Decorate a Bedroom

Are you tired of coming home to a nondescript bedroom? Or have you had the same style for years and want to give your room a new look? Here are some great ways to give your bedroom a new look without spending too much money. There are even a few ways to use what you have.

Steps

Getting Started

  1. Decide how much time and money you want to spend. If you have a lot of money to spend, then you can decorate your room to your heart's content. However, most of the time a decorator will have to work within a budget. If you are on a tight budget, however, you might have to cut some corners. For example:
    • Instead of buying new furniture, you could repaint or refinish your old furniture.
    • Instead of repainting your walls, you could apply vinyl wall decals. This is a popular choice for youth, and for those who cannot paint the walls. also great for those who don't have a lot of time.
    • If you are crafty, consider some DIY decorations or furniture
    • Consider decorating your room a little bit at a time. Maybe you do not have $500 to spend on redecorating currently. But if one month you spend $50 on paint, the next $50 on new curtains, and so on, it can be more affordable.
  2. Decide on a theme. While you do not absolutely have to have a theme, this will help you decide what furniture to get, and what sorts of colors and patterns to use for things such as walls, bed linens, rugs, and pillows. Start with something that you like, such as a favorite animal, interest, or color. Here are some places you can find inspiration and ideas:
    • Browse image saving websites, such as Pinterest.
    • Go through home decorating catalogs.
    • Visit some furniture stores and take note of displays that you like.
  3. Consider whether you will like your theme several years from now. If you are planning to stay in your house for a while and are uninterested in redecorating often, will you still like the theme you have now? If you go through different interests often, choose a general theme (such as colors and patterns you like) for the walls, rugs, and furniture. Express your current interests with smaller items you can easily change, such as lampshades, bed linens, or figurines.
    • If you are a teen, you are likely to change interests fairly quickly. What was your passions at 13 may be different at 17.
    • Be careful of over-committing to a theme. It is one thing to have your sheet set have a theme of horses. But if your bed, lamps, curtains, artwork, throw-pillows, carpet, and more have horses, that could be a bit too much.
  4. Make sure your room is clean. If your room is very messy or cluttered, you might want to clean it first. This will give you a blank slate to work with. It will be easier to move things around and see how they look.
  5. Get rid of unnecessary clutter. Review your room decor. Do you have a theme already in your room, or a mishmash of different themes? Consider getting rid of some items that you no longer use, or that no longer suit your taste or style. You can sell these items online or donate them to a charity center.
    • If you have something that you still like, but that no longer suits the current style of your room, see if you can re-purpose, repaint, or redecorate it.
  6. Consider working with what you already have. If you are on a budget, take a look at your current furniture, and see if you can re-purpose them to fit your new style. A simple wooden bed can easily be made to fit lots of different styles with the right paint job or bed linens. For example:
    • Paint your bed a solid color for a sleek, modern look.
    • Add a colorful quilt and lots of pillows with different patterns for a boho look.
    • For a vintage, country-chic look, you could paint your bed a base color, and then add a second coat of a crackle-effect paint to get that weathered look.

Decorating the Walls and Windows

  1. Give your walls a fresh coat of paint or apply some wallpaper. You can also paint the walls a solid color first, and then paste on a narrow strip of wallpaper going around the room. The strip can be in the center of the wall, or towards the top.
    • If you can't paint the walls or change the wallpaper, tack some fabric to the wall instead. Try to get it as smooth as possible.
    • If you have a small room, consider painting your walls one color, and leaving the ceiling white. This will make your room look bigger.
  2. Consider having an accent wall. Instead of painting your entire room one color, paint three walls white or off-white, and the fourth wall a darker, contrasting color. Place all of your statement furniture against this wall.
  3. Add some designs with wall stencils. Choose a base color for the background, and a contrasting color for the designs. Paint the background color first, let it dry, then apply the designs with more paint and stencils.
    • If you live in a rental unit, use wall decals instead. They are giant, vinyl stickers that peel off easily when it is time to move out.
  4. Hang up some posters, photos, or artwork. This is great for those who are on a budget or are unable to repaint their rooms. If you are living in a rental unit, use double-sided mounting tape, stick-on mounting hooks, or poster putty/tack instead.
    • If you are hanging the wall art above your bed, consider matching it to your bed linens. For example, if your wall art has a white background with blue flowers, consider getting white bed linens with blue flowers on them as well.[1]
  5. Save space by getting items that can be fixed to the wall. Nightstands and adjustable lamps can be affixed to walls and are a great way to save space. You can also put some shelves above your bed to store some of your favorite, personal items as well.
  6. Hang some fairy lights or string lights on the walls. You can use ordinary Christmas lights, or decorative ones. Decorative lights come in all different shapes and sizes, and can be found in shops that sell light fixtures and room décor. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors, such as flowers and butterflies.
    • If your room has white or light-colored walls, choose lights with a white or clear wire. If your room has darker-colored walls, choose lights with a clear wire.

