The main pieces in a bedroom, from the bed and bedding to the walls and curtains, can play a big role in how your bedroom is styled and how it feels. These are the areas I’ll be focusing on when it comes to the bedroom decorating ideas below. I’ll be staying away from small decor pieces and accessories, because for me they can easily create a lot of clutter – making the bedroom less relaxing. Here are the main bedroom areas to focus on.
The Focal Point: Around The Bed
The bed is going to be the main focal point in a bedroom. This is because it takes up the most space, and a lot of the bedroom furniture will be arranged around it (side table, lamps). Because this is where the eyes go to first when entering the bedroom, it is an important part in the overall design style and look of the room. There are two main ways you can create a design style here 1) through the bed you use and 2) through the bedding.
The type of bed you use. will help set the design style in the bedroom. You can go with modern looking platform beds, or there are more decorative and traditional style beds such as a sleigh bed seen in picture (1) or canopy beds – ideal for a master bedroom. Have a look at my post here for more ideas and designs: Inspiration Board: Bed Designs, Ideas, and Pictures.
A simple way of styling the bed area is through the bedding you use (2) (3). The colors you use will really set the color scheme for the bedroom. So you want to choose colors that blend well with your overall color palette. If you want to create a traditional style bedroom, go with patterned bedding maybe with a floral design. For a more modern or minimalist look, go with solid colored bedding that has a texture – as the texture adds style to the space but in a subtle way.
Color blocking is also possible with your bedding. You have: the blanket, the pillows, and the headboard. Each section can be a different color, or a different shade of one color. For ideas on headboard designs have a look at my mood board here: Headboard Design Ideas: From Monograms to Fireplace Mantels.
Other decor and design ideas for the bed area include: hanging up drapes or a canopy to create a romantic setting, hanging up string lights for a soft glow, or fitting a chandelier with a ceiling rose over the bed for a formal and shabby chic look.
For Your Feet
A simple way of styling and decorating your bedroom is to use area rugs – just like the bedroom in picture (4). They can add a pop of color to the space, or they can add some style if use one with a pattern or design (chevron, floral). They are also handy when it gets cold as they will keep your feet warm and soften the floor.
The whole floor design can add to the style of your bedroom. Imagine hardwood flooring, or a Herringbone patterned floor. Have a look at my mood board here for flooring ideas and designs: Flooring Ideas for the Bedroom.
Tips for Keeping It Simple
The main pieces and areas in the bedroom, like the bed area talked about above, make a huge difference in the style and how your bedroom feels. Don’t worry about adding in more decorations and stuff. There is already plenty in the bedroom already that can be focused on to decorate the space.
Your Curtains
If you think about it, your curtains play a big role in the design and look of your bedroom. Take a look at how large they are and how much space they take. They might not take up a lot of physical space, but they do take up a lot of visual space – especially when they are closed. What this means, is that the color and design you use will have a big impact of the overall design and style of the bedroom – just take a look at the curtains in pictures (5) and (6). If you use modern purple hookless curtains, you are saying you have a modern style and a purple color scheme in your bedroom. If you go with lace or ruffled curtains with a cast iron curtain rod, you’ll be creating a more traditional and vintage style in your bedroom. For more window treatment ideas and designs have a look at my mood board here: Bedroom Window Treatments and Curtain Ideas.
Quick and Cheap DIY Updates for Your Walls
The frames you use for your mirrors and wall art/pictures can be repainted a new color or replaced to update or change the decor style in the room.
Wall Design
The color of your bedroom walls is another major design element that determines how the space feels. If you go with dark colors, you’ll create a space that feels cozy and intimate. While lighter colors makes a space feel brighter and more spacious. Have a look at my mood board here for a collection of bedroom color schemes: Bedroom Color Ideas: Paint Schemes and Palette Mood Board. Painting your ceiling is another way to decorate the space: Spicing it Up: Bedroom Ceiling Ideas.
You can also get fancy with the look of your bedroom walls by adding some design elements. For example, there are simple wall trim designs, crown molding adds a nice finishing touch, or to break up a solid flat wall there is wainscosting. There is also wallpaper (Wallpaper Ideas for the Bedroom).
Setting The Mood With Lighting
See if you can play around with the lighting in the bedroom to create the mood and style you want. If you want a cozy and romantic space then you will want to avoid using your ceiling lights. Instead use table and floor lamps. Or put your ceiling light on a dimmer switch. If you want to create a large and spacious feeling bedroom then you’ll want to do the opposite. That is, light up the ceiling as much as possible, and all corners of the bedroom.
If you want to create a whimsical vibe in the bedroom, hang up some string lights. Use some LED ones and wrap drapes or light fabric around them to create a soft glow. Another way to add mood lighting in the bedroom is to use a fancy mood lamp, like the one below. These are LED lamps that can be set to a certain color, or fade through different colors. If you have white walls, you can put these mood lamps up against one and completely change the color of your walls. Feeling romantic? Use purple or dark blue. It’s been a gloomy and cloudy day? Bathe your walls in bright yellow or green.
For more bedroom lighting ideas have a look at my mood boards here:
Philips Living Colors Mood Lamp from Amazon
A Clutter Free Bedroom
To create a well designed bedroom you will want to get rid of all the clutter, or at least hide it away. You don’t really need many bedroom decor pieces/accessories. As seen above, the main bedroom pieces such as the bed, curtains, and walls are the major ways to decorate the space. It is best to only have maybe 2-3 decor accessories and pieces in the bedroom. Keeping it to a low number not only reduces the clutter – but since you only have a few pieces, these few items really stand out. So make them meaningful and well thought out pieces.
One quick and simple way to keep clutter under control is to use clutter bowls or trays. Take a look around your bedroom and see where are your clutter problem areas. Do you have a lot of clutter on your bedside table, or on your dressing table? If so, get a good looking bowl or tray (like a wooden one) and throw all the small pieces into it. By grouping these small loose pieces together you create a cleaner look.
For smart and creative bedroom storage ideas have a look at my post here: Space Saving and Stylish Bedroom Storage Ideas. 1/2/3/4/5 & 6
More bedroom design and decor mood boards:
