These plan-to-perfection bedroom ideas will help you plan a harmonious space you'll love spending time in.
1. MAKE THE BED A PRIORITY
As the dominant feature in the room, the bed has a strong influence on the overall look. 'Be bold and make a statement with your bed,' says Wayne Clarke, creative director of And So To Bed. 'It's worth investing in a design that provides luxurious comfort, but that doesn't mean you have to play it safe. Get creative with an upholstered version in a beautiful fabric to inject your own sense of style.' If you plan on keeping your divan, a new headboard will update it.
If you opt for a wooden bedstead its solid feel and the warm tones of the timber will bring a natural element to the room, which can be enhanced by layering bedlinen with knitted throws and faux fur cushions. Metal beds, whether polished or painted, will look as beautiful dressed with contemporary large-scale florals as with vintage-inspired patchwork covers.
Kaledio double duvet cover, £85, pillowcases, from £15 each, Harlequin
A comfy bed is just as important. 'The key thing is for the mattress to mould to your body and give support and pressure relief,' says Aleedawaty Abas, business leader for bedrooms at Ikea. 'Your weight and height are a good guide; the taller and heavier you are, the firmer your mattress should be. If you sleep on your side you'll require a softer mattress, while those who sleep on their back need a medium-firm mattress, and those who sleep on their stomach need the firmest of all.'
The bedlinen and soft furnishings will play a major part in your design. 'Replacing your bedding can often have as big an impact as changing the layout of the room or updating the furniture but it's usually a much cheaper and simpler option,' says Michelle Allen-Browne, textiles sales leader at Ikea. 'If the wallpaper in the room is patterned, consider keeping the bedding plain, but for a neutrally decorated bedroom, bedlinen offers the chance to make a big change.'
2. SELECT STREAMLINED STORAGE
Brimnes bedframe, £254, Ikea
To create a relaxing room, the less clutter there is the better. Bespoke built-in furniture helps you bring order from chaos, making use of every inch of space, even in awkward-shaped rooms. In larger rooms, break up a run of wardrobes with open shelving or a dressing table area. In a small room, wardrobes with sliding doors will save on space. The advantage of freestanding furniture is its flexibility – it's easy to add new pieces as needed.
3. GO FOR COMFORT UNDERFOOT
Stepping onto soft carpet with bare feet is a welcome pleasure on a chilly night. Opt for wool for its natural warmth and bounce. The fibres spring back if flattened, plus it's resilient to dirt and wear. Wool fibres are often blended with nylon or other synthetics to add strength. Velvet carpets have a dense low-cut pile where the tufts are barely visible, resulting in a rich, smooth effect – though they do tend to show footprints. Twist-pile carpets, using tightly twisted yarns, are hardwearing and give a crisp feel underfoot; these are less likely to show footprints and wear and tear. Natural fibre flooring comes in a wide range of colours and finishes. Jute, the soft option, with a flat, silky finish, is an ideal choice for bedrooms. The latest trend combines materials, creating new textural weaves, for example in a sisal and wool mix. A wooden floor is warm to the touch and easy to keep clean. Consider oak with a brushed or hand-scraped finish for beautiful honeyed tones and an interesting texture.
True Velvet carpet in Platinum, £60 a sq metre, Brintons
4. MAKE YOUR WINDOWS ADAPTABLE
Having a space that's bright by day yet intimate by night is essential. Hanging heavy curtains with blackout lining and interlining will help the room stay dark. For a flexible set-up and daytime privacy, layer unlined curtains with sheer voile panels, along with a blackout blind for night time. There's a wealth of options that allow you to choose how much light comes in, including Venetian blinds, shutters and soft fabric blinds with sliding 'slats'. If the room is overlooked, a bottom-up blind that attaches to the windowsill and is raised upwards could offer privacy.
5. LAYER THE LIGHT
For background light, dimmable low-energy LED ceiling spots around the room edges, directed to wash over the walls and curtains, provide a glare-free alternative to the direct light from a central pendant. Accent lighting can enhance specific areas and is practical too. 'Make a dramatic feature of wardrobes by lighting the fronts,' says Sally Storey, design director at John Cullen Lighting. Bedside lamps are best set at a comfortable height for reading; with the bulb around 60cm above the mattress.
6. SET A RELAXING MOOD
Make the bedroom a quiet zone. It's a good plan to banish smartphones and tablets as well as the TV as the blue light given off affects the normal night-time secretion of the hormone melatonin, which would otherwise help you nod off. Creating a mood for sleeping means being aware of your senses and including some wind-down time before going to bed. If you're stressed, relax in a warm bath or listen to soothing music. Improve your chances of getting a good night's sleep by going to bed and getting up at regular times. To ensure you sleep well, the temperature of the room needs to be just right. For most people that's around 16-18 ̊C – slightly cooler than living spaces.
Poplar wood tier-on-tier shutters painted in Little Greene's Dark Lead, from about £195 a sq metre, California Shutters
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