Designing your dream bedroom

Putting together a bedroom can surprisingly be one of the trickier spaces to design. We all have ideas in mind of elements seen in lovely hotel rooms, on interior design tv shows and in magazines, as well as those details you’ve always wanted in your dream bedroom (maximalist velvet headboard, I’m looking at you).

Keeping the room calm, stylish and welcoming, inclusive of plenty of storage and featuring comfortable lighting, while also allowing for solid sleep and relaxation – and reflecting you and your personality - can be difficult to pull together. We’ve compiled some tips for when you’re designing your bedroom:

Layout

• Deciding where furniture, fittings and joinery should go requires a lot of time and consideration, as there are generally placement limitations. The room also needs to cater for rest, storage and getting ready for the day.

• We also have now largely settled into hybrid-working days, so for some of us this means our working space is in or near our bedrooms. As separating spaces in your home is so important for optimal work and rest, it would be a good idea to separate the areas as much as possible. If your desk is in your bedroom, perhaps consider adding a decorative fabric or rattan screen to separate it visually from where you sleep – as seeing the working area while trying to sleep (or first thing when you wake up) isn’t the best for complete relaxation.

• Keeping the space as clear and organised as possible is also crucial, particularly for a restful space – we’re now very familiar with Marie Kondo and the sparking of joy she encourages, though it might be a good time to revisit this – most of us have settled into a new style of daily life, and with that comes reviewing what you own and decluttering where possible.

• If space allows, consider creating a separate wardrobe/ dressing area. This means you can have an uncluttered sleeping zone, without having to keep completely on top of the floordrobe

Colour + finishes palette

• Before getting drawn into trends and other people’s bedrooms on Pinterest, take a moment to reflect on what environments feel restful to you. For some people, that will be light, fresh, lineny spaces. For others, warm & earthy colours create a sense of comfort and security.

• It is important to consider limitations you have to work with (eg. Flooring that cannot be changed), and then choosing colours you love that work with the limiting factors of the space, that are also cohesive with the rest of the home.

• Natural/ organic materials work very well in a bedroom (both from an aesthetic and a health perspective). Think wood, linen, rattan.

Lighting & electrics

• Well chosen light fittings can be key to creating a comfortable space.

• For all that we understand the fear of ‘the big light’ in bedrooms and living spaces, it is important to have someoption for a bright light source for cleaning or finding a dropped piece of jewellery.

• Bedside lighting can then be softer. These could be freestanding, fixed wall lights, or even pendants. A moveable (directional) light is useful for reading, and can also be angled away from you and anyone else in the bed e.g. for early morning starts.

• In-wardrobe lighting on a sensor can be very useful. Again, this works well as an option for subtle lighting for an early start, as well as helping you to see into the depths of the wardrobe.

• If you are re-wiring, don’t scrimp on sockets and switches. Having a light switch for the big-light that you can reach from your bed is a game changer, as is eliminating trailing extension cords

Window coverings

• Curtains or blinds are an important practical element, as well as having a huge impact on style. They effect how dark you can get the room, as well as providing some protection from street noise and temperature changes.

• We could write a whole other blog on curtains (in fact we have…) but here are a few things to consider:

  • Sheers: Do you want a privacy treatment as well as something blackout? Sheer curtains can create a lovely atmosphere.

  • Restrictions: Is there anything practical you need to work around when choosing the window treatment? E.g. a radiator under the window, a cill that sticks out, or a strangely shaped window?

  • Linings: If you want your window coverings to have maximum impact on light, heat and sound, then thick, thermally lined curtains will be the best option. If that isn’t feasible, Roman blinds can support some amount of lining – so you could combine these with a secondary roller (e.g. for extra blackout or a privacy sheer).

  • How to operate: e.g. do you need a pull cord, draw rod, or a motorised track?

• Window coverings can be a significant style element of the room, so take your time to choose a lovely, tactile fabric that works for you.

If you need help with your renovation in London or Hove, contact us now!