5 Choices to Make Before You Design Your Bedroom
So you’ve picked a comfortable bed, but what other decisions do you need to consider ahead of your makeover?
Amanda Pollard
28 June 2020
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Your bedroom is the most personal space in your home, so it’s important it’s a place that works well for your own needs and tastes. The bed is, of course, the main event, but once that’s sorted, there are a few other choices to make in order to design a room that’s restful, positive and practical.
More in this series: 5 Choices to Make Before You Design Your Living Room
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
More in this series: 5 Choices to Make Before You Design Your Living Room
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
1. Light or dark colour scheme?
How calm your bedroom feels will depend on whether you prefer a pale palette or one that’s dark and cosy. If you veer towards the former, try a scheme like this one designed by Fiona Duke Interiors.
The walls and ceiling in this loft bedroom have been painted in a soft off-white to form a neutral backdrop for coral and green-toned accessories. The scheme is light enough to be restful, with just enough colour to lift the owners’ morning mood.
See more of this stylish family home.
How calm your bedroom feels will depend on whether you prefer a pale palette or one that’s dark and cosy. If you veer towards the former, try a scheme like this one designed by Fiona Duke Interiors.
The walls and ceiling in this loft bedroom have been painted in a soft off-white to form a neutral backdrop for coral and green-toned accessories. The scheme is light enough to be restful, with just enough colour to lift the owners’ morning mood.
See more of this stylish family home.
For a snug, intimate look, consider going for deeper shades, such as emerald, navy or dark grey.
Here, Karen Knox of Making Spaces went even further by using the jet black surface of the owners’ hanging rail as inspiration for the room’s scheme. Bold, patterned wallpaper surrounds the space to give it a cocooning feel.
Coral and green accents feature again here and, although they contrast with dark tones this time, the uplifting effect is still the same.
Discover how this dull beige bedroom was totally transformed.
Here, Karen Knox of Making Spaces went even further by using the jet black surface of the owners’ hanging rail as inspiration for the room’s scheme. Bold, patterned wallpaper surrounds the space to give it a cocooning feel.
Coral and green accents feature again here and, although they contrast with dark tones this time, the uplifting effect is still the same.
Discover how this dull beige bedroom was totally transformed.
2. Bedside table or shelf?
Most of us need some sort of surface beside the bed, but not everyone has space for a large bedside table. The team at Run for the Hills have come up with a compromise in this beautiful bedroom.
“We realised there was only space for dinky bedside tables,” Anna Burles told us. “Hence, we created niches with space for charging a phone and a laptop. The bedside tables are for a cup of tea and a book.”
Tour this modern luxe master suite.
Most of us need some sort of surface beside the bed, but not everyone has space for a large bedside table. The team at Run for the Hills have come up with a compromise in this beautiful bedroom.
“We realised there was only space for dinky bedside tables,” Anna Burles told us. “Hence, we created niches with space for charging a phone and a laptop. The bedside tables are for a cup of tea and a book.”
Tour this modern luxe master suite.
If you do decide to go with bedside tables, there’s no need to stick to the usual matching pair.
In her own bedroom, designer Mel Massey opted for different tables on either side of the bed. Her husband stores lots of books on his, whereas she only needed space for an e-reader.
Find out how the designer brought a family feel to this Victorian home.
In her own bedroom, designer Mel Massey opted for different tables on either side of the bed. Her husband stores lots of books on his, whereas she only needed space for an e-reader.
Find out how the designer brought a family feel to this Victorian home.
3. Table lamp or suspended light?
Bedside lamps are essential for night-time reading, but there are a few options when it comes to their location. The standard choice is a table lamp positioned on a bedside table, but this can take up surface room and visual space.
To overcome this, the team at Sims Hilditch chose a slim Perspex lamp base for their client’s cosy bedroom. The large shade gives off a soft light, while the transparent base recedes into the background, allowing the wallpaper design to show through.
Need a little help with your revamp? Find local interior designers on Houzz.
Bedside lamps are essential for night-time reading, but there are a few options when it comes to their location. The standard choice is a table lamp positioned on a bedside table, but this can take up surface room and visual space.
To overcome this, the team at Sims Hilditch chose a slim Perspex lamp base for their client’s cosy bedroom. The large shade gives off a soft light, while the transparent base recedes into the background, allowing the wallpaper design to show through.
Need a little help with your revamp? Find local interior designers on Houzz.
In a smaller space, table lamps could take up too much of the bedside surfaces, but there are alternatives. Here, for example, Tanya Leech has hung pendant lights either side of the clients’ bed. They free up valuable tabletop room and add an interesting design feature to the space.