Adding Pillows, Linens, Curtains, and Rugs

  1. Add some extra pillows to your bed. To get that luxurious, hotel-like feel, plan on having two to six pillows on your bed. Place the larger pillows towards the back, and the smaller pillows towards the front. Don't be afraid to mix and match different colors and patterns.[2] Here are some more ideas to get you started:[3]
    • Mix large, bold prints with smaller, more intricate ones.
    • Combine organic prints with geometric prints.
    • Use contrasting colors. For example, you could get a pillow with a bright green pattern and a plain white pillow.
    • For accent pillows, consider using something with a textured fabric or an irregular shape. For example, you could get a velvet round pillow or a brocade tube pillow.
  2. Get luxurious covers. Top your bed with covers made for snuggling like a down comforter.
    • For an added touch of luxury, consider getting a comforter with a duvet cover instead of a plain old bed sheet.
  3. Give your windows and walls some color with curtains. Try to match the curtains to some aspect of your room, such as the rug, pillows, or bed linens. You don't have to go out and buy curtains; saris and shawls can make beautiful, graceful curtains.
    • If you live in a rental unit, you might already have blinds. See if you can place a curtain rod on top of the blinds.
    • Consider draping a floral garland or some string lights above your curtains for an added touch.
  4. Add some softness and warmth with a cozy rug. Try to get a rug that matches some aspect of your room, such as the bed linens, curtains, or wall color. If the headboard is against a wall, get a rug that extends 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 centimeters) past all three sides of the bed. The most common rug placement is just in front of the nightstands, with the rug extending past the foot of the bed. If you have a longer rug, consider tucking it under the nightstands instead; this will help ground them better. Here are some common rug sizes and bed sizes:[4][5]
    • If you have a twin, double, or full sized bed, get a 5 by 8 foot or a 8 by 10 foot rug.
    • If you have a queen or king sized bed, get a 8 by 10 foot or 9 by 12 foot rug.
    • If your room already has a carpet, consider placing a small rug on one side of the bed. Sheepskin rugs are great for this.

