Take it From a Pro: Decorating Tricks for Styling the Bedroom
Learn how to create your dream bedroom with these tried-and-tested interior styling tips from a pro
I have always loved travelling and taking note of how hotels around the world decorate their spaces. The bedroom is my absolute favourite room to style, and in fact, I built my interior decorating career by creating hotel-style rooms.
I take a systematic approach towards styling bedrooms and over the years, I have refined this process to cater to different budgets, looks, and lifestyles. Here, I’ll show you how you can create your own hotel bedroom at home whether on a modest budget or ‘sky’s the limit’!
I take a systematic approach towards styling bedrooms and over the years, I have refined this process to cater to different budgets, looks, and lifestyles. Here, I’ll show you how you can create your own hotel bedroom at home whether on a modest budget or ‘sky’s the limit’!
Splurge: invest in a headboard
I use many customised, upholstered headboards in my styling projects for a few reasons. First, it adds immediate height to a room, and varying height helps to keep your eye roving, which in turn gives the illusion of a larger space. Second, the added texture adds visual interest to a room. It’s very easy for a room to become a showroom space when it’s pared back and especially when you’re working with a neutral palette with no real accent colours. The added texture gives depth and warmth to a room without cluttering the space.
Headboards are also functional pieces – more often than not, we read in bed, watch TV, or even play with the kids, and having a cushioned headboard gives the extra support needed.
I use many customised, upholstered headboards in my styling projects for a few reasons. First, it adds immediate height to a room, and varying height helps to keep your eye roving, which in turn gives the illusion of a larger space. Second, the added texture adds visual interest to a room. It’s very easy for a room to become a showroom space when it’s pared back and especially when you’re working with a neutral palette with no real accent colours. The added texture gives depth and warmth to a room without cluttering the space.
Headboards are also functional pieces – more often than not, we read in bed, watch TV, or even play with the kids, and having a cushioned headboard gives the extra support needed.
Save: create the illusion of a headboard
Headboards can be hefty investments, so if you’re working on a budget or if you already have an existing bed frame without a tall headboard, create the illusion of added height by drawing the eye upwards. This can be easily done with artwork (more on that later). Also, arrange your pillows to lean against the bed frame/wall instead of lying flat on the bed. Hotels often use this trick as it creates a ‘fuller’ bed, which imparts sumptuousness and comfort.
Headboards can be hefty investments, so if you’re working on a budget or if you already have an existing bed frame without a tall headboard, create the illusion of added height by drawing the eye upwards. This can be easily done with artwork (more on that later). Also, arrange your pillows to lean against the bed frame/wall instead of lying flat on the bed. Hotels often use this trick as it creates a ‘fuller’ bed, which imparts sumptuousness and comfort.
Don’t skip! Switch to hotel white sheets
Whatever you choose, I recommend switching your sheets to plain white sheets. Beds take up the majority of the visual weight in a bedroom, and it’s important to keep it clean and crisp. Just like working with a neutral colour palette, having white sheets gives you the freedom to decorate with accent pieces for interest without worrying about cluttering the space. This is especially important in the bedroom where your quality of rest can be hindered by a busy room.
Tip: I recommend investing in quality sheets and often use Sleep Naked! in my projects, a linen brand that supplies to 5-star hotels around the world. Sleep Naked! is available at the Arete Culture showroom at Tan Boon Liat.
Whatever you choose, I recommend switching your sheets to plain white sheets. Beds take up the majority of the visual weight in a bedroom, and it’s important to keep it clean and crisp. Just like working with a neutral colour palette, having white sheets gives you the freedom to decorate with accent pieces for interest without worrying about cluttering the space. This is especially important in the bedroom where your quality of rest can be hindered by a busy room.
Tip: I recommend investing in quality sheets and often use Sleep Naked! in my projects, a linen brand that supplies to 5-star hotels around the world. Sleep Naked! is available at the Arete Culture showroom at Tan Boon Liat.
