While we’re spending more time at home and in our rooms, it’s a nice idea to focus on how we can make this space more comfortable. Lately I’ve felt inspired by beautiful Bohemian design that embraces natural elements like plant life, wooden tones and intricate carving.
It’s important to remember that your bedroom goes beyond being a place to sleep- it’s what you’ll wake up to every morning and where you’ll unwind after a long day. An ideal bedroom serves the purpose of being both functional and stylish, a balance that is trickier to strike than you might imagine. For these reasons, the design of your most frequented space should remain fluid. Edit frequently and ruthlessly and by way of this, you’ll find yourself with the space you always pictured, nothing short of a haven.
Change your bedroom’s layout, paying careful attention to the unspoken rules of Feng Shui and the energy pathways in your home:
Changing the layout of your bedroom is the ultimate cost effective solution. Tada- it’s completely free. With a little time and dedication to your vision, you can give your space a new lease on life. Rotating your furniture selections will give your space a whole new look. You may consider omitting some unnecessary pieces. In this case, less is often more. By getting rid of extraneous furniture and knick knacks, you’ll be able to pinpoint your style better and introduce more of what speaks to you. This is the bare bones of your sanctuary.
You’ll be building your bedroom from head to toe so don’t be afraid to get into the nitty gritty details and be picky where needed. Most bedroom spaces will allow for you to create an entirely new orientation if need be. Changing the direction that your bed faces, seeing as it’s your largest furniture item, could be all that you need to see and feel a difference. Other bedrooms, like mine, have more unique layouts. I have only a single unbroken wall. My bed is up against a double window and my desk in front of a set of French doors. The last wall is dedicated entirely to wardrobe space from top to bottom, side to side.
Adorn your walls with paintings, posters, prints, tickets, photos- what takes your fancy?
Patterns and line drawings are always a good choice in terms of artworks. They add that modern, minimalistic touch and aren’t too heavy on the eyes. Think block colours, florals and plants. Artwork, posters and prints are what adds visual interest to your space so do what works for you. If you want something bright and engaging, you’ll find a place for it. There are countless printing services online should you wish to purchase digital works or professional photography from a stock website. I suggest Unsplash and Desenio. If your budget is more lax, invest in a painting from your favourite artist. You can’t beat paint on canvas. That refined textural quality and the satisfaction of such tactility. You know that you hold in your hands a wealth of love.
Overall, just pay attention to size and placement. A big, blank wall will need a larger artwork or a series of smaller prints, perhaps in the style of a gallery wall. Stay true to a theme and make sure you’re happy to look at what you choose day in and day out. However, there’s nothing wrong with a seasonal refresh. If you’re someone who changes their taste frequently, buy timeless artwork and don’t spend a fortune. Make it easily interchangeable or able to work in with various design styles. Art should reflect your personal interests and passions, telling the story of your life’s adventures and longings in a previously unheard of form. Frame cards, movie or plane tickets, pieces from local makers during your travels, photos from memorable occasions. Select both simple and ornate frames for variety. You may enjoy the seamless look of photos that lean on a floating shelf or the ease of hanging.
If your home situation allows for it, you could add a lick of paint or experiment with decals and wallpaper. They even have a considered range for renters. It’s a common misconception that your design elements have to be identical to match. I beg to differ- they just have to be complementary.
Decide on a theme, mood and colour palette. Don’t overlook the power of neutrals!
The theme of your bedroom and resulting colour palette are two crucial aspects of designing a space you love and doing it right. They both overlap in the sense that once you’ve made a decision in regards to one, the other is answered by default. One of the best things you can do when decorating is to stick with a limited color palette. Have a few core and prominent colours in subtle tones and then accent with brighter, trendier shades. Naturally, your space will feel bigger, cleaner and brighter. As a general rule of thumb, keep your ceiling white and introduce colour through the walls and your hard and soft furnishings.
Dark colours can be seen as cosy and enveloping while gentle whites brighten and give life to a space. Science dictates that the colours people find most relaxing are essentially pastels- pale pink, purple, blue and green. Warm colors are generally associated with energy, brightness and action whereas cooler colours are best known for the sense of calm and serenity they invoke.
Colour theory highlights and explores both the science and art of using and understanding colours. It’s the study of how we perceive this light wave phenomenon internally and externally, then going on to translate it. It’s closely tied in with the visual effects of how colours mix, match or contrast and their subsequent messages.
