10 Not-So-Secret Styling Tips for a Designer Bedroom
Expert designers and interior stylists have spilled the beans on simple ways to create the perfect mood in your sleep space
A peaceful and inviting bedroom sets the tone for restful sleep and an inspiring waking environment. The experts advise that you try to keep clutter to a minimum, and focus on having a pared-down selection of furniture that functions effectively and looks attractive.
Interior designers have plenty of tricks for turning an everyday space into something more curated, but it’s important to be realistic about what is achievable for you. If you’re never going to iron your doona cover, look for relaxed linen styles that suit a few creases. If you’ll only get around to arranging your throw cushions once a week, choose two larger cushions that will be easier to manage.
Most importantly, pick pieces that make you happy and display them proudly. Browse these 10 tips for upping the style stakes in your bedroom.
Interior designers have plenty of tricks for turning an everyday space into something more curated, but it’s important to be realistic about what is achievable for you. If you’re never going to iron your doona cover, look for relaxed linen styles that suit a few creases. If you’ll only get around to arranging your throw cushions once a week, choose two larger cushions that will be easier to manage.
Most importantly, pick pieces that make you happy and display them proudly. Browse these 10 tips for upping the style stakes in your bedroom.
2. Go for a gallery wall
You might not think of the bedroom as a place to display large groups of photos and artwork, but when combined with simple decor, the effect is sharp and striking.
For the clean appeal of this gallery wall, mostly monochrome images and an assortment of similar black frames are a must.
Creating a gallery wall
You might not think of the bedroom as a place to display large groups of photos and artwork, but when combined with simple decor, the effect is sharp and striking.
For the clean appeal of this gallery wall, mostly monochrome images and an assortment of similar black frames are a must.
Creating a gallery wall
3. Make magic with unique finds
If your bedroom is newly decorated and looking lovely, but you feel it’s lacking that indefinable finishing touch, try adding an unexpected piece of furniture, such as an antique chest or something found on your travels. Even an interesting ornament or curious artwork could be the missing secret ingredient that tips the balance.
If your bedroom is newly decorated and looking lovely, but you feel it’s lacking that indefinable finishing touch, try adding an unexpected piece of furniture, such as an antique chest or something found on your travels. Even an interesting ornament or curious artwork could be the missing secret ingredient that tips the balance.
4. Find your focus
Whether or not you have a bedhead, it’s always a good idea to ground the pillow end of the bed with a large, landscape-orientated piece of artwork. This is a trick stylists use to guide our attention to where they want it – focusing on the cosy sleep space and carefully chosen bedside accessories.
Whether or not you have a bedhead, it’s always a good idea to ground the pillow end of the bed with a large, landscape-orientated piece of artwork. This is a trick stylists use to guide our attention to where they want it – focusing on the cosy sleep space and carefully chosen bedside accessories.
5. Splurge on the right rug
Interior designers love rugs for their transformative powers. Huge, plush numbers like this blue beauty will certainly set you back a pretty penny, but when you consider the cosy comfort they add and the comparative cost of carpeting, a stylish rug makes for a sound investment.
Placing a rug under the bed creates impact, especially if you have a wooden floor. If you can’t stretch to such a large size, try placing two smaller rugs to the left and right of the bed to make waking up in the morning a little friendlier on the feet.
Finding the right size rug
Interior designers love rugs for their transformative powers. Huge, plush numbers like this blue beauty will certainly set you back a pretty penny, but when you consider the cosy comfort they add and the comparative cost of carpeting, a stylish rug makes for a sound investment.
Placing a rug under the bed creates impact, especially if you have a wooden floor. If you can’t stretch to such a large size, try placing two smaller rugs to the left and right of the bed to make waking up in the morning a little friendlier on the feet.
Finding the right size rug
6. Call dibs on a dressing table
It’s an old-fashioned favourite, but dedicating a little space to a dressing table is an easy way to give your bedroom a dose of glamour. Mirrored surfaces, monochrome touches and metallic elements all enhance daily rituals, such as hair-brushing or applying make-up, while bone inlay, mother-of-pearl and porcelain pieces bring exotic charm to practical storage.
