8 Ways to Turn Your Bedroom Into a Relaxing Sanctuary

It’s easy to make your bedroom’s design an afterthought. It was for me, anyway. I used to pour most of my design energy (and budget) into the more “public” rooms of my home because those were the spots that other people would see. Guests will roam through the kitchen, our living and dining room, even the downstairs powder room. But the bedroom is private, just for us—so I didn’t prioritize it. I didn’t realize this meant that, in a way, I was putting the needs of others before my own. Just because the bedroom is solely for my husband and I doesn’t mean that it deserves less love and care than our shared spaces. Perhaps, it actually means it needs more! Once I gave myself permission to makeover our space, bedroom decor ideas came flooding in.

Your bedroom should be a retreat—a place that feels calming, beautiful, and deeply personal. Whether you’d like to make small updates or give it a full refresh, simple changes can transform the energy of your room. Take it from me, there’s no need to wait to create the space of your dreams. As you continue to give your home the spring refresh it deserves, here are eight bedroom decor ideas that will breathe new life into your sanctuary. 

Feature image from our interview with Sanne Vloet, by Michelle Nash.

Embrace Neutrals

If you need bedroom decor ideas, Camille’s is the perfect place to start. Her space could be the blueprint for a cozy and serene neutral bedroom. Neutral tones will keep your space from feeling too busy, and earth tones specifically will emit warmth and coziness. 

To give your own space the same vibe as Camille’s, embrace texture. Texture will keep a neutral space from feeling one-note, and Camille’s bedroom is full of different ones. Linen bedding, the knit blanket at the end of the bed, the cozy rug, gauzy curtains, and the warm wood tones of the bed all work to add variety and make the space feel balanced and inviting. 

Take Advantage of Your Space

No matter how large or small your bedroom is, you want to utilize the real estate you’re given. That is to say, maximize every inch of your space! Whether you have large windows like Camille, or simply an empty corner—reimagine how you’d like to live in your bedroom. Would you like to romanticize how you get ready each day? Maybe your bedroom could use a vanity. Do you like to meditate or journal in the morning? A large, oversized chair in the corner would be a perfect addition. Or, perhaps you have extra wall space and a small desk for a mini office area. 

When I’m refreshing my space, one of my favorite things to do is to simply inhabit a corner or a spot I don’t normally go. The bedroom is the perfect place for this—stand in an empty corner, sit by an open wall space, and simply look around from a new perspective. What do you see? How do you imagine  yourself living in this space? Let bedroom decor ideas come to you naturally. You may be surprised by what you learn!

Add a Plant

Bedroom decor ideas don’t have to break the bank. I’m a firm believer that every room in your home should have at least one plant in it. In general, you don’t want to over-do it on bedroom decor, since this is the last place where you’d want to accumulate clutter. Greenery is the perfect pop of color a neutral bedroom needs (Camille’s bedroom, again, is a great example) and plants work well with color too. You can add a large plant like a rubber tree to a sunny corner, or stick with tabletop plants for your dresser or nightstand. 

Keep It Minimal

The bedroom is where you rest and recharge. Entering a room with clutter or an abundance of decor may not help you relax at the end of the day. Especially if your bedroom is on the smaller side, be intentional with your extras. Let a refresh be an opportunity to go through your items and only keep what you need and love. 

Opt for minimalism in your furniture and storage choices as well. Floating shelves can replace bulky nightstands for a more streamlined look, and keeping bins under your bed can provide much needed hidden storage. Instead of sparse and boring, rethink “minimal decor” as meaning intentional and streamlined.  

Add Color

While neutrals create calm, the same can go for color—just the right ones. To infuse some color, consider switching up your bedding. Sage green, soft blues, and blush pinks are great for spring, whether you add a new duvet cover, sheets, or maybe just a throw or decorative pillow. Paint is another way to add a burst of color if you’re ready for a major change.

Go Monochromatic

Color drenching is a recent design trend that is sticking around, and a color-drenched bedroom can make you feel like you’re enveloped in a specific shade. Color drenching involves embracing one color and painting the walls, trim, and ceiling. Decor can be in various shades of the same color (or complimentary colors to the walls), and entering a color-drenched room should feel like stepping into a jewel box. 

Darker colors work well in a color-drenched bedroom, as it creates a cocooning effect. You can also color drench in a lighter color to keep the space vibrant and bright, depending on the vibe you’re going for. Radhi Devlukia-Shetty’s bedroom, shown here, is wrapped in a warm rust color—a fantastic earth tone for a calm and serene bedroom. 

Play With Pattern

Pattern comes in many forms, and adding some to your space will certainly liven it up. Start with what you like—are you drawn to floral patterns? Stripes? Toile? Add touches of pattern you love like bedding, pillows, or rugs to infuse more joy into your bedroom. And even if you’re not naturally drawn to bold patterns, subtle patterns can add much-needed texture to your space.

Bedroom decor ideas also include what’s on your walls. Wallpaper with a subtle pattern will add dimension, and can even come in handy if you’re color drenching. Instead of a matte paint color, wallpaper can work just as well, if not better, than a single paint color. 

Introduce Fragrance

The right scent can transform the ambiance of your space. Adding a soft, relaxing fragrance through pillow sprays, essential oil diffusers, or candles will take the energy of your bedroom to the next level. Candles and oil diffusers also act as bedroom decor, which is a plus. Opt for scents that are meant to calm you, like lavender or sandalwood. Pillow sprays can help lull you to sleep, aiding in a cozy evening ritual that will set you up for a good night’s rest. 

Refreshing your bedroom can mean a full makeover, or small, thoughtful changes that mindfully shift the feel of your space. Spring is the perfect time to dust off the old and welcome in what’s new. Focus on comfort, personalization, and simplicity to create a bedroom that feels like a true haven. Sweet dreams!