Behind the bed ideas
13 Spectacular Ways to Decorate the Wall Behind the Bed
From building a niche to hanging a picture, here's a range of ideas to decorate the space behind your bed.
When you get down to it, decorating the wall behind the bed isn’t as easy as you’d think. In fact, it can be rather daunting to dress up a large expanse of wall and not have it come off looking like a half-baked job. I believe there’s an art – if not rocket science – to even hanging up a picture. Should it be one or two? Grid form or random? … And so on and so forth.
So you see, much as we may be elated at having a blank canvas to play with, it can soon lead to a good bit of head-scratching. Fortunately, I have done some homework that I would be happy to share. Here are a few interesting ways you can add colour, personality and design to the baffling space above your bed.
Contour Interior Design, Inc.
1. Consider a tiled wall
Tiled walls don’t have to be confined to the kitchen or bathroom; why not start collecting assorted reclaimed tiles to make a stunning textured feature wall behind the bed? This one here, is a faux-tin-tiled wall, but ceramic tiles work equally well.
Tip: Stick to larger tiles to make this work, as smaller ones can look busy and crowded.
Ace Associates
2. Create a niche
If you are at the stage of designing your bedroom from scratch, build a niche in the wall. Niches can be superbly decorative whilst adding depth to a room. Whether traditionally arched or in contemporary straight lines, wall-papered or painted in contrasting colours, niches add another dimension to a room.
Here are 8 Indian homes that wow with arches
Tip: If you wish to make a niche work functionally as well as decoratively, run shelves across to hold books and accessories.
3. Create your own gallery
These iron and distressed wood photo frames of all shapes and sizes are cleverly put together to create a vintage-looking accent wall. You may or may not fill them in with pictures – either way, they would look striking.
Tip: A gallery is a great way to showcase your passion, be it your amateur photography skills or collection of travel memorabilia.
Marvel Realtors
If you can’t be bothered with dusting a large number of photo frames, adorn the wall with a single, large artwork. There’s an incomparable sophisticated air about a larger-than-life painting or photograph. Apart from adding scale to a room and acting as a great focal point, it works to unify a room’s colour scheme.
Look at 6 ways to hang your art
Savio & Rupa Interior Concepts (Bangalore)
4.
Stencil a wall mural
The colour-burst of an abstract pattern or a vibrant mural can work wonders on a bare wall. In this room, a brilliant peacock is stencilled on the backdrop wall. It not only brings in an element of playfulness and vibrancy to the space but also breaks the monotony of an all-white room.
Find out how to stencil a wall
Shabnam Gupta
5. Use the headboard itself
You would be surprised what a headboard can do – apart from coming in all shapes and sizes, they can add serious colour, elevate your space, make it cosier and double as a work of art. The padded ikat headboard here practically acts as a wall design element, giving the room its required dose of colour and pattern, and personal style.
DESIGN CAFE
6. Cocoon it in wood
In this bedroom, the use of a wooden panel all the way from ceiling to the floor creates a cosy sleeping area. The polished wood wall by itself is quite striking, but the backlit lattice panel adds another level of elegance.
IMI Design, LLC
7. Clad it in leather
A dedicated bed zone can be created by upholstering a portion of the wall that is wide enough to encompass the bed and nightstands but not engulf the entire wall. In this example, a contrasting black trim sets off the upholstered section from the surrounding wall surface.
For People design
8. Hang a tapestry – or two
To layer on the richness and interest in a bedroom drop a tapestry from the wall on either side of a bed. A wall colour that shows up in contrast to the tapestries adds extra visual punch.
Learn the which, where and how of hanging tapestries
Prachi Damle Photography
9. Use light as an accent
The single wall light in this contemporary bedroom also works as the only piece of wall decor. The 3D geometric shapes add character to the stark white wall and the soft glow of the lights within these unusual shades adds warmth to the room’s ambience.
Tamara Rosenbloom Design LLC
10. Customise your wallpaper
There are wallpapers and then there are wallpapers. A paper with an oversized mural pattern can be daring without being dizzying. For example, while this floral print is definitely bold, it also serves to anchor the room.
