How to Decorate a Bedroom (with Pictures)
Question
I'm 12 and my room is purple. Any ideas on what to do to make it nice ?
Community Answer
Do you like the color? If not, try asking your parents if you can change the color. If not, you will need to work with the purple. If the walls are purple, try putting in something white for a brighter look, or black for a darker, more Gothic look. For example, you can cut shapes out of white paper, and stick it onto your wall using poster tack or double-sided tape. You can also ask your parents if you can paint your furniture white (or black). All this will brighten up your room. You can also try hanging up some string/Christmas/fairy lights on the wall above your bed or window. You can also drape things like flower garlands, beaded garlands, or pink or white tulle above your bed, window, or book case.
How To Decorate Your Bedroom (With Affordable Advice for Small Spaces)
This post contains affiliate links & photos. See our full disclosure here.
In this post: You can create an inviting, stylish bedroom on a small budget. Here’s how to decorate your bedroom – even if you have a small bedroom and money is tight.
*THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY VALSPAR, WHICH IS EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT LOWE’S CANADA.
As much as our entire home is our retreat and safe space, our bedrooms are even more so. Our bedroom is where we spend a large number of hours each day, and where we should be able to go to rest and recharge. But oftentimes, it’s one of the very last places we decorate and make our own. Here’s how to decorate your bedroom retreat, even if it’s small and you’re on a budget!
How to decorate a bedroom
Decorating a bedroom is actually really simple when you break it down into a step-by-step process like I’m going to do here.
But first…
Don’t Start in the Furniture Store
A lot of people make the mistake of starting their bedroom decorating at the big box furniture store. (Dean and I have done that more than once in our 25+ years of marriage.) But that’s where matchy-matchy decorating takes hold – and you don’t want that. Instead, you want a collected over time, layered and lovely feel to your bedroom retreat.
If you’re going to the furniture store to get inspiration for your bedroom decor, that’s totally fine. But focus on a single piece that speaks to you, maybe two – like a great headboard or a statement dresser – versus buying an entire matching bedroom set. And try to do this furniture store inspiration-gathering AFTER you’ve chosen a style and a color scheme for your bedroom. More on that below.
In what order should you decorate a bedroom?
Much like decorating any other room in your home, you follow the same steps for decorating a bedroom:
Decide on your style. Choose a color scheme or palette. Plan the room’s furniture layout. Add area rugs, window treatments, and other fabrics. Incorporate layered lighting. Add art and finishing touches.
Below I’ll go into each step in more detail so that you can feel confident in your bedroom decorating choices!
Choose a style for your bedroom
Choosing your decorating style is the FIRST STEP in creating a beautiful bedroom because every decorating choice you make is based on the decorating style that makes your heart go pitter-patter.
All of these are informed by your style:
Paint colors
Patterns
Furniture
Rugs
Curtains
Art
Lighting
If you’re a student of our how-to-decorate course, Decorating Uncomplicated, you already know what decorating styles you love, and you already know your style formula and your go-to list of elements. This means, you already know the style you want to use in your bedroom.
If you don’t know your unique decorating style yet, check out this blog post, take our free Find Your Style quiz, or enroll in Decorating Uncomplicated.
Pick an overall color scheme
After you know what style you will decorate your bedroom in, you need to choose a color palette that goes with that style.
As always, with color, I recommend that you choose a general color scheme, and then pull specific colors from an inspiration piece. In a bedroom, this inspiration piece could be an area rug, a piece of art, or bedding that you adore.
Personally, in our bedroom as with all rooms in our home, I prefer to decorate using mainly neutral colors. That way as the seasons change or holidays come and go, I can swap out the accents.
Pieces like downloadable art, sheets, throw blankets and throw pillows are easily changed as the mood strikes when the base is made up of neutrals.
Change colors if needed
We’ve actually repainted our bedroom already a couple of times. Well, the upper part, not the wainscoting and trim. That we’d not painted until this mini-makeover.
The first color I chose a couple of days after moving in, without fully considering the north-facing light or the blue reflection from the pool half the year. The second color was lovely and worked much better. But given such cool natural lighting, it was time to go even warmer with our color choice…and to finally paint all that trim too.
