5 Dos & Don’Ts for Bedroom Interior Design

Common Bedroom Interior Design Mistakes & Solutions

1. CHOOSING LOUD COLOURS

It’s tempting to put your favourite bold and vibrant colours in the bedroom, but they’re best left to other areas of the home. Choosing bold and primary colours disturbs your sleep patterns. A recent blog by Casper demonstrates that some of the worst bedroom interior design colours are red, orange, dark purple, dark brown, and black. Red, for example, is a high-energy colour with an extremely powerful pigment which is said to provoke feelings of anger. Orange is said to have similar impacts, but is more related to high energy and excitement, making it difficult to relax and sleep.

SOLUTION: USE RELAXING COLOUR PALETTES & BOLD COLOURS FOR ACCENTS ONLY

Choosing a colour palette with shades that make you feel more relaxed, secure and content is best for your sleep. Which colours do you naturally think of? Most people think of blues, greens, light pinks, whites, and beiges. Blue is commonly imagined when people envision a calm environment. A study by Travelodge demonstrated that homes with blue bedrooms had better sleep compared to homes with other colours. Greens are another top contender that symbolizes serenity. A great interior bedroom design tip is to add indoor plants to your bedroom, even if you go with a gentle white or a more neutral beige palette.

It’s alright if you still want bold colours for your bedroom interior design. As a compromise, it could be a good idea to use these colours elsewhere in the room. Try some purple blankets, loud pillows, a bold comforter on the bed, an art piece, or another paint colour on an accent wall.

2. OVERLOOKING STORAGE & FURNITURE SIZE

Bedrooms can get cluttered very quickly. Buying furniture that is too large is another common bedroom interior design mistake. This is commonly overlooked because it’s easy to overestimate the room’s size by not knowing the bedroom’s floor plan or not having a measured drawing of the space on hand. Sometimes, the furniture selected, such as decorative nightstands and desks, don’t come with ample storage space.

SOLUTION: FOCUS ON SPACE & ESSENTIALS FIRST

Bedrooms should look clean, cozy, and elegant. Give yourself space to move while considering your bedroom interior design. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least 3 feet between the bed and side walls and at least 2 feet between low furniture.

Try to focus on only the essentials first. A bed, a couple of nightstands, a dresser for your clothes, and a small desk may be all you need. If your bedroom is bigger, you’ll have the luxury to fill out the space with larger pieces like small cabinets or an armoire. Keeping the space less busy and chaotic will help you relax. Don’t forget that’s what the room is ultimately for.

3. IGNORING THE CEILING

The bedroom ceiling is the largest empty surface of your room. Designers often refer to it as “the fifth wall”. A typical error in bedroom interior design is to throw a simple light up top and not think twice about the ceiling.

SOLUTION: CONSIDER OPTIONAL CEILING FIXTURES & PAINTING TRICKS

Your ceiling is an untapped space that can add a special, personalized touch to your bedroom. Remember, nobody says that chandeliers are solely meant for just the dining room or front foyer. If you do select a chandelier for your bedroom, try to consider what style your room will have and whether it’ll be more traditional, natural or contemporary to match.

Another bedroom interior design trick is to paint the ceiling a lighter version of the wall colour. What this does is help visually lower the ceiling to evoke a feeling of intimacy and comfort. Further ceiling customization options may include wallpapers, beams, mouldings or decorative paint treatments.

4. FORGETTING ARTWORK & GREENERY

After considering the essentials, a big mistake is not incorporating any artistic or natural elements to make the room unique and natural. Not incorporating artwork or greenery can make your room feel ordinary, dull, or even claustrophobic.

SOLUTION: ADD THEMATIC ART & RECOMMENDED INDOOR PLANTS

Bedroom wall art gives your room a unique, expressive touch. Depending on your budget, you may go for higher end original art or less expensive art print. Think about what tone or theme you’d like your art to emit. Going for mystery and curiosity? Consider picking up a piece of abstract wall art to position above the bed or desk. Wall art can also help build contrast with vibrant tones compared to your wall colours, so have fun and experiment!

Plants can do wonders for bedroom interior design. As green is a symbol of nature and serenity, plants will evoke the same feeling in your bedroom. They also assist with cleaning and purifying the air for you. Some of the best plants to include are snakeplants, which are low maintenance and even convert CO2 to oxygen at night (most plants do so during the day only). Other noteworthy options for houseplants include heart leaf philodendrons, English ivys, aloe veras, and spider plants.

5. DISREGARDING MOOD LIGHTING & MULTIPLE LIGHTING OPTIONS

You’re going to want a relaxing place to start and end your long day. A common mistake is to rely on a single light in a bedroom and not include other lighting options like lamps, accent, adjustable or ambient light.

SOLUTION: EXPLORE YOUR LIGHTING NEEDS BASED ON YOUR ACTIVITIES

There are a plethora of lighting options to consider for your bedroom interior design. A great idea is a lamp with a moveable arm for reading in bed. If you’re using intense lights with higher lux levels, they have been shown to suppress melatonin, a hormone that helps you get to sleep. Instead, try installing lights with an adjustable dimmer to allow your eyes and body to adjust to the bedtime phase.

Design by: JDG // Photo by: Christine Pienaar Photography

The key takeaway is to use various lightsources based on what you need throughout the day. Whether that’s reading or checking your phone in bed at night, watching a movie, or getting ready in the morning, make sure you have lamps, window treatments, and a comfortable overhead light so you can recharge yourself each day.