Bedroom
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Renovating Your Bedroom (2024 Guide)

Updating your bedroom can greatly impact comfort, functionality, and aesthetics. As an integral living space supporting rest, relaxation, and activities like reading or working, it pays to invest time in planning renovations that suit your needs and taste. From layout to storage to lighting, numerous factors influence the creation of an ideal bedroom retreat or bedroom addition. Use this comprehensive guide when tackling your next bedroom remodel.

Light modern master bedroom interior with darkwood bed and dress
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Choosing a Layout

The floor plan sets the foundation for any bedroom design. Consider existing dimensions and architectural elements when planning layouts. Measure the room and sketch possible arrangements to gauge traffic flow and fixture spacing.

An open concept maintaining sightlines with adjacent rooms promotes airflow and spaciousness. This suits a minimalist style. Install pocket doors if noise is a concern. An open layout also complements tiny homes allowing expanding small square footage as needed.

Alternatively, a closed layout with walls separating the bedroom offers more privacy. Closed plans may incorporate an entryway or use decorative screens defining spaces while maintaining an airy atmosphere. Window and door placement also impact options for configuring furniture. Place beds allowing views outside rather than directly in line with windows for balanced lighting. Account for ceiling fans, chandeliers, and adequate clearance when mapping furnishings. Carefully plan lighting and electrical to support room use and activities. Reading nooks, desk spaces, and seating areas require ample nearby outlets and adjustable lighting options.


Selecting Furniture

Furniture defines function while greatly influencing overall room aesthetics. Choose durable, solid wood pieces offering timeless appeal rather than items requiring replacing every few years. Seek out versatile, modular furniture allowing rearranging to accommodate evolving storage and space needs as life changes.

Measure carefully when upgrading mattress size to ensure new proportions fit the area. Scale additional furnishings appropriately around new bed dimensions for balanced proportions. Consider specialty ergonomic beds providing storage drawers underneath platforms or trundles accommodating occasional guests.

Scale nightstands in proportion to beds on each side for aesthetics and usefulness. Seek a consistent pair or two coordinating pieces that complement the bed frame style. Incorporate lighting, charging stations for devices, and adequate tabletop storage for books, glasses, and assorted personal items kept close overnight.

Dressers provide indispensable clothing storage. Look for quality solid wood construction in a finish and style complementing existing furnishings. In smaller spaces, consider fold-down Murphy beds with integrated storage in lieu of separate dressers to save space when not in use.

Incorporate chairs, benches, and cozy seating nooks in dedicated lounging areas. Window seats double as storage with lift-top lids and remove wasted floor space required for additional chairs.

Desks allow working remotely or studying comfortably at home. Seek out high-performing examples suited to bedroom use, whether used for a laptop or crafting. Conveniently stash office supplies in desk drawers or coordinating file cabinets nearby.

When selecting bedroom furniture, opt for versatile, quality constructed items aligned with room style rather than disposable pieces requiring frequent replacing. Seek out durable solid woods over particle boards and long-lasting upholstered fabrics over cheap leathers prone to cracks. Invest in legacy staples offering enduring style through decades over fleeting trends. You want bedroom furniture to withstand daily use while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetics over time.


Incorporating Storage

Strategic organization prevents bedroom clutter for peaceful repose. Evaluate how you use bedroom space and identify needed storage types, from folded garments to accessories to display. Custom tailor solutions maximize every inch intelligently.

Big walk-in closet with shelves for clothes and shoes, dresser and wicker baskets
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Closet Organization

Maximize closet storage with shelves, racks, and specialized accessories, conveniently storing all clothing types, from folded shirts and jeans to jackets and accessories to shoes. Install custom closet systems for an upscale, integrated architecture look. Opt for modular DIY components allowing reconfigurations as needs change to maintain optimal organization. Consider mounted shoe racks or slide-out trays, keeping footwear orderly but out of walking paths. Strategically incorporate lighting throughout, whether an overhead fixture or individual LED strips shining light inside shelves, to easily spot items.

Additional Storage Furniture

Supplement closets with coordinated freestanding storage pieces seamlessly melding with existing furnishings. Chests, cabinets, and cubbies offer sought-after supplemental storage. Scale and style appropriately to blend rather than overwhelm room dimensions. Look for chests and nightstands with lift-top or drop-front fronts doubling available space.

Incorporate storage beds like models with spacious drawers built into foundations or lift-top styles revealing hidden storage compartments inside. Opt for under-bed storage containers on wheels to access seasonal items without rearranging room layouts. Repurpose the area behind doors to hang wall racks, over-the-door pouches, and hanging shelves for maximizing vertical storage of real estate.


Decorating Your Bedroom

Use decor to establish a personalized bedroom aesthetic, from eclectic bohemian to exotic travel-inspired to soothing and minimalist. But avoid overly trendy schemes soon feeling dated. Source time-honored fundamentals like framed art and area rugs forming anchors for room decoration, then incorporate bold prints, meaningful travel mementos, or striking sculptures that speak to you.

Bedding significantly influences decor style. High-quality bedding upgrades any rest setup, while poor-quality materials detract from the room. Source premium fabrics like fine cotton or linens and choose patterns and colors reflecting the overall room personality. Opt for soothing colors and natural fabrics to facilitate rest. Introduce texture with chunky knits or faux furs in the winter months. Scale bedding appropriately to mattress sizes for a polished wrapper effect.

Window treatments beautifully frame views outdoors while regulating incoming light and insulating spaces. Select rod lengths accommodating window widths for a polished, custom look. Layer privacy curtains and light-filtering sheers allowing adjustable privacy and sunlight control. Incorporate blackout lining for maximum darkness. Choose patterns and colors that complement room palettes.

