7 Biggest Bedroom Design Problems Solved
Find answers to some of the most common bedroom styling conundrums
Ever agonised over how to squeeze a little bit more storage into the bedroom? Or, set your heart on making over your room into a slinky black boudoir but afraid it might instead turn into a cellar-like space? These, and many similar dilemmas, come to the fore when you are renovating your bedroom or moving homes. Here, I essay to pre-empt some of your bedroom decor predicaments (with solutions, of course) so that you can sleep like a baby.
2. In a tight bedroom, you barely have space for bedside tables. What’s the solution?
Solution: The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind, or rather, hanging in the air. In other words, floating shelves – they take up less space and free up floor space. In a bedroom such as this one, for example, full-size bedside tables would have made the room look heavy and over-crowded; the floating shelves with their minimalist design offer an airy, light look perfect for a compact bedroom.
Tip: To optimise space on your bedside table, make use of the wall behind your headboard and install task lighting for nighttime reading.
Find a design professional to maximise your compact bedroom
Solution: The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind, or rather, hanging in the air. In other words, floating shelves – they take up less space and free up floor space. In a bedroom such as this one, for example, full-size bedside tables would have made the room look heavy and over-crowded; the floating shelves with their minimalist design offer an airy, light look perfect for a compact bedroom.
Tip: To optimise space on your bedside table, make use of the wall behind your headboard and install task lighting for nighttime reading.
Find a design professional to maximise your compact bedroom
3. The bedroom is small. How to make it look spacious?
Solution: While most of us know the usual tips, such as using a mirror to reflect light, going for neutral colours and getting built-in shelves, one tends to overlook how to use curtains to our advantage. The trick is to hang them high. Floor-length panel curtains, when hung close to the ceiling instead of at the window frame, counteract the enclosed effect that small spaces have, by making the room look more spacious. With no visible rods or rails, the curtains create a waterfall effect, drawing the eye upward along their length, creating an illusion of height.
Here’s a guide to choosing curtains
Solution: While most of us know the usual tips, such as using a mirror to reflect light, going for neutral colours and getting built-in shelves, one tends to overlook how to use curtains to our advantage. The trick is to hang them high. Floor-length panel curtains, when hung close to the ceiling instead of at the window frame, counteract the enclosed effect that small spaces have, by making the room look more spacious. With no visible rods or rails, the curtains create a waterfall effect, drawing the eye upward along their length, creating an illusion of height.
Here’s a guide to choosing curtains
4. When the other half loves to watch TV in bed but you don’t, how to achieve a détente?
Solution: Use the TV as a demarcator between the seating and sleeping areas. Perch it on an open console table so that you can turn the screen either way, or mount it on a panel that can be swivelled, so you can watch it lying in bed or sitting on the other side.
Look up wall unit designs to house the TV
Solution: Use the TV as a demarcator between the seating and sleeping areas. Perch it on an open console table so that you can turn the screen either way, or mount it on a panel that can be swivelled, so you can watch it lying in bed or sitting on the other side.
Look up wall unit designs to house the TV
5. You’d love a black bedroom but are afraid it might look like a dungeon. How to pull it off?
Solution: The trick to doing all-black is to play with textures and patterns, which breaks the grimness of the colour. Black can be dramatic when paired with pops of colour, like in this image. For a touch of luxe, add little glimpses of metallic gleams via a golden table lamp or shiny knobs on the dresser. This bedroom uses different shades of black and grey with a dollop of an accent colour – mustard yellow – to accentuate the dark hues.
Take a tour of this predominantly black penthouse
Solution: The trick to doing all-black is to play with textures and patterns, which breaks the grimness of the colour. Black can be dramatic when paired with pops of colour, like in this image. For a touch of luxe, add little glimpses of metallic gleams via a golden table lamp or shiny knobs on the dresser. This bedroom uses different shades of black and grey with a dollop of an accent colour – mustard yellow – to accentuate the dark hues.
Take a tour of this predominantly black penthouse
6. You need more storage space. Where to squeeze it in?
Solution: This is a problem we all share, no matter how big or small the bedroom. While you may have explored options such as under-bed storage and multi-tasking furniture, chances are you have forgotten all about the expanse over your bedhead. You would be surprised at the number of shelves and small cupboards you can fit in on the wall behind and around your bed. Et voila! More space emerges magically to store night supplies, favourite books and family memorabilia.
A storage guide to small bedrooms
Solution: This is a problem we all share, no matter how big or small the bedroom. While you may have explored options such as under-bed storage and multi-tasking furniture, chances are you have forgotten all about the expanse over your bedhead. You would be surprised at the number of shelves and small cupboards you can fit in on the wall behind and around your bed. Et voila! More space emerges magically to store night supplies, favourite books and family memorabilia.
A storage guide to small bedrooms
7. The bed looks boring. What are some quick and easy ways to dress up a bed?
Solution: Throws are a great styling device for beds. Do not, however, fold them too neatly at the bottom of the bed; throw them casually over a corner of the bed for an insouciant look. Pick them in slightly luxurious materials, such as velvet, silk or fur. Reversible duvet covers give you a two-in-one design option, while adding a bedspread can inject a strong dose of colour or print, making the bed the focal point in the room. A medley of cushions and throw pillows in varying textures, shapes, colours tossed over the pillows can add a casual elegance to the bed.
Look up more bedroom design ideas
Read more:
Top 10 Decorating Problems Solved
Kitchen Storage Dilemma: Cabinets, Shelves or Nothing?
Tell us:
Tell us about your bedroom design dilemmas in Comments below.
Solution: Throws are a great styling device for beds. Do not, however, fold them too neatly at the bottom of the bed; throw them casually over a corner of the bed for an insouciant look. Pick them in slightly luxurious materials, such as velvet, silk or fur. Reversible duvet covers give you a two-in-one design option, while adding a bedspread can inject a strong dose of colour or print, making the bed the focal point in the room. A medley of cushions and throw pillows in varying textures, shapes, colours tossed over the pillows can add a casual elegance to the bed.
Look up more bedroom design ideas
Read more:
Top 10 Decorating Problems Solved
Kitchen Storage Dilemma: Cabinets, Shelves or Nothing?
Tell us:
Tell us about your bedroom design dilemmas in Comments below.
Solution: When sticking to one neutral colour family, the easiest way to make your bedroom cosy and comfortable is by adding varying textures and more layers to the space. A soft quilted coverlet thrown casually on the bed, a woven dhurrie, textured pillows, or even a silk lampshade on the bedside table will give your room a warm look, besides adding loads of personality. Remember, layering textures is not just about choosing various types of fabric; texture can be found in wood, metal, glass and more.
Want to get neutral right? Read this