Des Ewing Residential Architects
11. Bring in wall panels
In this stylish space, a wall of panelling behind the bedhead instantly adds character and personality. Breaking it up with intricate carved areas introduces texture and a holiday getaway feel.
Zephyr Interiors
12. Mirror the wall
Perfect particularly for smaller bedrooms, a mirrored wall will visually double the space. This one does the job in style, its high position keeping the effect subtle and the antiqued surface looking elegant.
See the many ways to make your home look bigger with mirrors
13.
Use a four-poster bed to good effect
The linear lines of this four-poster bed stand out like a frame against the dark-grey wall in imitation of a framed canvas, albeit a blank one. The rectangular space above the bed is best left empty – a perfect example of minimalist yet striking design.
Read more:
Quirky, Easy & Budget-Friendly Ways to Dress Up Your Wall
7 Ideas to Accentuate the Area Behind the Bed
Tell us:
Did any of these ideas catch your fancy? We would love to hear how you have decorated your wall. Do share in the Comments section below.
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Nandini Balial
Fact checked by Nandini Balial
Nandini Balial is a writer and copy editor who specializes in lifestyle, food, mental health, immigration, film/TV, literature, politics, and feminism.
She has worked in a variety of fields, including television, film, book-selling, and publishing; she also spent over two years as a TaskRabbit maid, housekeeper, and personal assistant.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
The Spruce / Marty Baldwin
The bedroom is the most essential bedroom in the house, built for comfort and relaxation, a place to recharge and decompress. Depending on the layout, a main bedroom can be a spacious en suite with its own bathroom or a small and cozy retreat. For the ideal sanctuary, you need bedroom ideas that can maximize every last inch of space.
Your primary suite should feel like a private haven where you can escape from the world—and possibly the kids and pets—to practice self-care, bond with your partner, or simply to relish a good night’s sleep.
Whether you prefer a minimalist neutral aesthetic or a colorful maximalist approach, check out these bedroom ideas from a range of interior designers that will inspire you to create your own at-home oasis that's custom built to suit your needs.
About This Term: Primary Bedroom
Many real estate associations as well as the Real Estate Standards Association have classified the term "Master Bedroom" as having a potentially derogatory connotation. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.
Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.
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Drape the Windows
Design by Ghislaine Viñas / Photo by Garrett Rowland
This Los Feliz, Los Angeles bedroom from Ghislaine Viñas has a low-profile pink velvet headboard that fills the wall without blocking the windows.
When it's time to sleep, thick pink drapes block light and add color. Matching side tables, lamps, and linens provide symmetry. Mustard yellow throw pillows add color contrast and a portrait hung in the blank wall space between windows creates a focal point. -
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Mount a Live Edge Headboard
Design by Studio Robert McKinley / Photo by Nicole Franzen
This Montauk, New York bedroom from Studio Robert McKinley has white shiplap walls, a navy geometric rug, and a scene-stealing, one-of-a-kind live edge headboard mounted to the wall that creates an organic feel in the cool coastal room.
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Dress the Wall Opposite the Bed
Design by Caroline Andréoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd
While many people choose to add accent wallpaper on the wall behind the bed, this Paris bedroom from Caroline Andréoni Interior Design takes the opposite approach, adding black-and-white palm tree wallpaper on the wall across from the bed that helps to camouflage the wall-mounted TV.
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Add a Custom Windowseat
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott and Chris Coe
In this NYC bedroom from Chango & Co., a custom headboard and window seat with rounded edges creates a luxurious minimalist cocooning feel with a calming creamy beige monotone color scheme that wraps around three walls of the room.
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Build a Home Library
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Tessa Neustadt
In this bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors, the wall behind the bed has been transformed into a home library with an integrated headboard. A large round pendant light adds dimension, and art on the other walls completes the casual, lived-in feel of a room ideal for book and art lovers.
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Lean an Antique Floor Mirror Against the Wall
Design by Michelle Gerson Interiors / Photo by Marco Ricca
This spacious and opulent main bedroom from Michelle Gerson Interiors has a graphic wallpapered ceiling, statement lighting, and a dramatic antique French gilded floor mirror leaning casually against the wall for outfit selfies.
