UpdatedNov 18, 2024 4:16 PM EST
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It is where we read, recharge, and daydream—the ultimate refuge after a long, hard day. A bedroom is one of the few spots in a home we can call entirely our own, especially for those sharing space with family or roommates. Open to personalization, it is the room where we are permitted to let our decorative minds run free.
Yet it is equally vital to get the fundamentals right. Beyond the staples—bed, nightstand, and so on—there are complementary pieces that elevate an ordinary room into a restful retreat conducive to peaceful slumber. So if you find yourself wondering how to actually decorate a bedroom, we have you covered. Ahead, a concise list of the essentials no bedroom should be without.
You want something that keeps you cool and delivers proper lumbar support. If you hesitate to spend on a new mattress, bear in mind: a high-quality mattress should last 10 to 15 years. A cheap one? Half that. Before you buy, catch up on our guides to the best soft mattresses, best innerspring mattresses, best Tempur-Pedic mattresses, and best organic mattresses.
Whether white or moody burgundy, a fresh coat of paint works wonders in a bedroom. If you favor the former, lean into a neutral shade with warm undertones—designers are devoted to Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee and Behr’s Crisp Linen. We are also partial to Farrow & Ball’s Lichen, a calming sage; Benjamin Moore’s blue-green Dragonfly; and chalky black tints such as F&B’s Railings.
If you want to weave different patterns through your bedding, the key is varying scale—small to large. The Tekla x Artek duvet (one of our 2024 Good Design Award winners) is an excellent entry into florals. If you prefer a streamlined look, choose a flowy, solid-colored bed cover, such as this Cultiver design.
You want a bed that says: come in, curl up, lean back—I’ve got you. An upholstered option does the trick. Shops like The Inside offer abundant fabric choices, while brands such as The Citizenry are leaning into pillowy silhouettes.
Top your bedside table with a carafe, a great book, and a lamp to anchor a calming nighttime routine. Tuck the less aesthetically pleasing essentials—medications, eye masks, hand creams—inside a drawer.
After studying the cozy bedrooms that populate Nancy Meyers’s films, we learned that a tall lamp crowned with a generous linen shade is one reliable route to a welcoming atmosphere. And if you have little nightstand real estate to spare, fear not—Pooky’s cordless sconces let renters capture that same warm glow.
Depending on the size of your bed, you want enough sleeping pillows that it looks inviting, yet not so many that you cannot actually sleep in it. Nate Berkus’s tip? Lay four pillows, stacked in pairs, flat at the top of the bed. Jake Arnold, by contrast, favors a more pared-back arrangement: two pillows tucked neatly beneath the bedspread with a single lumbar pillow on top. When in doubt, you cannot go wrong with a set of ruffled decorative cushions.
Think: an ottoman beside the dresser, a chair-and-a-half tucked into a corner, or a bench at the foot of the bed. It is essential to have somewhere to sit—take a phone call, pull on shoes—that is not the edge of the mattress.
You will not tire of this storage staple if you commit to solid wood pieces with ample drawers. One of our contributing editors recently upgraded from the IKEA Malm to Thuma’s dresser, crafted from recycled wood, and was delighted with the result. We also recommend scouring local thrift and antiques stores for a wood piece you can paint yourself.
Bring in a potted plant—large or small—to lend the bedroom an organic note of color. A single plant can transform a space, especially one on the smaller side. Here is our quick list of the best plants for a bedroom.
Sumak Studio via Minted
Believe it or not, family photographs can stir memories and emotions that keep you awake at night—even happy ones. Reserve those images for the other rooms of the house. In the bedroom, opt instead for an oversize work of art or a colorful print.
No one relishes waking and stepping onto a cold, hard floor. Layer that hardwood with a plush area rug—right now we favor solid-colored options—or a flat-weave runner along either side of the bed frame.
If zen is what you are after, consider making the bedroom an electronics-free zone. Everyone breaks this rule, but try to leave technology in the living room or office. Your bedroom deserves to be a place for rest.
Lydia Geisel has been on the editorial team at Domino since 2017. Today, she writes and edits home and renovation stories, including house tours, before and afters, and DIYs, and leads our design news coverage. She lives in New York City.
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