Yesterday I spent the entire day painting our bedroom.
As the first coat went on, it was clear the paint wasn’t playing fair. It was patchy, streaky, and looked absolutely awful. I stood back, roller in hand, wondering if I’d made a terrible mistake. Coat two improved things, but there were still stubborn pale patches refusing to blend in. By this point, the paint was running low, so I used what I could to cover the lighter areas, hoping for the best. The end result? It look okay. Not perfect, not magazine worthy, but the colour itself – I LOVE it. There are still bits to fix where the green went onto the white, but that’s a job for another day.
Before yesterday, our bedroom was magnolia. There was nothing wrong with it, we painted it ourselves years ago, but it had become boring and samey as well as safe, neutral and familiar. I wanted change and I wanted colour to bring the room alive again.
This time, I chose a bright, bold green. Usually I choose pale colours, although I did paint our spare room a cheerful sunshine yellow a few months back. But for our bedroom, I wanted something to make me smile daily when I got out of bed as well as something to inspire my day and bring peace and calm when it was time to sleep. Not a lot to ask from a colour, really. Right?
Green felt right. A bright, lush green, the colour of fresh grass, new leaves, and makes you think of spring. Green comes in endless shades, and nature shows them all off effortlessly. If you ever doubt the power of colour, just look outside: every leaf, every blade of grass, every plant is a reminder that colour is everywhere and is linked to our feelings.
But painting the room wasn’t just about décor. It made me think about how colour influences our wellbeing. The colours we choose to surround ourselves with, in our clothes and our homes can support us, soothe us, energise us, or help us rest and reset. Different colours mean different things to let’s take a look at the colour green and what it means.
What is the colour psychology of the colour green?
Renewal – Green is the colour of new beginnings. Think of spring: the first shoots pushing through the soil, the soft greens returning after months of dull and darkness. Green represents growth, healing, and the permission to start again. When you’re craving a fresh chapter green can be a reminder that renewal doesn’t have to be dramatic and in your face. Sometimes a new beginning is as simple as repainting a room.
Balance – Green is often described as the most balanced colour on the spectrum, sitting right between warm and cool. That’s why being in nature feels so restorative. Trees, plants, fields, forests all create a natural harmony we instinctively respond to, it’s in our genes. If you’ve been stressed or overwhelmed, surrounding yourself with green can help restore a sense of stability. Even adding a few plants to your desk or choosing green décor or clothes can shift your mood.
Relaxation – Green is soothing and invites calm and why it works beautifully in a bedroom. Helping to comfort and relax green is a reassuring colour to help you unwind before bed.
Inspiration – Surprisingly, green is also linked to creativity and productivity. Studies often show exposure to green can boost innovative thinking. If you’re starting a new project or need a spark of motivation, spending time outdoors or in a green space can help get your creative juices flowing again.
While these meanings reflect how many people interpret green, your relationship with colour is entirely your own. What feels calming to one person might overwhelm another. What inspires one person might be dull to someone else. Colour is a form of self‑expression so use it in a way that is positive and helpful for you.
Whilst my bedroom isn’t painted perfectly, with patches to fix and edges to tidy, every time I walk into the room, most importantly the green makes me smile. Painting isn’t just about slapping colour on a wall. It’s an extension of who you are in that moment. A way of saying how you want to feel or how you do feel. So go bold, neutral, or subtle or even go wild but choose colours that make you feel alive, grounded, peaceful, or joyous and then just go for it.
Thank you for reading and have a great week.
Love Emma xx
Wellbeing with Relaxing Lavender 