12 Facets to Redesigning Your Bedroom
Is it time to makeover your sleep space? Make it the bedroom of your dreams with these key considerations
Nicola Sanders
26 June 2017
We all want our bedrooms to be calm, restful havens that we can escape to after a long, hard day. So when it comes to a sleep space makeover, it’s important to think about all design aspects – from the layout and lighting to the colour scheme and storage solutions. Here’s where to start.
1. Decide how you’ll use the space
Before you start planning your new bedroom, it’s important to work out how you want it to function. Is it purely for sleeping or will it also be a space for reading, relaxing, watching television or even working? Would you like a dressing area, and is there room in your budget for a luxury like this? The answers to these questions will determine which items you need to fit in your bedroom. This will also provide a jumping-off point for working out the layout of the room, and will also give you a list of pieces you might need to purchase.
Before you start planning your new bedroom, it’s important to work out how you want it to function. Is it purely for sleeping or will it also be a space for reading, relaxing, watching television or even working? Would you like a dressing area, and is there room in your budget for a luxury like this? The answers to these questions will determine which items you need to fit in your bedroom. This will also provide a jumping-off point for working out the layout of the room, and will also give you a list of pieces you might need to purchase.
2. Envisage the bed
If you’re investing in a new bed, think carefully about both the look and feel of it. Consider how your choice will affect the overall aesthetic of the room. For example, if you’re going for a soft, traditional feel, you could upgrade a simple divan base with an upholstered headboard as they’ve done here. To create a contemporary look, you might want to opt for a structured bed frame or a divan base with a more modern headboard.
When it comes to mattresses, it’s important to find one that is comfortable and long-lasting. Visit showrooms to try a few out before you purchase in order to make sure it’s the right one for you. Be prepared to spend as much as you can afford to ensure quality. A good mattress should last you seven to 10 years, or even more, so it’s worth investing now to save in the long run.
Discover key dimensions for planning your bedroom layout
If you’re investing in a new bed, think carefully about both the look and feel of it. Consider how your choice will affect the overall aesthetic of the room. For example, if you’re going for a soft, traditional feel, you could upgrade a simple divan base with an upholstered headboard as they’ve done here. To create a contemporary look, you might want to opt for a structured bed frame or a divan base with a more modern headboard.
When it comes to mattresses, it’s important to find one that is comfortable and long-lasting. Visit showrooms to try a few out before you purchase in order to make sure it’s the right one for you. Be prepared to spend as much as you can afford to ensure quality. A good mattress should last you seven to 10 years, or even more, so it’s worth investing now to save in the long run.
Discover key dimensions for planning your bedroom layout
3. Sort the storage
The key to creating a calm, organised sleep space is to spend time choosing the right storage. It sounds obvious, but before you purchase any kind of storage, identify what you will actually be storing. Look at the type of clothes you have and how you like to store them, for example. Do you need lots of hanging room or would you be better off with drawers? You can’t go wrong with fitted furniture, as it can be built to exact dimensions and can give you hanging and drawer space. And it doesn’t have to be modern, as the example above shows.
Also, a dressing table with storage for your cosmetics can be a lovely luxury, but if you prefer to do your make-up and hair in the bathroom, it could be a wasted item.
10 great storage ideas for the bedroom
The key to creating a calm, organised sleep space is to spend time choosing the right storage. It sounds obvious, but before you purchase any kind of storage, identify what you will actually be storing. Look at the type of clothes you have and how you like to store them, for example. Do you need lots of hanging room or would you be better off with drawers? You can’t go wrong with fitted furniture, as it can be built to exact dimensions and can give you hanging and drawer space. And it doesn’t have to be modern, as the example above shows.
Also, a dressing table with storage for your cosmetics can be a lovely luxury, but if you prefer to do your make-up and hair in the bathroom, it could be a wasted item.
