While I share lots of DIY projects here on the blog, I think the most common questions I receive from readers revolve around decorating. How do I choose the right piece for my space? What size rug do I buy? Where do I shop for accessories?

Bedroom Decorating 101

That’s why I created this Decorating 101 series. I’m certainly not an expert, but I have learned a lot in my nine years of blogging about how, and how not, to bring a space together. I’ve created individual blog posts for each room in your house to act as resources as you work to decorate and style each space. Here are all of the posts in the series.

• Living Room Decorating 101
• Dining Room Decorating
• Kitchen Decorating 101
• Bathroom Decorating 101
• Rug Buying 101

Today’s topic…bedroom decorating! Let’s dive into my “rules” and tips for making a big impact in this very important space.

Bedroom Do’s

Let me first say, that when it comes to decorating, there aren’t any exact rules! Everyone’s personal style is different; so my words are not the be-all, end-all for decorating a space. Instead, I hope these insights can guide you as you consider your layout, large furniture purchases, and accents that will help your room look and feel like a restful space reflective of your unique design style! No judgment from me, I just want to help as much as I can!

Buy a Large Rug

The #1 mistake I see in bedrooms is using a rug that is too small for the space. In a perfect world, you would have 24″ on all three sides of your bed. This rookie mistake post outlines the perils (okay, that is a bit dramatic…) of a too-small rug. When in doubt, your best bet is to go big. While this post showcases my comprehensive rug buying guide!

Here’s how I usually navigate rug buying when it comes to bed size…

• Full-Sized Bed = 6′ x 9′ rug
• Queen-Sized Bed = 8′ x 10′ rug
• King-Sized Bed = 9′ x 12′ rug

And even if you have carpet, adding a rug is a great way to add comfort, texture, and elegance to your bedroom.

Consider Symmetry

Do you have to have matching nightstands and table lamps? Not at all. But I will say that it will make decorating a tad easier. I opt for symmetry on the bedroom wall when possible because it eliminates extra design decisions and makes the room feel more cohesive.

Buy the Correct Sized Nightstand

So you don’t have to have matching nightstands, but please make sure they’re the right scale! You want to consider the size of your bed when purchasing. A good average height for a bedside table is 24″-27″, but with a king-sized bed, you can go larger, and with a twin bed, you can go smaller.

You just want to make sure that the height of the nightstand is within a few inches of the mattress (higher or lower). No one wants to bend all the way down to grab a glass of water from their nightstand when in bed.

Also, think about storage when buying. If you like to have lots of stuff nearby when in bed (books, eye mask, lotion, etc.), buying something with drawers is a great idea so you can hide all your bedtime goodies! Also, a clean, uncluttered sleep space will help your room feel more relaxing.

Have a TV Plan

This is a hot topic in the design world…. Should you have a television in the bedroom? For years, Finn was against a TV in our bedroom and I finally convinced him after we had kids. He loved the idea of them coming into bed with us on weekend mornings to snuggle and watch movies – which is exactly what we do now!

If you do add a TV, don’t let it be the focal point of the space. You can mount it neatly on the wall with a gallery wall around it, or opt for a Frame TV, like ours, so it looks like artwork when it’s turned off. Just be mindful about it and don’t let all of the remotes and cables get out of hand!

Add Personal Accessories

Your bedroom should be a personal retreat away from the chaos of the world and it should be filled with personal items you love! Selecting a few treasures to display is a great opportunity to show, not tell, the story of YOU and your family! This is how you create a space that is less generic and more interesting.

For example, the hand-painted plate that I keep on my nightstand (above), is a unique piece that was created by my great-grandmother. This post has some great ideas on personal art and this one has ideas for not-so-generic decor you can add.

Incorporate a Bench

Adding a bench at the foot of the bed can be super stylish and functional. But again, consider scale. You don’t want the bench to be wider than the bed. An easy way to pick something that looks size-appropriate is to find a bench that is about 3/4ths the length of the bed – no smaller than that.

Bedroom Don’ts

Now that you have a good idea of what to do, here are some tips to avoid when it comes to bedroom decorating.