Since we’d used Valspar paints before in our guest room, basement pantry makeover, and guest bathroom makeover– and we’re happy with the quality of the application, loved the color choice and the durability, washability, and scuff resistance – we decided to pick up a few gallons at our local Lowe’s (where Valspar paint is sold exclusively) to use in the master bedroom too.
Originally, we were going to paint the trim (wainscoting, chair rail, baseboard, door trim, and crown molding) a lovely creamy mushroom or latte color and the upper walls a beautiful warm white. But once we started (and after finishing the floor to ceiling green in the guest bath), we decided to paint the entire master bedroom in a warm neutral color – Valspar Soft Stones 6008-1C.
Plan the layout
Once you’ve nailed your style and colors, and before you actually do anything with the space, you need to plan where the bigger pieces will go. To do this:
Consider How the Room Functions
Think about the traffic flow.
What areas of the room do you need to access easily?
Is there a clear path to the bathroom, say in the middle of the night?
Can you access your closet easily?
What do you use the room for aside from sleeping? Maybe you need a reading corner with a chair and a light to do your daily devotions. Or perhaps you want to work out in your room too.
Consider all the activities that will occur in your bedroom, and make a list of the pieces you need to fit in, as well as any that you’d like to make room for, but that are more wishlist items than must-haves.
In our bedroom, we needed:
a bed and bed frame (king-size at this point in our lives!)
bedside tables
a dresser
a chair for daily reading
And we like to have:
a tv (this really only gets used for when someone is sick in bed, but I hope to use it to do more yoga, etc. in the New Year)
the electric fireplace (our room gets quite chilly in winter)
a pretty bench at the foot of our bed
Choose a Focal Point
All rooms need a focal point to keep from feeling scattered or overwhelmed with no clear focus.
Once you know all that needs to happen in your bedroom, choose where your focal point will be. In a bedroom, this is most likely the wall the bed is against. But it may also be a fireplace or something else.
Just remember you want to keep your space to one focal point whenever possible.
Know Your Measurements
Of course, you need to know your room’s measurements before choosing any new pieces or moving in any pieces you already have in other spaces.
Measure out your room. Then gather measurements of the furniture pieces you plan to put into the bedroom. Sketch a floor plan if that helps, noting electrical outlets and heating vents too.
Tape It Out
If drawing the room’s layout isn’t helpful or your brain just doesn’t work well with that sort of tool, try using painter’s tape on the floor to illustrate where things will go.
We did this when we were putting up a new wall in our bungalow to separate our master bedroom from the hallway (long story). It was incredibly helpful for visualizing and getting a feel for the space.
Carefully choose your bedroom furniture
Because it’s so costly, bedroom furniture is generally with us for the long haul. So choose carefully and don’t buy anything on a whim.
Keep Scale in Mind
Keep the scale of the bedroom furniture you want in mind. If you want a king-size bed, but the room won’t hold it, obviously you need to scale down to a queen. If you can fit in the king-size bed, keep in mind walking space around the bed, and perhaps choose smaller scale nightstands or a smaller dresser.
Prioritize Storage
Keeping storage in mind is especially important if you have a small bedroom. You’ll need room to store out-of-season clothes and bedding.
Choose furniture pieces that have ample space for your things so that you can avoid the clutter that plagues so many bedrooms.
Of course, you can declutter too and minimize your belongings if you’re tight on space.
Bed and Mattress
You spend a lot of time in bed and your bed and mattress should last you a long time. Especially since they usually cost a good chunk of change.
One of our best purchases was the queen-size mattress and box spring set that we bought when I finished college. It served us well for almost 20 years and now that we have a king-size bed, that queen-size set is in our guest bedroom and is as comfy as ever.
If at all possible, this is where you splurge in a bedroom makeover and get the best, comfiest mattress you can afford.
Wardrobes and dressers
Depending upon your closet space, you will likely need to include wardrobes and/or dressers in your bedroom makeover plans.
Do you have room for a tallboy style dresser or wardrobe (tall and narrow) or would your room better work with a classic dresser (wide and shorter)?
