There are so many different ways to approach a bedroom, and a few different schools of decorative thought. Some designers believe all bedrooms should be neutral and calming, others like to play with pattern, citing how enlivening it is to wake up to. But all designers agree that this is a space that needs restraint, no matter which style you're after.
So these 25 bedroom rules that our favourite designers use are all going to help you create a haven, whatever that means to you. It could be the personal flourishes, it will be a sense of order and it's going to need to involve lighting. Follow these guidelines and you're sure to be able to make a dreamy bedroom that's perfect for you.
Choose materials which add softness
Designers Maddux Creative are keen on layering materials which have a tactile gentility to them, like carpets, fabrics and - in a recent project - cork. ‘We used dyed cork on the cupboard doors, which added a welcome note of softness,’ says Scott Maddux.
Take the headboard as big as it will go
Even in smaller spaces, you’ll manage to extend the sense of space if you take the headboard from one corner of the wall to the other,’ says Molly Hill. They can also become a place to hang shelves and wall lights, creating a zone that encompasses the bed and makes you feel almost held.
Make sure the light is dimmable
‘However small the space, it needs to be layered with lighting you can dim. You may not have the capacity to redo the electrics to allow this in your second bedroom, there are now so many wonderful chargeable table lamps which are really all you need to add,’ says Andrew Griffiths of A New Day.
Restrain the palette
If you’re wanting to create a serene bedroom, you need a retrained palette,’ says Judy Dunne, founder of the studio Butter & Eggs. ‘This means keeping to shades of the same tone, and for me personally, nothing too far from grey. You finish up with the gentle feel of misty rain when all those soothing colours combine.’
Avoid brilliant white
‘If you prefer neutrals then look to Slaked Lime Mid or Roman Plaster, both by Little Greene, which have such warmth to them,’ says Andrew Griffiths. ‘But never white for a bedroom, which is just too stark.’
Paint the ceiling darker than the walls
‘I’ll do this when I want to make the ceiling seem lower, which isn’t a bad thing when you’re looking to foster intimacy,’ says the designer Irene Gunter. ‘In a bedroom, a darker ceiling can cocoon you, make you feel soothed and like you’re at home.’
Don’t think of paint as the only wall covering
‘I’m using a lot of polished plaster as it can create a tonal haven that is so calm to live in, perfect for bedrooms,’ says Roisin Lafferty, who created this scheme, above. ‘We use it instead of paint, in colours that are never sugary but have a slight murkiness to them. I particularly like to use it in a bedroom, because if you continue it over the ceiling then it has such an enveloping texture - there is a movement in its subtle patterns.’
Picture how you’ll navigate the room
With so much bulky furniture, it can be hard to remember that you need to be able to move around a bedroom. ‘Before you put any pieces together, get a floor plan, and lay your furniture out in terms of their dimensions,’ says Brigette Romanek. ‘I know it feels like a pain but look at the room’s walkability. If you get the ability to travel seamlessly through a space right, the stars align and you’ll make as few mistakes as possible.’
Choose only warm lightbulbs
This is a design rule in every room, but especially in a bedroom. ‘For a bedroom, you really want that warm glow, anything that feels a bit more amber than white,’ says Lee Broom. ‘The room is much more sensual this way.’
Mix weaves and materials
When we dress we don’t use the same materials, we don’t pair denim with denim,’ says Theo Zeniou, founder of laQualitie. ‘You have to use a combination of materials to make it more interesting in a bedroom, thick plush textures against smaller piles, some smoother surfaces next to those with a little more sumptuousness.’
Contrast florals with block colours
‘I love florals for a bedroom but there is a fine line between being a bit chintzy and staying modern and contemporary,’ says designer Sarah Tract. ‘Its important to layer them with less overwhelming patterns, some block colours in darker shades.’
Not all pattern should be bold pattern
Softer designs like seagrass have their place in a bedroom, creating a sense of there being some pattern but it still feeling calm. ‘Seagrass effects create movement so the bedroom feels interesting but soft in colour and tone,’ says Sarah Tract.
You'll create space by ‘floating’ your furniture
The more things you can lift off the floor and mount on the walls, the better. ‘Floating beside tables and wall lights are a visual trick that makes small bedrooms seem more lavish, more like a hotel, and bigger,’ says designer Molly Hill.
Choose the best bedding you can afford
‘Right now it’s important we have absolute comfort - and comfort that is stylish,’ says Eva Sonaike. ‘I really like Piglet’s sheets. There is an element in their design which takes you to a new level of comfort when you sleep on them.’
Forget blonde woods
‘I like to go down the Brazilian route and use natural tones that have a bit of darkness to them - they’ll use rosewood rather than oak, which I think is so much more luxe,’ says Tom Morris of Morristudio. ‘Oak has an honesty to it and a purity that can feel a little less opulent or smart, so isn’t quite right for a bedroom.’
Include personal flourishes
‘Something that brings you joy, being the last thing you’ll see before you shut your eyes, says Andrew Griffiths. ‘That could be a treasured artwork, or it could be beautiful bedding - anything that says the design of this space hasn’t been compromised.’
Create visual through lines
A bedroom is most relaxing when it feels ordered, and a layered and decorative way to do that is to match the skirting and cornicing to the bed frame. ‘All the greens in this room complement each other so well,’ says Enass Mahmood of this visual through line. ‘It’s vibrant, but with a sense of their being some restraint and control.’
Make the headboard a feature
If a bedroom doesn’t have many architectural details of its own then the headboard can fill that role perfectly. ‘I like to think about what I can add to a bedroom that gives it a feeling of presence,’ says Ash Wilson. ‘A headboard can be made to look decorative with a scalloped edge or patterned material that makes it the focal point it ought to be.’
Design a closet or cupboard with plenty of shelves at different heights
Having different heights for each shelf compartment in a closet makes a huge difference to how much more practical it will be. ‘I want my closet to function, and there needs to be a place for everything,’ says Monica Santayana of Moniomi. ‘I need there to be plenty of space for organisation, with different shelves for my various different clothing items.’
