As an interior stylist, I’ve created many bedrooms that appear in magazines - spaces that feel personal, layered and effortlessly curated. What I’ve found is that transforming a bedroom doesn’t require a complete makeover.
Instead, it’s about applying a few intentional styling principles that immediately elevate the room’s look and feel. Here are five tips I use regularly to help clients achieve a bedroom that feels both beautiful and personal.
1. STRIP IT BACK
A well-styled bed doesn't need to be stacked with cushions. Instead, focus on quality over quantity.
Choose either a bedcover with interesting texture, colour, or print to act as the focal point - or keep the bedding neutral and add just one statement piece, like a long lumbar cushion paired with a linen or wool throw.
This pared-back approach brings a sense of refinement, allowing the bed to anchor the room without competing for attention.
2. ADD SOFTNESS WITH LIGHTING
Lighting shapes the mood of your bedroom more than anything else.
To complement your overhead lighting, bring in softer layers through table lamps or wall sconces, which keep surfaces clear and offer a warm, ambient glow.
Finish with soft drapery to filter daylight and cast gentle shadow play. Together, these elements create a space that feels calm, cocooning, and comfortable.
3. PLAY WITH PROPORTIONS
Bedrooms often feel bottom-heavy as most of the large furniture pieces sit low.
To balance this, introduce height and scale. An artwork above the bed or a tall plant draws the eye upward, while a wide bedhead grounds the space. These elements add dimension and create visual harmony in the room
4. ADD TACTILE TOUCHES
Texture adds depth and warmth to a bedroom, turning it from a purely functional space into one that feels layered, intimate, and lived-in.
Bring in contrasting materials, like a velvet bedhead or woollen throw against linen bedding, or a marble tray on a timber bedside table. The contrast between materials creates subtle tension that keeps the room from feeling flat, making the space feel more thoughtfully styled.
5. OPT FOR THE UNEXPECTED
Every well-styled bedroom needs an element of surprise - a detail that breaks from the predictable and adds personality.
Try choosing one unique object, whether it’s a ceramic piece, an artwork, a mirror, or bedside lamps in an unexpected shape or colour.
This small moment of “wrongness” injects energy, instantly making the space feel more unique, dynamic and interesting.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Elevating your bedroom doesn’t mean you need to start from scratch or undertake a major renovation.
By focusing on quality, layering texture, balancing scale, and embracing unexpected details, you can create a space that feels more refined and elevated.
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