Incorporate meaningful art, creative gallery walls grouping multimedia canvases and prints, or accent walls with paint or wallpaper to infuse personality. Paint an impactful jewel-tone or metallic sheen focal feature wall or apply chic wallpaper as the backdrop to beds or seating nooks.

Hardwood or engineered wood offers appealing warmth underfoot. Or opt for plush wall-to-wall carpeting, cushioning feet, and muffling sound—ideal for upstairs bedrooms. Tile works in warmer climates or with radiant floor heating systems. Choose natural-hued flooring options complementing other finishes for cohesiveness. Minimize seams with broad plank woods or oversized tile formats. Layer-patterned area rugs define spaces atop foundational floors. Paint Colors: Transform any space with new wall colors contextually representing the light and feeling you want to achieve. Cool, tranquil blue-grays relax while enveloping taupes promote restfulness. Deep hues can feel intimate and cozy. Trim provides an opportunity to define architectural details. Limit intense colors to accent walls so shades do not overwhelm. Instead, integrate complementary hues keeping finishes cohesive.


Creating an Ideal Sleep Environment

Fine-tune atmosphere for quality, restorative rest. Details dramatically impact how well bedrooms facilitate falling asleep and throughout the night. Make upgrades actively benefiting sleep health priorities like temperature regulation, light control, and sound buffering to support your circadian rhythm.

Lighting

Outfit bedrooms with varied lighting options balancing function and atmosphere beautifully. Reading necessitates directional bedside lamps. Overhead fixtures fill rooms with ambient light. Sconces illuminate dresser mirrors clearly or artfully illuminate architectural details and decor. Dimming technology allows customizing scenes from bright activity to restful relaxation. Layer controls like dimmer switches, remote controls, and smart bulbs for ultimate convenience without getting up. Position LCD screens on devices to avoid blue light interference before bedtime.

White pillows and duvet on the blue bed.
Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Accessories for Relaxation and Comfort

Enhance sleep quality with devices that help control the environment. White noise machines or bed fans offer soothing ambient sound masking disruptive noises like street traffic. For trouble unwinding in bed, weighted blankets provide calming pressure while gentle massagers relax back muscles. Control sunlight infiltration and insulate spaces with insulating shutters, shades, or blackout curtains for both darkness and temperature regulation in one solution. Cooling mattress pads prevent night sweats. Regulate bedroom humidity with humidifiers or dehumidifiers, limiting nighttime congestion and skin irritation. Drink plenty of water and keep a glass on nightstands to avoid dehydration. The right accessories transform bedrooms into personalized sanctuaries facilitating deeper, restorative rest.

Choosing The Right Bed And Mattress

Choosing comfortable, supportive beds and mattresses tailored to space and personal preferences directly impacts sleep quality and comfort night after night. Seek out quality materials assembled to last through years of everyday use without sagging or creaking. Avoid cheap, thin mattresses requiring frequent replacement wasting money and natural resources long-term.

When selecting new beds and mattresses, consider the following:

Mattress Construction

  • Assess sleep style and firmness preferences to select optimal construction
  • Side sleepers need conforming support cradling pressure points
  • Back sleepers require proper spinal alignment with some surface cushioning
  • Stomach sleepers want buoyancy without sagging excessively
  • Test various mattress types instore to find responsive support suiting needs
  • Constructions range from classic innerspring coils to gel-infused foams to organic latex, offering cooling, contouring support

Bed Frame Support

  • Foundational frames prevent mattresses from wearing unevenly
  • Coordinate frames and ornately carved headboards for lavish bedrooms
  • Upholstered modular platforms provide softness, neatly skirting mattresses
  • Trundle beds maximize flexibility for visitors and extra bedding storage
  • Durable solid wood withstands daily use better than particle boards
  • Reinforced joinery prevents loosening over decades

Estimating Costs of a Bedroom Renovation Project

Bedroom upgrade budgets fluctuate based on project scale and design selections. Use the table below as a guide when estimating costs.

Renovation ExtentTypical RangeInclusionsConsiderations
Minor UpgradesUnder $1,000New bedding, window treatments, area rugDIY swaps decorative pieces for quick refresh
Light Renovation$4,000 - $10,000Paint, refinished floors, storage additionsFoundational elements like storage and neutrals support full decorating later
Full Overhaul$15,000 - $30,000+Layout changes, custom builds, lighting plans, luxe materialsMajor undertakings improving architecture and flow
Region AdjustmentsVariesLabor rates and material costs fluctuateNYC and San Francisco far exceed midwestern rates for instance

Consult design specialists when establishing budgets. Provide room dimensions and outlines of project elements. Designers translate aspirations into actionable plans with projected costs for reality checks. Know that more DIY work saves labor costs. Smart long-lasting installations support value recoup if selling. Set realistic budgets recognizing bedrooms directly tied to life quality and rest.

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So What Should You Prioritize in Your Bedroom Renovation?

Focus time and money on elements aligning with your goals, whether a serene personal sanctuary supporting deep sleep, a couple’s retreat facilitating intimacy, or a multifunctional entertaining suite accommodating activities from TV watching to workouts. Customized lighting allowing scene adjustments enables the use of the space effectively for varied needs, from bright mornings to relaxed evenings. Storage should adequately house all belongings conveniently to prevent frustrating digging for items distracting from restful feelings. Comfortable, high-quality beds directly impact daily happiness through their supportiveness and coziness. Keep priorities steering decisions when determining bedroom renovation budgets and work with specialists to ensure you get the space of your dreams.

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