If your room has not seen a duster or a broom in awhile, give it a good clean so you can get a clear sense of the space. If you don’t want to move everything out of the room, take everything off the walls and move all of the furniture to the middle of the room.
Consider how you and/or your partner will access the closet and the bathroom. If you are an early riser but your partner isn’t, you may want to make it easier for you to get to the bathroom in the dark or access the closet on your side of the bed. [1] X Research source Make sure you can open and close your closet doors, as well as your drawers. Check that you can stand in front of your drawers while they’re open so you can get your items when you need them. Depending on the size and layout of your bedroom, as well as the needs of the occupants, try to use simple circulation, or circulation based on an entry way on one side of the room. Most hotels have a simple circulation floor plan for good reason, as it allows for an open, functional layout. Circulation plans become a bit more challenging with en suite bedrooms (where the bathroom is attached to the bedroom) or bedrooms that have doors on the outside. You will need to focus on keeping a de cluttered space that is easy to move around in if your bedroom has either of these layouts. [2] X Research source If you are designing your bedroom layout from the ground up in a new home, pay attention to where you locate the bathroom and the closet in your bedroom. Rooms with bathroom or closet access before the sleeping area require a longer hallway. But if you organize the circulation so the bathroom and closet can be accessed through the sleeping area, you don’t need a separate hallway and you can save on space.
Try to come up with a layout that showcases a large window with a nice view and doesn’t cover up or block any smaller windows as these are good sources of natural light that can add warmth to the room. Keep in mind you can always add in light blocking design like long curtains or blinds to allow light in during the day and maintain your privacy at night. [4] X Research source If you must put your bed in front of a window, choose a low headboard that doesn’t block the natural light from the window.
This will help you determine the size of the bed, the night stands, and any other accent furniture you are going to purchase for the room. If you are using furniture you already own, measuring the space will help you determine if all your existing furniture is going to fit in the layout you’ve chosen and/or if you need to get rid of some of your furniture. These measurements will also ensure you have enough space between your furniture to move around easily in the room.
This is also useful for determining if you are going to keep all your existing furniture or get rid of any items that do not fit within the layout. As an alternative to drawing your layout, you could put tape on the floor to mark where your furniture will go. Put painter’s tape down on the floor in the shape of your furniture. Keep in mind if you decide to paint the walls, you do not want to have to move all the furniture out of the room again. So hold off on moving your furniture back into your room until you have finalized the layout and the color scheme for the room.
Against the wall opposite your bedroom’s door. This creates a nice view when you enter the room as the bed will not be blocking any windows and there will be a very simple, open circulation to the room. Along the room’s longest wall. Most bedrooms have one length of wall that isn’t interrupted by windows and doors. This layout gives you plenty of room to put a nightstand on each side of the bed. If you have to push the side of your bed against the wall, you might place your pillows and throw pillows along the wall to create a daybed look. This can add more style to your room.
In the corner of the room, across from your bed. Be aware that placing a dresser in the corner may cut off the openness of the space. Try adjusting the dresser so it is facing the bed against a wall. If you are using a wide chest or credenza, it can serve a double function as a television stand. If this is the case, you may want to place the chest or credenza directly across from the bed against the opposite wall for easy viewing of the TV. If you are using a low dresser or chest, you may also want to place it at the end of your bed for easy access and to keep the walls open and not cluttered.
Depending on how much space you have, you may be able to also include a small desk and chairs in the room. You may also want to include an ottoman at the end of your bed or by your closet for extra seating.
If you don’t have a preferred color for your bedroom, use the same color scheme as the rest of your house. This helps create a seamless look in your home. If the color scheme is neutral, you might add a few pops of color in your accessories or throw pillows. Remember that even with a more neutral anchor color, you can add pops of bright, bold color to the room with accessories like throw pillows, bedding, and smaller decorative items. You may want to also choose your anchor color based on a theme, like nautical, French provincial, or California chic. To get some ideas for possible color schemes, look online at sites that showcase different designs for bedrooms. [6] X Research source [7] X Research source
Use your anchor color as a reference for the two hues. If you used a more neutral anchor color, you may decide to use cool hues like blue and green or warm hues like red and yellow. If you used a more bold anchor color, you may decide to use neutral hues like gray or white, or you may decide to go very bright and use hues like apricot or turquoise. Consult a color wheel to get direction on possible hues for your anchor color. When in doubt, look for examples online to give you some ideas. There are several ways to mix and match hues with tints, shades, and tones.
Refer to How to Paint A Room for tips on painting a room properly.
Stick to your layout and arrange the furniture accordingly. If you did your measurements right and considered the circulation of the space correctly, you should have a well spaced and easy to access layout for the room. If you decide you don’t like your new look, don’t despair! You can always move things around again.
Ceiling lights offer even coverage for the entire room and will often provide the most light for the room. You can also customize the brightness or darkness of ceiling lights with dimmer bulbs. Ceiling lights can be great statement pieces for a bedroom, especially with a more neutral color scheme. [9] X Research source Floor lamps are great for brightening up specific spaces and add a more intimate feel to the room, especially when placed by a bed or in the corner of a room. A table lamp is also good for illuminating a specific area of the room, such as on a bedside table or a desk. They are also great for reading and working, especially at night, as table lamps are not too bright to interfere with your body’s natural sleep schedule and they won’t keep your bed mate awake. [10] X Research source
Of course you also want your bed to be comfortable and relaxing, so look for good quality sheets as well as pillows, throws, and accent pillows to really make your bed a spot worth lounging on. [12] X Research source Think about also including accent rugs to add an extra sense of coziness to the space. [13] X Research source
Hang wall art that you love, make space on a table or desk for books you cherish, and add a dash of nature with a row of potted plants or succulents on your dresser. [15] X Expert Source Suzanne Lasky, ASIDInterior Designer Expert Interview. 31 March 2020.
