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It’s where we read, recharge, and daydream. The ultimate escape after a long, hard day. A bedroom is one of the few spots in a home we can call entirely ours, especially for those living in a shared space—be it family or roommates. Open to personalization, a bedroom is the place where we are allowed to really let our decorative minds run free.
But it’s equally as important to make sure you have the fundamentals down. Aside from the staples (bed, nightstand, etc.), there are a number of complementary pieces that transform an ordinary room into a restful retreat that promotes peaceful slumber. So if you find yourself wondering how you should actually decorate a bedroom, we have you covered. Ahead, a short list of the essentials no bedroom should be without.
A Quality Mattress
You want something that keeps you cool and gives you great lumbar support. If you’re hesitant to spend a lot on a new mattress, keep this in mind: A high-quality mattress should last 10 to 15 years. A cheap one? Half that. But before you buy a new one, catch up on our guides for the best soft mattresses, best innerspring mattresses, best Tempur-Pedic mattresses, and best organic mattresses.
Soothing Wall Paint
Be it white or moody burgundy, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a bedroom. If you’re opting for the former, embrace a neutral shade with warm undertones (designers are big fans of Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee and Behr’s Crisp Linen). We’re also partial to Farrow & Ball’s Lichen (a calming sage), Benjamin Moore’s blue-green Dragonfly, and chalky black tints like F&B’s Railings.
Breezy Bedding
If you want to incorporate different patterns in your bedding, the key is mixing it up to vary the scale, from small to large. The Tekla x Artek duvet (one of our 2024 Good Design Award winners) is a great option if you want to dive into florals. If you prefer a super-streamlined look, go with a flowy, solid-colored bed cover, like Colin King’s design for Cultiver.
A Headboard You Can Lean On
You want a bed that says: Come in, curl up, and lean back—I’ve got you. An upholstered option will do the trick. Shops like The Inside offer tons of fabric options, while other brands such as The Citizenry are betting big on pillowy silhouettes.
A Nightstand That Meets Your Storage Needs
Top your bedside table with a carafe, a great book, and a lamp to help get you into a zen nighttime routine. Meanwhile, tuck away less aesthetically pleasing necessities (medicines, eye masks, hand creams) inside a drawer.
Warm Bedside Lighting
After looking at all the cozy bedrooms featured in Nancy Meyers’s movies, we learned that a tall lamp with a large linen vase is one way to achieve a welcoming atmosphere. And never fear if you have little nightstand real estate to spare—Pooky’s cordless sconces make it possible for renters to get that same warm glow.
Plump Pillows
Depending on the size of your bed, you will want enough sleeping pillows so that your bed looks comfortable, but not so many that you can’t actually sleep in it. Nate Berkus’s tip? Lay four pillows (stacked in pairs) flat at the top of the bed. Jake Arnold, on the other hand, likes an even more pared-back look consisting of two pillows neatly tucked under the bedspread, with a single lumbar pillow on top. And when in doubt, you can’t go wrong with a set of ruffled decorative cushions.
A Place to Sit
Think: an ottoman next to your dresser, a chair-and-a-half tucked in the corner, or a bench at the foot of the bed. It’s important to have a place to sit (and talk on the phone and put on your shoes) that’s not the edge of the mattress.
A Dresser You Can Stuff to the Gills
You won’t get sick of this storage staple if you stick to solid wood pieces with plenty of drawers. One of our contributing editors recently upgraded from the IKEA Malm to Thuma’s dresser (made from recycled wood) and was happy with the results. We’d also recommend shopping your local thrift and antiques stores for a wood piece you can paint on your own.
A Hit of Greenery
Bring in a potted plant (big or small!) to impart your bedroom with an organic color contrast. A single plant can do wonders for a space, especially if it skews toward the smaller side. Here’s our quick list of the best plants for a bedroom.
Meaningful Art
Believe it or not, family photos invoke memories and emotions that can keep you awake at night. Yep, even if your memories are happy. Choose to display those photos in the other rooms of your house. Opt for an oversize work of art or a colorful print to display in your bedroom instead.
A Rug That’s a Treat for Your Feet
Everyone hates waking up in the morning and stepping onto a cold, hard floor. Layer that hardwood with either a plush area rug (right now, we’re loving solid-colored options) or a flat-weave runner on either side of the bed frame.
The Absence of Tech
If zen is what you’re after, you’ll want to consider making your bedroom an electronics-free zone. Everyone breaks this rule, but try your best to leave tech out in your living room or office. Your bedroom deserves to be a place for rest.