garden inspired bedroom design — Our garden inspired bedroom project.

For me, my bedroom is my sanctuary. With two relatively small kids, a full time job and a house renovation on the go, I often go to bed pretty exhausted while the house looks like we’ve been burgled by a team of angry toddlers.

Being able to walk out of the chaos and into the calm is really important. I’m one of those people who can’t function without their sleep. It’s annoying and frustrating but I have to go with it. If I don’t sleep I’m horrible, so creating a space that is calming, comfortable and luxurious is important.

Once the basics are right in a bedroom design scheme, the interior styling can make all the difference. Adding that final layer of personalisation to the room design makes a huge difference. That final layer of luxury doesn’t have to cost the earth either, but a few thoughtful touches can make all the difference.

The Basics of Bedroom Design

Let’s start with the interior design basics for the bedroom. Light and warmth come first. Everyone likes their bedroom at a different temperature, make sure you have everything in place to achieve that. Fresh air is important so make sure you’re opening the windows and circulating the air even in winter. Blocking out the light is important too if you don’t want to wake up with the larks. A comfortable, well supported bed is a must and the right pillows are crucial to a good night sleep. Once these basics are right, then we can start getting busy on the bedroom styling. For more on the full process from the layout to styling, click here.

Colour

Getting a bedroom colour right is really important as it needs to be calming and relaxing. Unless you’re someone who needs to be surrounded by bright colour, I’d stay away from really bright shades in a bedroom design and go for more muted tones and neutrals. Most people go for two colours in a bedroom but it’s always better to to pick out at least three. One is a base colour, one a more prominent colour and one more for accents. Take our bedroom for example. It all started with some prints that I saw and absolutely loved. I built the colour scheme around those earthy warm tones and textures. The warm neutral I used on the walls and the accessories. The blue was a more prominent colour on the panelling and the pinky brown shade was for accents I used on the cushions and throw on the bed. It all has to start somewhere so start with perhaps a patterned cushion or a picture or perhaps a photo of scenery you like and pick out the colours. Paint can so easily be matched these days to a cushion or even a photo, just be brave. Take your colours from nature and you can’t go wrong. Often people put the colours together first and then struggle to find pictures that compliment it. Always work backwards, last thing you decide is the colour on the walls.

The Master Bedroom in our Lewes Crescent Project.

Bedding

With your colours chosen it’s all about the neutral base for me. I’m a big fan of a white duvet cover and bedding. And it has to be cotton, I’m a cotton snob. I love anything textured like a waffle, seersucker or washed cotton, and a thin stripe can add interest without being too bold. I’d have a different duvet set for every day of the week if I could (and someone to change them too obviously, isn’t it just the pits of a job!). Oh and we can’t forget linen bedding, in the summer its just gorgeous if you’re happy to go for the more casual look. Cotton and linen are more breathable and softer to the touch. Try and avoid anything with polyester, it can be sweaty and itchy.

So with a very neutral base you can start to add your colour. Add lots of textures and your colour through the cushions and throws. I love me a layered bed but I can’t go too far or my husband refuses point blank to make it so I try and restrict it. On a bed I love a couple of big square cushions with a rectangle in front. Don’t be shy to go for large cushions, two 60cm x 60cm are great at the back, look fab and are really practical for night time reading or tele watching. For the rectangle a 60cm x 40cm looks great in front. Go for soft textures, nothing shiny and change up the texture of the front one. Linens, velvets & cottons work really well. I love H&M home for the big cushions, I have loads of them and use them all the time in my client’s homes.

A blanket or throw at the end of the bed is super practical and always finishes off a bed in my opinion. You can change these up throughout the year adding a nice warm blanket in Winter and a linen or cotton throw in Summer.

Bedroom Lighting

This is all about the warm white lights. At night time I only ever use the side lights as they create a really cosy atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to go for a larger than usual lamp on a bedside they look great. I always prefer a shade in a bedroom as it softens the light - bare bulbs offer a really bright light that isn’t quite as cosy as shaded light. Fairy lights can look really pretty. I’m a huge fan of candles but not in the bedroom people. It’s just dangerous.

Plants in Design

A lot of people don’t think about putting a plant in the bedroom but having plants around is always lovely and they can look great on a bedside table. I always have a small plant, some dried eucalyptus or some greenery from the garden in a small vase at the side of my bed. Keep it small. If there isn’t room put a small vase on a pile of books. But add something natural, it really elevates the design of the bedroom.

Storage

It always sounds so boring when I bang on about storage, but without good storage your bedroom simply won’t be tidy and a tidy space is a tidy mind…particularly in the bedroom. No one can sleep well amongst the clutter so clear it away. Under the bed, in the wardrobes, wherever it has to go, get the clutter out of the bedroom. When not invest in some shelves? This is very useful for a kids bedroom. see our top tips for styling kids bedrooms here.

The bedside Table

We’ve discussed having something fresh like flowers or a plant and a warm white light. A trinket tray is always a good idea to put your jewellery or a watch at the end of the day. I always recommend having a drawer in a bedside table to hide any clutter. It keeps things neat and looks pretty. Try and keep anything else hidden.

Pictures & Photos

I always recommend to my clients that their bedroom is the one place that isn’t full of photos of the kids. We all love our kids but I’m a firm believer that your bedroom should be about you and your partner, it’s the one space that’s sacred in the house. Add photos of the two of you and include artwork, prints or pictures of things that you find calming. For me that is often a landscape or a picture of the trees. Abstract prints that bring in some colour are also a nice idea. I don’t want my mind to wander off anywhere chaotic so again it’s all about the calming images and colours that keep a bedroom design tranquil and help you to doze off to sleep. There are many ways to add personality into your home, check out why this is so important and how to add more personality into your home here

Finally, make sure that not only your bedroom design, but your bedtime routine is right for the very best night’s sleep. The very clever folks at Loughborough University (where I’m very proud to have gone) have been researching sleep for over 30 years, and have some great tips on creating the right routines and rituals to get a good night’s sleep. Have a read it’s really useful information.

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Home Design Essentials: How to Style a Beautiful Master Bedroom

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