In our room, we have one large dresser that I use for much of my clothes. While Dean keeps all of his clothes in the closet organizer in our walk-in closet.
Nightstands and bedside tables
Bedside tables are a must. Or something – even a wall-mounted shelf or bookshelf – that functions as a bedside table to hold necessary nighttime things like a glass of water, books, and a lamp. Choose a nightstand that will hold the things that YOU need. Drawers are often very helpful.
Keep the height of your nightstands in mind too. I’ve mentioned that we have a king-sized bed, which is quite large, and despite getting low-profile box springs, is quite tall. And yet, the cabinets we used for the last few years were actually too tall in reality – we couldn’t reach our lamps to turn them off from in bed!
So for our recent master bedroom makeover, we bought a couple of second-hand nightstands on Facebook Marketplace. Dean sanded off the white paint (someone had painted them in the flattest, whitest paint ever!) and then just waxed them with a dark beeswax that we’ve had here forever.
Chairs/benches
If you want a place to sit and read or do devotions each morning, or just a quiet corner to escape from the kids (shhh, I won’t tell!), you may want to consider adding a chair to your bedroom.
And a bedroom looks super complete with a bench at the end of the bed – if you have room for one.
Mirrors
Most bedrooms will also need mirrors – for trying on clothes or checking your hair. Decide whether you’ll hang one over your dresser, or just put a full-length mirror in the closet.
Layer your bedroom lighting
There are three types of lighting for use in your home: General Lighting, Task Lighting, and Accent Lighting. Bedrooms are no different than other spaces when it comes to lighting.
General
You will want to have an overhead ceiling light fixture, chandelier, or table lamp that is easily turned on and off when entering and exiting your room.
Task
You will also want to have specific lighting for reading or other tasks that you perform in your bedroom, like applying makeup for example. At the very least you will want to have some sort of lighting or bedside lamp on your nightstand.
Accent/mood lighting
Accent Lighting provides extra “oomph” and extra dimension to a room by accenting special features such as art, architectural features, plants, etc.
Accent lighting can be achieved with track lighting, wall-mounted lights, or recessed lights.
Dimmers also help to add to the mood lighting effect.
Add softness and comfort underfoot with a rug
Whether you have wall-to-wall broadloom, hardwood, or another type of flooring, adding an area rug in the bedroom is a good idea.
Area rugs can be used to tie your bedroom’s color palette together, add softness and texture to your room.
I’m currently waiting on a new rug for this space and I’m hoping it arrives soon. Here’s what I’ve ordered.
It’s the nuLOOM Geraldine Persian Area Rug in Olive. It’s nice and warm for our north-facing room and will pull together the green from our accent pillows and the taupe from the newly painted walls.
Invest in the best bedding and throw pillows
Along with your mattress, bedding tends to stick with us for a long time.
When you’re on a budget it can be tempting to buy cheap sheets. But I encourage you to buy at least decent quality bedding that will hold up well and be comfortable. You can always add more sets later.
My favorite types of bedding for each season is:
Linen in Spring and Fall (my favorite linen bedding is from MagicLinen)
Cotton in Summer
Flannel in Winter
Layer Bedding
Layering your bedding and mixing and matching is also a lovely way to make your bedroom feel cozy and collected. Include duvets, quilts, and throw blankets. Mix stripes with florals and solids. Include linen, velvet, wool (if you like that), and cotton.
Add Throw Pillows
While some hubbies may complain about too many throw pillows on the bed, it’s still perfectly acceptable to add a few.
On our bed, we keep a collection of throw pillows and sleeping pillows in different sizes and shapes. Here’s How to Style Pillows on a Bed 3 Different Ways:
Don’t forget to dress your windows
Windows are another spot you can add both functionality and beauty to a bedroom.
Room darkening
I’m a bit of a princess (like The Princess and the Pea) and so I like to include room darkening blinds and blackout curtains. Simple roller shades work in our space, but you can get custom blinds and curtains.
But also pretty
But I also like to have a pretty space too, so I also include curtains on a lovely black metal rod. Of course, you could choose to use whatever sort of draperies and rod you like!
