5 Best UK Bedroom Paints - Reviews & Comparison (2024)

A reflection of our personality and one of the most private environments in a home, the bedroom is intended as a place of rest and contemplation. That’s why the paints and colours selected to decorate this space should refresh and revitalise our body and mind.

But things are more complicated than choosing a colour palette. Bedroom paint must have low odour and low toxicity. The finish is also important.

In a maze of products and colours, we’ve done the hard work for you. Our experts have identified, tested and rated the most frequently used bedroom paints in the UK. Check out our top picks below.

Colours are an essential element in the bedroom design. Chromatic harmony is key to a restful sleep but with each hue producing different sensations and perceptions, it’s also important to use soothing shades.

Many bedroom colour schemes include shades of blue, often paired with natural wood furniture and accessories. Refreshing and welcoming, blue gives its best in a coastal-inspired or Mediterranean style interior.

A range of grey tonalities enhanced by mustard yellow provides an ever-elegant bedroom colour palette. This combination transforms the space into a stylish relaxing environment while the coldness of greys is offset by yellow’s energy.

Lilac is a traditional choice and pairs best with blue and cream. A bluish purple is a more inspired choice in a contemporary context, and this contemplative shade is easy to match with earthy tones like sand, beige, and ivory.

Elegant and timeless is a combination of black, stone and grey. This winning composition gives a natural chic look to a bedroom, and it’s easy to bring dynamism to the space with bedding and accessories.

A recurrent bedroom colour combination is blue and yellow, but you don’t have to stick to the traditional shades. Turquoise and mustard yellow is a beautiful example of a revamped colour palette. Reflective turquoise is revitalised by the freshness of mustard yellow. Mix in some greyish-blue to achieve a greater chromatic balance.

With a formulation 20 times tougher than standard Dulux Matt paint, Easycare Washable stands out thanks to its distinctive stain repellent technology. Easy to apply and maintain, this product is made to last for years. Colour brightness won’t fade in time and of all the paints we’ve tested, this is our favourite.

Coming in a colour range suitable for all environments of a home, the paint boasts a thick and creamy consistency that adheres perfectly to the wall. Using a primer is recommended on bare walls or when the product is applied over a darker shade. However, if the wall is in good condition and the colour difference is not substantial, the product provides an excellent coverage and durability even on non-primed surfaces.

Coverage is exceptional and depending on the surface porosity and wall conditions, a tin of paint can cover up to 65m². The drying time is only four hours and two coats of paint are enough to achieve a flawless result.

We also like the matt finish of the paint that hides surface imperfections and covers small cracks. As a water-based product, the paint is easy to thin if needed and has a low number of volatile organic compounds. Safe to work with in poorly ventilated spaces, the product also has minimal odour which makes it a great choice for a bedroom or children’s room.

The only thing we didn’t like is the stickiness of the product. Because of its creamy consistency, cleaning it from brushes is a hassle.

Johnstone’s Onecoat Matt Emulsion promises a superb covering power on all interior walls. And the product does what it says it does. Coming at an excellent price, this emulsion paint boasts a premium quality and a quick drying formulation that helps finish work in a breeze.

Water-based paint has a low odour and is ideal to use in a bedroom. The product is also available in a broad range of colours that dry to a smooth matt finish. Covering wall imperfections and adhering well to previously painted surfaces, the product is tough and easy to clean.

Johnstone’s advanced formula with an improved viscosity provides a flawless covering of bare walls and slightly darker colours without the need of a second coat. But paint thickness comes with drawbacks too. High viscosity is synonymous with a lower coverage. However, considering that coverage is 8m²/litre and a second coat is often unnecessary, the product is still a bargain.

The thickness can make the paint frustrating to work with. To avoid paintbrush marks, we recommend applying the product with a quality roller.

The product is easy to clean up from brushes and rollers with warm soapy water. Lukewarm running water and a paintbrush comb should also do the trick.

Johnstone’s ‘No Ordinary Paint’ is a great bedroom paint with a light reflecting high sheen finish. The product is easy to wipe clean and needs little maintenance either on walls or on the ceilings. The silky smooth finish is scrub-resistant, making the paint an ideal choice for high-traffic areas.