My bedroom follows an earthy, bohemian theme. I use warm tones, gold metal accents, light wood and lots of florals and greenery. Visual interest is introduced through frills, tassels and embroidery on pillows and throws. My colour palette is largely comprised of white, neutrals, dusky pink, rust, olive green and mustard yellow. I’ve chosen a variety of plants that suit my space and add pops of brighter green. A large fiddle leaf fig sits in a woven basket and a leafy plant and succulent in a face planter. They don’t require exorbitant amounts of watering and are cute little things.
As if you needed another reason, plants freshen and improve air quality, therefore boosting your mental health and endorphin release. Macrame hanging planters would look gorgeous strung from the ceiling for a boho theme. Perhaps you’d prefer a geometric terrarium for a luxe modern theme or a reinvented bar cart to houseall your leafy friends.
Anchor your bed against a wall and find a large rug for grounding purposes:
This is an important point. Anchoring your furniture is not just a good idea from an aesthetic viewpoint but also in the interest of safety. Beds most often sit against a wall, but, if your room is designed unconventionally, don’t be tempted to let it float in the middle of everything. Placement does matter. Once your bed is placed against a wall, you’ll be able to utilise the rest of your space and won’t have to walk around and risk knocking into furniture. There will be a sense of flow to your room. In keeping with Feng Shui tenets, design your room to follow sensical order. Anchoring your bed provides other benefits such as psychological security and guards you against drafts and noise.
If your bedroom is carpeted, you may initially overlook the need for a rug. This I understand but I beg to differ. Adding in a rug introduces variety to your space and gives it much needed structure. You can run wild and free with patterning and wake up to something soft underfoot as you make your way out of bed. Think of adding a thick shag, plush fur or eye catching moroccan vintage kilim rug. For a relaxed, collected and slightly eclectic feel, you may choose to layer a few rugs in differing sizes. In addition to easing footfall and adding warmth and texture, an area rug grounds your room and the furniture directly above and surrounding it. Otherwise, there is a sense of your furniture floating. It can make the most put together bedroom look incomplete.
Utilise natural light wherever possible. Otherwise, seek to emulate it in a natural fashion:
Ultimately, you’ll want to highlight the sources of natural light your bedroom receives and seek to solve problems that arise through the different seasons with varying light conditions. Seek to figure out what direction your bedroom faces and determine what spots will receive the most sun and how you can adapt to this. Daylight savings time provides a much needed reprieve when you are constantly being forced to vacate your bedroom towards the late afternoon as the sun sets and everything darkens. Personally, I’d say I’m all set. I’m grateful to receive an abundance of warmth and sunlight from the North and East facing walls. On top of that, I have a lamp and overhead chandelier.
I didn’t want to install shades or blinds so opted for four sets of linen curtains. They are flowy, made in a beautiful oatmeal colourway and have ruffled edges. They drape in an elegant fashion from floor to ceiling, extending the walls and ceiling through the illusion of grand and magnificent height. This gives the illusion of roominess and depth. Another option is to add fairy lights. They are just too precious and will add a lovely twinkle to your already cosy situation.
Over time, you may wish to change out your bulbs and swap to a warm or white light. You can’t get past a good Edison bulb if you ask me. They are a stylish ode to his genius. Alternatively, you could swap your existing lamp shades or choose a different base. Another option to explore are wall sconces- they are so dreamy and elegant, working perfectly above a bedside table.
Invest in stylish and compact storage- Do you have underbed or closet storage? Pick out baskets, hampers and boxes to suit.
While I like to think that if you need storage you have too many belongings, sometimes there is a need for more room. I have a built in shelf in my wardrobe, right above the clothes rack. It extends across the entire length of my wall and is fairly generous in depth and width. There is plenty of floor space for a shoe rack as well. I was at my local Bed Bath and Table homewares store the other day and picked up some mini and medium sized wicker baskets. They have this gorgeous linen pinstripe lining that extends around the edges and bows for a delicate touch. I keep my handbags and purses in the smaller three and magazines in the larger two. Under bed storage is another brilliant idea as it’s completely out of sight yet easily reachable when needed. Ikea is my all time go to for diverse and affordable storage options, among other things.
You may also wish to consider ways to hide otherwise visible cords for a less cluttered space. I have power points next to my dresser and bedside table. I keep a charging cables here for my phone and then prop it up on the window ledge or atop a stack of books. These cords are obscured by furniture or my curtains at any given time without becoming inaccessible.
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