Even if you’re not planning a whole house reno, bedrooms should be on your hit list for a makeover as they’re one of the easiest spaces to refresh and renew. I guess that’s because it’s a confined area that doesn’t need to be designed with the adjacent rooms in mind, unlike the kitchen or living and dining rooms. You can create your own vibe in a bedroom – one that’s unique to you.
But if you are undertaking a massive reno or perhaps building a new home from scratch, beware that bedrooms can fall victim to ‘reno fatigue’. We get it. After all, these aren’t the spaces that visitors will see, so by the time you’ve agonised over every last detail of a kitchen, bathroom or lounge room and spent hours of your life selecting taps, drains, lighting, appliances, tiles … you might get around to the bedroom and think, ‘You know what, I’ll just chuck a bed in there with some nice side tables. Job done.’ Right? WRONG!
It’s time to push through that fatigue and dig deep because investing time into designing and styling bedrooms pays off big time. Think of it this way: a bedroom isn’t just where someone sleeps; it’s the only room in the house that’s really theirs – it’s an escape from the noise of life, a place to be quiet and have their own things around them. Injecting some personality and luxury into these rooms isn’t hard and if you’re ever planning to sell your home, a killer master suite will always add value. So grab a coffee, make it a double-shot because we’re doing this!
Here are the first 10 tips to create the ultimate bedroom. Mix and match to figure out which ones could work for you. Don't miss out the other 20 tips in the following weeks.
1. NOBODY PUTS BABY IN THE CORNER
Unless that corner has a gorgeous occasional chair in it! Just this simple idea can take a bedroom from good to great by creating an additional zone (and doubling as a coat hanger). Sure, it’s more about how it looks than how it functions, but I’ll bet some of you would love to read a mag in that spot or toss your jacket and jeans over it after a big night out.
Here are 4 corner-styling ideas to inspire you:
2. BED: NAIL THE RIGHT SIZE, POSITION AND STYLE
SIZE: Who doesn’t love a king size bed? They’re luxurious and if you’ve got heaps of space, a king bed would be my recommendation. If, however, you’re styling an average-sized bedroom, be realistic and consider how the room will function when all of the furniture is in place. The number of people that are willing to shove a huge bed into a tiny room always amazes us – it looks awful and kills the flow of the room completely. If space is tight, use a single bed. If you’re working with a smaller master suite, opt for a queen rather than king bed … and consider that a double bed would make the room feel even bigger.
POSITION: Regardless of the size of the bed, avoid the temptation to push it into a corner against a wall to create more space. Instead, centre it on a wall or place it under a window so it’s possible to walk around both sides. That said, I’m going to eat my hat and in the same breath give you permission to push the bed against the wall if space is really tight … especially if your daughter needs extra floor space to practice her ‘walk-over-into-bridge’. It’s not what I’d suggest for a magazine shoot, but in certain situations it is definitely the best space-saving option.
STYLE: Your linen and cushion choice will ultimately create the style of your bed, but the bed frame plays an important role too. My advice here is the colour needs to complement the rest of the room so if you opt for a timber frame, make sure it works with the colour of your floors – especially if they are also timber. I find black or wrought-iron frames less versatile than white or timber ones. If in doubt, it’s hard to go wrong with a white bed frame or, even safer, an ensemble (where there is no frame at all). The best thing about an ensemble is that it often takes up less space than a frame, so that’s a great option if space is tight.
IF YOU’RE SELLING YOUR HOUSE, IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT YOU GET THE SIZE AND LOCATION OF THE BEDS RIGHT BECAUSE YOU WANT POTENTIAL BUYERS TO SEE B-I-G BEDROOMS. DOWNSIZE THE BED WHEREVER YOU CAN BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN PUTTING SINGLE BEDS IN EVERY ROOM.
3. LIFT YOUR LIGHTS
I’m yet to find a bedroom that wouldn’t benefit from replacing table lamps with wall sconces or pendants. Both of these options are elevated so they don’t clutter up bedside tables the way reading lamps can. They also look beautiful and provide warm, intimate lighting that’s perfect for a bedroom.
4. WALK-AROUND-ROBE
Build a floating wall with dual purpose: the perfect feature wall to anchor the bed and a robe with a dressing area concealed behind the wall. We love this one.
5. CHEAP-AS-CHIPS WARDROBE DOORS
Cabinetry costs add up fast but you can pick up some great alternatives for less than £50 each. Check out these IKEA doors called BERGSBO. To make sure they fit, have your builder construct a frame to fit the doors, not the other way around.
6. BLOCKOUT BLINDS
I’m the ultimate sun-lover, but even I need blockout blinds in my bedroom for those mornings when I need a few extra hours of sleep. And the great thing is you can now get two different types of blinds on the one window so you can switch from whimsy sheers to blockouts just by pulling the cord.
7. DECLUTTER THAT CLUTTER!
Get everything out of the room. Channel your inner Marie Kondo and declutter like your life depends on it! Be ruthless when deciding what gets to come back in. I say it’s best to start fresh and keep only a few necessities and homewares that fit with the new look you have in mind. If you’re styling a small bedroom, be even more ruthless. There’s zero scope for hoarding in small spaces. Fill up the car and head off to any charity or chuck some stuff into storage.
8. GREEN GOODNESS
Nothing says ‘tranquil retreat’ quite like a pop of greenery. If you can’t fit a floor-standing palm or fig, there are loads of small succulents you can buy that come pre-planted in lust-worthy glass terrariums – ideal for a bedside or window sill.
9. PAINT IT... WHITE PERHAPS?
You can’t argue with the power of paint. It’s the cheapest, fastest route to freshening up a room, AND if you choose a light colour, it’s bound to make it feel larger. If you have a particular paint colour in mind (other than white) go with that (after testing with swatches on your wall first). But, if in doubt, we recommend white. Ideally, you’ll match this white to the one you’re painting the rest of the house with, but if it’s just a bedroom you’re updating, try cool whites like Dulux Vivid White or White on White. If you want a slightly warmer feel, go for Natural White, then sigh a happy sigh as you stand back and take it all in.
10. BLOW YOUR HAIR BACK
Regardless which style of room you’re going for, most people want their bedroom to be relaxing and nothing says ‘close your eyes, breathe in and relax’ more than a ceiling fan. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan (excuse the pun) of sleeping in an air-conditioned bedroom. Yes, it’s good to have air con installed for those summer hot nights, but otherwise I’d much prefer to blow my hair back with a ceiling fan.
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