10 great storage ideas for the bedroom
4. Tame your technology
If you want a truly tranquil bedroom, experts recommend banning technology. However, for some people there’s nothing better than curling up in bed to watch a movie. So if a television is an absolute must-have, explore options to conceal it. By housing it in a cupboard or a custom-made cabinet, as here, you’ll ensure that the screen doesn’t dominate the space.
If you want a truly tranquil bedroom, experts recommend banning technology. However, for some people there’s nothing better than curling up in bed to watch a movie. So if a television is an absolute must-have, explore options to conceal it. By housing it in a cupboard or a custom-made cabinet, as here, you’ll ensure that the screen doesn’t dominate the space.
5. Colour your room happy
While the colour you choose is important, it’s even more crucial to get the actual tone of paint right in the bedroom. For a restful space, choose muted tones. So if you love dramatic darks, go for a lighter tone of charcoal grey for instance.
Blues work beautifully in a sleep space, but opt for quieter shades with a little grey in them, such as this warm teal tone, for a calm, classic feel.
While the colour you choose is important, it’s even more crucial to get the actual tone of paint right in the bedroom. For a restful space, choose muted tones. So if you love dramatic darks, go for a lighter tone of charcoal grey for instance.
Blues work beautifully in a sleep space, but opt for quieter shades with a little grey in them, such as this warm teal tone, for a calm, classic feel.
6. Hit the floor
The type of flooring you choose for any room has a huge impact on how that space will feel. If you like the luxe look of carpet, a bedroom is a great place to indulge in a thick twist pile like the one in this cool, modern bedroom. For a more tailored look, go for one with a loop design.
Even if you decide to go for hard flooring, consider laying down an area rug under the bed or bedside rugs either side to offer softness when you’re getting out of bed in the morning.
The type of flooring you choose for any room has a huge impact on how that space will feel. If you like the luxe look of carpet, a bedroom is a great place to indulge in a thick twist pile like the one in this cool, modern bedroom. For a more tailored look, go for one with a loop design.
Even if you decide to go for hard flooring, consider laying down an area rug under the bed or bedside rugs either side to offer softness when you’re getting out of bed in the morning.
7. Work out your windows
How you dress your bedroom windows will depend on the scale of the room, your budget and any architectural details. Shuttered windows, for example, may not need any additional dressing. Large windows can be cheaper to dress with blinds, but there’s no denying the feeling of softness and luxury that beautifully made curtains bring.
If budget is an issue, choose an inexpensive cotton for curtains and splash out on a beautiful fabric for your bed cushions instead. And if your bedroom faces east (or even if it doesn’t), invest in blackout lining.
How you dress your bedroom windows will depend on the scale of the room, your budget and any architectural details. Shuttered windows, for example, may not need any additional dressing. Large windows can be cheaper to dress with blinds, but there’s no denying the feeling of softness and luxury that beautifully made curtains bring.
If budget is an issue, choose an inexpensive cotton for curtains and splash out on a beautiful fabric for your bed cushions instead. And if your bedroom faces east (or even if it doesn’t), invest in blackout lining.
8. Consider side issues
Bedside tables are handy for putting books, glasses and drinks on. Before you choose your bedside tables, however, consider how you will use them. Do you need drawers or a cupboard in which to stash your clutter? Are you super minimal and organised, in which case a simple table or ledge might do the trick?
Have a tiny bedroom? Find ideas for fitting in a bedside shelf
Bedside tables are handy for putting books, glasses and drinks on. Before you choose your bedside tables, however, consider how you will use them. Do you need drawers or a cupboard in which to stash your clutter? Are you super minimal and organised, in which case a simple table or ledge might do the trick?
Have a tiny bedroom? Find ideas for fitting in a bedside shelf
9. Plan seating
If you have the space, an extra seat is a simple bedroom luxury. Consider adding an upholstered bench at the end of the bed, a little chair or stool where you can throw the day’s clothes, or a cosy armchair in which to curl up with a book. A bedroom chair will make your room feel cosier and more lived-in. As the chaise lounge in this bedroom ably demonstrates, it’s also a great opportunity for introducing a hit of pattern or colour into your scheme.
