At the beginning of every year, Emmett and I sit down to determine what house projects and renovations we’d like to tackle in the months ahead. This year, our primary suite made the list, which feels like a big and exciting project (our bedroom, bathroom, and the closet). Here’s to hoping we can make it happen! One of my personal goals is also to get better sleep this year. A bedroom makeover feels like the perfect incentive to focus on creating a peaceful environment- perfect for inducing relaxation and sleep. As I’m thinking ahead to our bedroom design plan, here are 20 things everything bedroom should have (according to me- an interior designer). Let me know what essentials are on your list! You might be surprised by some of these…
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I’m guessing if you’ve clicked into this post, you’re envisioning these essentials would live in your main bedroom, where you’re relaxing & sleeping. However, many of these also apply to curating a really cozy and comfortable bedroom for guests. In those situations, you can pick and choose the most important items so house guests can feel at home in your house. Either way, the goal is to create a beautiful and comfortable retreat for quality sleeping, relaxing, and unplugging.
My Bedroom Essentials
1. A Quality Mattress
We have a couple of these mattresses in our guest bedrooms and everyone asks where they’re from. The foundation of a good night of sleep begins with a really comfortable mattress you can sink into.
2. Calming Wall Paint
Choosing the right paint color for a bedroom is crucial, because it can really influence the mood. The key is to choose a hue that feels calming or soothing to put you in that relaxed state-of-mind. Check out this post for timeless paint colors and favorite pairings!
3. Super Soft Sheets
During the winter months, I’m partial to extra soft flannel sheets. Once spring and summer rolls around, I’ll switch them for cotton or linen. No matter your material preference, I think we can all agree that soft or silky sheets are a must for creating a luxurious bedroom experience.
4. Nightstands or Bedside Storage
No matter the size of a bedroom, I always make room to squeeze in bedside tables or nightstands… even better if they have some sort of closed storage. They are a key component for any bedroom, giving you a place to drop items, charge your devices, and corral essentials within reaching distance.
5. Plush Bed Pillows
I’m a fan of extra plush & lofty down bed pillows, but there are plenty of fabulous down alternatives that feel equally as luxe with the same durability.
6. Cozy Bedside Lamps or Sconces
Soft lighting in a bedroom is essential. I also like the symmetry they bring to a space. Add a table lamp to each nightstand or a wall mounted sconce to each side of the bed for a beautiful and functional aesthetic. Bonus points if you sync them to your smart home.
7. A Sturdy Bed Frame or Headboard
Don’t skip investing in a sturdy bed frame or headboard. Our upholstered bed is the most expensive piece of furniture I own for good reason- it has been with us for almost 15 years. Invest in a classic option the first time around that will last.
8. A Dresser or Adequate Storage
No matter your bedroom closet organization, if you have the space to include a dresser- I always recommend integrating one into a bedroom floor plan. They’re ideal for storage, but are also great for anchoring and balancing a space. Use this as an opportunity to install art, a mirror, or even a disguised TV (if that’s your thing) above it.
9. A Decorative Pillow (or Pillows)
Easy bed styling tip for you… invest in a single long bolster or lumbar style decorative pillow. They’re comfy, quick for bed making, and they look perfectly tailored. This simple pillow will save you time and money, as opposed to purchasing multiples.
10. Layered Lighting Synced to Your Smart Home
This essential is more about the smart home plug than the fixture itself. We sync all of our bedroom lamps, sconces, and gallery lights to our smart home app, so they can be set to a schedule or controlled conveniently with our phones (or voice control). There is nothing better than lounging in bed to say, “turn off Sarah’s light” and my sconce magically clicks off… life’s little luxuries.
11. A Place to Sit
If you can manage the space, I love to anchor the foot of the bed with a bench, ottoman, loveseat, chaise, or pair of chairs. Every bedroom should have a convenient place to sit… even if it’s a tiny chair or stool tucked into the corner.
12. Privacy or Blackout Window Treatments
Make sure your bedroom window treatments are privacy lined or blackout- which is even better for darkening a space to sleep your best. I’m partial to pleated panels, but you could also layer these with woven or roman shades! Check out this post on how to “train” readymade curtains, like the set I linked.
13. An Air Purifier
Considering how much time we spend sleeping in our bedroom, if you’re going to invest in an air purifier- this is the best place for it. Air quality is a hot topic in our household (living in Salt Lake City), so our bedroom air purifier is essential. Depending on your location or climate, a humidifier is also handy… we have and use both.
14. A Soft Area Rug or Carpet
Having a soft place to land after getting out of bed is key. We have this rug in our maroon guest bedroom and everyone asks about it. It feels so luxe underfoot and is ideal for a bedroom- also helping with acoustics and warmth. Another option? Install wall-to-wall carpet. It’s also perfectly acceptable to layer a rug over your carpet!