Pick out artwork for your bedroom decor
Artwork is another one of those things that adds personality to a space. Whether you decide to display nostalgic family photos as wall art or downloadable printable art in vintage frames, be sure to add some sort of artwork to your bedroom.
Style your nightstand
Of course, nightstands need to be functional, with plenty of storage and some surface space to set down your book, reading glasses, and a cup of water. But they can also be pretty.
Make it functional, but pretty
If you use a plethora of items each night like I do (chapstick, melatonin, eye drops, etc.) either corral them in a tray or bowl atop your bedside table or place them within easy reach in the top drawer.
Add flowers or plants/life
Regardless of what else you have on your nightstands, adding some flowers or greenery (faux or real) adds life and organic shape to your room. Put them in a pretty vase, pitcher, or pot and you’ve got additional texture too.
Bonus Tip: Cozy Up by a Fire…or Pretend to
There is something so very cozy about a fireplace in a bedroom.
This house didn’t have a fireplace up here like it does in the living room directly below it. But we did have the electric fireplace from our last house and our master bedroom is the perfect spot for it.
It’s a lovely spot to style the mantel and the electric heater comes in handy in the middle of winter, since this is the coldest room in the house then. Even just the glow of the electric fire insert is beautiful.
Small bedroom ideas
While our current master bedroom is definitely not small, we have had some tiny bedrooms in the past. One bedroom we had for example back when I was in college, was only large enough for a DOUBLE bed shoved against the wall and ONE nightstand. Another barely fit our queen bed with no dressers. So we understand the dilemma of small bedrooms!
Here are a few ideas to make a small bedroom feel larger and maximize your bedroom space.
Use multifunctional furniture
Try storage benches or ottomans, and nightstands with drawers (you can always tuck clothes into those bedside drawers if you’re tight on space) to make the most of your bedroom storage.
Underbed storage
If you can swing it with the type of bed frame you have, try to make use of the space under your bed with underbed storage baskets or bins.
Utilize all awkward corners for storage
If you’ve got awkward corners in your bedroom that don’t fit a dresser or bed, use those spaces for storing things like books, out-of-season clothing, or exercise equipment.
Think up
In small bedrooms, floor space is at a premium, so try to think up for your storage needs. Use wall-mounted lighting like sconces with adjustable arms. Affix a shelf to the wall instead of using a full-sized nightstand if you’ve got little space. Hang your mirror instead of using a floor mirror.
Try to think outside the box for ways to use your walls versus your floor space.
Use mirrors
You can also use the old trick of strategically placing mirrors to make your small bedroom feel larger. Mirrors bounce the light around and add the visual illusion that the space goes on and on in the reflections.
Which color is best for a small bedroom?
There are two schools of thought when it comes to color in small spaces:
One says to paint a light and bright color to make the room feel larger (light spaces bounce the light around more, making a space appear larger). The other says to paint the space whatever you like – even a dark color.
In the case of a small bedroom, I’m in the paint it whatever you like to camp.
Unless your bedroom is also your home office and you need it to feel bigger during the daytime hours, it will be much cozier if you paint it a color that you love – even if that’s a dark color.
So that’s how you decorate a bedroom, even a small one, on a budget!