Splurge: layer the bed with textiles, including cushions, throws, or a bedspread
To soften up your dressed up (white) bed, add throw cushions and other textures through fabrics. A more traditional way of finishing the bed is to use a bedspread – you often see this in high-end hotels. If you like a clean, modern look, skip the bedspread for a casual throw, or accent cushions in various shapes and sizes. I recommend using three to five cushions on a standard queen and king-sized bed – purchase two cushions in a larger size (e.g. 50 centimetres) and the others in a standard 40 centimetres. Make sure to keep your cushions in the same colour palette as the room – these cushions should reflect the entire colour palette, so don’t purchase all five cushions in the same colour.
To soften up your dressed up (white) bed, add throw cushions and other textures through fabrics. A more traditional way of finishing the bed is to use a bedspread – you often see this in high-end hotels. If you like a clean, modern look, skip the bedspread for a casual throw, or accent cushions in various shapes and sizes. I recommend using three to five cushions on a standard queen and king-sized bed – purchase two cushions in a larger size (e.g. 50 centimetres) and the others in a standard 40 centimetres. Make sure to keep your cushions in the same colour palette as the room – these cushions should reflect the entire colour palette, so don’t purchase all five cushions in the same colour.
Save: Two cushions are all you need
If you’re styling a smaller bed or working on a budget, you really only need two throw cushions. You can use differently-sized cushions as long as the larger cushion is not larger than the height of the sleeping pillows. You can also use a square cushion, European shams, or even a small bolster.
If you’re styling a smaller bed or working on a budget, you really only need two throw cushions. You can use differently-sized cushions as long as the larger cushion is not larger than the height of the sleeping pillows. You can also use a square cushion, European shams, or even a small bolster.
Splurge: Light up both sides of the bed
Lighting is incredibly important to any space. Ambient light will give a soft glow in a room and impart shadows, which again help to create warmth and depth. Ambient light is also entirely functional in a bedroom: your body requires less light to properly wind down for the day, and using table lamps instead of the ceiling lamp will give you enough light to read and journal without over-stimulating your mind.
A set-up I like to use is to have table lamps flanking the bed. This is a more formal arrangement which grounds a tastefully decorated bed. Wherever possible, opt for larger table lamps, especially if you have a larger bed. Proportion is key here – using lamps that are too small will in fact make a room feel smaller. Don’t forget that these lamps double as art pieces too, so ensure they tie in with your colour palette.
Lighting is incredibly important to any space. Ambient light will give a soft glow in a room and impart shadows, which again help to create warmth and depth. Ambient light is also entirely functional in a bedroom: your body requires less light to properly wind down for the day, and using table lamps instead of the ceiling lamp will give you enough light to read and journal without over-stimulating your mind.
A set-up I like to use is to have table lamps flanking the bed. This is a more formal arrangement which grounds a tastefully decorated bed. Wherever possible, opt for larger table lamps, especially if you have a larger bed. Proportion is key here – using lamps that are too small will in fact make a room feel smaller. Don’t forget that these lamps double as art pieces too, so ensure they tie in with your colour palette.
Save: Ikea task lamps can also get the job done
Table lamps can be expensive, so if you’re on a budget, skip shaded lamps and opt for task lamps.
Bonus: task lamps provide directional lighting and are great for voracious readers, but they also tend to be smaller than table lamps. To compensate for their size, pick a task lamp in a bold accent colour: this will allow the lamp to stand out in the room and give it the appearance of a ‘weightier’ item.
Table lamps can be expensive, so if you’re on a budget, skip shaded lamps and opt for task lamps.
Bonus: task lamps provide directional lighting and are great for voracious readers, but they also tend to be smaller than table lamps. To compensate for their size, pick a task lamp in a bold accent colour: this will allow the lamp to stand out in the room and give it the appearance of a ‘weightier’ item.
Splurge: create a focal point with art
We don’t use art often enough in the bedroom. The correct art piece will bring together the room’s colour scheme by adding colour and texture, without distracting from the main centrepiece (i.e. the bed).
