10 Style Tricks to Steal for the Bedroom
Set the scene for blissful bedtimes and energised mornings with these simple style tweaks
Laura Wheat
16 February 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
A peaceful and inviting bedroom sets the tone for restful sleep and an inspiring waking environment. 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 duvet cover, look for relaxed linen styles that suit a few creases. If you’ll only get around to arranging your 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 duvet cover, look for relaxed linen styles that suit a few creases. If you’ll only get around to arranging your 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.
Master moody hues
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.
Prefer a pale scheme? See how you can create a Scandi-look bedroom
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.
Prefer a pale scheme? See how you can create a Scandi-look bedroom
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 décor, 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.
You might not think of the bedroom as a place to display large groups of photos and artwork, but when combined with simple décor, 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.
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.
Find your focus
Whether or not you have a headboard, 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 headboard, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 headboard 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.
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 headboard 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.
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.
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.
Get expert advice on choosing the best style of shutters for your windows
TELL US…
How have you upped the style stakes in your bedroom? Share tips or photos in the Comments below.
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.
Get expert advice on choosing the best style of shutters for your windows
TELL US…
How have you upped the style stakes in your bedroom? Share tips or photos in the Comments below.
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Bit of info for Houzzers everyone may not know. The fabric they use on upholstered bed heads these days is allergy resistent! Having dust mite allergy myself i have always ruled them out because of this. When designing my new bedroom i was informed otherwise. I didn't end up getting one due to space restrictions & have my bed positioned under the window which has white plantation shutters creating a sort of bed head.
We too had no focus in our main bedroom which is in our loft area with sloping ceilings, so we created one by building a 3/4 wall, clad in vj timber, which allows the small window behind to still allow the breeze in, but by adding the wall we now have extra storage behind. We have painted the 3/4 wall in an accent colour which looks very nice. Also the bed is placed where it gets beautiful cross flow breezes now, through our newly added velux windows on both sides of the room/loft ceiling
To create that serene and stylish atmosphere; finding the focus made a huge difference. See pictures below. Also love the idea of using multiple textures to create that luxe feeling.