This water-based paint has a low content of volatile organic compounds and a low odour. It is suitable for walls and ceilings and comes in a range of contemporary colours. The vinyl emulsion is easy to apply with a paintbrush or roller, and the product is compatible for use with some paint sprayers.

Covering up to 12m²/litre, the product boasts an excellent price/quality ratio. Two coats are usually enough to achieve a satisfactory result even when applied to bare walls. However, substantial colour changes could require more coats.

Touch dry within two or fewer hours, the product accepts a second coat after about four hours when working in ideal environmental conditions. For the best results, we recommend applying a primer before applying the paint and avoid painting in extreme temperatures or humid conditions.

Less resistant than our top choice, Dulux Vinyl Matt is still an exceptional product. Our favourite feature is the Chromalock technology that bonds the colour molecules as the paint dries, guaranteeing a longer lasting finish.

The main difference between this product and the Easycare formulation is the cleaning ease. While Vinyl Matt can be wiped clean with a dry cloth, this product is not washable. As a result, dealing with stubborn stains requires a new coat of paint.

Considering that a bedroom is not a high-traffic area, this is a minor drawback. Drying to a smooth matt finish, this creamy emulsion adheres flawlessly to the wall, disguising surface imperfections. With a low odour and low content of volatile organic compounds, the product is safe to use in low ventilated environments.

Adhering well to most surfaces, the paint may not need a primer if applied over previous paint. However, a plaster sealer improves paint coverage and results if the paint is applied on a bare, absorbent or very porous wall.

Glow in the Dark is an innovative bedroom paint formulated to be applied on pre-painted walls. This non-toxic product comes in a clear formulation that provides a stunning finish on all wall colours. One coat is sufficient and the product fully dries in only four hours.

What makes Hemway’s glaze different from similar products is the special formulation that can be painted over. This gives peace of mind, knowing it’s possible to alter or update the style of the room whenever you want.

Often used to decorate kids rooms, this specialised product is also ideal to create a ravishing feature wall in the master bedroom. The product is easy to apply with a paintbrush or roller and viscosity allows creating imaginative scenes or patterns.

Covering 13m²/litre, the paint works on a variety of interior wall emulsions and is designed and produced within the UK. Hemway’s backs up the product with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and despite the costly price, this is a product to try.

Step 1 – Prepare the environment
Regardless of what paint and colour you have chosen for this intimate space, you must prepare the room for the job before redecorating. Start by removing all hanging decorations, small furniture and wall socket/light switch covers.

Move large furniture like the bed and wardrobe in the middle of the room and cover them with plastic drop cloths. Cover the floor with fabric drop cloths, paying attention to cover all interested areas. Apply painter’s tape to all areas not to be painted, including door and window frames.

Step 2 – Prepare the wall
Surface preparation may only involve cleaning the wall if the previous paint is in good condition. Interior paint emulsions available commercially won’t adhere to dusty, greasy, or oily surfaces, therefore it’s essential to wash the walls with degreaser.

Allow them to dry completely before applying the paint. If the previous paint is in a bad condition, if you’re painting a bare or new wall, or if you’re making a substantial colour change, surface preparation must also include priming.

Remove any flaking paint with a putty knife and fill in all holes and cracks with caulk. Let the product dry and level the surface with sandpaper. Clean the wall with a damp cloth to remove all dust and debris, then wash the surface with degreaser. Let it dry properly.

Once dry, apply a plaster sealer or another suitable primer. This product reduces wall porosity and improves paint adherence.

Cure primer as instructed on the product’s package. We recommend leaving it to dry for at least 24 hours before painting the walls.

Step 3 – Paint the bedroom
The easiest way to paint your bedroom walls is by starting with the edges. Use an angled trim brush to paint all edges of the surface, then switch to a sponge roller to paint the rest of the wall.

Use the “W” technique, drawing large “W” shapes on the wall’s surface, then cover the gaps.
Leave the paint to dry as instructed, then follow the same steps to apply a second coat. Remove painter’s tape and leave the paint to cure for at least 24 hours before touching the walls.