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Is your bedroom an afterthought? The last place you buy things for or decorate? Do you feel like it’s a place to stash stuff your not using – or worse yet fold the laundry? Have you put the bedroom, as last on the list? Then this is a great time of year to start thinking about how to create a little sanctuary for yourself in the bedroom.

I have been guilty of all of the above, even with a recent remodel. The bedroom was last of all the things to get chosen and I never really finished it, or bought the bed I want. The pillows and things in there are ones from other parts of the house that I’ve changed out. My bed is 25 years old and so tall I have a hard time getting into it as does my geriatric kitty!

One of my close friends feels the same about her bedroom and we have been putting our heads together while I try and help her make her space more inviting too. I’ve got bedroom ideas swirling around my head this week so I thought I’d share them.

Some inspiration to give boring bedrooms a more inviting feel..

My main gripe with my bedroom is that it’s bland, and a bit dark and not cozy to me. I want to want to go curl up in there and watch shows, read books and make it feel like a sanctuary. I’ve treated it like an afterthought and it looks like it. My friend also has the same feeling about her space. Hers needs a boost of coziness when she comes home from work and snuggles with her family and dog in there to watch shows and read.

There is no one way your bedroom should look. It helps if you can translate your personal style to your bedroom. It’s the one place you can really make personal. I saved these images through my Pinterest Boudoir board. These are full of layers, pretty color, rugs and pillows – all the elements of a magnetic bedroom.

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The elements of an inviting and cozy bedroom.

Upholstered pieces – upholstery on headboards, beds, chairs or benches can go a long way in bringing a soft feel and look to a room. An upholstered headboard is one of the most affordable updates and widely available. (If you’re concerned about stains get your headboard in a Sunbrella or performance fabric.)

Rugs and more rugs. Look for rugs made of wool and that have some some fluff and soft feel under foot. You can also layer rugs or have another fluffy one by the side of the bed where you step out.

Layer your bed. Sheets and a duvet are a start, but I like a coverlet type of blanket like this from Crate & Barrel. I also have this soft blanket at the foot of the bed to wrap around me when reading on colder nights.

PIllows. You need good ones to sleep and then two to three more to fill the bed.

Throws are a great idea. I have my nicest ones in a basket by the bed.

Lighting is everything in this space. The last thing you want to do is use your overhead cap lights in the bedroom. Think spa, not hospital. It’s a bonus if you can have a pretty chandelier or flush mount light, but you still need lights on each nightstand to read by, preferably dimmable.

A chair or a chaise in a corner makes for a inviting spot to relax or read and just the vision of it creates a sense of retreat for your bedroom. Places to sit and read or a bench to put your shoes on are nice to have, fill the spaces and give a inviting look instead of empty corners. Just seeing a place to rest gives the feeling of a retreat in our minds.

Nightstands need not be matching and if you have room, can double as a bureau that can hold extra clothes. I always had my night clothes in my previous night stand. Consider it can be extra storage you may need.

Keep your night table pretty, not cluttered with things. If you’re a big ‘stuff’ person, consider drawers in yours and keep the top of your night stand calming and pretty with personal photos, books, a pretty tray for a water glass and dish as a catchall, and even a small vase with flowers.

Paint or wallpaper can create a mood. The bedroom is a great place to go with a romantic color or wallpaper that conveys a mood or feeling. I love being enveloped by a print and that can make the whole room feel like a small jewel box.

Don’t forget art. Choose art thoughtfully and something that has a lovely feeling, even romantic quality. Soft colors tend to look great in bedroom spaces.

Pretty drapes or window coverings make a huge difference. I went with white linen/cotton drapes for my bedroom sliders, but had a trim piece put on the edges to give it a bit more luxe look. Consider ribbon or trim for drapes and lightshades, to add a little more special to the space.

Consider a headboard when space is at a premium and you want change without a huge investment

To give a neutral bedroom a little boost, you can go with something like this Sunbrella Katherine headboard with a pretty shape by Ballard Design. It’s in a Sunbrella, which makes it nearly impervious to sun and stain. This Idol Frost tone is soft and can go with off whites and sea glass shades and other softer colors.

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If you’re adventurous you can go with something more fun like this Sunbrella Ikat pattern Ally headboard. I love this.

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Other options in the Ally Headboard are this Cornflower Print( sunbrella) left, and pretty Kavi Blue print.

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All of Ballards headboards are made in North Carolina. There are many styles. If you want tufted there this Camden headboard in the Kylie fabric..

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And this Sophie Headboard in Cleo, or this Ally Headboard in Sunbrella Salt Pique.

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Upholstered complete beds are also on the affordable side and there are so many choices once you start looking. West Elm has the coolest option for a kids room in two sizes and many colors.

West Elm also has this Emmett Bed ready to ship around $1,000 and for a few more weeks, other fabrics too.

The same headboards I showed above are available in beds like the Giselle from Ballard which is a classic destined to look good for a long time. Here in Dotty Navy by Sunbrella. The styling possibilities are endless with a color like this.

There are some very affordable options at Pier 1, but I really like the height and shape of their Shabby Chic Jubilee bed. It comes in three colors and in a nice linen looking fabric. You could make this look less ‘shabby’ with some simple linen sheets and pillows. I think the look and shape are beautiful.

At Pottery Barn, I like this Elliot headboard – or bed which has an enveloping look with folded in sides. Here it’s shown in a basketweave performance fabric in Ash and comes in different heights. Don’t forget to consider your height if you plan to lean against the bed when reading at night. All the Pottery Barn upholstered beds and headboards here.

This is a classic good looking upholstered style from Wayfair..

Once you have a bed, you need to add cozy with color and texture, especially if you opt for a neutral color bed like above. Check out the texture added to this room with the pillows, throw, nubby rug and feature wall.

Helping my friend we started pulling together some room looks based on her wall color, Sherwin Williams Silver Spoon. We found the Giselle upholstered bed, in the Faygo print, and she loves the Grace nightstand in the blue grey. I want her to also have nice reading lamps like this pretty Greer Lamp from Ballard and I like the Adelaide rug to ground the bed, even though the room is carpeted, and to give it another layer of cozy and pull the colors together…

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I thought the Connelly Bench and the Pottery Barn pillow look good in this mix.

In a second version for her, we addressed possible wear on things from her darling doodle who loves hanging with the fam in the bedroom. For that reason we thought she could also go with the darker Pique Denim in the same bed and the washed wood version of the same side table. With those two I like this rug, this ceramic lamp and a Ballard X Bench in Indigo Sunbrella..and for fun I tossed in the Terra Pom Pom Pillow.

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There are a lot of options! She is still deciding.

Meanwhile, I’m still trying to noodle my own bedroom space. I’m considering an upholstered bed from Ballard like my friend, but with this shape and in a neutral color like below, if I wallpaper. For wallpaper, I love this by Farrow & Ball shown below. I know I want some cozy textures from throws, rugs (maybe one extra fluffy one when you step off the bed.) I also adore this Dayna Upholstered bench, this Larkin rug is beautiful, and this lamp from OKA which is a British home site I am obsessed with.

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What do you think of what I have so far?

Do you have an upholstered bed or headboard? What do you love or hate about it? Do you like color and personality in a bedroom or more serenity? Love to hear your thoughts.

Also beginning this weekend, I start a new regular weekend collaboration with some wonderful bloggers, so please pop by the blog this Saturday for the first of my weekly favorites! I’m super excited and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Thanks for being here!

Kim

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