You could also consider wall lights, which will do a similar job.
Visit the rest of this coastal cottage made light and open.
You could also consider wall lights, which will do a similar job.
Visit the rest of this coastal cottage made light and open.
4. Freestanding or fitted storage?
Budget, space and the look you’re after are all determining factors when it comes to the type of storage you choose. If character is a priority, freestanding wardrobes and dressers are a good option.
Solid wood furniture can be expensive to buy new, but you can revamp a secondhand piece with a lick of paint. Here, for example, the mustard wardrobe is a charming feature in the bedroom. It looks lovely next to the chest of drawers and chimes with the room’s period aesthetic.
Budget, space and the look you’re after are all determining factors when it comes to the type of storage you choose. If character is a priority, freestanding wardrobes and dressers are a good option.
Solid wood furniture can be expensive to buy new, but you can revamp a secondhand piece with a lick of paint. Here, for example, the mustard wardrobe is a charming feature in the bedroom. It looks lovely next to the chest of drawers and chimes with the room’s period aesthetic.
If you’re keen to maximise every centimetre of storage space, it’s worth going for a fitted design. A wall of full-height cupboards is a popular and practical option, or you could try an alternative like this in the bedroom of Emilie Mauran at EMR Architecture.
In addition to a fitted wardrobe elsewhere, Emilie used the wall behind the bed to build a combination of cupboards and bedside storage. The headboard doubles up as a shelf, and the 45cm-deep, ceiling-high cabinets either side house useful shelves and drawers.
Discover how this restful master bedroom was created.
In addition to a fitted wardrobe elsewhere, Emilie used the wall behind the bed to build a combination of cupboards and bedside storage. The headboard doubles up as a shelf, and the 45cm-deep, ceiling-high cabinets either side house useful shelves and drawers.
Discover how this restful master bedroom was created.
5. Curtains or blinds?
Window treatments are a vital consideration in a bedroom, as light levels can affect how you sleep. Whether you go for blinds or curtains, think about adding blackout lining to ensure any unwanted light doesn’t creep in at night.
In this bedroom, the shutters are a beautiful feature, but they don’t block all the light. Stephen Nash of ALL & NXTHING added some luxurious velvet curtains to give the room a cosy feel.
Take a peek around this elegant master bedroom with a stunning en suite.
Window treatments are a vital consideration in a bedroom, as light levels can affect how you sleep. Whether you go for blinds or curtains, think about adding blackout lining to ensure any unwanted light doesn’t creep in at night.
In this bedroom, the shutters are a beautiful feature, but they don’t block all the light. Stephen Nash of ALL & NXTHING added some luxurious velvet curtains to give the room a cosy feel.
Take a peek around this elegant master bedroom with a stunning en suite.
If you’re keen to create privacy during the day, but don’t want to block out the light, try combining sheer curtains with blinds.
In this space designed by Sara Slade Interiors, the windows have been fitted with heavy Roman blinds that can be closed at night. Voile curtains then frame the window, and let in a diffused light when pulled closed during the day.
Tour more of this Edwardian home lifted by soft tones and texture.
Tell us…
Which choices have you made for your bedroom? Let us know in the Comments.
In this space designed by Sara Slade Interiors, the windows have been fitted with heavy Roman blinds that can be closed at night. Voile curtains then frame the window, and let in a diffused light when pulled closed during the day.
Tour more of this Edwardian home lifted by soft tones and texture.
Tell us…
Which choices have you made for your bedroom? Let us know in the Comments.
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Standing on the bed I’m about 3inches short of the bottom of the light fitting and a good foot short of the top of it. Fortunately the bulb seems to have lasted for ever. At that point I can see it definitely needs cleaning....still no solution other than ladders/trestles and plank.
Well marns29, I used to use a traditional yellow duster to clean my ledges, door frames, pictures, ornaments, etc but that necessitated moving stuff. I have long since invested in a (vegan, ie non feather) long handled duster thing and what a difference. Dusting is now a breeze and reaching up to twirl round lamp bulbs is possible too! This particular lampshade though has been created from a single shaving of wood so it's surface isn't smooth and I'd end up with yellow fibres stuck within it were I to use it!
When I re-did my bedroom I replaced a central ceiling light with two separate ones (also separately switched) on either side of the bed for better and focused lighting. It’s not a high ceiling so I also chose fittings which don’t hang down too high so I didn’t inadvertently bash them when pulling off a jumper or whatever.