1Embrace Architectural Details
Jonathan Bond Photography Designer Elizabeth Hay embraces the unique millwork in this bedroom by playing up the farmhouse whimsy with tons of patterns and color. “We used a lot of wallpapers in the bedrooms to make them feel cozy and add color and pattern without making any structural changes,” says Hay. Here, she installed Aleta Pise wallpaper.
2Save Space With a Murphy Bed
Neal Beckstedt Designer Neal Beckstedt got creative in a New York City studio too small to even fit a pullout sofa. He designed a full-sized Murphy bed that folds up flush with the cabinets, clearing up the walkway for "easy access to the adjoining bathroom," he says.
3Lean into Whimsy
Stephen Paul This bedroom designed by Leah Ring of Another Human is full of rich colors and prints, from patchwork textiles to ceramic items and paint, so it's only fitting that the artwork is multidimensional and unique, too. "The bedroom gets great light throughout the day, so we wanted to go for a peachy color on the walls that would give it a nice glow with the sunlight," Ring explains. The bedroom "feels layered in a comfortable way but not too busy—[you] feel very serene when you’re in the room," Ring says.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4Experiment With Proportion
Lauren Waters In this serene and minimalist bedroom designed by Lauren Waters, the streamlined pieces and moodier earth tones get softened up by the cozy materials. Water experimented with proportions by coupling a king-sized bed with a small ashtray that acts as a nightstand. “There really wasn’t room for a traditional nightstand,” Waters says of the unconventional accessory. "It’s playful, quirky, and brings in another sculptural moment.”
5Lay the Groundwork With a Connecting Piece
Avery Cox The missing piece for this room was the rug, designer Avery Cox says. It helps tie together the paint colors, a light blue for the walls, and a coral tone for the moldings and door. Deeper and more saturated shades of blue and yellow as well as ruddier shades of pink help contrast, too.
6Mix High and Low
CARLEY PAGE SUMMERS The main bedroom in rug dealer Amber El-Amin's home was all about mixing high and low pieces for a layered and intentional look as well as optimal comfort. It features both some of the most expensive pieces in the house as well as some real steals. The eclectic sourcing is what makes it so special.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7Paint the Floors
Eric Piasecki The decor in this bedroom designed by Kurek Jones echoes the natural beachside setting. The blue-painted floors brighten and cheer up the space while nodding to the panoramic ocean views, greens speak to trees beyond, and the grasscloth and rough brutalist nightstand reflect stretches of sand just steps away.
8Strive for Warmth and Simplicity
David Mitchell If you feel like crisp all-white interiors veer too stark but want to use light neutrals, look no further than this beautiful neutral space designed by Rupp Studios. Featuring warm oat creams, layers of soft, smoky grays, and rich wood pieces, the results are edgy and industrial yet understated and timeless.
9Blend Bold Accents With Simple Furnishings
Tamsin Johnson Interiors This bedroom by Tamsin Johnson marries simple architecture with a contemporary style and a few classic pieces to make it feel more personal and polished. The walls are painted in a pure, cool shade of white that really energizes the entire space. Together with the room-filling sisal rug, it's the perfect combo for a beach house.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10Choose Colors Wisely
Stephen Kent Johnson A calming and rich shade of paint (Stiffykey Blue by Farrow & Ball) inspires rest in this Los Angeles Angelese bedroom designed by Studio Shamshiri. But it's also serious and invigorating enough to liven up a home office space! Because a desk spans the entire wall of the bedroom to accommodate work and study sessions, they knew they needed a color scheme that could do and be both.
11Play With Sunny Prints
Pam Schneider In this bedroom designed by Pamela Schneider, the sunny yellow, white, and beige color scheme sets the mood for sweet, cheerful, and soothing dreams. The traditional spindle bed frame helps ground the space and adds a little depth.
12Pay Attention to Scale
Heidi Caillier Design Take note of this bedroom designed by Heidi Caillier, where great big windows and high ceilings are maxed out by hanging the long curtains all the way to the top. In a small bedroom, have fun with color, shape, and prints, but pay close attention to scale.
Check out LiveAuctioneers for great vintage and antique rugs at discounted prices.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13Connect It Visually to the Common Rooms
Haris Kenjar If you're having trouble picking a color scheme for the bedroom, try this approach: Here, designer Andy Beers of Ore Studios used less saturated versions of the colors used in the common rooms for a calming but continuous design in the primary bedroom. Crisp whites contrast with inky blacks and are united by a deep midnight blue tone.
Check out Design Within Reach for similarly modern and minimalist pieces for your bedroom.
14Stack Up Some Books as a Table
Nicholas Obeid Stack up some coffee table books to use as a skinny side table. All you need it for is a stylish nightlight and mood-setting candle, as shown in this small bedroom designed by Nicholas Obeid.
Check out Rizzoli for great coffee table books.
15Create a Bunk Room
Laure Joliet A bunk room is always a fun direction for kids or even a guest room if you host extended family for holidays and gatherings. This one, designed by Regan Baker, was created to comfortably host visiting grandparents. The beds are longer than typical bunks with more vertical space for sitting up and playing board games. A calming and rich shade. of paint, River Blue from Benjamin Moore inspires rest.
Check out Benjamin Moore for beautiful paint colors to use in the bedroom and beyond.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16Contrast With Photography
Tamsin Johnson Interiors Designer Tamsin Johnson disguised the radiator and added a surface spot for flowers by placing a thin glass console table over it. A modern photograph contrasts nicely with the more traditional and sweet design of the bedroom.
Check out Tappan Collective for beautiful artwork by emerging artists.
17Consider Minor Renovations to Improve Flow
Stephen Kent Johnson / OTTO To center a headboard on the wall, designer Shawn Henderson closed up a decorative fireplace in this pint-sized but perfect NYC bedroom. A coat of white paint helps the exposed brick wall blend in and feel much less heavy. Matching pillows and a headboard bring in a nice pop of color but the rust tone still stays within that neutral territory.
Check out Benjamin Moore for both vibrant and neutral paint colors to use in the bedroom and beyond.
18Sneak In a Desk
Robert Peterson / Rustic White I If you work from home but don't have the space for a home office in a separate room, squeeze one into the bedroom. Vern Vip installed a Cambria quartz desktop to suit the sophisticated mood. It also “doesn’t ever require resealing, reconditioning, or polishing,” says Yip.
Check out Poppin for more home office furniture and decor.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19Create A Reading Nook
Robson Rak If you're going to be hanging out in your bedroom, you need a spot to sit other than your bed. In this modern yet classic bedroom designed by Robson Rak, the built-in bench with a custom cushion would definitely inspire us to actually finish that book.
Check out IKEA for affordable bedroom accents.
20Accentuate High Ceilings
Emily Followill This bedroom by interior designer and architect Jeffrey Dungan is full of rich texture and pattern yet still remains neutral and calming. If you want to introduce more warmth and texture to your space, consider a wood ceiling.
Check out Jungalow for more stylish bedroom accents.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below