8 Tips for Elevating Your Bedroom

Wondering how to get a more sophisticated look in your bedroom but aren’t sure where to start? These 8 tips for elevating your bedroom will take it from boring to beautiful in no time!

Have you ever stayed in a nice hotel and relished the luxe feeling it evoked? Or seen designer pictures on Pinterest or Instagram and envied the high-end look of the bedrooms there? You might be surprised how easy it is to create an elevated look in your own bedroom!

Now, not everyone has the budget or time to redo a whole room. But by incorporating a few small changes, it will make a big difference in how your bedroom looks and feels!

 

Layer Your Bedding

Probably the most important part of a bedroom upgrade is making sure your bed looks and feels cozy and luxe. And the way to do that is to layer your bedding. Once you’ve chosen a comforter or duvet, add a blanket or quilt to the end of the bed to get that elevated designer look. 

 

We’re not talking about a regular-sized throw – the kind you have on the back or arm of your sofa. This is a bed-sized quilt or blanket (preferably the same size as the bed you’re dressing) layered at the foot of the bed.

Whether you choose to layer in neutrals for a serene feel, or add an accent color or pattern for personality, either way it adds an inviting layer. 

 

 

Add an Area Rug

I’ve waxed poetic about area rugs before and the bedroom is no different. To make the space feel elevated and intentional, you absolutely need a rug. Not only will it make the room feel more ‘finished,’ it can also add texture or color if you go that direction.

And yes, even if you have carpet, a rug will still make any bedroom feel more elevated.

 

I would actually say that nothing changed my bedroom more than when I finally added an area rug! It immediately felt more pulled together and polished, which is what feeling more elevated is all about. 

 

 

Dress Your Windows

Dressing your windows will make your bedroom feel more finished and high-end. In fact, I would argue that if you can’t do all the things on this list, the window coverings are the most important thing. Whether you go with drapes or shades, they will dramatically change the look of a room almost instantly!

 

Custom drapes can be quite an investment, but there is another way now! A couple of years ago I discovered this company that does beautiful, semi-custom drapes at a fraction of the price of custom. They also sell roman shades, as well as woven woods.

In fact, I’m working on this in our current bedroom. We’ve been living with the metal blinds that were here when we moved in while I decided between drapes or roman shades. I’ve finally ordered shades and can’t wait to rip those blinds out!

 

 

Skip the Matching Bedroom Sets

Matching bedroom “sets” like what my parents had when I was a kid are never a good idea. Though you may not realize it, they actually take away any feeling of a personalized or elevated space. Mainly they make it feel like a hotel room!

So rather than using a whole bedroom set, go for a pair of matching nightstands which will bring symmetry to the space, and then buy a dresser in a different wood tone. If you already have a matching set and can’t afford to change it, try mixing it up. 

 

You could paint the nightstands so that they no longer match the dresser. Or, switch dressers with another bedroom if possible. You could also sell the set you have (or part of it) and put that money towards a vintage piece – anything that breaks up that matchy-matchy feeling is what we’re going for. 

You definitely want the feeling of a more collected space rather than one that was purchased all at one time from a single store. 

 

Provide a Place to Sit

Adding a small sitting area or reading nook really upgrades a bedroom. If you are low on space, try adding a bench at the foot of the bed. Even the smallest bedroom can usually accommodate a tiny chair or stool in the corner.

 

It’s so lovely to have a place to sit and read, or even to just put on your shoes. It’s an addition that’s practical as well as pretty!

 

 

Add Decorative Pillows

This one probably needs a caveat as we know some people take it a little too far and end up with 14 throw pillows on their queen size bed! However, a couple of pretty, decorative pillows really do make a bed feel complete and well-thought out. Put it this way, a designer would never not have at least one decorative pillow on a bed!

 

Personally I don’t love a ton of them as it can definitely get too busy pretty quickly. I love one or two throw pillows, or go with one long lumbar pillow (very chic). And make sure to tuck your bed pillows behind the euro or regular sized shams.

They are a great way to pull together the room and tie in any accent colors you’re using. Decorative pillows are the jewelry of the bed!

 

 

Conceal the Clutter

Clutter is easily the least elevated thing you can have in a bedroom, or anywhere else. If clutter is something you’re struggling with in this space, spend a day or two purging and organizing. Donate what you don’t need or aren’t using, and find a way to store everything else. 

Keep what you can in your dresser or nightstand drawers (one reason I love a good sized nightstand!) and store the rest in pretty boxes and baskets. Extra throws and pillows can go in baskets in the closet or under a nightstand. Out of season clothing that doesn’t fit in the closet can go in storage bins under the bed. And if you need some things to sit out on the dresser, use a tray to corral them and make it feel intentional. 

If you want to go further, wrangle your charging cords and the like with plastic clips so that they are discreetly hiding behind your nightstands. 🙂

Getting rid of the visual clutter will not only make your room look more polished, it will also feel better, too.

 

 

Upgrade Your Sheets & Pillows

I’ve put this one last because it isn’t something that anyone else will see, and if you can’t afford to do it, no one will necessarily know. However, if you can swing it, switching out old sheets and bed pillows for higher-quality versions will make a huge difference to you.

Think about the nicest hotels you’ve stayed in and how luxurious those sheets feel! Once you’ve upgraded your sheets to 100% cotton with a high-thread count, and fluffy, down-filled pillows, you’ll be amazed how much better it feels to crawl into bed each night.

It took me years to finally invest in quality sheets and pillows but wow, it is such an improvement!

 

 

I hope these seven tips give you ideas for elevating your bedroom. With just a few small changes, like layering your bedding, adding window coverings and rugs, and concealing the clutter, your space will feel so much prettier and more pulled together!

 

Shop Bedroom Decor

 

Sheila
xo

 

 

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out more design inspiration below:

7 Tips for Elevating Your Kitchen

10 Tips for Creating Timeless Interiors

How to Make the Perfect Bed

Kitchen Counter Decor Ideas – Without the Clutter!