Look, I get it. You enter your bedroom and something is simply wrong. Perhaps it is the dull walls staring back at you, or the stack of clothes on the chair that seems to have become furniture (we have all been there). You want your bedroom to be the place to go not some boring afterthought that causes you to go to sleep on the couch instead.
Having tried the majority of the experiments with my own room and assisted my friends in turning their bedrooms into rooms that are not so bad, I have discovered what does work. These aren’t those Pinterest-perfect tricks that need a trust fund to do these things but these are actual, achievable ones that will actually leave you thrilled to spend time in your room.
Create Layers of Lighting That Actually Make Sense
Ditch the Harsh Overhead Lighting
May I speak a word about overhead lighting? That one ceiling light that throws shadows all over your bedroom is not doing your bedroom any good. It is as though you were attempting to build atmosphere with a flashlight it is not going to happen.
String lights are no longer the preserve of college dorms. My attitude towards fairy lights was to shake my head until I tried it. So now I am a convert! The point is in having warm white LEDs and placing them in strategic positions around your headboard or ceiling line.
Here’s what actually works for layered lighting:
Bedside table lamps – Pair them or alternate with varying heights causing visual effects • Corner floor lamps – This provides warm pools of light and makes your room look bigger • LED strip lights behind your headboard – You have to trust me on this one, it gives you a built in halo effect.
The Magic of Dimmer Switches
You ever attempted to read under a bedside lamp which could light a small airplane? My evening pattern was altered when I installed dimmer switches. You can even relax in a decent manner rather than light-as-day to pitch-black.
Pro tip: Smart bulbs are a worthwhile investment when you are feeling fancy. There is nothing better than turning your lights off in bed when you are just too cozy to get up.
Textile Game Strong: Layer Like You Mean It
Throw Pillows That Don’t Annoy You
We are going to touch on the elephant in the room; decorative pillows. Yes, they are great, however, do you really wish to drag seventeen pillows a night? The optimum is between 4 and half a dozen pillows.
Combine textures rather than becoming overly obsessed with quantity: • Good pillowcases on one set of sleeping pillows; decorative pillows in a matching color on the other set; one texted throw pillow (velvet, faux fur, or knit).
Personal disclosure: I would purchase every adorable pillow that I would encounter until I noticed that I was spending much time setting up pillows than relaxing. I am now only attached to pillows I would really lean on when reading.
Blanket Layering Without the Bulk
And this is what no one tells you–blanketing is a form of art. You would like to be warm and to look at something but not to be under the mountain of cloths.
My go-to formula:
- Quality fitted sheet (invest here, seriously)
- Lightweight cotton or linen flat sheet
- Medium-weight blanket or coverlet
- One cozy throw at the foot of the bed
All that counts is temperature regulation. Cotton and linen are breathable compared to synthetic fabric and you can add or use layers depending on season.
| Layer | Material | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Base Sheet | Cotton/Bamboo | Comfort & breathability |
| Blanket | Wool/Cotton | Main warmth |
| Throw | Chunky knit | Style & extra warmth |
Wall Art That Doesn’t Look Like a Doctor’s Office
Size Actually Matters
You know what drives me crazy? Minuscule art works suspended on massive walls on their own. Art work must occupy approximately 2/3 of space above your furniture. When you are putting something above your bed, you should think bigger than you were originally planning.
Gallery walls are effective, but here is the trick about that, they require planning. Begin with some paper templates, cut to the size of your frames, and taped to the wall. Believe me, this spares you the sight of Swiss cheese having taken place to your wall.
Personal Photos vs. Generic Art
IMO, bedrooms are to be personal. Such generic ones? Live Laugh Love signs? Save your money. Combine personal photography with art that is really talking to you. Black and white pictures on similar frames are simple to look at and create an instant sophistication.
Honest conversation: Do you like that corny inspirational quote? Get one! The bedroom is supposed to be made to make you happy and not mind off people on Instagram.
Storage Solutions That Don’t Scream “Storage”
Under-Bed Storage Done Right
The real estate below the bed is the best. Things are stored in rolling storage boxes or drawers in order to be accessible, yet hidden. I utilise mine as out of season apparel and additional bedding – game changer with small spaces.
Do not take the plastic bin graveyard. Those transparent storage containers may appear to be a convenient thing, but they make everything appear disorganized (even when it is organized). Wooden drawers or fabric bins will be more accustomed to your design.
Nightstand Strategy
It is not only the furniture, but your bedroom command center is your nightstand. Minimize the surface and make the drawers work hard.
Nightstand must-haves: • Good reading lamp • Phone charger (can be hidden) • small dish of jewelry one book or journal.
The rest of it gets put in the box. Water glasses, skin cream, the book you say you will read– drawer city.
Color Psychology That Actually Works
The 60-30-10 Rule Simplified
There is a reason behind design rules and this one is really helpful. 60 percent neutral base color, 30 percent secondary color and 10 percent accent color. 60 of your wall space and larger pieces of furniture are the 60, your textiles and larger decor objects are the 30, and your little objects are the 10.
Personal example: In my bedroom, the dominant color is soft gray (60 percent of the wall and bedding), dusty pink (30 percent of the throw pillows and curtains), and gold (10 percent of the lamp bases and picture frames). It is not easy to pronounce but provides this unifying flow which simply works.
Colors That Promote Better Sleep
Some science here then, some colors make you sleep better. Blues and greens reduce your blood pressure and heart rate. Soft beige or cream are examples of warm neutrals, which make the warmest cocoon.
Large doses of bright reds and oranges are to be avoided. They are stimulating and that is the last thing you want in a sleeping room. Reserve the bold colors on items of accent that can be changed easily.
Cool colors to use: • Sage green • Soft lavender • Warm gray • Cream or off-white
Making It All Work Together
Start Small, Think Big
You will not have to make over your whole bedroom in the night. choose a component and nail it down. Perhaps now it is time to change those bedside lamps you have been intending to buy, or even replace your pillows with something other than one that was used in a hotel in 1995.
The snowball effect is real. You will feel like trying to do more and more after you change something that brings you happiness. My new bedding was a fresh set of bedding which turned out to be a whole new room in three months.
Budget-Friendly Wins
FYI- costly does not necessarily imply superior. There are some of my favorite elements in the bedroom that are less than 30. Thrift stores are treasure trove of art lamps, picture frames and decor. Only clean them and perhaps spray paint them.
DIY projects that are actually successful: • painting old picture frames to fit in with printables • making wall art out of throw pillows and a printable cover • peel and stick wallpaper as an accent wall
The Real Secret
You want to know the actual secret in bedroom decor women adore? It is not about trend setting or the duplication of the magazine spreads. It is about making a place that you can be in and feel comfortable and really happy being there.
The bedroom must be suited to your way of life rather than be contrary to it. Unless you are a make-the-bed-every-day person, get bedding that looks good even when it is somewhat untidy. As the reader is reading at night, you should prefer to have a good light rather than fancy lamps that do not really light anything up.
Summary: The tips on bedroom decor that work best are those you will use. Begin with the things you hate the most about your existing space and work on that first. All the rest will take shape out of that.
Keep in mind that your bedroom is your own rest room. Turn it into a place that you really want to go and not a place that does well on Instagram. Believe me, you will sleep better knowing that your space is actually about you – and is that not actually worth more than a Pinterest board?