11. DON'T IGNORE THE FLOOR.
What’s the first thing you do when you roll out of bed in the morning? Put your feet on the floor. So, have a think about how you want that experience to feel every day. Personally, I find soft carpet hard to beat but if you have hard flooring, try placing the bed on a large rug so that you still have a soft surface around the bed.
12. BREAKING NEWS ON BEDSIDES!
You DON’T have to buy matching bedside tables! Even though they are often sold in pairs, you’re best to leave one behind in the store. In small rooms, I suggest you only have one bedside table and in larger rooms that can accommodate two tables, I often like to mix and match to add a bit of variety. When choosing a bedside table, consider how it’s going to be used. Does it need to be big enough to fit a lamp, a cup of tea and a book, or will a tiny round table do the trick? Bedside tables are classic clutter-collectors, so if the person who’ll be using the table has a tendency to leave magazines, piles of mail, cold cups of tea and other non-stylish items piled next to their bed, opt for a small, simple table that offers minimal ‘storage’ opportunities.
13. PITCH THE CEILING.
Could you make structural changes and pitch the ceiling? Even the smallest room can feel generous when you go up a few feet.
TIP: THESE TYPE OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES WILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE REST OF YOUR RENO (IF YOU ARE DOING ONE) SO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR BUILDER, ARCHITECT AND/OR DESIGNER NICE AND EARLY, IDEALLY AS YOUR PLANS ARE BEING DRAWN UP.
14. OPT FOR CLEVER STORAGE SOLUTIONS
When we design bedrooms, we try to avoid taking up floor space with furniture – that means we don’t go for chests of drawers or freestanding wardrobes. Instead, we look for every opportunity to create ‘out of sight’ storage; whether that’s built-in wardrobes, walk-in dressing rooms, linen cupboards in the hallway or (one of our favourites) under-bed storage. There are loads of beds with pull out drawers around now, and these drawers often offer MORE storage than a chest of drawers. It’s a great place to stash linens, pyjamas, towels and extra bedding without crowding the room.
15. MIRROR MANIA (BUT DON'T GO TOO CRAZY)
Mirrors are a fairly inexpensive way to make a bedroom look so much brighter and bigger, which is a huge bonus if you’re dealing with a small one. If there’s a large blank wall (preferably not above the bed), hang or lean a mirror there rather than a piece of art to help bounce light around the space. And then there’s the mirrored wardrobe we all grew up with. While it wouldn’t be my first choice when designing a bedroom, I recognise there are times where it can make a big, positive impact, so let’s not rule it out completely.
16. GO BOLD BEHIND THE BED
The blank space above a bed is an area that can handle a lot of drama. Bedheads look amazing, but don’t feel you need to have one in order to create a luxurious look. A beautiful piece of art above the bed can have just as much impact. Choose a piece that works with the overall theme of the room and mood you want to create.
If you really want to have some fun, you can go extra-bold by using floor-to-ceiling wallpaper behind the bed!
TIP: IF YOU USE ARTWORK BEHIND A BED, MAP OUT THE SIZE OF THE PIECE TO ENSURE IT WILL WORK WITH YOUR PILLOW PLANS. AND IF YOU PLAN TO SIT UP IN BED READING, WATCHING TV OR SURFING ON INSTA (LIKE ME EVERY NIGHT), CHECK THAT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO BE LEANING ON THE ARTWORK. IF YOU HAVE A REALLY LOW BED, SOMETIMES LEANING ARTWORK NEXT TO IT CAN LOOK THE GOODS – IT’S A RELAXED ALTERNATIVE TO HANGING IT.
17. NOTHING BUT NEUTRAL COLOURS
The bedding department of any home store can be a Mardi Gras of prints, patterns and colours but trust me when I say you’ll create a calmer, more upmarket look if you stay fairly neutral with the colour choices for the sheets and drop a little bang in here and there using brightly-coloured accent pillows. This works especially well if you’ve got a bold piece of art or other feature behind the bed.
TIP: I LOVE COTTON BUT GIVE ME LINEN SHEETS ANY DAY OF THE WEEK AND THRICE ON ‘SLEEP-IN SUNDAYS’! LINEN IS LUXURIOUS AND MORE AFFORDABLE THESE DAYS. NOT ONLY DOES IT GET SOFTER THE MORE YOU WASH IT, BUT IT ALSO HAS THAT SLIGHTLY RUMPLED LOOK THAT’S RELAXED, INVITING AND MORE FORGIVING ON THOSE MORNINGS OF SLAP-DASH BED-MAKING WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO GET THE LITTLE FAM GOING!
18. ONIONS HAVE LAYERS
Why on earth am I talking about onions? For no reason other than I love that part of the movie where Shrek explains to Donkey that ogres ‘have layers’. So now that we’re talking about layers, you want your bed to have some too (layers that is, not onions!). Layers will make your bedroom look multi-dimensional AND feel cosier. Nothing looks sadder than a bed with just a sheet and two pillows. I see it on Airbnb all the time and wonder if the owners realise how many more enquiries they’d get if that bed had some layers. Be generous with your bedding. In a master, I suggest 2 doonas (for that extra fluffy look) + 6 pillows (a combo of Euro and standard) + 3 decorative cushions + 1 throw or blanket for the end of the bed. Each layer needs to work with the overall colour palette of the room. Look for opportunities to add texture to the bed rather than just colour. This could be through introducing a chunky knit blanket or embellished sequined cushion. Don’t overdo the pops of colour or the patterns – when it comes to making a statement, less is more.
TIP: UPSIZE YOUR DOONA TO GUARANTEE GOOD OVERHANG.
19. DOUBLE DOONA
In case you missed it in number 18, this tip is one of my favourites. Use two doonas for extra fluff. Style one as you would a normal doona (folded out) then place the second doona folded in half at the base of the bed like this.
20. RUGS...AGAIN
I love how often rugs pop up as a styling solution. It’s because they’re just so versatile. And don’t think they’re just for bedrooms with hard flooring. Rugs on top of carpet are also a winner to add texture and interest. They’re particularly fun in kids’ rooms.
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