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The bedroom is that special place of complete zen and harmony, where we can feel completely relaxed and recharge our batteries after a long day.
The main purpose of a bedroom is to sleep, but who would say no to a luxuriously dreamy bedroom that would make even the most prestigious hotels take notes? And all without the hefty price tag!
In case you think your bank balance won’t support your grand desires to transform your bedroom – think again!
Check out 22 easy ways you can achieve the luxe bedroom of your dreams on a budget.
1. STYLE YOUR NIGHTSTAND
Your nightstand has all the quick go-to items you simply want to reach over and grab like your phone charger or toiletry items but to make it neater and less fussy try moving these items elsewhere like onto a dressing table, in a small storage basket or utilise the drawers in the nightstand.
Rethink the items you want to leave on the nightstand – organise them or use a beautiful display tray.
Pictured: Lynton Black Compact Bedside from Dunelm
2. UPDATE YOUR BED LINEN
A good duvet set can instantly uplift your bedroom. Whether you are choosing subtle neutral or pastel hues, watercolour florals or geometric prints, just take note of the rest of the room.
Also, material quality counts, Egyptian cotton reigns supreme, but cotton with a high thread count will still give that quality feel and breathability.
Pictured: Hydrangeas Duvet Set from Bluebellgray
3. ADD A STATEMENT THROW
Honestly, great bed dressing skills is the true hallmark of an expensive-looking bedroom, the bed is the first thing you notice due to size and can easily rival any other piece of furniture when it comes to style and character.
A statement blanket contributes to achieving a layered look on the bed and allows you to introduce a different material – try a satin or velvet throw for a decadent look.
4. DOUBLE UP ON PILLOWS
Have you ever been to a fancy hotel and see just two pillows on the bed? Of course not! A good selection of pillows of varying sizes effortlessly makes a bedroom look more luxurious and expensive.
There are many ways to arrange pillows and cushions according to bed size to achieve this grand look.
Pictured: Pure Salt Interiors
5. LIMIT THE COLOUR PALETTE
Maintaining a high level of cohesion in the bedroom whether you opt for a bold and colourful look or a neutral look is critical.
A good way to do this is by limiting the number of colours in the room and choosing colours that effortlessly complement each other.
6. LAYER THE LIGHTING
Layered lighting has the ability to create an atmospheric effect, emphasise different focal points and combine functionality and aesthetics together.
Layering lights is easy when you consider purpose, the ceiling light is to illuminate the entire room, a wall light brightens dark corners and side table lamps are perfect for reading.
Pictured: Pooky
7. KEEP THE FLOOR CLUTTER-FREE
A bedroom full of messy clothes, papers, cables or shoes doesn’t really give the impression of a polished look.
Simply keeping the room tidy and giving everything a discreet home means there is more floor space and organisation, which allows for more focus on the room’s decor.
Pictured: Westex Flooring
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8. INSTALL A PADDED HEADBOARD
As time goes on, headboards are becoming more and more grandiose. No more are they just a necessity to keep the draft out and provide extra comfort, they have become a statement piece that can anchor a bedroom’s theme together.
Browse Pinterest for unique padded headboard inspiration.
Pictured: Giselle Bed Head from Heatherly Designs
9. POSITION FURNITURE TO A SYMMETRICAL LAYOUT
Having the furniture arranged in a symmetrical way makes the room feel more balanced and harmonious.
You’ll usually see this done by positioning the head of the bed in the middle of one wall instead of the length of one side of the bed being flush against a wall, then you can place bedside tables on either side of it with matching lamps.
Pictured: Brexton Cole Interiors
10. USE MIRRORS FOR THE ILLUSION OF EXTRA SPACE
Expensive-looking bedrooms are typically not on the small side, so if you need to make your room look spacious, one of the oldest tricks in the book is to include a mirror.
Three easy ways to do this in the bedroom are by using a floor-standing mirror, decorative wall mirrors, or mirrored furniture.
11. FEATURE A WALL
Feature walls have the ability to influence or transform the look of a room, they can create a focal point, help to tie a colour palette together, introduce a new colour, pattern or texture and can alleviate the cost, time and effort of decorating all four walls.
Pictured: Dominic Blackmore
12. ADD A BOLSTER
Bolsters are a decorative accent to add regality to your bed dressing, they come in various fabrics and designs to suit your needs with anything from a luscious velvet cylindrical bolster with piping to a rectangular-shaped cotton bolster with a patterned design and tassels at the four corners.
