How to design a bedroom interior
Whether it’s a master bedroom or a child’s nursery, a bedroom is an opportunity to create a personal space that expresses personality and enhances a desired feeling. You want a space where you feel comfortable and can easily unwind at the end of each day.
Often people start an interior project with lots of enthusiasm, which tends to fade once the number of choices start to become confusing and the idea of pulling together a cohesive looking interior becomes overwhelming.
In any project, big or small, forward planning is key in creating an interior design that is right for you and the space you are working with. To help you achieve your desired bedroom design, we’ve outlined the following key steps to consider when planning your space.
1. Design Style
If the rest of your home already has a particular style, it’s important to take this into consideration when planning your bedroom design. The style and colour pallet should flow throughout the space as it will create a more cohesive home. This doesn’t mean that every room must be the same. For example, you may have a very neutral home, but want to create a more colourful theme in a child’s bedroom. In this instance, you might use similar tones, an element that features throughout such as the same metal finish on hardware, lighting or furniture details or textures that feature throughout the rest of the home. All these points will assist in creating a cohesive space.
If you need some inspiration on design styles, check out our Design Styles page for ideas.
2. Colour Pallet
Now that we’ve established your bedroom can have a different colour palette to the rest of your home, it’s time to consider your colour preference. Your colour selection will directly affect the ‘mood’ of the space and how you feel within it. Consider the feeling you would like to create when in your bedroom and the types of colours that encourage that feeling. Think about the following questions:
Do you like warm or cool colours?
Do you prefer complimentary colours, monochromatic or block colours?
Do you prefer light, airy spaces or dark, moody spaces?
Light Colours
Light colours create a sense of space and airiness, making rooms feel larger and brighter.
Image source: cocolapinedesign.com
Dark Colours
Dark colours create a sense of sophistication and warmth, making rooms feel more intimate and moodier.
Image source: cocolapinedesign.com
The above inspiration images demonstrate how wall colour can also transform the feeling of a bedroom rather than just incorporating your colour palette in furniture and accent items.
While you can go with a different colour palette to the rest of your home, it’s still important to choose a palette that compliments the overall style of your home. For example, you would avoid using bright pops of colour in a typical modern industrial space. Whatever your colour preference or interior style may be, we recommend avoiding primary colours (blue, yellow and red) in a bedroom as they are less likely to promote sleep unlike softer, muted tones.
If you’re still unsure which colours you prefer or ones that will compliment your home, make use of design magazines, websites like Pinterest or even establishments, such a cafes and restaurants, you enjoy spending time in. Discovering spaces that inspire you will help you to determine your preferences.
3. Spacial Planning
Once you have nutted out your colour and style consider spacial planning. While you may want to upgrade to a larger sized bed, you’re going to quickly regret it if you realise you can no longer fit bedside tables in the room. Before going out and falling in love with pieces you may not be able to squeeze in, consider the following questions:
Where are the electrical points situated for lamps?
Is your room large enough for a chest of draws, ottoman or occasional chair?
Would you add a large scale artwork or two smaller scale pieces?
Do you require storage in your bedside tables or would stools be suitable?
Are your bedside lamps the right proportion for your bedside tables?
Are you adding a feature bedhead or would you prefer a large artwork on the wall behind the bed?
How many feature cushions would you like? (This will also be determined by your bed size.)
If you’re comfortable with technology, we recommend utilising free online tools like Pinterest and floor planners. While not as accurate and comprehensive as professional design software, it’s a good start as it allows you to map out your space and add furniture objects, providing you with a rough idea on how certain piece will fit in the room. Alternatively, sketch this out on a piece of paper and see how different combinations work together.
Layout newspaper or apply masking tape to the floor or walls in the same dimensions of potential furniture. Walk through the room to see you feel there will be enough space for you to move comfortably between these items.
Don’t forget about flooring. If you don’t have carpet, you may want to look into a rug so your feet have somewhere warm to land in the morning. Keep size in mind as the rugs need to extend past the end of the bed as well as be large enough for you to step out of bed onto it without disturbing the bedside tables.
This now brings you to selecting your bedside tables. Think about the use of the room as well as the proportions. If you are furnishing a guest bedroom you might wish to consider stools, small tables without storage or tables with open shelves. If it’s your master bedroom your planning, storage (draws or multiple shelves) might be more suitable. The proportion of the bedside table to the height of your mattress is key. For example, you don’t want to be reaching up to a high table to turn a lamp off or fall out of bed trying to reach down to a table. A good tip is to keep the height of your bedside table a similar height to the top of your mattress and to keep the positioning within arms reach when laying in bed. When considering depth, think about what you will put on top of the table. You want to ensure all of your important pieces, such as lamps, books, decorative vase or photo frame sit together comfortably.
Bedside Stools
Stools are a great option for guest bedrooms or small spaces.
Images Source: Pinterest
Open Shelves
If storage is not required use your open shelves as an opportunity to add decorative elements.
Image Source: Pinterest
4. Lighting
Selecting the right lighting can make all the difference in finishing off your room. There are three main types of lighting that should be considered:
Ambient
Task
Accent
Ambient Lighting - Otherwise know as general lighting provides an even share of illumination over a single space. This lighting is generally used to make a spaces safe to walk through. When thinking about what ambient lighting is required remember to consider the natural light in the space.