How to Decorate a Master Bedroom – 50 Beautiful Decoration Ideas
of 54 How to decorate a master bedroom - add plant How to decorate a master bedroom - add succulents How to decorate a master bedroom - colorful headboard How to decorate a master bedroom - fabric headboard How to decorate a master bedroom - add symmetry through nighstands How to decorate a master bedroom - paint the tray ceiling How to decorate a master bedroom - leather tufted bench How to decorate a master bedroom - add a mirror How to decorate a master bedroom - embrace symmetry How to decorate a master bedroom - sleigh bed How to decorate a master bedroom - add pillows How to decorate a master bedroom - arrange pillows How to decorate a master bedroom - art above the bed How to decorate a master bedroom - creating a lounge area How to decorate a master bedroom - reading corner How to decorate a master bedroom - table top lamp How to decorate a master bedroom - ballance with walls How to decorate a master bedroom - keep nighstands clear How to decorate a master bedroom - storage options How to decorate a master bedroom - make walls interesting How to decorate a master bedroom - add long curtains How to decorate a master bedroom - use neutral colors How to decorate a master bedroom - hang art work How to decorate a master bedroom - lean some frames How to decorate a master bedroom - frame 3d objects How to decorate a master bedroom - maximize corners How to decorate a master bedroom - let the bed to be the star How to decorate a master bedroom - hang artwork How to decorate a master bedroom - decorate with small accessories How to decorate a master bedroom - faux fur pillows How to decorate a master bedroom - stylish hardware How to decorate a master bedroom - colors and shape How to decorate a master bedroom - wall mounted musical instruments How to decorate a master bedroom - one curtain How to decorate a master bedroom - keep the original How to decorate a master bedroom - few pillows How to decorate a master bedroom - go green How to decorate a master bedroom - fust horizontal surface How to decorate a master bedroom tips Make a canopy for your bed DIY LYRIC PILLOWCASES DIY EUCALYPTUS GARLAND Give the bedside table a makeover Pillow case Hang a curtain divider Make a decorative headboard Make an actual headboard A shiplap accent wall Craft a freestanding clothing rack DIY WOOD TRIM ACCENT WALL A stylish tray for breakfast in bed Wallpaper the walls Revamp an old mirror Framed plants above the bed How to Decorate a Master Bedroom - 50 Beautiful Decoration Ideas Buy Now
The master bedroom is an important space in the home, although it often is the room that’s last to be decorated. Even decorating kids’ bedrooms often takes priority. Why is this?
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Maybe because few people ever see the master bedroom, and we want to spend our decorating energy on the spaces that can be appreciated by the most people.
However, it is this very trait of exclusivity and privacy that make the master bedroom a valuable room to decorate. It’s a rejuvenating space, a retreat, and an intimate getaway from the world.
Here are some ideas for how to decorate a master bedroom that you’ll want to spend time in.
50 Beautiful On-trend and Timeless Decoration Ideas
Add plant life.
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A bedroom should be a retreat, a place for rest and rejuvenation. Few things embody rejuvenation like a healthy plant. It adds color, pattern, texture, and an organic flow of positive chi in and around your bedroom.
Consider the Rule of Threes.
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While there are exceptions to this rule, as there are for all rules of decorating, it is a good rule of thumb when you’re trying to decorate a bedroom: Group pieces into threes, or at least into odd-numbered units. There is an inherent sense of balance and satisfaction that comes when that third component joins the other two.
Have an easily accessible night light.
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This can be almost anything, from a ceiling-hung pendant to a wall sconce to a simple tabletop lamp. But a night light makes a bedroom truly relaxing – leave it on for someone else, use it for your own reading or work, or simply use it to add stylistic height to your nightstand area.
Get creative with your headboard.
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There are many lovely traditional headboards…but there are many equally lovely Untraditional headboards. Have a piece of fabric, a blanket, or a woven that is significant and meaningful to you? Use it as a headboard! Use low profile curtain rods to mount it behind your bed for a totally customized headboard.
Mimic, but not necessarily match, nightstands.
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Some people are more comfortable with matching sets, and that’s completely fine when it comes to nightstands. But another way to approach nightstands is to choose two pieces that have something in common – color, context, or overall shape, for example – but aren’t exactly the same. It’s a good idea to keep them relatively equal in size and proportion.
Let your ceiling stand out.
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Of course, retrofitting a tray ceiling into your existing bedroom may be completely expensive and a pain, if not downright impossible. But if you are looking to design your bedroom in a new construction, consider incorporating a tray ceiling for elegance and dimension. Paint it a shade slightly deeper, or a tint slightly lighter, than the rest of your walls and ceiling.
Place a flat surface at the foot of your bed.
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In this soothing bedroom of soft neutrals, a burgundy ottoman bench at the foot of the bed serves as a grounding force visually as well as a completely useful place to sit or throw clothes. Temporarily, of course.
Involve a mirror.
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Mirrors are great for bouncing light around in a room, helping it to feel brighter and more spacious. They also serve a very useful purpose in the bedroom – they provide a place for one final check before leaving the room to face the world.
