New bedroom ideas often require a commitment to renovation. However, with a bit of design inspiration, you can elegantly update a bedroom that is feeling tired in less than a weekend and without many of the hassles associated with a full remodel. Your bedroom can once again be the sanctuary you need. Below, we reveal some of our favorite bedroom ideas for renewing your space without a remodel.
Select Inspiring Lighting
Elevating your bedroom décor may be as easy as choosing inspiring lighting. Martha Stewart Living advises: “A soothing ambience is often achieved with several kinds of lighting fixtures—an overhead light for general illumination, wall sconces on either side of the mirror for dressing, or a table lamp on the nightstand for reading, for example.” If you want to create a tranquil, stately, and custom environment, think about installing statement pieces as overhead lighting. Picture a pair of matching pendant lights framing each side of the bed. Options like Moroccan-inspired double prism frosted lanterns or antique 1960s crackle glass and brass pendants are among our favorite bedroom ideas for a glamorous refresh.
Modern drop chandeliers can dazzle as they reflect a silvery palette. Gilded crystal chandeliers work exquisitely in contemporary bedrooms, as well as traditional ones, and crystal chandeliers offer an immediate burst of luxury while also making the space feel cohesively designed. Finally, don’t hesitate to make your overhead statement light a true work of art. Commission a piece from a local artisan who can craft something uniquely stunning to illuminate your room.
Refresh Your Walls
There is no doubt that color can set the tone for a room. Traditional bedroom ideas tend to play on neutrals, although recent trends hint that deeper hues are fast becoming more popular. Tiffani Stutzman of Tiffani Stutzman Design cheers this new trend in an interview with The Spruce and even suggests choosing “navy blue, plum, or sage green” to create an inspiring space.
If your bedroom has tall ceilings, designers suggest to My Domaine that a refresh can go big with “a patterned or textured wallpaper.” My Domaine reveals that this wallpaper “gives the space a moody feel and keeps the eye interested.” And contrary to once-held theory, the Magazine advises trying wallpaper in darker colors even when there is little natural light because the dark shades “can help the space feel cozier.”
Commission Ceiling Artwork
Even if you do decide to paint your walls a light neutral, you can bring drama to the space by creating a new design for your bedroom ceiling. My Domaine is a fan of this bedroom idea as “statement ceilings are perhaps the easiest way to add a cool and unexpected element to your space.” You can choose a lighter or darker shade of the color that already adorns your walls. If you have white walls, your ceiling can be a bold color choice that references your bed linens, pillows, or furniture upholstery. Gold leaf on the ceiling can finish a space to extraordinary effect, and dramatic patterned wallpaper can elevate your room instantly. Of course, to create a genuinely bespoke bedroom, indulge the temptation to commission a ceiling mural that captures the imagination.
Splurge on a Handcrafted Bed
If you are dissatisfied with your current bed and desire additional storage but aren’t prepared to commit to a major renovation right now, Martha Stewart Living recommends either getting a storage bed custom-made or choosing an elegant option from one of your preferred furnituremakers. One of the Magazine’s favorite luxury options is the “‘Hudson’ Bed with Storage Drawers” from Room & Board. In fact, they ranked it as having the best drawer storage of all the options they sampled. Why is this pricey bed a favorite? Martha Stewart Living raves: “This handcrafted storage bed is worth the wait, as it is handmade in West Virginia by skilled artisans. With four storage drawers, you can tuck away everything from out of season clothes and accessories to extra bed linens and pillows.” If you like this bedroom idea but want something even more customizable, the Magazine recommends splurging on the ‘Matera’ bed from DWR. The bed fits six drawers, which can be altered to meet your needs, as can the headboard.
Even if you love your bed, reupholstering or swapping out the headboard can positively impact your space. The Spruce reveals: “Many designer bedrooms have big, beautiful upholstered headboards as a key design element. That’s because it’s an easy way to create focus, depth, and texture in the room.” For a visual pop, experts tell the Magazine that a tufted headboard offers “maximum texture.” Meanwhile, recovering a headboard (or buying a new one) in velvet creates an “opulent look.” You can choose dramatic colors to hold focus, or you can select a neutral headboard so that it will work well with any bedding color you desire.
Update Your Bedroom Curtains
As Martha Stewart Living reports, “curtains not only tie the room together, but they can also play a role in our circadian rhythm, which is our internal clock that tells our body when it’s time to rest.” That makes it all the more important that your bedroom curtains or drapes are not only beautiful to look at but designed to block out extra light. Cotton is among the most popular curtain fabrics because it is light and easy to care for. Silk has an undoubtedly luxurious feel to it, but experts caution the Magazine that even textured silk “‘will show water and UV damage faster than other fabrics.’” One of the most sumptuous bedroom ideas is hanging curtains made from velvet. Why? Experts tell Martha Stewart Living that it is a divine choice because “‘velvet is heavy and excellent for insulating your windows from cold drafts and hot summer days.’” It’s also perfect for adding privacy to your space and keeping out extraneous light.
Incorporate a Luxurious Rug
Don’t be afraid to enliven your bedroom by placing a colorful area rug underneath your bed – even if you have carpeting. Designer Baylee Floyd of Baylee Deion Design raves to Martha Stewart Living that “‘I love to layer large vintage and fun patterned rugs over outdated bedroom carpet to give it that layered and cozy feel that will instantly refresh your space.’” Even if your main carpet is new, you may opt to lay down a silk area rug or a small sheepskin rug for a pampering bit of luxury for your feet.
Add Large-Scale Decor
Don’t underestimate the transformation possible just by adding a single piece of large-scale décor. Designer Tiffani Stutzman reveals to The Spruce that she enjoys incorporating an oversized “slipper chair covered in velvet” because bringing texture into the room is a bedroom idea that provides “a layer of opulence and comfort.”
Designers at My Domaine agree. The Magazine applauds adding an oversized mirror to bedrooms. Their reasoning? “Large-scale pieces add a sense of regality and stateliness to a space that smaller pieces can’t.” Whether you hang a large-scale, vintage sunburst mirror or lean a floor mirror in a gilded frame against a wall, you’ll be enchanted by the feeling of expansiveness and renewal it brings to your bedroom.
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