One is enough to make an impact, just position it at the front of all the other pillows/cushions on your bed in the middle.
Pictured: Amari X Long Bolster by Winnoby
13. UPDATE WINDOW TREATMENTS
When decorating any room we often forget the importance of window treatments which can serve both a practical and decorative purpose.
Whether you prefer long flowing drapes/curtains, Venetian blinds, Roman shades or timeless shutters or another type, choose something that will tie in well to the rest of the room.
Pictured: California Shutters
14. DISPLAY ART
Show your personality and add a bit of drama to those bare walls with some art in your bedroom.
Remember that elements of the room like the colour of the wall and accent colours should influence the pictures you want to display as well as the frame they’ll be in.
If you love a gallery wall – just don’t overdo it! 3-5 pictures in various sizes look great without making the room seem cluttered.
Pictured: Fenton & Fenton
15. UPGRADE YOUR BEDSIDE LAMP
Bedside lamps are somewhat of a necessity, they illuminate the area close to your bed which is useful for reading at night or doing a crossword puzzle (if that’s still a thing!)
But other than that, due to there being such a variety of styles and materials for both the shade and base, they can quite easily end up doubling as a statement piece too.
Pictured: Marco Amber Resin Lamp from Pooky
16. ADD SOME GREENERY
Adding some plants into your bedroom has to be one of the cheapest ways to take your bedroom from drab to fab!
Whether it’s a large Areca Palm or modest Chinese Evergreen is totally up to you, just don’t let a cheap-looking pot spoil it!
Pictured: Pure Salt Interiors
17. LAY DOWN A RUG
A rug is not only a quick go-to for anchoring furniture together and adding warmth to a room, but it’s also an opportunity to explore another texture and boost overall style.
But to really take the leap to luxury, it’s all in the positioning, either place the rug alongside one side of the bed or place the rug horizontally with almost two thirds underneath the bed with the front feet of the bed resting on it – this showcases and defines the bed area.
Pictured: Souk Wool Rug from West Elm
18. INCLUDE A STYLISH HANGING LIGHT FIXTURE
The ceiling light is possibly the only thing above your eye line in your bedroom (apart from your curtains), but that doesn’t mean it’s not a deal-breaker!
Just note that if your bedroom has high ceilings, a large pendant chandelier or lampshade would create an attractive focal point. Smaller light fixtures might work best in modestly sized bedrooms, particularly when the decor is contemporary.
Pictured: Essence Vintage Large Chandelier from French Bedroom Company
19. INCLUDE A SEATING AREA
A seating area can make the overall room look a bit formal yet cosy at the same time. You can use an accent chair with or without a stool as a place to relax, have a chat on the phone or a read magazine/book.
The good thing about having a designated seating area is that you don’t have to sit on your bed – crumpling up your pretty bed dressing.
Pictured: Rizado White Faux Sheepskin Armchair from Oliver Bonas
20. UPGRADE YOUR FURNITURE
If you’ve had your bedroom furniture for a while there’s a high chance it’s not giving the wow factor like it used to. When choosing new bedroom furniture, go for unique pieces that complement each other, a matching set just looks like a shop showroom.
Also, don’t forget the little details, drawer handles and feet can make a lot of difference. If you like wood but need a cheaper alternative, go with a high-quality MDF structure with a real wood veneer finish.
Pictured: Florence Small Chest Of Drawers from Graham & Green
21. FAKE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
Wood panelling is an awesome way to add a traditional charm or rustic finish to your bedroom. But if you can’t afford to fork out for real wood, don’t worry! You can fake it with faux wood panelling.
Just like real wood, faux wood panelling is more than just looks, it can actually protect your wall, provide some insulation and conceal wear and tear on the wall beneath.
If you can’t be bothered with that, just get faux wood panelling effect wallpaper instead.
Pictured: Lifestyle Floors
22. INCORPORATE AN END OF BED BENCH
The foot of the bed is always a spot that’s often overlooked, but if you have a lot of space there – it could be a missed opportunity.
Bed benches look stunning and have a multi-purpose appeal. Use it to drape a throw, a place to display a tray or as extra seating.
Neatly stack your magazines and slide your fluffy slippers underneath if it has an open space there.
Pictured: Mila Upholstered Bench from Rowen & Wren
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