An expert in color psychology shares the 7 shades you should have in your bedroom this year

The bedroom should be a place that brings comfort and tranquility, and a soft, neutral rose is perfect for creating a restful escape.

"Earth tones can be comforting with natural warmth, and blush is that sweet spot between the earth tones and a fresher pink," Wax told Insider.

For example, Wax recommends Benjamin Moore Point Beach 1136 because the blush tone "conveys the friendliness of an earthy terracotta with a bit more luminance for that updated vibe."

The rich tones of cashmere, which are warmer than white, create a luxe feel that turns any bedroom into an elegant sanctuary. The richer, off-white shade is a creamier version of tan that can add a soothing feel to the bedroom.

"Adding a warm glow to the room, this creamy color provides a natural warmth without being a color you have to commit to in your design," Wax said. According to the expert, cashmere can work for luxurious bed linens, warm, cozy throw blankets, and wall paint.

As an added bonus, Wax said cashmere can enhance the natural daylight in the room, as it's an "earthy color with a lighter touch."

Blues are known for eliciting peace and tranquility, and nothing is quite so open and airy as misty sky blue, a dusty hue Wax said is "incredibly easy to live with."

"This perfect backdrop color is so peaceful, it blends in beautifully with everything from crisp whites to slate or navy blues," the expert told Insider. "If you choose a light blue that's a bit brighter, you can energize the room, and if you go with a shade that's a bit more muted, you'll enjoy a more elegant design."

Wax recommends a shade like Sherwin-Williams Moonmist 9144A, which features a hint of gray and an incredibly versatile, ageless quality.

Rich, earthy browns embrace warmth, making the hue a wonderful choice for the bedroom.

"The beauty of this warm color is that it can be dressed up with a more formal atmosphere in a rich espresso that is bold and dramatic, or incorporated as a softer look, such as in the color of a chocolate milk," Wax said.

Warm wood tones make the bedroom feel cozy and inviting, brown leather hardware is an elegant statement, and brown paint shades add a nature-inspired vibe that works with popular brighter colors. Darker browns can elegantly contrast whites and creams but take a gentler look against softer blues, teals, and pinks.

Nature-inspired colors are particularly appealing in the bedroom, where they add a sense of freshness that just feels good to be around. Mossy green can be incorporated in a myriad of ways, including in plants, bedding, artwork, and wall colors.

According to Wax, mossy green is also versatile enough to work with a variety of popular colors.

"The beauty of colors in the green family is their sense of being refreshing and surprisingly neutral," she said. "Many greens complement the rich woods of furniture beautifully, bringing out the best in both colors."

As one of the most private spaces of the home, the bedroom can function as a place to escape and recharge, making slate blue an ideal bedroom color.

According to Wax, the "perfect blend of an understated gray with a hint of classic blue" offers "a richer color with a quieter personality." 

Slate blue can work with multiple design styles, from rustic and cottage-y to sleek and contemporary. "The beauty of slate blue-gray is that you can give it your own personal style by making it the backdrop color of your design," said Wax.

She recommends using a shade like Benjamin Moore New Hope Gray 2130-50 to create a canvas and then styling the space with personal touches.

The bedroom ceiling can often be overlooked but Wax thinks it's a wonderful place for "adding a secret accent color" that's there "to enjoy before you drift off to sleep or wake up to in the early morning hours."

Wax said lavender works as a lovely, calming color to add to the ceiling, though a delicate teal, whispery blue, or blush shade could also do. She recommends choosing a color with a lighter touch that can add a soft glow from the ceiling down.

Whether you favor elegant warm tones, blues and greens, or earthy neutrals, Wax said it's important to consider how light and color intertwine to create that perfect bedroom sanctuary.

How cool or warm lighting is can affect how color is viewed and even the overall functionality of the space.

Wax recommends those redesigning their bedrooms "select lighting that is specific to where you need illumination, whether it is for reading in your favorite chair, illuminating your clothes storage, or providing softer overall light for the room."