Your bedroom should be the most luxurious, cosiest space in your entire house. If it’s not, what are you waiting for?
Below, I’m sharing five small designer-loved details that will take your bedroom from feeling ho-hum to looking high-end.
From picking the perfect lighting to the single paint trick that can totally reinvent your space, these ideas are simple and cost way less than they look.
Sconces above the bed
Nothing says luxury like crafting a cosy, relaxing ambience, and layered lighting is key to achieving that feeling. Bedside table lamps are a must, but also adding chic sconces above your bed instantly elevates the space while providing the perfect reading light. Choose opposing textures for your materials, think a rustic wood bedside lamp paired with a luxe brass sconce, for the ultimate layered look.
Thankfully, with the rise of rechargeable lighting from brands like Pooky, this no longer means cutting into your walls to run electrical flex, you can now install wall lights with just a few screws.
Colour drenching
Colour drenching your space, aka painting doors, trim, walls, and the ceiling all the same colour, is an easy and relatively cost-effective way to make your bedroom feel professionally designed. Don’t feel like you have to stick to airy shades either. Dark colours don’t always make your room feel smaller (see above), and lighter shades aren’t always the small-space fix they seem to be. Instead, look to your existing textiles and choose a complementary colour to create a cohesive palette.
Crisp white bedlinen
Nothing makes a bedroom feel more expensive than crisp white bed linen. Choose bedding with elegant flanges or soft ruffled trims to create a layered, hotel-inspired look that feels timeless and luxurious. For an extra elevated touch, subtle monograms can add to the understated luxury feel without looking overly traditional.
A half-tester canopy
Smaller and less cumbersome than a full bed canopy, a half-tester (also referred to as a a pelmet canopy) adds just enough softness behind a headboard to give the room a luxurious, hotel-inspired feel. Keep it simple with a short overhang or go all out by adding fringe and fanciful tiebacks to turn your bed into the ultimate retreat.
For a quicker, more DIY-friendly approach, hang a length of fabric from a curtain pole to fall behind the bed, as seen below, or suspend from the ceiling and pin it behind a rail for a similarly dramatic effect.
Patterned lampshades
There’s power in the mismatch, but I would argue there’s even more power in the perfect pair. Why not combine both by pairing matching patterned lampshades with differing lamp bases? Not only will patterned shades give your bedside tables a pretty, cohesive look, the different bases will ensure your space is anything but boring. Patterned shades work especially well in a more neutral bedroom, providing the just right amount of colour and pattern to add interest and elevate the room’s overall look.
Colourful homeware edit
Pansy Quilted Bedspread, Multi
Pli Green Pleated Desk & Table Lamp
Next Cath Kidston Cream/Blue Floral Quilted Storage
M&S Pure Cotton Floral Embroidered Cushion
Velvet Cushion, Rectangle, Butter Yellow
Catherine Lansfield Epping Textured Stripe Reversible Polycotton Duvet Cover Pillowcase Set
H&M Large stoneware serving plate
Scalloped Mint Green Vase
Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