If you have the space, an extra seat is a simple bedroom luxury. Consider adding an upholstered bench at the end of the bed, a little chair or stool where you can throw the day’s clothes, or a cosy armchair in which to curl up with a book. A bedroom chair will make your room feel cosier and more lived-in. As the chaise lounge in this bedroom ably demonstrates, it’s also a great opportunity for introducing a hit of pattern or colour into your scheme.
10. Shed some light
For a calm, ambient bedroom it’s important to be able to create different moods with lighting, so plan carefully. At the very least, you should aim to have a main pendant, as well as bedside lights that can be switched on independently of each another. For a contemporary look, consider opting for bedside pendant fittings (or wall lights) that hang over your bedside tables and free up space on the surface.
If you’re planning your lighting from scratch, it’s well worth putting your main light on a dimmer switch and fitting an additional switch for it next to the bed so that you don’t have to get out again if you leave it on.
Consider, also, the need for dressing-table lighting, and if you have an extra armchair for reading you might need a floor lamp next to it.
For a calm, ambient bedroom it’s important to be able to create different moods with lighting, so plan carefully. At the very least, you should aim to have a main pendant, as well as bedside lights that can be switched on independently of each another. For a contemporary look, consider opting for bedside pendant fittings (or wall lights) that hang over your bedside tables and free up space on the surface.
If you’re planning your lighting from scratch, it’s well worth putting your main light on a dimmer switch and fitting an additional switch for it next to the bed so that you don’t have to get out again if you leave it on.
Consider, also, the need for dressing-table lighting, and if you have an extra armchair for reading you might need a floor lamp next to it.
11. Add a soft touch
A top tip from interior designers is to always buy the best bed linen you can afford. If you love linen or high-thread-count cotton, but baulk at the price, consider buying one or two pieces at a time to spread the cost. It will repay you time and again in softness and longevity.
When it comes to dressing beds with cushions, throws and so on, a simple look is calm and versatile. A single long bolster cushion, piped and covered in a fantastic fabric is a super-easy way to elevate the look of your bed in seconds. A heavy cotton throw at the end of the bed creates an inviting feel.
A top tip from interior designers is to always buy the best bed linen you can afford. If you love linen or high-thread-count cotton, but baulk at the price, consider buying one or two pieces at a time to spread the cost. It will repay you time and again in softness and longevity.
When it comes to dressing beds with cushions, throws and so on, a simple look is calm and versatile. A single long bolster cushion, piped and covered in a fantastic fabric is a super-easy way to elevate the look of your bed in seconds. A heavy cotton throw at the end of the bed creates an inviting feel.
12. Style it up
Your bedroom is a great place to curate collections of things that you can’t seem to find a home for elsewhere. Allocate a spot to display your favourite objects, dedicate a wall to family photographs, or hang up a treasured textile or item of clothing. Here, a triptych of screens provides a dramatic backdrop that anchors the rest of the scheme.
TELL US
Are you planning your own bedroom redesign? What are your essential points to consider? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Browse bedroom designs
Your bedroom is a great place to curate collections of things that you can’t seem to find a home for elsewhere. Allocate a spot to display your favourite objects, dedicate a wall to family photographs, or hang up a treasured textile or item of clothing. Here, a triptych of screens provides a dramatic backdrop that anchors the rest of the scheme.
TELL US
Are you planning your own bedroom redesign? What are your essential points to consider? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse bedroom designs
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Don't have a TV, so that's one less thing to accommodate! In terms of furnishings, less is always more in a bedroom, so the idea of 'curating' the stuff that you don't want anywhere else in the house doesn't quite cut it. Not virtue signalling, I have loads of 'stuff', which I'm trying, bit by painful bit, to identify for recycling.
Agree re lack of tv - bedroom should be tranquil although partner will sometimes resort to iPad and earplugs if sport is on!
Not even. The only sports I watch are cross-country skiing, biathlon and tennis, and then not in the bedroom!