The master bedroom is an often neglected area of the house. A private area that visitors to the house rarely see, it's easy to put off redecorating it in favor of other more visible rooms. The master bedroom should be a priority, however, as this personal space can be a welcome rest and retreat from the rush of daily life. No matter if your budget is large or small, there are stunning changes you can make to improve the master bedroom and create that private haven.
Instructions
1. Decide first on the mood you want for your bedroom: cool and tranquil, warm and inviting, or exciting and passionate. Knowing the feeling you want from your private space helps inform all of your redecorating decisions.
2. Figure out what you need and want for the space. Do you need more storage for clothes, do you want a bigger bed, do you want to make a more elegant space?
3. Identify your room style. If you have existing furniture you're going to keep, you'll need to keep that style in mind as you redo other parts of the room. If you are starting from scratch, it's a good idea to know what style you want before you shop. The wealth of choices for colors, fabrics, and furnishings can be overwhelming, so it helps to decide ahead of time.
4. Confirm your budget. Decide what you can spend, and then do some research on the prices of paint, flooring, accessories and furniture. Items often cost more than you expect so it's good to do some planning before you just start buying items. If you can't afford everything at once, choose the most important changes and then do the rest over time.
5. Choose a new wall color. The biggest impact on the room can be made for the least amount of money. The shade of your walls helps you achieve that feeling you decide on in step 1. For a cool, relaxing, spa-like environment, think beach cool blues, greens, grays, creams and sand colors. For a warm, comfortable space consider earth tones and richer versions of sunny colors--like burnt orange or deep gold. If you want to spice up your space, consider doing just an accent wall with a more exciting color and neutral shades for the other walls. Remember that you'll want to sleep in the room so you might want to consider subtler shades of bright colors you like: instead of red go with burgundy or pumpkin shades. Wallpaper can make a bedroom richer and more elegant looking, and choosing textured paper can add warmth and interest to the space.
6. Choose a ceiling color. Your ceiling doesn't have to be white! Darker colors on the ceiling tend to visually bring the ceiling down and make the space feel warmer and cozier. Painting the walls and ceiling the same cool color can unify the room and create a tranquil space. Don't be afraid to experiment with color on the ceiling--after all, as you lie in bed at night you'll be staring up at that ceiling!
7. Buy new bed linens. This is another great way to change the whole look of a room and a nice place to splurge. For a modern, spa like feel you can buy luxury bedding in cool silk and high thread-count cotton, with subtle stripes or pale dot patterns. If your room is relatively neutral, you can add richer color, texture, and embellishment. Buy the styles that suit your furniture and taste, with ruffles for a French country room, or tassels and fringe for an elegant setting. Buy sheets at the same time so the entire bed set works together.
8. Layer the window treatments. Sheer curtains, and blinds and shades you can raise will let the light in and show off attractive windows. Since you'll want the option for complete darkness, add heavy drapes to pull over the sheers or invest in heavier wooden or light-blocking blinds that can effectively darken the room. Drapes are another great way to add warmth and texture to the room, while sheers and light-colored blinds will compliment the cool, spa-like master bedroom.
9. Choose new lighting. Frosted or stained glass lamps make a beautiful statement in a bedroom and make for comfortable, muted lighting. If you need a ceiling fan to keep cool, invest in an attractive piece that complements your room design. You can find fan blades in all different shapes and textures, even shaped like rattan fans or carved wooden leaves. Consider an elegant chandelier with metal or glass beads and pendants to add a touch of opulence to the room.
10. Redo the floors. If there's room in the budget, it's always nice to dress up the floors in the master bedroom. If you have hardwood, sanding and refinishing the floors will brighten up the space. Add a large area rug under the bed for comfort under your bare feet. Area rugs and wall to wall carpeting can also be a way to add color and texture to the room. Warm up the space with a deep colored, longer pile carpet or add visual interest with an elegant pattern. Make sure if you choose a color or pattern that it works with your window treatments and linens. Too much pattern can overwhelm a space and make it too busy.
11. Rearrange or refinish the furniture. If your room can accommodate a different arrangement, try moving the furniture around to change up the look and feel of your room. Often this change can make a dramatic difference in the flow of the room and you'll end up liking the space better than you did before. If your furniture is faded or beat up and you can't afford a new set, try stripping and staining, or putting on a coat of primer and painting the furniture. There are special stains and paints that work even on veneers and rattan pieces, so any set can be freshened up. Change out the handles and knobs as well and you can create an entirely different bedroom set.
12. Invest in a headboard. A headboard is an important focal point of the bedroom and yet many people don't have one. For smaller rooms and modern styles, low headboards with simple lines will work best. For larger rooms, particularly with high ceilings, consider something tall and dramatic to help balance out the size of the room. Four poster beds and canopies can also make a beautiful statement in the room.
13. Buy additional furniture. If you like to watch TV, consider a wardrobe that matches your other furniture. This way you can close the doors and keep the room looking elegant when you're not watching TV. For extra storage, consider adding a dresser or wardrobe, or buy nightstands that have drawers or cabinet space. You can also add a storage chest at the foot of the bed. If your king size bed takes up so much room you can't add any pieces, consider downsizing to a smaller bed so that you can add dressers and storage space.
14. Dress up the space with accessories. Since this is personal space, add whatever unique or whimsical accessories you enjoy, or splurge on a fantastic piece that's just for you. If you want to keep with the tone of to relax and escape, so consider serene beach paintings, earth tone vases and shells, and other accessories that keep the space tranquil. Consider making a color statement by buying accessories all in the same color, or in shades of the same color. A pale sea foam room with all white accessories can look modern and striking, without being overwhelming. An earth tone room can be warmed up with red and orange vases or exotic pieces in copper, bronze or gold. Buy what you enjoy and make the space your own.
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