a tranquil sleep environment, the colour blue is also surprisingly easy to incorporate into a room. As a primary colour, blue is a great match with neutral colours, as well as warm tones – which sit opposite blue on the colour wheel. Some say that the colour blue can lower heart rate and blood pressure, which can help you relax and improve overall sleep quality.
Turmeric: Want to make your room feel more energetic and inspiring? A bright, golden colour like Turmeric is a great choice. Not only does this golden hue work well with other primary colours (like reds and blues), but it can also add richness to a room otherwise full of pastel colours.

Warm Colours

If you want your room to feel inviting, cheerful, and grounding, then warm hues might be the right bed sheet colours for you. According to the principles of feng shui, warm colours like yellow, brown, and orange are associated with "grounding, stability, and nourishment".

Making warm colours work: Depending on your personal preferences, you might want to decorate your entire room with warm colours or use them as accents. If you're worried about overdoing the colour, pair warm coloured sheets with a white comforter or duvet cover for an elegant, yet welcoming feel.
Warm colour options: Some of the best warm colours to consider include

Cool Colours

In contrast to warm colours which nourish and invigorate, cool colours promote relaxation, healing, and clarity. Cool tones like blues, greens, and purples can make you feel more grounded. Feng shui principles say that dark blue, in particular, can help you "release tension or work on self-cultivation" – perfect for ensuring a good night's sleep.

Making cool colours work: If a soothing effect is what you're after, consider pairing cool colours with dark colours such as charcoal or brown. Cool colours also look great with earthy tones or in white rooms that amplify the effect of any accent colours.
Cool colour options: If cool coloured sheets sound good to you, check out these different colour options for adding visual interest

White Bed Sheets

If no other colours resonate with you (or your bedroom), you can't go wrong with crisp, white sheets. Nothing is more satisfying than a freshly-made bed with fresh white sheets which bring a neat, clean feeling into any room.

You've likely noticed that white sheets are the go-to in hotels and for good reason: bright white is a clear sign of cleanliness and quality, both of which are essential to any good hotel. The psychological effects of white include promoting comfort and hope, as well as helping you declutter.

One of the major benefits of bright white sheets is the ability to match them with anything. Whether you choose light hues, dark hues, or more white for your other bedding and bedroom decor, white is guaranteed to work well.

Need more help deciding? Take this quiz to discover your dream bedding colours.