Our bedroom is the last place we see when we close our eyes and the first thing we see when waking up. It should be a space that not only reflects our personality but also allows us to decompress. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could close your bedroom door and feel like you have stepped away into your own personal oasis? Interior design can make it happen. No need to travel and stay in a dreamy hotel to feel like you are on a relaxing vacation.

Back to basics

A beautiful bedroom needs to function. What do I mean by this? Basically, you should be able to go around the room and have easy access to everything you need in your daily life. For example, there should be enough space to be able to get in and out of bed without having to move furniture around. It is better to keep it simple, the less clutter, the better. What do you really need in your bedroom? Remember, furniture should fit the room it lives in. If you have a large room, you are free to choose a heavy, large bed and chest of drawers, add a chair or place an ottoman at the end of the bed. Furniture and accessories that are too small will look lost in a large room. On the other hand, big furniture in a small room will make it look even smaller and cramped. Scale is everything. If you have the space, build a window seat, or add a comfy chair, it will create an intimate reading nook.

Adding history and personal touches

A bedroom is an intimate space, but it is still part of a home and its history. You can find inspiration in the design era of your home, or if it lacks one, you can always add some timeless vintage-inspired touches. You can play up existing roof pitches, fireplaces and even add some contrast by using wallpaper on the wall behind the bed. Another simple way of adding a historic reference is a framed piece of vintage art. If you are not into historic references, add a design style of your choice, be it Japandi, modern or which ever one you love most. Do not forget to add personal touches. For example, use a tray to hold the otherwise-scattered items on your chest of drawers, such as jewellery, perfume bottles, or small collectibles. Framed photographs of your family and travels are wonderful ways to infuse your personality into your bedroom design and make it feel cosy and unique to you.

Layer upon layer

One type of fabric is not enough. We are curious by nature and in most cases, love touching everything that we see. There is nothing that adds comfort to a bedroom like beautiful linens. Try to stick to high thread counts of 350 or more. Adding an upholstered headboard and layered bedding in a range of textures helps to create a feel-good spot for lounging and sleeping. Talking about headboards, if the space allows, a large wrap-around upholstered headboard is a great way to add a cocoon like feel. For the winter months, add a cashmere throw on the arm of a reading chair or at the foot of the bed. For the ultimate elegant oasis, you can cover the walls with silk or textured wall coverings, hang silk draperies and if there is space, add a silk bed canopy. If you want to go a step further, you can add warmth by adding a beautiful soft rug. It helps to anchor a space and feels great underfoot. Do not forget about the window treatment! A beautifully dressed window provides other ways to add colour, pattern, texture, and softness to a bedroom. Soft sheer curtains filter light but are not great for privacy. I suggest combining them with opaque roller blinds that can be pulled down to maintain privacy at night and to block morning light.

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Earthy neutrals and natural elements

Colour is key to creating a cosy interior design scheme. As you know, everyone has its own interpretation of which colour they like and much has to do with the memory it evokes. It is such a broad subject, there is no strict right or wrong when choosing colour. If you are struggling to decide, it is safe to say neutrals are your friends. A palette of warm shades of grey and cream earthy neutrals and lots of texture can turn your bedroom into a serene and relaxing oasis. It is important to remember, as per my post on wellbeing, natural elements play a major role in our wellness and should be present in a design scheme for a cosy feel. If you are not into warm wood tones, by adding natural woven elements like rugs or baskets you are adding an extra dimension to your design. Aside from wooden furniture and natural fibres, if space is tight, try to bring in a vase of flowers or fluffy dried pampas grass to complete your natural interior design scheme.

Dare to add colour!

Neutrals are wonderful and with added textures they can go a long way. But if you are feeling a lack of interest in your bedroom design, pair your restful palette of monochromatic/neutral tones with a splash of colour. Instead of bold primary colours, I would suggest choosing soothing shades. Gentle hues of blue are a great option to create a soothing vibe. I love blue, and most people do as well, it is the most loved colour in the world! Other calm and serene colours are lavender and green. If you want to move towards warmer colours, toasty browns, deep pomegranate, or topaz hues help set the mood of cosiness and comfort. A useful tip is to use a toned-down version of your favourite colours in the bedroom.

The fifth wall in a room

What happens when you lay in bed and look up, what do you see? Often, a blank ceiling. It is so important to treat it like another piece of the interior design scheme. You can add texture using stencils or paint in a blush colour. A useful tip go lighter than the wall colour if you want the ceiling to disappear. It makes your attention focus on the walls and furnishings. If you do not mind a bit of drama, you can also add architectural features like beams, medallions, or mouldings. For ultimate luxury, a canopy or tented bed with a dressing that hangs from the ceiling can envelop you in sensuality and warmth. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring texture and colour into the bedroom.

Selfie Setup and Ambient Light

. As per my past light blog posts, the intensity and colour of the light in a room makes or breaks a mood. It is best to “layer" lighting throughout the bedroom. Aside from the general ceiling ambient light, add small lamps that can focus light for reading and other activities. To help wash the walls in soft illumination, use accent lights. A bedside lamp with a movable arm is a great option for reading in bed. Now for the fun part, let us talk mirrors. Mirrors not only bounce light around, but also create depth and add dimension. A tall standing mirror leaning against a wall reflects light and creates the perfect selfie set-up. Choosing the right frame will complete your bedroom oasis design.

If you need help coming up with the right interior design scheme for your dream bedroom oasis, I can help with my virtual design consultation or full room makeover. Contact me here!

7 Bedroom Design Tips for a Cosy Oasis