Task Lighting - As it’s named this lighting is used to complete a certain task at hand. You might want to light a reading nook to sit with a great book in bed, or light up your study space. Whichever the purpose, task lighting should be free from shadows and bright enough to prevent eye strain.
Accent Lighting - This is the perfect lighting to accentuate certain features or highlight points of interest. Lighting architectural features, artwork, plants or sculptures, accent lighting should be a narrower and brighter output than what you would commonly use for ambient lighting. Generally you will find accent lighting in the form of track lighting, spot lighting, strip lighting or wall mounted.
There are a few other things to consider when choosing your lighting source for your bedroom. If you don’t often sit in bed to read and therefore don’t require task lighting you might want to consider a more decorative lighting options such as wall sconces. These look great positioned on the wall above bedside tables. When selecting your wall sconces consider matching the finish to other hardware in the room / home and ensure that the size of the sconce sits in proportion with your bedside tables.
When selecting bedside tables check where the switch is located. A lot of lamps have switches on the cord which then hang down behind the bedside table and can be hard to reach. Consider a lamp with a switch on the base to make turning on and off from bed a breeze!
Oversized Lamps
A large bedside lamp centred on a bedside table can act as a focal point and help to ground the room.
Image Source: nicolefranzen.com
Natural Light
If your space is flooded with natural light consider filtering this with the use of textured drapes.
Image Source: Pinterest
5. Storage
Another aspect of planning your room is to think about storage options and what you have already available to you in the way of cupboard space verses what your actual additional storage needs are. A few storage hacks that won’t compromise on space are:
Using a gas lift bed or bed base with draws for easy storage of bedlinen, children’s toys etc
Adding a bookshelf to a children room that has a draw or cupboard at the base.
Positioning a blanket box at the end of your bed.
In a large room using a small chest of draws (generally 3 draws) as bedside tables.
Adding a bag or hat hook rack to your walk in robe or behind your door to organise accessories on.
6. Fabrics & Finishes
Once you have planned all of the larger items within your room you can start to look at the soft furnishings. Adding a variety of textures and fabrications can help to create a warm inviting space. Remember to consider tones, elements and textures used throughout the rest of your home to ensure the space is cohesive. This is the perfect opportunity to add personality into your room.
Curtains - Quite often block out fabric needs to be considered in bedrooms to ensure the room is dark enough at night time. There are a few ways of achieving this:
Adding a block out blind behind your curtains keeps your room dark at night time but can be lifted during the day to let natural light in. This option allows you have to have more flexibility with fabrication choices for your curtains as you do not need to use a block out fabric.
Using a block out backed fabrication as your main curtain. If you decide to go with this option, adding a second sheer curtain gives you the option of having some privacy and filtering the light when your block outs are open..
Custom Bedheads - Choosing a bedhead is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make in your bedroom space. There are endless options in shape, colour, fabric and size. You might like to consider getting a custom bedhead made. This will allow you to personalise your bedhead to your requirements. When doing this you will be able to make decisions on such things as your bedhead height, width, fabric, shape and detailing. Utilise online resources such as Pinterest, local retailers and Instagram to get ideas prior to speaking to an upholsterer. Check out our journal entry on how to style a bedhead 3 different ways.
Shaped Bedhead
A shaped bedhead can be a stand out feature in the room.
Image Source: halcyonhouse.com.au
Throws
Choose a colour or pattern that compliments the other pieces in the room.
Image Source: Pinterest
Throws - Adding a throw to the end of your bed or draping one over the side of your occasional chair can help to add personality to your room and make it feel more homely. When selecting a throw think about the colours you have already used in the space. If you are creating a neutral pallet with minimal colour you might like to choose a tonal throw. On the other hand you might like to choose a colour that will compliment your bed cushions or an artwork. There are many beautiful throws out in the marketplace and selecting one can be overwhelming. Think about the following before you make your final decision:
Size - It the throw large enough to cover the width of the bed, or small enough to not drag on the floor when draped over your occasional chair?
Fabrication - Is the throw machine washable?
Weave - Does the throw have large holes in the weave that can be easily caught on items that you might lay on your bed or chair?
7. Accessories
Now you’re ready to take the final step and add personal touches to your room. Accessorising with pieces that mean something to you whilst keeping within the colour palette and style of the room can really help to make your space feel more personal and homely. When creating vignettes group items in threes and think about the height and depth of the selected items. This could be two vases on a stack of books or a vase of foliage placed with a variety of ornamental accessories.
And last of all consider adding greenery to the room…lots of greenery. A gorgeous indoor potted plant will make your room feel fresh and homely.
Grouping
Grouping items in threes and using items with varying heights adds depth and proportion.
Image Source: nicolefranzen.com
In Short…
Making each of these decisions can feel overwhelming however if you break the room down into these simple steps you will be able to enjoy the process and by the end have a room that not only reflects you and your personality but looks amazing and flows with the rest of your home.
For assistance with your bedroom design contact us here.