Adding Accents and Accessories

  1. Add warmth with lighting. Soft overhead lighting or a clip-on overhead lamp is a great way to accomplish this. You can also use tall, standing lamps in corners, or desk lamps on dressers. Fairy lights and string lights are a great way of adding some design and movement to your walls while making things a bit brighter.
  2. Use candles to add a soft glow to your room. You can choose scented or unscented ones. If you own pets, or are hesitant about having open flame in your room, consider getting some battery-operated candles instead. Some of them come scented and even flicker, just like real candles.
    • Consider switching out candles with the seasons. Use fresh, floral or fruity scents for the spring and summer, and spicy or woodsy scents for the fall and winter.
  3. Add mirrors to make your room look bigger. You can hang a small mirror above your dresser, or a longer one over the back of your door. Instead of getting a plain mirror, consider getting one with a fancier frame, an unusual shape, or some designs etched onto it.
  4. Use color and prints. Your bed linens, pillows, rugs, and curtains don't have to be the only source of color and pattern in your room.[6] You can easily make a boring, blank wall appear more interesting by getting a lamp with a colorful shade.
  5. Try going monochrome. If you want a nice, clean look to your room, but don't want to go mundane with stark whites, you can try mixing and matching different shades of the same color. For example, all of your bed linens, pillows, rugs, curtains, and furniture can be different shades of green, such as light, medium, and dark.[7]
  6. Have something to serve as the focus of your room. This can be as simple as an accent wall or a bed, to something as intricate as a fancy headboard or light fixture. If you choose to make your bed the focus of the room, place it in the center of one wall, and decorate it with pillows and a blanket.[2]
    • A shelf with a collection of things you like can make a great focal piece. Try not to overcrowd the shelf, however, and consider layering items by placing smaller items in front of larger ones.
  7. Add a nightstand with all of the necessities. This will make your bed space appear more luxurious and comfortable. Try to include a lamp, a clock, and some flowers, either in a pot or vase. If you like to read, consider having a stack of books. If you tend to get thirsty at night, have a glass and a carafe filled with water; this will save you late-night trips to the kitchen for a glass of water.
    • If you have a large bed set in the center of the wall, consider having one nightstand on each side of the bed. This will help create symmetry and balance.[2]
    • Keep scale in mind. The larger your bed is, the larger nightstand and lamp your will need.[8]
  8. Consider getting a comfortable place to sit. If you like to spend a lot of time in your room, you might want to get a comfortable chair to sit in, this way, you will be reserving your bed as just a place to sleep in. To make your sitting nook extra cozy, place it in the corner of the room.
    • You can use an armchair, a small sofa, or even a beanbag chair.[2]



Tips

  • Decorative boxes can be used as storage on shelves while adding bursts of color to your room.
  • Try to work on one part of the room at a time. Start with the walls first, then the floor, then the bed linens and curtains. Finish off with accent pieces and accessories.
  • Try to maximize space as much as you can. If you have a small room, put your larger pieces of furniture against the walls to make your room appear bigger.
  • Be consistent. You may like many different themes and styles, but not all of them will look good together.
  • If you can't afford the whole project right away, do it a little at a time. Add things like bedspreads and accessories gradually as you can afford them.
  • A pretty wardrobe can double as a decorative piece and a place to store your clothes. A coat rack can fit into tight corners and act as a quick and easy place to hang coats.
  • Going to Goodwill and resale shops is highly recommended because you can find tons of cute stuff for super cheap. Just make sure to check for bugs if you are getting furniture and be sure to clean up what you buy so it doesn't look "used".
  • A thrift shop is a great place to look for décor, accessories, and accent pieces.
  • If you have a sibling try to compromise so you can make it girly and boyish.
  • If you share a room, you could hang a curtain in between.
  • Always add a lot of knick knacks to make your room unique!
  • If you live at your parents' home, remember to ask permission first, because they might not want you to do anything with your bedroom right away.
  • Consider taking electronics, including TVs and computers, out of the bedroom and moving them to another room. This will help your mind associate your bedroom with rest and help you sleep better at night.[2]

Warnings

  • Don't add so much artwork that you can't see the walls. It will make your bedroom look too crowded.
  • Don't put so much stuff in your room that you don't have room to walk.
  • Sometimes when you redecorate your room, you might miss your "old" room. Consider keeping at least one thing in the same place to maintain a sense of familiarity.
  • Your bedroom should be an expression of your own style, but if you live in your parents' home, they may have the final say. Approach them with a plan, including a budget and an idea of how much you will pay and how much you would like them to pay. You should be ready to negotiate.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/decorating-bedroom/decorating-tricks-bedroom/wall-decals
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 http://www.elledecor.com/home-remodeling-renovating/home-renovation/tips/g596/10-things-bedroom-needs/
  3. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/decorating-bedroom/decorating-tricks-bedroom/pile-pillows
  4. ↑ http://marysherwoodlifestyles.com/rugs-101-everything-you-need-to-know-when-shopping-for-an-area-rug/
  5. ↑ http://www.howtodecorate.com/2015/02/guide-to-choosing-a-rug-size-2/
  6. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/decorating-bedroom/decorating-tricks-bedroom/printed-lampshade
  7. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/decorating-bedroom/decorating-tricks-bedroom/color-saturation
  8. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/decorating-bedroom/decorating-tricks-bedroom/size-lamp
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