Tip: Hang your art in relation to your furniture. Artwork is best hung at eye level, which is often lower than where most of us have been taught to hang art.
We don’t use art often enough in the bedroom. The correct art piece will bring together the room’s colour scheme by adding colour and texture, without distracting from the main centrepiece (i.e. the bed).
Tip: Hang your art in relation to your furniture. Artwork is best hung at eye level, which is often lower than where most of us have been taught to hang art.
Save: Use inexpensive art prints or even fabric hung as tapestry
The great thing about art is you don’t need a huge budget to achieve great impact. There are plenty of affordable art prints out there – you can even print your own photographs for a personal touch, but be sure to keep the colour scheme consistent. I like to use black-and-white photos when doing this (see images above). I also prefer using abstract art in bedrooms, and even mixed media pieces for added texture. Whatever you do, don’t leave your walls bare as this will result in your room looking cold and unfinished.
The great thing about art is you don’t need a huge budget to achieve great impact. There are plenty of affordable art prints out there – you can even print your own photographs for a personal touch, but be sure to keep the colour scheme consistent. I like to use black-and-white photos when doing this (see images above). I also prefer using abstract art in bedrooms, and even mixed media pieces for added texture. Whatever you do, don’t leave your walls bare as this will result in your room looking cold and unfinished.
Don’t skip! Soften the look with a large rug
I love how a rug can transform a room! An oversized rug will turn even a modest bedroom into a luxurious boudoir. My top tips include:
I love how a rug can transform a room! An oversized rug will turn even a modest bedroom into a luxurious boudoir. My top tips include:
- Always choose a larger sized rug; rugs that are too small will make your furniture feel like floating, disparate elements. Having a large piece will ground your decor elements and (literally) connect the different furniture pieces.
- Ensure your rug reflects your colour palette. Like your sheets, rugs take up a lot of visual weight and can turn a tranquil bedroom with blue accents to a dominantly blue room with flecks of cream.
- Beware of pattern. Understand how patterns can influence the look of a room: a more formal or traditionally decorated room should use floral, Persian motifs, or more ornate prints. More modern decor requires geometric prints like herringbone and chevron.
- Large rugs can be expensive. If you have the budget, look for a silk-wool blend: these carpets don’t shed and are incredibly soft to the touch. If you’re on a smaller budget, look for low-pile cotton dhurries. Avoid indoor/outdoor rugs in the bedroom – these rugs are made from recycled plastic and will not add the softness a bedroom needs.
If space allows, add a separate seating area or a storage bench in front of the bed
This is a bonus tip not all of us can afford, given the smaller-sized homes in Singapore. Those who do have the luxury of space should consider carving out a separate seating or reading area – this is such a luxe touch and takes a well-decorated room into the league of high-end hotels.
I like using chaise lounges in the bedroom, but I recommend using a storage bench if you need additional storage for linens.
This is a bonus tip not all of us can afford, given the smaller-sized homes in Singapore. Those who do have the luxury of space should consider carving out a separate seating or reading area – this is such a luxe touch and takes a well-decorated room into the league of high-end hotels.
I like using chaise lounges in the bedroom, but I recommend using a storage bench if you need additional storage for linens.
TELL US
Tell us how you would like to restyle your bedroom or if you have a bedroom decorating dilemma share it with us in the Comments section.
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Tell us how you would like to restyle your bedroom or if you have a bedroom decorating dilemma share it with us in the Comments section.
MORE
Browse more bedroom decorating stories
No matter what sort of budget you’re working with, a well-styled room begins with a cohesive colour palette. Many times, the colour scheme in the bedroom references the rest of the house – this helps to ensure spatial flow and makes the entire home feel more like one space and not disparate elements.
I like to use more tranquil colours in the bedroom. Moody blues and greys are my favourite shades to start with, but you can also use whatever accent colour you prefer. I would recommend building from a neutral palette – whites, creams, taupes, and sand tones make the perfect foundational palette.