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Writer's pictureRebecca Bailey-Price

How an Interior Designer creates the perfect Bedroom


a light and airy bedroom with neutral colour scheme

We all need a space that we feel comfortable in – where we can truly relax and get some peace, for most of us that is our bedroom. Even if we share our bedroom it should be somewhere where you can both feel relaxed.


The Interior design of a space as important as a bedroom needs serious consideration and a lot of input from whoever uses the space. There are a lot of details which need collating in order to create the perfect bespoke space for you.


We’ll go through some of those so you are able to make a plan for your bedroom.



A loft bedroom with sunrise over the city

Orientation

You will need to find out the orientation of your bedroom, this is really important as this will determine the furniture layout, the colours you use and the window treatment you have.

If your bedroom faces east you will want to get some blackout blinds so you aren’t woken up by the sun each morning! A north-facing room will need warmer colours and lighting and a south-facing room will perhaps need a little cooling down with colours.



Layout

Your bedroom should ideally be a place of sanctuary and should be a designated space of rest and relaxation – this means not having a desk in the corner or a treadmill taking up space. It’s not always possible as our homes have to be multi-functional but if you can put these things somewhere else it’s preferable to do this. A simple screen can zone off an area so that it’s out of sight from the bed as you don’t want something stopping you from sleeping. 


The same goes for electronic devices – it has been proven that having electronics in your bedroom and the blue light they emit has a negative effect on our sleep. If possible keep electronic phones, laptops, tablets etc. out of the bedroom.


Most people do not like to have their feet facing the door of a bedroom, they would much rather have a clear view of the door – this is an integral part of Feng shui but actually most people feel happier when their feet are facing away from the door. 


When positioning your bed remember to leave at least 75cm of clear space either side and at the foot of the bed if possible. This is to allow free movement around the bed. Remember to allow space for wardrobe doors to open so that they don’t hit the bed. 


Bedside tables should be adjacent to the bed and they should be approximately 10cm higher than the mattress. 


If you are having an armchair or other furniture in the room it should be for the sole purpose of relaxation. If the space allows creating a small snug is a lovely addition to a bedroom. As I said previously if you must have a multi-use room then using a screen to ‘hide’ that area away from the bed is beneficial. Remember to try to not overcrowd the room as this will create a busy atmosphere which is not conducive to sleep.


A dark bedroom showing how dramatic it can be

Colour scheme

Once you know the orientation of the room you can start to think about which colours will work best in here. This is also a question of personal preference too of course. Some people like a rich warm dark bedroom whilst others like a cool, light and airy room. Whatever your preference keep in mind that you will see this room in the most part at night time with electric lighting.

Make sure whatever colours you choose you have checked what they look like at night time. Although it really is personal preference which colours you choose I would say that there are certain colours you might want to avoid in a bedroom. Bright, zesty colours tend to not help you sleep so it might be best to avoid limes, some oranges and bright neon colours. Having said that there are darker variations of those colours you could incorporate which look great in a characterful bedroom.

A monochrome colour scheme with white and black accents

Lighting

Lighting is possibly more important in a bedroom than in any other room – this is because you are usually in this room in the evening and will nearly always have the light on whilst in here. 


If you can have dimmer switches on your light switches for the bedroom it is beneficial – this just gives you more control over your atmosphere, you are able to have the lights bright whilst getting ready for bed, putting clothes away etc. but you can then lower the lighting whilst relaxing in bed.

Wall-mounted reading lights are really good in a bedroom, flanking the bed they should be 20cm out from the mattress and 60cm up, this puts them in a good position for reading, ideally, you would have individual switches for these lights so you can use them individually. The central light (if you have one) should also be on a 2 way switch so you can control it from the door and also the bed. 


I really like it when bedside lamps are quite large but again this is personal preference, you can have decorative lamps or perhaps go for a more functional design like an angle-poise lamp. If you are creating a small snug area it can be good to have a floor lamp which hangs over the armchair providing light for reading. This also helps to zone this area by creating a pool of light over the chair.

A bed with a large upholstered headboard accentuating the bed

Furniture

The style of furniture you choose really depends on your design and the overall look you are hoping to achieve. You might want a dramatic four poster bed with ornately carved bed posts draped with velvet curtains and trimmings or you might like a low profile bed with linen sheets and minimal decoration.

Whichever style you choose try to carry it through the whole room – this doesn’t necessarily mean buying all matching furniture but it means ensuring all the pieces share a common theme. Perhaps they have a deco style or mid-century designs so try to incorporate the design into the furniture, lighting and colours used.


For the bedroom you will need at least a bed, bedside table and clothes storage of some description – whether that’s a wardrobe, chest of drawers, tall boy etc (unless you are lucky enough to have a separate walk in wardrobe).


For the bed there are many choices – you can have a divan base which offers you storage, whether on the form of drawers, sliding doors or a lift up Ottoman base. This extra storage can be a great asset. Otherwise, a bed frame is another option, this can be more stylish and create a lighter feel to the room, it definitely creates a more minimalist feel. 


Some people like to have a high bed whilst others like to be lower, the average height of a bed is between 55-60cm from the floor. If you like higher beds just check there aren’t children using the bed that are likely to roll out as this can hurt from higher up! I speak from experience. 


I really like the bed being the central hero of the room – after all this room is all about the bed and I like to add a high headboard to really showcase the bed. This can be upholstered or wooden; it can also look really effective if you simply paint a section behind the bed. If you have a special wall hanging with sentimental value you could perhaps hang this behind the bed to create a unique feel to the room. There are really no limits on what you can use to highlight this space. I would encourage you to think about going large here though!


a bed with a rug under it with wooden flooring

Flooring

Whether you choose a wooden floor or carpet in the bedroom I think you need to add softness somewhere in the room.

You will most likely be barefoot in here and its nice to have something soft to stand on whether that’s carpet or a rug. Having wooden floor and a rug can be really atmospheric in a bedroom, you can add layers with the rug and this is also a great way of adding colour and pattern. Make sure the rug is the right size and fits well under and around the bed. It should ground the bed not be floating aimlessly in the room.

Natural flooring such as jute, paper or sisal is really lovely in a bedroom and helps to create a calming atmosphere with the addition of natural materials. 


Plants can be a great addition to any space

Dressing the room

The bedding you choose for the room should also tie in with the feel you are trying to create. If you prefer a maximalist look perhaps find a velvet or patterned throw which can sit over the end of the bed. Crisp white cotton sheets are a winner in whatever style bedroom you choose but they can be dressed for your personal style with cushions, throws or a coloured piping. 


How you dress the bed is also down to your style, if you have a grand scheme then you would dress the pillows and cushions on the bed in a formal way whereas if you like a boho bedroom then the pillows can be more relaxed and less formal.


Adding art to the room can add another layer of individuality to the space; this could be a gallery wall or perhaps a special piece which adds to the room.


Plants are a useful and also beautiful addition to the room; certain plants such as mother in laws tongue or snake plant are really beneficial to a bedroom as they release lots of oxygen at night time so help you get a restful sleep. They are also fairly low maintenance so are good even for those who aren’t sure about plants. Plants also provide colour and organic shapes to a room which is always a good thing!


I hope this is helpful and provide you with lots of information when you are working on your bedroom plans. If you need some professional guidance with your bespoke design get in touch; I would love to help!

 


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