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Bring the Coastal Vibes
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Raquel Langworthy
This coastal bedroom from Chango & Co. has an effortless and breezy coastal grandmother/vacation house feel, with its soothing blue-and-white color palette, bed layered with extra pillows, layered rugs, and an oversized pendant light hung from the vaulted ceilings.
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Include a Bonus Seating Area
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
In this spacious bedroom from Marie Flanigan Interiors, a seating area in front of the windows provides a space to relax and unwind that isn't the bed. Rustic elements like wood cladding on the vaulted ceiling and an antique chest and rug add character and create a sense of timelessness that will outlast trends.
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Darken the Walls
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
This bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors has white painted shiplap ceilings and moody black saturated paint on the walls that creates a comforting oasis for rest and relaxation.
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Plant a Tree
Design by Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis / Photo by Emily Followill
This bedroom from interior designer Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis has olive green walls, sheer curtains, a floral printed upholstered headboard, and an indoor tree planted in the corner that creates a sense of well-being and calm.
20 Best Indoor Trees to Grow in Your Home
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Play With Ombre Paint
Design by Raili CA Design / Photo by Lisa Romerein
Raili CA Design washed this California bedroom in fresh shades of green, from the bed linens to the wall paint. Rather than applying a neat uniform coat, two shades were layered in a semi-ombre effect from dark to light, with deliberately rough unfinished edges that don't quite reach the ceiling, creating a playful effect that is effortlessly stylish and chill.
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Install a Monumental Headboard
Design by Michelle Gerson Interiors / Photo by Marco Ricca
In this bedroom from Michelle Gerson Interiors, a monumental headboard upholstered in soft gray adds a dramatic focal point that helps to balance the extra tall vaulted ceilings.
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Control the Light
Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Talitha Photos
Cathie Hong Interiors hung a corner-to-corner drapery wall that creates a serene backdrop for the bed and mitigates light in a room with wrap-around windows. Simple black pendant lights suspended from the ceiling and round bedside tables create an airy feel, while a warm wood bed and large dark area rug help ground the space.
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Coat the Walls in Chocolate
Design by Kara Mann
This bedroom from interior designer Kara Mann has a chocolate brown accent wall behind the bed that creates a rich and luxurious feel.
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Integrate the Nightstands
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott and Chris Coe
This bedroom from Chango & Co. has pale wood nightstands, each with a drawer to hide bedside clutter. The nightstands integrate into the bespoke headboard and window seat for a seamless look.
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Install a Metal Framed Glass Door
Design by Caroline Andréoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd
In this Paris apartment, Caroline Andréoni Interior Design separated the en suite bathroom from the bedroom with a stylish glass and metal-framed door (and added a floor-to-ceiling curtain that can be drawn when privacy is desired).
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Add a Dropped Ceiling
Design by Ghislaine Viñas / Photo by Garrett Rowland
Interior designer Ghislaine Viñas carved out a bedroom in this SoHo loft in New York City using a dropped ceiling that helps to define the sleeping area. An adjacent sitting area and en suite bathroom complete the full-service home retreat.
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Whitewash It
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly
This whitewashed minimalist bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors has a slanted shiplap ceiling, flowing floor-to-ceiling drapes, and an upholstered bed with built-in reading lights and side tables that floats like a cloud in the middle of the light-flooded room.
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Create a Modern Farmhouse Vibe
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
This bedroom from Chango & Co. has dark wood finishes, rustic ceiling beams, and a corner fireplace that creates a modern farmhouse feel.
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Pair Pink and Gray
Design by Caroline Andréoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd
This Parisian bedroom from Caroline Andréoni Interior Design has moody gray walls, slim gold-tone wall sconces, and a plush upholstered rose velvet headboard paired with a neat stack of pillows in shades of pale pink and white that adds a boutique hotel vibe.
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Hang Statement Wallpaper
Design by Studio Henree / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
The star of this bedroom from Studio Henree is the Ellie Cashman dark floral wallpaper, which has become a modern classic that works every time. A slim canopy bed with gold-tone brackets and gold-toned bedside lamps adds warmth and contrast against the dark wallpaper.
