12 Elements of a Tranquil Bedroom Retreat
A good mattress tops this list of features that are key to a restful night
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When redecorating our homes, priority often goes to the public spaces, while the private rooms get the cold shoulder, with funds and energy possibly running low. Bedrooms quickly fall on the list of spaces to work on someday, which is ironic given they’re where we spend the largest portion of our lives.
If this is the case in your home, it may be time to correct the situation. Our days are full of demands, so what could be more beneficial than a peaceful haven in which to rejuvenate at the end of the day? Here are 12 features to consider as you create your master bedroom retreat.
When redecorating our homes, priority often goes to the public spaces, while the private rooms get the cold shoulder, with funds and energy possibly running low. Bedrooms quickly fall on the list of spaces to work on someday, which is ironic given they’re where we spend the largest portion of our lives.
If this is the case in your home, it may be time to correct the situation. Our days are full of demands, so what could be more beneficial than a peaceful haven in which to rejuvenate at the end of the day? Here are 12 features to consider as you create your master bedroom retreat.
A soothing and tranquil environment in which to get your best night’s sleep will do wonders for your physical and mental health. Although style is a personal choice, peaceful bedrooms do have some universal elements.
1. Mattress. The single most important element in the bedroom is a good mattress. A model that fits your particular needs will make a big difference in the rest your body receives each night. There are seemingly endless options, so take the time to research the possibilities within your price range online before heading to a mattress store to test them. Once out shopping, take your time in making a decision; it’s a purchase you’ll most likely be living with for quite a while.
How to Buy a Mattress
How to Buy a Mattress
2. Frame. After the mattress, the next item to decide on is what type of frame or headboard would be good match with your habits. If leaning against a comfortable surface to read is part of your nightly routine, an upholstered headboard would be a smart choice. A cozy sheltering design like this is perfect for those who love to linger in bed with a book.
Browse headboards and beds on Houzz
Browse headboards and beds on Houzz
If simply fluffing up oversize pillows is your preference, your headboard options open up. Variations of the traditional wood bed frame abound and are appropriate in a wide range of home styles.
A canopy bed with clean lines is a stylish choice. This one sets the design tone for the bedroom and creates the cozy feeling of a room within a room.
3. Bedding. Competing with the mattress as most important in building a successful bedroom are linens and pillows, and again the options grow every year. Select sheets that feel soft against the skin, and blankets and comforters that provide the level of warmth you like. Take the time to try out pillows until you find one that supports your head and neck in your favored sleeping position.
Accent pillows are a design choice people tend to differ on greatly, so it’s up to you to bring in a pile or omit them altogether. But definitely select bedding you find attractive and inspiring because, in addition to offering warmth and comfort, it plays a major role in setting the design tone of your room.
Accent pillows are a design choice people tend to differ on greatly, so it’s up to you to bring in a pile or omit them altogether. But definitely select bedding you find attractive and inspiring because, in addition to offering warmth and comfort, it plays a major role in setting the design tone of your room.
4. Lighting. Soft lighting is essential in a room that aims to provide a relaxing atmosphere. If reading light is required, make certain the overhead fixture and table lamps provide adequate brightness. For lamps, look for taller bases and wider shades to ensure light falls where it’s needed.
8 Great Color Palettes: Surprising Neutrals for Bedroom Walls
8 Great Color Palettes: Surprising Neutrals for Bedroom Walls
5. Nightstands. Ideally you’ll have a surface for your lamps and whatever else you like to have handy: clock, glass of water, favorite photographs, reading material. In selecting these pieces of furniture, feel free to mix the style of the nightstands on either side of the bed. Doing this presents an opportunity to match the habits of each sleeper to each nightstand, be it a streamlined one or one with storage.
See some alternatives to the usual nightstand and table lamp
See some alternatives to the usual nightstand and table lamp
6. Window treatments. Do you need complete darkness to get your best night’s sleep, or is a little light streaming in from the moon comforting? Select window treatments that support your sleeping preferences, adding blackout shades or drapes if any light proves to be disruptive. After function, use window treatments as an area to enhance the beauty and design aesthetic of the room.
Find a window treatment professional near you on Houzz
Find a window treatment professional near you on Houzz
7. Soothing color palette. Color can have a large impact on how a room feels. A soft neutral palette of pale blues, grays and whites is a popular choice for master bedrooms.
An elegant mixture of taupes, creams and whites is equally tranquil.
8 Gorgeous Gray Bedrooms
An elegant mixture of taupes, creams and whites is equally tranquil.
8 Gorgeous Gray Bedrooms
But don’t rule out darker moody hues. What soothing means for one person can differ greatly from another. If it’s a deep tone that says restful, then go for it.
8 Beautiful Black Bedrooms
8 Beautiful Black Bedrooms
8. Additional furniture. If you have room, consider setting a side chair or two for reading and lounging in a corner or in front of a window. With a table and perhaps another lamp, chairs provide a cozy spot to unwind before getting ready for bed.
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Dream Bedroom
Key Measurements to Help You Design Your Dream Bedroom
A bench at the foot of the bed becomes a handy place to sit while pulling on a pair of socks and a surface to lay out items for the day.
9. Area rug. Your feet will love the luxurious feeling of being greeted by a soft surface when you step out of bed in the morning. If the bedroom has hardwood floors, consider layering an area rug under the bed. And if you have carpet, layering an area rug over carpet for extra texture and pattern is another option that provides an opportunity to enhance the design.
11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
10. A Spot for Spot. If you have a pet that sleeps in the bedroom, provide a cushion or bed they’ll love, particularly if you’d like to avoid them treating your bed as their bed!
More photos of dog beds in bedrooms and around the house
More photos of dog beds in bedrooms and around the house
11. Art. Favorite pieces of fine art and photographs bring special finishing touches to a room. It’s certainly not necessary to cover every wall surface; keeping accessories to a minimum can help create a restful environment.
A few well-chosen pieces go a long way.
12: White noise machine. If your home has a quiet setting, enjoy it! But if you live where disruptive noises are frequent, think about adding a sound machine or download a white noise app on your phone.
Finally, there are a few things to consider not bringing into the bedroom. Items that tend to fall on this list are TVs and electronics, in addition to using the bedroom as a workplace. Placing a TV in a bedroom is a personal choice, though. Some love the option of watching a movie from the comfort of the bed, while others firmly believe its presence is in conflict with getting the best sleep possible. If you want to include a TV, consider housing the unit in an armoire or cabinetry on the wall that can be closed when it’s not in use. As for bringing work into the bedroom, living in tight quarters can make this a necessity, but falling asleep while having work sit nearby is likely to be detrimental to a restful night.
Creating a bedroom that you look forward to retreating to in the evening is a move you’ll thank yourself for every night.
Show us: We’d love to see how you created a soothing bedroom retreat. Please share a photo in the Comments section below.
Browse hundreds of thousands of beautiful bedroom photos and save your favorites
Creating a bedroom that you look forward to retreating to in the evening is a move you’ll thank yourself for every night.
Show us: We’d love to see how you created a soothing bedroom retreat. Please share a photo in the Comments section below.
Browse hundreds of thousands of beautiful bedroom photos and save your favorites