How to Change the Look of Your Bedroom With Accessories
Add personality to your sleepspace without creating clutter by adding a few well-chosen pieces
Amanda Pollard
16 July 2018
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
Accessories can help to bring a personal touch to your bedroom, but it’s important to choose wisely. Too few pieces and your room might feel cold and impersonal; too many and the space could be anything but calming.
These tips should help you get the balance right to create a bedroom that feels both beautiful and restful.
These tips should help you get the balance right to create a bedroom that feels both beautiful and restful.
Purify the air
It’s a good idea to bring greenery into all the rooms in your home, but it’s especially important in the bedroom. Houseplants help to remove carbon dioxide, can provide scents that aid relaxation, and will bring a natural mood-boosting element into the space.
For plants that continue to produce oxygen throughout the night, you could choose aloe vera and mother-in-law’s tongue.
If you’re looking for varieties that add moisture for easier breathing, go for peace lilies and areca palms.
Discover more ways to create your perfect bedroom
It’s a good idea to bring greenery into all the rooms in your home, but it’s especially important in the bedroom. Houseplants help to remove carbon dioxide, can provide scents that aid relaxation, and will bring a natural mood-boosting element into the space.
For plants that continue to produce oxygen throughout the night, you could choose aloe vera and mother-in-law’s tongue.
If you’re looking for varieties that add moisture for easier breathing, go for peace lilies and areca palms.
Discover more ways to create your perfect bedroom
Wake up to artworks
Jazz up bare walls with some artwork, but pay attention to how the piece will affect your mood.
If you like something that wakes you up in the morning, you could go for a striking image with vibrant colours. However, if you want to create a tranquil space that aids sleep, opt for gentle colours and soft shapes.
The circular artwork here, consisting of cut-out paper butterflies, is both beautiful and calming.
Jazz up bare walls with some artwork, but pay attention to how the piece will affect your mood.
If you like something that wakes you up in the morning, you could go for a striking image with vibrant colours. However, if you want to create a tranquil space that aids sleep, opt for gentle colours and soft shapes.
The circular artwork here, consisting of cut-out paper butterflies, is both beautiful and calming.
Display favourite clothes
If you love the design of a particular dress or jacket, especially one you don’t wear very often, you don’t have to hide it away in the wardrobe. Instead, put it on display.
In her own bedroom, designer Joséphine Lecouflé-Vinet has hung her favourite Chanel jacket on some attractive hooks on the wall next to her wardrobe.
“It’s a shame to put it away, and it’s almost like another piece of art,” she says.
Two of the framed pieces in this room are also clothing – beautiful silk squares displayed like pictures.
Discover throws like this one in the Houzz Shop
If you love the design of a particular dress or jacket, especially one you don’t wear very often, you don’t have to hide it away in the wardrobe. Instead, put it on display.
In her own bedroom, designer Joséphine Lecouflé-Vinet has hung her favourite Chanel jacket on some attractive hooks on the wall next to her wardrobe.
“It’s a shame to put it away, and it’s almost like another piece of art,” she says.
Two of the framed pieces in this room are also clothing – beautiful silk squares displayed like pictures.
Discover throws like this one in the Houzz Shop
Big up blooms
For a colourful alternative to houseplants, bring in a boost with cut flowers. A vase of pretty blooms can add an instant shot of colour to your room, and you’ll update the look of the space every time you change the bouquet.
If you don’t mind strong fragrance in your bedroom, choose flowers with a gorgeous scent, as the owners have done here with sweet-smelling lilies.
Find more bedroom décor in the Houzz Shop
For a colourful alternative to houseplants, bring in a boost with cut flowers. A vase of pretty blooms can add an instant shot of colour to your room, and you’ll update the look of the space every time you change the bouquet.
If you don’t mind strong fragrance in your bedroom, choose flowers with a gorgeous scent, as the owners have done here with sweet-smelling lilies.
Find more bedroom décor in the Houzz Shop
Introduce a relaxing aroma
Fragrance can be a welcome addition to a sleepspace, but in this room more than any other, it’s important to choose wisely.
Select your scent by paying attention to which aromas make you feel relaxed. If you’re not keen on candles in the bedroom, go for a reed diffuser or a bowl of potpourri instead.
You could also display a vase of dried lavender or pop some sachets next to your bed.
Fragrance can be a welcome addition to a sleepspace, but in this room more than any other, it’s important to choose wisely.
Select your scent by paying attention to which aromas make you feel relaxed. If you’re not keen on candles in the bedroom, go for a reed diffuser or a bowl of potpourri instead.
You could also display a vase of dried lavender or pop some sachets next to your bed.
Display mementos
Your bedroom is the most personal space in your home, so it’s the ideal area to display the objects that mean the most to you. A selection of photos, for example, will provide something uplifting to look at in the morning.
To keep your bedsides and dressing table free from clutter, hang your pictures on the wall as the homeowners have done here.
The area behind the bed is completely covered with photos and drawings, but the uniform layout of slim, black frames keeps the look calm and balanced.
Your bedroom is the most personal space in your home, so it’s the ideal area to display the objects that mean the most to you. A selection of photos, for example, will provide something uplifting to look at in the morning.
To keep your bedsides and dressing table free from clutter, hang your pictures on the wall as the homeowners have done here.
The area behind the bed is completely covered with photos and drawings, but the uniform layout of slim, black frames keeps the look calm and balanced.
Get comfy with cushions
An easy way to add interest to your bedroom scheme is with textiles. Cushions will not only make your bed feel cosy, they’ll provide an opportunity to add colour, pattern and texture.
Here, a cool blue palette on the walls and headboard has been warmed up with biscuit tones in the textiles. The designer has chosen different patterns to add layers of interest – a small-scale geometric print contrasts with a large floral design.
Need some design help? Find interior stylists in your area
An easy way to add interest to your bedroom scheme is with textiles. Cushions will not only make your bed feel cosy, they’ll provide an opportunity to add colour, pattern and texture.
Here, a cool blue palette on the walls and headboard has been warmed up with biscuit tones in the textiles. The designer has chosen different patterns to add layers of interest – a small-scale geometric print contrasts with a large floral design.
Need some design help? Find interior stylists in your area
Throw on a blanket
Complement your cushions with a throw laid out at the end of your bed. It will double up as an extra blanket, and add yet another layer of texture to your bedroom scheme.
In this otherwise neutral space, the yellow lamps and fringed throw add welcome colour to bring vibrancy to the scheme.
The designers have chosen grey cushions and used the throw to add a vivid hue, but you could do the opposite and go for a soft shade of blanket teamed with bright cushions.
Tell us…
Which accessories are must-haves in your bedroom? Share you thoughts in the Comments section.
Complement your cushions with a throw laid out at the end of your bed. It will double up as an extra blanket, and add yet another layer of texture to your bedroom scheme.
In this otherwise neutral space, the yellow lamps and fringed throw add welcome colour to bring vibrancy to the scheme.
The designers have chosen grey cushions and used the throw to add a vivid hue, but you could do the opposite and go for a soft shade of blanket teamed with bright cushions.
Tell us…
Which accessories are must-haves in your bedroom? Share you thoughts in the Comments section.
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Lovely ideas. Really like the photo wall.