I Asked Designers Which Paint Color Makes a Bedroom Look the Most Expensive, and They All Said the Same Thing

3 min read

Pictured above: A mushroom-hued bedroom designed by Kobel + Co.

Is there any room quite as personal as a bedroom? Meant to be an oasis for rest, relaxation, and restoration, it can be hard to choose between shades that feel personal, storied, or timeless. While our social feeds provide an endless stream of design inspiration, it's essential that this room feel like an in-house getaway above all else.

So, what do designers suggest for the most luxe-feeling bedroom? Think of your walls as a backdrop, not a statement. Essentially, they should be a canvas for great design. “We love a neutral bedroom,” says Bridget Tiek, principal designer at TIEK BYDAY. “A neutral color is the perfect calming backdrop for a luxe bedroom where architectural details and textures take the lead. The lack of color really screams quiet luxury.”

The Best “Expensive” Bedroom Paint Color

This bedroom, designed by the team at Tiek Byday, uses soft grey tones to channel an elevated air of coziness.

That said, neutral doesn’t mean reaching for a can of true white, which tends to read more stark than crisp. Though it may seem basic, the designers we spoke to recommend swatching soft neutrals like creams, taupes, or even greige to bring an extra layer of luxury to even the coziest spaces. The reason? These calm tones allow you to take bigger risks in your design scheme. With an elevated backdrop, you can reach for bolder patterned drapes, deeper-toned bedding, or even metallic detailing without fearing the dreaded color clash.

For Tiek, the perfect bedroom shade is Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Grey. The company describes the hue as a “go-to neutral” that brings a surprising amount of warmth to spaces, even with its fresh grey-green undertones.

This Kobel + Co-designed bedroom plays off the paint’s soft green undertones by bringing in shades of grey, brown, and deeper greens through textiles.

While designer duo Elizabeth Bennett and Mallory Robbins don’t have a favorite go-to shade, they do have a range that they love to work in.

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“Mushroom and putty tones are some of our favorite paint colors for a bedroom because they have this beautiful chameleon-like quality,” says the founding pair behind the Kansas City-based design firm, Kobel + Co. “Their depth and undertones shift depending on the natural light, textiles, wood finishes, and spaces around them. That nuance, paired with their inherent warmth, gives a bedroom a layered, sensual quality that feels incredibly luxe.”

Looking for specific hues? Some of our favorite mushroom-inspired shades include Benjamin Moore’s Shiitake Mushroom, Sherwin-Williams ’ Mushroom, and Farrow & Ball’s Jitney.

This Connecticut cottage bedroom, designed by Blaire Moore and styled by Philippa Brathswaite, uses plaster to achieve a limewash finish.

For Blair Moore, there’s more to crafting a luxe bedroom than selecting the perfect paint shade. The interior designer and founder of Moore House Design regularly combines colors with plaster, textiles, and intricate brushstrokes to elevate her designs through additional texture and movement.

"We opted for Tadelakt plaster rather than a traditional paint in the Connecticut Captains Cottage bedroom,” says Moore. “I love the way it gives the walls this incredible depth and movement. The color changes subtly throughout the day as the light moves through the room. There’s an inherently luxurious finish; it's imperfect, handmade, and it gives a newly designed space the softness of paint.”

If you’re hoping to replicate the look with a paint-only technique, Moore’s team has color-matched these walls to Sherwin-Williams ’ Natural Wool—you’re welcome.

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