It’s an old-fashioned favourite, but dedicating a little space to a dressing table is an easy way to give your bedroom a dose of glamour. Mirrored surfaces, monochrome touches and metallic elements all enhance daily rituals, such as hair-brushing or applying make-up, while bone inlay, mother-of-pearl and porcelain pieces bring exotic charm to practical storage.
7. Triple the texture
When preparing for a shoot, stylists bring in lots of throws and blankets to create a sumptuous, layered look. You can either opt for a classic finish with crisp cotton sheets and a tightly tucked throw, or go for a more organic option, with casually strewn blankets in coordinating colours.
In this bedroom, plump pillows sit on top of sludgy grey sheets with a contrasting blue linen throw. The fluffy wool blanket lends a tactile finishing touch.
When preparing for a shoot, stylists bring in lots of throws and blankets to create a sumptuous, layered look. You can either opt for a classic finish with crisp cotton sheets and a tightly tucked throw, or go for a more organic option, with casually strewn blankets in coordinating colours.
In this bedroom, plump pillows sit on top of sludgy grey sheets with a contrasting blue linen throw. The fluffy wool blanket lends a tactile finishing touch.
8. Supersize bedroom basics
Blessed with a big bedroom? Opt for oversized furniture in fine finishes, such as silk, velvet and leather, for hotel-at-home luxe. Think large matching lamps, big bedside tables, a huge bedhead and an equally impressive blanket box.
Consider the overall scale of your space, looking at the wall that will house the bed and working with the width and height available there.
Boutique hotel style for your bedroom
Blessed with a big bedroom? Opt for oversized furniture in fine finishes, such as silk, velvet and leather, for hotel-at-home luxe. Think large matching lamps, big bedside tables, a huge bedhead and an equally impressive blanket box.
Consider the overall scale of your space, looking at the wall that will house the bed and working with the width and height available there.
Boutique hotel style for your bedroom
9. Be creative with curtains
Stylists rarely leave a window unadorned when it can be softened and enhanced with a pair of dreamy handmade drapes.
Heavyweight curtains like these can be interlined to prevent heat loss, or given blackout lining to ensure sublime slumbering. They are often weighted at the bottom to encourage a nice hang, and require a little arranging each day to make the fabric fall into pleats. The handsome pelmet seen here is a contemporary update on a traditional style.
Stylists rarely leave a window unadorned when it can be softened and enhanced with a pair of dreamy handmade drapes.
Heavyweight curtains like these can be interlined to prevent heat loss, or given blackout lining to ensure sublime slumbering. They are often weighted at the bottom to encourage a nice hang, and require a little arranging each day to make the fabric fall into pleats. The handsome pelmet seen here is a contemporary update on a traditional style.
10. Shift towards shutters
Practical and romantic in equal measure, plantation-style shutters make for a smart window treatment. Moveable louvred slats can be angled for varying degrees of privacy and light, meaning they’re ideal for ground-floor rooms that feel overlooked.
One word of caution: wooden shutters are a pricey investment, so this style might be best saved for your forever house, rather than a starter home.
TELL US
How have you upped the style stakes in your bedroom? Share tips or photos in the Comments below.
MORE
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Practical and romantic in equal measure, plantation-style shutters make for a smart window treatment. Moveable louvred slats can be angled for varying degrees of privacy and light, meaning they’re ideal for ground-floor rooms that feel overlooked.
One word of caution: wooden shutters are a pricey investment, so this style might be best saved for your forever house, rather than a starter home.
TELL US
How have you upped the style stakes in your bedroom? Share tips or photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Bedroom Styling Tricks Anyone Can Do
6 Tactics to Help You Discover Your Personal Decorating Style
12 Things We Can Learn From These Peaceful Bedrooms
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Take a break from bold brights and stark white and instead try putting together a palette of soft greys, blues and taupe shades for a contemporary mix of night-time neutrals.
This atmospheric sleep space leans towards grey, but uses subtle hints of navy and green – colours known for their calming qualities – to bring life to the overall scheme.