Embrace symmetry.
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When possible, symmetry is a very restful and relaxing aesthetic because of its structure and order and predictability. Far from boring, however, symmetry infuses a sense of proper balance and elegance into the bedroom.
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Symmetry could manifest itself in something as simple as matching nightstands and bedside lamps. Even when the master bedroom layout itself is anything but symmetric, symmetry surrounding the bed fools the eye into feeling the balance of symmetrical design.
Use plenty of pillows.
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You probably don’t want to have to move a million pillows to the side every night before bed, but a healthy stack of soft and squishy pillows helps a bedroom feel inviting and touchable.
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A stack like this makes you want to flop down and rest for a while. When all the pillows are in the same color family, they weave together seamlessly.
Center artwork over the headboard.
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In some cases, you can even avoid a headboard altogether and simply use artwork as the visual headboard of your master sleigh bed. But to create a greater headboard presence, should you desire it, consider finding some large artwork that fills the horizontal headboard distance, center, and mount it.
Incorporate a lounge area.
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Of course, not all master bedrooms are spacious enough to create an actual sitting area, but if yours has the space, use it! A comfortable chair or two and a table will be an inviting space to sit and relax and talk or read after a long day.
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Even in a smaller master bedroom, this concept is a good one – a single chair tucked away in a cozy corner will have a similar soothing effect.
Use interesting lighting.
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With the variety of table lamps on the market today, finding the perfect one for your master bedroom has never been easier…or more challenging. If your bedroom is more on the serene, neutral, monochromatic side of design, consider choosing a table lamp that has an interesting lamp shade or a slightly deeper tint or hue to mix things up.
Balance white walls with color.
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One way to decorate a bedroom with white walls is to provide warmth and comfort via color infused into the space elsewhere. A sweet turquoise four poster bed in this guest bedroom, for example, makes one feel instantly at home.
Keep a portion of the nightstand clear.
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Whether it is a master, a guest, or a child’s bedroom, it’s important to keep at least a portion of the nightstand free and clear of décor. This allows the sleeper a convenient place to put a drink of water, a book, a phone or tablet, eyeglasses, hair elastics, or any number of last-minute set-downs.
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Even the smallest of master bedrooms needs some sort of horizontal surface next to the bed. You may need to get creative in what this actually looks like in a small space, but it will be worth it.
Make the walls interesting.
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Of course, a lovely paint color will go a long way in creating the special ambiance of a beautiful bedroom, but you can even take the wall décor a step further and add custom trim or design work onto the wall itself. This takes even a small bedroom into its own memorable deign sphere.
Hang window treatments to the floor.
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The look is chic and put-together, not to mention luxurious. When it makes sense, have your drapes hang from ceiling to floor to make the room feel taller and, consequently, more spacious.
Use neutral colors.
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A soft neutral color scheme tends to create a soft neutral aura, which is a restful environment for anyone entering a bedroom. It is recommended that you incorporate a few pieces with darker tones to ground the space, however, and keep it from floating away altogether.
Hang artwork off-center.
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Not all artwork should be centered. If you are trying to create a framing effect, for example, such as you might be doing around the bed, it’s a good idea to hang artwork on the outer edges of the “frame” you’re trying to create. Be sure to align the outer edges of any pieces of such a frame; in this case, the outer nightstand edge lines up beautifully and restfully with the outside edge of the frame.
Lean some pieces.
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In a more traditional or perhaps more formal bedroom, it might be a good idea to give the space a little bit of an approachable, fresh air by casually leaning some stuff against the walls. This says that the room is open for being lived in.
Frame a 3-D object.
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One clever way to decorate a bedroom is to find a frame that you love, in the style and scope that makes sense for the bedroom itself, and then remove everything except the frame itself. Then find a beloved 3-D object, in this case a bowl/plate, mount it to the wall, and “frame” it.
Maximize corners.
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Every bedroom will probably have its fair share of corners. Rather than allowing these corners to turn into an amoebic discarded clothes pile, provide them with intentional aims. A dresser, for example, gives a bedroom corner a distinct purpose; the decorated top of the dresser provides it with some warmth and style.
