Top Ten Master Bedroom Decorating Tips
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Are you thinking of redecorating your master bedroom? How do you want it to feel? Do you like light and bright or more cozy and dark? Most bedrooms require a calming, peaceful, vibe to aid in a good night’s sleep. If you work shift work, having a darker room with good black out blinds or drapes might be needed. In any decorating project the function of the space is the number one priority.
Tip #1...Define your master bedroom needs...
Obviously bedrooms are for sleeping. But they may also be a romantic retreat, a home office, or place to get away from others. Having a TV in the bedroom is not ideal and I have to remember to turn it off at least an hour or two before going to sleep. Sometimes I don’t want to watch it in the living room though, so it is here.
Tip #2...Address any repairs needed...
Repair closet doors if they are coming off the rails, replace missing baseboard, or fix any minor repairs you have been putting off. I finally got the leg fixed on my Grandmother’s cedar chest. Fill any holes in walls before painting. Painting, as I have mentioned previously, is a great cost effective way to refresh or update any space.
Design tips for master bedroom decorating...
Tip #3...Play around with furniture layout...
Before I moved the furniture back into the room, I tried different layouts on paper. I tried placing the bed in the alcove where the fireplace is, but my nightstands wouldn’t fit. Even some smaller ones I had were too wide. Unwilling to give up on changing the layout I’ve had for too long, I eventually came up with the current layout.
Every room has it’s own challenges. I have a very small window on the side wall – not centered, which has made furniture placement difficult. For six years I had my bed on the front wall under the larger windows. I also have a nook that was created when the former owner extended one of the closets to make it a walk-in.
Decorating Tip 4...Fool the eye with window treatment...
To give the illusion of a larger window, hang drapes approximately one foot beyond sides of the window. Also, if you hang your drapes close to the ceiling it makes the room appear larger by drawing the eye up. Ideally, drapes should at least skim the floor or even puddle slightly. Unfortunately the drapes I have on the larger windows are a couple inches too short. I don’t want to invest in new drapes at this time or take the time to lengthen them. To take the focus off this I have put some furniture in front of them. (Don’t tell anyone.)
Decorating Tip 5...Use neutral colours (for large items) with only one or two accent colours...
I don’t mean to offend anyone that likes bold colours. (I personally love colour.) Paint is a great way to bring in colour and is relatively easy to change if you get sick of it. But if you don’t want to repaint every other year or so, stick to a neutral. (White, beige, grey, etc.). Or just paint one or two of the walls in your colour for a focus wall/s. Large pieces of furniture are expensive to replace though and you will probably tire of them quicker in bolder colours. Instead, bring in colour with accessories – pictures, cushions, bedding, objects d’art. Having only one or two accent colours helps to keep the space from looking too busy. It also helps to keep the space feeling peaceful and serene which adds to a good nights sleep.
Decorating Tip 6...Group decorative items in odd numbers - one, three or five...
This stylist tip has been around for a long time. Odd numbers are visually more appealing in vignettes. Select pieces that you love and are special to you in some way. Keep in mind the scale (size) of the items in relation to the objects around them. Notice how adding the fifth item (orchids) to the fireplace mantle vignette adds balance.
Decorating Tip 7...How to arrange Artwork...
The biggest mistake most people make in hanging artwork is to hang it too high. A general guideline is to hang it so the center of the picture is at eye level, on average between 58-60″. Of course, if your family is very tall you may want to hang it a little higher. However, it still needs to relate to the furniture and other items around it. Over a sofa, the bottom of a picture should be no more than 6-8″ and no wider than 2/3 the width of the sofa. If it is over a chest or table it should only be a few inches above the highest item below it. For my master bedroom I chose to hang a few favorite pictures singly on various walls to add impact without adding clutter. My great grandfather actually painted the little picture of some English houses on the left side of the fireplace.
Decorating Tip 8...How to use mirrors to enhance a space...
I should first make a disclaimer that if you follow Feng Shui practices you should not have any mirrors in the bedroom. If you do have a mirror it should not face the bed. (You also shouldn’t have the bed under a window, but it is unavoidable here.) The large mirror I have on the fireplace helps to reflect the light in what would otherwise be a dark corner. In the picture below notice the floor-length mirror in the corner which helps to balance the off-set window and bed placement. Although it does reflect the bottom of the bed at this angle, I don’t lie with my head down there so I can sleep just fine. Be aware of what the mirror does reflect, so you aren’t doubling a problem area. You don’t want to see extra clutter or messes.
Decorating Tip 9...Make minor changes for the seasons...
It was winter when I started this makeover project so I initially chose warmer and darker soft accessories. I have recently changed the bedding and dark curtains and cushions to lighten up for summer. My new duvet cover and sham set are cotton with embroidered detailing. Even the sheets were changed to plain white ones. With a Christmas gift-card to Homesense, I bought the new super soft, faux fur lumbar pillow which I absolutely love. The original white cushion was moved to the chair. The silver grey drapes, that replaced the dark teal ones, were repurposed from one of my guest suites. (Stay tuned for the guest suite makeover in a future post.)
Decorating Tip #10...Make your space special to you now...
Put some of your own personality in your bedroom. Choose things and elements that you (and your spouse) like. Favorite colours, mementos, pictures. This is your space to refresh yourself. Even if you do not have the budget or time to do any major renovations that you want, don’t wait to make it as nice as you can for now.
Someday, I would like to replace the cheap laminate flooring. I would also like to have a fireplace surround made with tiles to fill in the gap made with the new insert. Until that time comes, I will be happy with my new refreshed master bedroom makeover.
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