10 Tips for Bedroom Interior Design

Your bedroom is the most private and intimate room in your home. Whether you are redecorating or designing your bedroom in a new house, it can be difficult to know where to start. We spend 62% of our time awake at home — so take a look at our 10 tips for bedroom interior design that go against the mold but keep your space connected. Be inspired to think outside the design rule box and create a bedroom where you are completely free to be yourself. Indulge in the luxury of imagining a design that feels right for you, because it’s only when we design based on feeling, that we truly feel at home.

1. Comfort

Thinking about comfort is key to pulling a space together. Picture how you will use your bedroom — do you want somewhere you can relax other than the bed? Where will you put your night-time drink and book? We love styling a bedroom with deep sofas, feather cushions and bedside tables that ensure the space is functional and comfortable.

2. Colour palettes

Start with a blank canvas and do the basics in neutral so that they can be built on with patterns and colour. This ensures that the fabric stands out and acts as a backdrop for other pops of colour in the room. You can introduce colour and patterns on soft furnishings with small-scale print fabrics and use a complimentary paint colour for the walls to add cosiness and softness to the colour scheme.

3. Patterns

At Penny Morrison, we love breaking the rules and mixing and layering patterns. This can bring depth and harmony to a bedroom while keeping things vibrant and interesting. Bedrooms need a personality and pattern is a great way to add this. Be bold and try mixing patterns and textures of fabrics for yourself, such as using an embroidered bed throw or suzani to add that abundance of colour and warmth to your room. Life is full of fun and colour so combining patterns in your bedroom is just an extension of this.

4. Wallpaper

Wallpaper allows you to add a layer of texture or pattern to your bedroom and is much more interesting than paint. It can make a feature in any space. Small print wallpapers give walls an element of cosiness without being overbearing and crowded. Using a less intense pattern can help keep you calm — ideal for a small bedroom.

5. Curtains

Curtains are a way of introducing colour and pattern to your bedroom on a larger scale. Matching curtains and upholstery give a comforting unity to a bedroom. Floaty linens work very well for curtains and create a relaxed look. Using vertical stripes can help elongate your bedroom if you don’t have much height to begin with. If you have a less spacious bedroom with smaller windows, it is best to use blinds rather than curtains, as it prevents taking up unnecessary space. Alternatively, for larger windows, such as French windows or large bays, you can play with larger-scale fabric patterns. Try using the curtains as your framework for creating a statement piece within the room. Start with the big items and work your way down!

6. Upholstery

Upholstery is another opportunity to amplify colour, pattern and texture in interior decoration. Loose covers add a relaxed dimension and a patterned fabric simultaneously brings more fun to a colour scheme. They are also a very practical solution as they can be removed, cleaned or replaced. If you have a large bedroom, and maybe even a lovely fireplace in it, you can add a pair of slipper chairs to create that sense of comfort and warmth – as well as being a good place to throw your clothes on after a party or long day at work! These equally work well in a dressing room or bathroom.

7. Lighting

This is key to the atmosphere of any bedroom. The optimum bedroom lighting entails a pair of bedside lamps and one-off lamps placed on a chest of drawers and a dressing table. Different sized lamps next to your TV or in a cosy corner add that funkiness and fun to your bedroom. The Penny Morrison lamp bases and lampshades are perfect to mix and match with one another. The ceramic bases come in so many quirky and striking silhouettes and colours, while our range of bone inlay lamps are elegant and easily paired with colourful silk lampshades.

8. Accessorising

A bedroom is not complete without accessories so they are integral to interior design. All textiles, and rugs, in particular, are useful for softening a room’s acoustics. They should be as large as possible, unifying the bedroom as a complete space. Layering cushions on your bed creates a wonderfully warm and cosy feeling. Choose a bunch of cushions, clashing or matching, that you love and have fun arranging them.

9. Headboards

The first thing to position when rearranging or designing a bedroom is the bed. Do you have enough room for two bedside tables? What about a view from your bed? Attach the headboard to the bed rather than to the wall so if you do change the layout of your bedroom, it will move together with your bed. Patterned or floral fabrics are best for headboards as they don’t show dirt. If you prefer plain colours, use darker shades and finish them with contrast piping, a striped trim or studs. For pale or light fabric, make a slipper cover for the headboard so that it can be easily cleaned.

10. Finishing touches

For a timeless bedroom aesthetic, place artisanal and antique pieces alongside more contemporary items. To make your bedroom feel welcoming, build up layers throughout the space by using a variety of colours, patterns and textures. Art, artefacts and pictures build an additional layer of interest and character to a bedroom.