Let the bed be the star.
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If your master bedroom is tiny, you might be tempted to downsize your bed to make space for other “necessary” components of a bedroom’s furnishings. Don’t do it! Even in the tightest of quarters, a bed that is unapologetic, bold, and comfortably inviting is going to set the whole room at ease.
Hang artwork.
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Sometimes, the last place that we decorate is the master bedroom. But this private getaway is probably in greater need for beautiful, rejuvenating décor than any other space in the house. Make space for beautiful things, whether that means furniture or wall art or anything in between.
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A sweet dresser-top vignette maintains a soft color palette of the space but infuses it with plenty of style and charm.
Vary pillow texture.
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While the prints are relatively simple, the textural variability of these bed throw pillows is comforting and inviting. Faux fur pillows of any length are a very on-trend piece of décor right now.
Install stylish hardware.
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Closet doors don’t need to keep their builder-grade doorknobs to be functional. In fact, you will love your master bedroom so much more when you personalize the small things. Glass knobs are so much more alluring, you may find yourself opening your closet doors for no reason at all.
Repeat colors and shapes.
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While you don’t want the master bedroom to look or feel boring, it’s a solid decorating method to repeat varied aspects throughout the room. For example, the subtle striped look of the white duvet cover mirrors the original bathroom door. Blues are varied but connect the room as a whole.
Wall-mount musical instruments.
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If music is your jam, or even if you play an instrument or two, you might consider mounting the instrument(s) to a tucked-away corner wall in the master bedroom. This serves two purposes – it is both decorative, and it keeps the instruments safe from curious little hands.
Hang just one curtain.
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Not every window needs two curtains. In this small space, two floor-length drapes on a 10-1/2 foot ceiling might feel quite heavy. A single curtain provides elegance and privacy without feeling like too much. Also, as a deeper tone of the wall color, it maintains a feeling of connection to the rest of the space, which is important for any single decorating component.
Keep the original.
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If your master bedroom has charming original pieces, such as this chippy door that has survived more than 100 years of home ownership, keep them! This particular door has been rehung as a barn door, giving it a fresh, contemporary look with plenty of authentically historical charm.
Use few pillows.
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While some people love the sumptuousness of a mass of pillows on the master bed, others prefer the simpler appeal of a couple of well-chosen pillows…and nothing more. This latter preference is more minimalist and certainly makes preparing for bed and then making the bed in the morning a faster and more straightforward task.
Go green.
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Green is a very restful, organic color and makes a perfect surround for the grounded master bedroom. Consider combining green with other earthy colors, textures, and elements for a soothing space.
Dust horizontal surfaces.
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It goes without saying that a clean master bedroom is a more beautiful master bedroom. Nightstands are notorious dust collectors, often because items get set down and sometimes aren’t moved again for ages. If you feel like your master needs a decorating overhaul, start by cleaning it. You might be surprised at the kind of freshness and space that results.
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Make a canopy for your bed
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Canopy beds have a distinctive and charming look and there are many different styles and variations that you can choose from, including going the DIY route and making your own canopy for the existing bed. You can make something super simple out of metal pipes and fittings and hang sheet curtains for an airy look. Check out onekingslane for details.
Put messages on the pillows
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A really cool way to personalize your bedroom is with accent pillows and on that note making custom pillowcases is an awesome idea. You can use iron-on letters to add cute messages to your pillows like quotes, lyrics and so on. It’s not difficult or very expensive and you can use existing pillowcases for this project. More details can be found on ajoyfulriot.
Hang a green garland
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Garlands are not just for festive occasions like Christmas or Halloween. They can also be everyday decorations. If you go with a simple and neutral design that makes use of some greenery like eucalyptus branches for instance you can make something super stylish and bohemian. You can use twine to connect all the branches and to hang the garland up on the wall. Fresh eucalyptus looks beautiful but if you want this to be a more permanent decoration you can use faux greenery instead. Head over to averystreetdesign to see how the garland is made.
