How to choose a pillowcase color you won't get tired of
Your pillowcase is the first and last thing you look at every day. Here's how to pick a color that suits your room and your life.
Most of us pick bedding the way we pick toothpaste: whatever's there, in white. But the pillowcase is the first thing you see when you get into bed and the last thing you see when you turn off the light. It deserves a little more thought than that.
When we named our colors, we named them after places in Barbados that make us feel calm. Here's how to think about color in your bedroom, and how to choose one you'll still love in five years.
Start with what's already there
Look at the biggest things in your room first: the walls, the floor, the bed frame and your duvet. Are they warm, with creamy whites, honey woods and beige? Or cool, with gray, bright white, black metal or blue?
- Warm rooms love warm neutrals and soft, sandy tones. They make the room feel cozy and finished.
- Cool rooms look crisp with pale blues, grays and deep blues.
- Mixed rooms, which is most rooms, can go either way. Pick the undertone you want more of.
Think about light
A color looks different at noon than it does under a bedside lamp at 11 p.m. Warm bulbs make cool colors look a little gray and make warm colors glow. If you can, look at the fabric in your actual bedroom at night before you decide.
Choose the color for the room you sleep in, not the room in the photo.
Be honest about practicality
Pale colors look beautiful and fresh, but they show everything: makeup, self-tanner, hair oil. Darker shades are more forgiving if you sometimes fall asleep in your makeup or use a lot of hair product. Neither is better. It just depends on your habits. Whatever you choose, washing your pillowcase every week keeps any color looking its best.
Meet our four colors
Each Evevior color comes from a place on the island we love:
- Sand takes its name from the beach at low tide. A warm, soft neutral that works with nearly every room, especially warm woods and creamy walls. It's the one people choose when they can't decide, and they rarely regret it.
- Coral Stone is the island's old coral stone walls in afternoon light. A pale, warm ivory that feels clean and bright, and looks lovely with white bedding when you want something softer than stark white.
- Sea Glass is the soft blue of sea glass on the west coast. A cool shade that brings calm to gray or white rooms. If your bedroom feels a little busy, this one quiets it down.
- Deep Reef is the dark water just past the reef. Rich and moody, it adds depth to a light room and looks sharp in a dark one. It's also the most forgiving with makeup and hair products.
Still torn? Start with the shade closest to the things you already own, then add a second color later. Your first pillowcase doesn't have to be a lifelong commitment. Think of it as the start of a collection, the same way you'd build up a wardrobe of sweaters in colors you actually wear.
Mix, don't match
You don't have to pick just one. Two colors on the same bed can look intentional and relaxed, like a hotel suite decorated by a person instead of a catalog. A few pairings we love:
- Sand and Coral Stone for a warm, sun-bleached look.
- Sea Glass and Deep Reef for a cool, coastal bed.
- Coral Stone and Deep Reef for contrast that still feels calm.
A simple rule: keep your duvet neutral and let the pillowcases do the talking. White, cream or soft gray bedding works with every one of our colors.
Can a color help you sleep?
You'll find plenty of bold claims online about which bedroom colors help you sleep. The science behind most of them is thin, so we won't pretend otherwise. What we can say is this: soft, low-contrast colors tend to make a room feel quieter, and a room that feels quiet is easier to wind down in. Bright, high-energy shades can be gorgeous in a living room, but at night they can feel like the room is still talking to you. If you want your bed to feel like a place to rest, choose a color that feels calm to you, whatever that is.
Swap with the seasons
Pillowcases are the easiest way to change how a bedroom feels without repainting anything. A lot of people keep two sets and rotate them. Lighter, cooler shades like Sea Glass and Coral Stone feel fresh in spring and summer. When the evenings get dark and cold, Sand and Deep Reef make the bed feel warmer and cozier. It's a small change, and it makes the room feel new every few months.
Choosing for someone else
Gifting a pillowcase and not sure what their bedroom looks like? Go with Sand or Coral Stone. Light neutrals suit almost every space. If you know they love the ocean, or their room is all gray and white, Sea Glass is a beautiful surprise.
Keep the color looking new
Silk holds color beautifully, but it needs a little care to stay that way. Wash it in cool water with a gentle, pH-neutral detergent, inside a mesh bag if you use the machine. Skip bleach and fabric softener. Dry it flat or on a line, out of direct sunlight, because strong sun can fade any dyed fabric over time. Treated well, your color will look just as good next year as it did the day it arrived.
Pick the one that feels like rest
All the rules aside, the best color is the one that makes you exhale a little when you see it. Hold up the swatches, picture your bed at night and go with your gut. You'll be looking at it every evening, so choose the one that feels like coming home.
The short version
Start with your walls and wood tones, check the color at night, be honest about makeup and hair products, and don't be afraid to mix two.
