15 Simple Tips for Decorating Your Ideal Bedroom

Published November 8, 2019
wooden headboard against a light colored wall

You can learn how to decorate a bedroom with a few quick tips guaranteed to make your choices easier. It's fun and simple to put colors and design together once you understand the basics of bedroom design.

1. Best Wall Colors

You have a large color palette for selecting the wall color for your bedroom. The first thing to decide is if you wish to use warm or cool colors. Each palette has a lot to offer in decorating a bedroom. Cool colors include blue, green, pinks and purple. Warm colors include yellow, orange, red, and emerald green. While black, white and gray are defined as neutral colors, they can have a cooling visual effect when combined with other colors.

Choose Color Based on Period Style or Theme

You may decide to focus on a period style or theme. This can help you narrow your choices of color schemes and keep your bedroom decorating ideas focused on a specific goal. For example, a French country design favors pale colors with bold white as an accent color. Another option is to use the feng shui rules for selecting bedroom colors according to the compass direction.

French country style bedroom

2. Create an Accent Wall

An accent wall is often a great option for a bedroom. You can get as creative as you like when creating an accent wall in your bedroom. The typical wall chosen is the one behind the bed since it is usually a solid wall or at least the portion of the wall behind the bed itself is solid. You can paint the wall a different color or use wallpaper on this wall. You can go with a slightly lighter or darker value of the color used on the other walls or a complementary color. You can take advantage of a color wheel where everything is already worked out for you on the best colors to use together.

Bedroom with accent wall

3. Wallpaper for Bedrooms

You may prefer wallpaper over paint or at least an accent wall of wallpaper. Follow a few tips on how to choose the right wallpaper for your bedroom, such as selecting a pattern that conveys the theme or style you want.

  • Don't shy away from large patterns that can change your room into an exciting design.
  • You can use matching wallpapers to create interest and depth, such as floral pattern and a stripe pattern with one paper used for an accent wall.
  • You can use wallpaper to make a room appear smaller, larger or cozier.
Bedroom with blue wallpaper

4. Ceiling Colors

You can paint ceilings a different color than the walls, such as a lighter, darker or contrasting color. You'll paint the ceiling the same color as the walls, if you use the color wrap technique for bedrooms with a vaulted ceiling or odd angle ceilings.

Bedroom with brown ceiling

5. Best Bedroom Flooring Choices

Many people choose carpeting for their bedrooms. The advantages include additional insulating and sound absorption. Hardwood flooring gives a different look to a bedroom and offers the opportunity to use an area rug that can tie your bedroom design together or introduce or repeat colors as well as introducing a design or pattern.

bedroom with wooden floor

6. Bedroom Furniture Choices

The type of furniture you select for your bedroom is determined by taste, budget, room size, and number of people you need to accommodate. For example, a master bedroom may need accommodations for two people. The size of your bed beyond personal preference is dictated by the size of your room. If you want a king size bed, you need to be sure you have ample space which includes a minimum of two feet on each side at the foot end of the bed, so you can walk around it.

Bedroom interior with wooden furniture

7. Bedding Choices

The best place to start when deciding on the kind of bedding for your newly decorated bedroom is the type of fabrics available. You'll need to select the style of top bedding, such as a comforter, duvet cover, quilt, or bedspread. You may want to layer your bedding for a designer look. You'll want to choose a specific style, such as elegant bedding or a rustic farmhouse look.

Bright bedroom

8. Window Treatment

You have many options for window treatments. You can go simple with curtains or draperies, or you may decide a layering effect is best, such as shades or blinds with curtains/draperies. Another example is to use tie back draperies with plantation shutters. Pay close attention to the colors, textures and designs, especially when layering windows.

luxury apartment bedroom

9. Lighting for a Bedroom

Choosing lighting options for a bedroom should be like other rooms where you want to layer the lighting. More subtle types of lighting are best for a bedroom. Most bedroom will have an overhead light. This is needed for practical purposes such as cleaning, finding items and when you first enter a bedroom.

  • You can place the overhead light fixture on a dimmer switch.
  • A formal bedroom can support an overhead chandelier or mini chandeliers over the nightstands.
  • Recessed lighting on a dimmer switch creates great ambience in a bedroom.
  • Wall sconces offer another layer of lighting.
  • Choose the right lampshade design. If you don't like the one that comes with the lamp, simply select one from the many available options for the perfect look.
Luxury designed bedroom interior

10. Accessorizing a Bedroom

You can use art objects, wall art, paintings, silk floral arrangements, and vases in your bedroom decorating to repeat your color palette and add interest to your design. Select only those accessories that appeal to your innermost style. If you aren't sure about an accessory, bypass it and continue searching until you find the one that resonates with you.

Warm modern bedroom interior

11. Additional Storage for a Bedroom

The saying, "You can never have enough storage area," is especially true in a bedroom. Extra blankets and linens can be kept in a storage bench or chest at the foot of the bed for easy access. An armoire provides more space for storing clothes or hiding a TV when not in use.

Master Bedroom

12. Create a Cozy Sitting Area

You can take advantage of odd architectural spaces created by a jutting wall or corner of a larger bedroom by creating an intimate sitting area. If the space is small, choose smaller chairs to fit a smaller bedroom or sitting area. Keep your furniture size large enough to be comfortable. A floor lamp or wall scones won't take up the top of a side table, so you'll have plenty of room for a pair of wine glasses or coffee cups.

Bedroom cozy sitting area

13. Alternative to a Headboard

Add depth to a bed without a headboard. You can create the feeling of a headboard with a faux wall design. Secure a panel or panels to the wall behind the bedframe. Make the panel full size so it either reaches the ceiling or is at least four to six feet high. You can make the panel only as wide as your bed, similar how a headboard would fit, or you may choose to extend the panel size a couple of inches to a foot wider than your bed. You can use smaller panels to repeat the design elsewhere in your bedroom. Be sure to work in odd numbers for the best design.

bedroom with rainbow colored headboard

14. Texture for Design Depth

You can add a mixture of textures to give your bedroom a greater design depth. This is a great technique that can instantly transform an uninteresting plain bedroom. A zigzag wall feature made from glitter tape or glitter vinyl rolls will break up a paneled wall. You may choose to create a zigzag pattern out of various wood strips. A plain plaster wall behind the bed can become an accent wall by painting it different hues to create squares and rectangle shapes for added interest or use a color blocking technique. Continue the design depth by layering textured linens, such as a faux fur throw or a linen striped blanket.

bedroom with wooden elements

15. Design Tips for Odd Shaped Rooms

An odd shaped bedroom presents unique design challenges but can work to your advantage. For example, a bedroom with several uneven wall angles offers you a creative opportunity. You can use wall art that features opposite wall shapes, such as a circular wall bookshelf and a bed with an arching headboard. These and other softening shapes can reduce the visual harshness of straight angled lines.

cozy bedroom interior design

Using Tips for Learning How to Decorate a Bedroom

When you choose a color palette and design style, you create a framework to keep you focused on the right furnishings to add to your bedroom. You can use bedroom design tips to further guide you through the process of decorating your bedroom.

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15 Simple Tips for Decorating Your Ideal Bedroom