15. A Plant, Florals, or Greenery
I love adding life to a bedroom. Consider styling a plant, florals, or greenery for a touch of texture & color. If possible, I’d advocate for a live plant, because of their air purifying properties… perfect for a bedroom.
16. Meaningful Artwork or Photos
The bedroom is the perfect place to display meaningful artwork or personal family photos. Really consider what you’re hanging on your bedroom walls, and try to find something that feels special or unique to you, your partner, or family.
17. An All Season Duvet Insert
While I swap our bedding seasonally, the one component that stays on our bed year round, is an all season duvet insert. It’s the best bedding investment you can make! Sheet sets and duvet covers come and go, but the insert is forever.
18. Accessible Water
The older I get, the more I appreciate having accessible water- no matter the time of day or night. Emmett & I both keep a carafe or bottle at our bedsides, along with coasters to protect our nightstands. This is also a thoughtful gesture for a guest bedroom, if you’re expecting overnight company.
19. A Bedside Catchall
Another essential to keep on your bedside table or nightstand? A catchall… find a shallow bowl, tray, or trinket dish to corral eyeglasses, jewelry, tech, or anything else you need to keep accessible.
20. A Sound Machine
Last, but not least- we cannot sleep without our sound machine. White noise is my favorite, and I carefully style or tuck away our sound machine, so it’s basically impossible to see. You can also set this on a smart plug to voice activate, “turn on white noise”, which is ideal for deep sleep.
5 Bedroom Styling Tips
I’ve also got some quick and easy bedroom styling tips for you! Here are a handful of things I do (as a designer) to make our bedroom look its best…
- Visually anchor the bed – The bed is the heaviest (visually speaking) component in a bedroom, use large scale artwork, a gallery wall, drapery panels, or a canopy to provide balance.
- Make your bed – I’m one of those people who enjoys making the bed every single day. A bedroom instantly looks and feels more put-together if the bed is made.
- Stick to a single decorative pillow – To make bed making fast & easy, just use a single decorative pillow… there’s no need for a pile of neatly stacked pillows. I prefer a long lumbar or long bolster for a tailored look.
- Keep your bedside tidy – Nightstands or bedside tables have a tendency to become chaotic collection areas. Use a bowl or tray to give necessities an organized place to live, avoiding visual clutter.
- Add a blanket to the foot of the bed – I started doing this because our dogs lounge at the foot of our bed, so the blanket keeps it tidy. I’d recommend something that is seasonally appropriate… a waffle weave matelassé during the spring & summer months or a faux fur throw during the winter months.
FAQ
Absolutely! Some of my personal picks for the bedroom would be a favorite candle or diffuser (a home fragrance you really enjoy), a ceiling fan (don’t come after me) for air circulation, and coasters. We always have coasters on our nightstands because we keep water available and I don’t want our nice furniture to get ruined.
This is totally dependent on your existing furniture… the style and height of the bed, as well as your nightstands. I’d recommend holding up a sconce and eyeballing it. Make sure you can reach the light while lounging in bed, and make sure it’s installed at a functional height. Function is most important! If it’s a plug-in fixture, be sure to check out this post on hiding cords for wall sconces & picture lights. That’s half the battle!
Love them! If there is one place in your home to display those intimate family photos- it’s your bedroom. In fact, it’s the only room in our home where you’ll find any photos of Emmett or myself. I love a traditional upright 4″x6″ or 5″x7″ easel frame with a classic black and white photo. I actually think we’re going to see more of those frames styled in the year ahead. You heard it here first!
Ahh, love the layered look! I actually created a step-by-step tutorial, here: How to Hang Artwork in Front of Curtains.
Related
Looking for more cozy home posts related to bedroom design? I’ve got lots! I’ll link some of my favorites for you below…
- Basement Bedroom Reveal
- How to Remove Furniture Indentations from Carpet (if you’re rearranging your bedroom)
- My Color Blocking Concept for the Guest Room
- DIY Upholstered Bed
- Maroon Guest Bedroom Reveal
- 20 Ideas for Making a Basement Bedroom Feel Cozy on a Budget
- Laurie Anne’s Bedroom Makeover
- Timeless Tips for a Bedroom Refresh- Without Renovating
- My Go-To Formula for Styling a Bed
- Keywords to Use When Searching for Large Vintage Rugs
I’d love to hear your bedroom essentials? Is there anything on your list that didn’t make mine? Here’s to better sleep in the year ahead, and beautiful bedrooms that feel like our personal sanctuary or safe space. After all, there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed. Would you agree? I’m certainly feeling thankful for our bedroom, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to renovate it this year to further improve the space.
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