Don’t Overclutter the Room

Your bedroom should be calming, relaxing, and a sanctuary away from the world. Filling it with tons of decor, accessories, and extra crap is a no-no. Don’t feel like you need to decorate every single surface. Instead, keep some areas clear so there is room to breathe. 

This is especially important in a guest room. Guests will already be bringing their own belongings into the space, so you want to give them plenty of surface space for their stuff! Here are more tips to create a guest room retreat.

Don’t Choose All Matching Furniture

I talked about this don’t in this rookie mistake post, but it’s worth repeating. Buying bedroom furniture as a matching set may be budget-friendly and it certainly cuts down on decision making. But, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for your space, or that it will really show off your unique design style.

A room will look much more interesting and layered if you choose various pieces for your bedroom, like in Dina’s gorgeous bedroom above. Mixing and matching is the way to go!

Don’t Neglect Layered Bedroom Lighting

Harsh overhead lighting isn’t flattering for anyone and you certainly don’t want to solely rely on that in the bedroom. Instead, incorporate all kinds of lighting – table lamps, floor lamps, sconces – the options are endless.

Also, consider putting any overhead lights on a dimmer switch, so you can control the amount of light in the space. There are more details on the best way to layer light in this blog post and here’s a good sconce hack if you don’t want to hardwire the electrical.

Don’t Overfill with Large Furniture

I’ve been in far too many bedrooms that are stuffed to the brim with furniture. A cozy bedroom is not a cluttered bedroom. You don’t have to have 12 pieces of furniture to fill up a room, and you certainly don’t have to use all overstuffed and large items.

Instead, consider what you really need in a room and start there! Try to be mindful of the floor space and leave plenty of walkway room so you can easily get around.

Don’t Forget Scale with Lighting

You already know lighting is key, but don’t forget to choose items that are proportionate for the room. Here are some tips…

• Chandeliers: Measure your room’s length and width (in feet) and add these two numbers together.  This number is the ideal diameter for your light fixture. For example, a 10×10 room would need a 20″ diameter chandelier. Tracey’s room above nails it with the gorgeous basket chandelier.
• Sconces: Sit in bed upright. You want to make sure the bottom of the shade is around chin level when sitting, to avoid the light shining in your eyes too harshly.

Bedroom Decorating – Save vs. Splurge

Now, where should you spend the most money in the bedroom, and where can you save a few bucks?

Where to Splurge

You should splurge on items that make a big difference in your daily life. In my opinion, the best place to splurge is on a good mattress and bed linens. These two things are the key to a good night’s sleep (and here are my tips for choosing pillows for your bed), so you definitely don’t skimp on these items.

Window treatments are also important in a bedroom. Ideally, you want to customize the amount of natural light and privacy you’re getting in the room at different times of day. While we’ve DIY’ed blackout curtains before, if you want to splurge, you can definitely consider custom window treatments, like the ones we have in our bedroom.

• Mattress
• Bedding
• Quality Bed Linens
• Window Treatments

Where to Save

Everything else in the room doesn’t need to be expensive! In fact, it’s probably your best bet NOT to spend too much money on accessories or throw pillows in a bedroom because then you won’t feel bad if you want to change things up every year!

• Rug
• Nightstands
• Headboard
• Throw Pillows
• Lamps
• Art & Accessories

My Favorite Bedroom Staples

Here are some of the pieces that I currently have in my own bedroom or pieces that I’ve used and loved over the years…

• Our platform bed: I bought this, sight unseen, and it has been fantastic!
• My current white duvet: Super luxurious and soft.
• My current white sheets: I’m a big fan of using white for sheets so I can bleach them bi-monthly.
• Another great white duvet: I had this one in the past and I love that it hides wrinkles.
• Lavender linen spray: I keep this in my nightstand and spritz it every week!
• Gold frames: I adore the look of these hanging over each nightstand, like in my mom’s bedroom.
• Throw blanket: We own about four of these and have them all over the house.
• Frame TV: Here you have artwork and a television all in one.
• Sheepskin throw: Nice to throw over the end of your bed or bench for a little extra comfort and texture.

I hope this post will act as a helpful resource as you tackle your own bedroom decorating. With a few small tweaks, you can create a personal sanctuary that makes you so happy to come back to at the end of a long day.

Now, sweet dreams!

Casey