Your bedroom is the most personal room of your home; it is therefore a space which can reflect your individuality and somewhere you can be as creative as you wish. The functionality of the bedroom still has to be considered but, with proper planning, this doesn’t have to dictate the style of the room. Here are 5 tips which will help you effectively design and make the most of your bedroom.
Do your research
It’s a good idea to accumulate some of your favourite bedroom looks before you start to pick out anything from colour schemes to storage. You can get inspiration from many sources, for example home magazines or Pinterest. Once you’ve collated ideas, you will have a much better idea of the style of bedroom you are longing for and will have a solid starting point for your designs.
Layout is key
When designing your bedroom, one of the first things you should consider is how the room and furnishings will be laid out. It is of paramount importance that you realistically look at the available space in your room before choosing furnishings. Many rooms can look unbalanced or poorly thought out if the necessary planning wasn’t carried out initially. You should deliberate what furnishings you want in the room besides the obvious bed – for example, a dressing table, nightstands or seating – and then work out the viable dimensions and arrangements available for these items.
Even if the items physically fit into the room well, a poor configuration of furnishings can make a room look small or cluttered. Again, contemplate the different ways your furnishings could be arranged in the room to ensure you are using the space optimally.
Balance form and function
It is very easy to get carried away with creating a beautiful bedroom without giving full consideration to the fact that it has to be a practical space as well. For example, one of the biggest problems that people have with their rooms is a lack of storage – so if you’ve seen a lovely kitsch wardrobe but you know it won’t fit all your clothes in, you just have to be realistic and keep on looking. Be sure to factor into your designs practicalities, such as storage space and lighting, but don’t feel as though they have to be boring! Make your lighting a feature with abstract lampshades or create sleek, seamless wardrobe space with bespoke fitted wardrobes.
Maximise lighting
Good lighting in a room can make a world of difference. Make the most of natural lighting to brighten a room and give it a light, open, airy feel which connects with the outdoors. Additionally, make sure there is plentiful artificial light sources for evenings and winter months. Especially in a bedroom, you may not want bright overhead lights as this isn’t conducive to winding down at the end of the day and encouraging sleep. Having dimmer lights is therefore a great option for creating ambience and a relaxed atmosphere. Further lighting options are also a good idea, for example reading lamps on bedside tables or dedicated desk lighting on a dressing table or workspace.
Personalise
A successful bedroom space should feel like a creative expression of your style and be somewhere you enjoy spending time. As easy as it is to choose a setup straight out of a showroom, the result will be your room feeling impersonal and unhomely. Bespoke items can go a long way to make a room individual and have the added benefit of assured harmony with the surroundings. Furthermore, the final flourishes you add – for example upcycled nightstands, unique art pieces or homemade cushion covers – are what puts your stamp on the room and makes it yours.