Give the bedside table a makeover
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Furniture makeover can definitely become quite detailed and complicated but this one doesn’t have to go in that direction. This project is featured on gabyburger and shows how you can use contact paper to quickly and easily transform a bedside table. The white marble contact paper looks exquisite and was used here to cover up the top of the nightstand.
Dye a pillowcase
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Pillows are great decorations for the bedroom and what makes them stand out is usually the case. If you want to try something different, a cool idea could be to dye your pillowcases, whether it’s an existing one or that you make specifically for this occasion. This really cool design is made using an indigo dye kit and lots of wooden clothespins both with and without hinges. Those with a hinge create the dots and the other ones create the horizontal lines. The tutorial for this can be found on abeautifulmess.
Hang a curtain divider
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Separating the sleeping area from the rest of the room can be a nice idea, especially if you also have a desk or a lounge area in the bedroom. However, solid dividers can make the room feel too small. Something light and breezy like a lace curtain can be the perfect option. You can make a lovely wooden beam to hang it from and to hide the rod. You can find more detail about this design on lovegrowswild.
Make a decorative headboard
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If there’s no space or no real need for an actual headboard in your bedroom, you can still have one in a different form. A decorative headboard that’s basically just some hanging wall art could look cool here. This is something made out of a wooden branch and a bunch of paper flowers. The flowers are hanging from string and the branch is suspended on hooks. More details about this project can be found on amandapuleo.
Make an actual headboard
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Of course, if you want a headboard that looks nice but also serves a functional purpose then something a bit more solid would be great. This is a design idea from themerrythought which is grat for twin beds. It’s nice and simple and it doesn’t cover up the wall behind it. To make it you need a pine board, a bunch of dowels and dowel pins, wood glue and a few tools.
A shiplap accent wall
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This is a really cool way to add more depth to the bedroom and at the same time to create a shelf that you can use as a space to store and display a few things like picture frames, books and so on. This vertical board accent wall design from themerrythought is simple and well-balanced. It also serves as a support structure for the lamps, freeing up space on the bedside tables.
Craft a freestanding clothing rack
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Something like this can be useful in a tiny bedroom where there’s no space for a big wardrobe or a closet. At the same time, you can still have a closet and this rack as an extra accessory, something separate that keeps your everyday outfits. This is easy to make out of wood dowels and PVC side elbows. Connect them with glue and reinforce them with screws. If you want to check out the tutorial, head over to themerrythought.
Make a 3D accent wall
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There are many different ways to make accent walls. The most common option is to use paint. You can do that and also add a 3D effect to the design using wood trim. Create a geometric design which can be symmetrical, simple, complex or that mimics a particular look. This lovely accent wall from themerrythought has these beautiful lines that look like mountain peaks just behind the headboard.
A stylish tray for breakfast in bed
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Breakfast in bed is always great but it can be even better with a stylish tray that you made yourself. You can either build it from scratch out of wood or plywood or you can revamp your existing one. Use marble contact paper to cover up all the sides and for a chic accent touch add two golden metal handles. This idea is inspired by the beautiful setup featured on lavaca.squarespace.
Wallpaper the walls
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Installing wallpaper on a wall is a really nice and simple way to change the décor and ambiance in a bedroom. Peel and stick wallpaper is very convenient and very easy to use without the need for extra supplies and equipment. Also, it’s easy to take out without leaving residue on the wall in case you want to change the design in the future. Check out this idea and more on sarahhearts.
Revamp an old mirror
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This is a really cool idea for using an old mirror as a decoration. Rather than making it look super modern, this makeover strategy aims to give it an antique look. That’s done with antique gold rub’n’buff and a brush and the project also requires a bunch more supplies like muriatic acid, gold spray paint, a paint stripper and a plastic putty knife. The instructions can be found on blesserhouse.
Frame some plants
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Adding some greenery to the room can look lovely but rather than putting some flowers in a vase you can go a different route and frame some pressed plants. Make the frames yourself out of wood and glass and follow the tutorial from remodelaholic to make sure they have the right design and configuration.
We hope you have been inspired by some of these tips on how to decorate a bedroom and, even more, that you are able to move forward in creating a bedroom of restful and beautiful space.