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Layer It Up
Design by Erin Williamson Design
Erin Williamson Design turned a Texas lake house A-frame bedroom into a moody oasis, with a mix of dark paint and patterned wallpaper on the walls and ceiling. A carved wood Moroccan-style room divider creates privacy in front of the floor-to-ceiling window and diffuses natural light.
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Give It a Luxury Hotel Vibe
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Jacob Snavely
This Flatiron, NYC bedroom from Chango & Co. has a luxury hotel vibe, with its floor-to-ceiling leather headboard, plush drapes and carpet, sculptural pendant light, and graphic-edged sheets and pillows.
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Add a Clawfoot Tub
Design by Kate Marker Interiors
If you are a bath lover and a romantic, why not place a clawfoot tub in your bedroom, and leave the shower and the sink to the en suite, like this cottage bedroom from Kate Marker Interiors.
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Defer to the View
Design by Sissy + Marley Interior Design / Photo by Marco Rica Studio
If your bedroom includes a million-dollar view, making decor choices that highlight and celebrate what's outside the windows is an excellent point of departure. Sissy + Marley Interior Design kept the focus on the storied view of the Chrysler Building with cool tones and minimalist lines. A bonus window seat offers a privileged place to ponder the NYC skyline.
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Maximize Storage
Design by Studio Peake
Not every bedroom is a big bedroom. This snug London bedroom from Studio Peake maximizes every last inch of vertical space around the bed with seamless built-in storage. Taking the storage from floor to ceiling and using a matching painted wood treatment on the wall behind the bed helps to draw the eye upward, making the room feel larger than it is.
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Use a Retro Color Palette
Design by AHG Design / Photo by Nick Glimenakis
This 1960s Catskills, New York bedroom from AHG Design is decorated in rich tones of rust, burnt orange, brown, and copper that create contrast with the light and bright interior and add some retro midcentury vibes.
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Light a Fire
Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.
This bedroom from Mindy Gayer Design Co. has a neutral palette, a comfortably appointed bed, and a wood-burning fireplace for cozy winter nights.
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Add Vintage and Antique Touches
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Josh Franer
White brick walls, vaulted wood ceilings, herringbone patterned wood floors, simple bedding, statement lighting, and a large antique gilded floor mirror create a minimalist bedroom full of texture and interest from Leanne Ford Interiors.
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Play with Proportions
Design by Michelle Gerson Interiors / Photo by Patrick Cline
This Boston Victorian bedroom from Michelle Gerson Interiors mixes soft shades of black and cream with gold accents like the extra tall vintage style lamps that flank the bed, creating a playful and dramatic sense of proportion.
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Install Floor-to-Ceiling Drapes
Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer
In this light and bright farmhouse-inspired bedroom from Marie Flanigan Interiors, gauzy floor-to-ceiling curtains on the wall of windows behind the bed soften the tall ceilings and help diffuse light.
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Create a Mini En Suite
Fantastic Frank
This modest-sized bedroom on the Spanish island of Mallorca from Fantastic Frank has everything a primary suite needs to be comfortable and stylish. Rendered in a simple palette of black, white, and natural wood, the mini en suite has an open and transparent layout that allows light and air to flow and offers easy circulation between spaces. Edison bulb pendant lights hanging from the ceiling save space while adding a dose of minimalist industrial cool.
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Riff on the Classics
Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Tessa Neustadt
This spacious bedroom from Emily Henderson Design has generous proportions with classical elements like a dark marble fireplace and tall windows, the perfect starting point for a mix of modern and traditional styling that includes a four-poster bed, a chaise longue in the corner of the room, and a French country style wooden desk paired with modern black-and-white framed prints on the walls, curvy upholstered seating, and a large area rug.
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Paint the Walls Forest Green
Design by Candace Mary Interiors / Photo by Martin Vecchio
This cool and calming bedroom from Candace Mary Interiors has deep forest green walls, rich wood floors and furniture, cool gray and white textiles, and gold-toned accents to add brightness.
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Climb the Wall
Design by Heather Hilliard Design / Photo by David Duncan Livingston
This bedroom from Heather Hilliard Design includes a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall headboard that features warm wood paneling on the lower portion and textured wall panels that extend to the ceiling. A pair of fluffy poufs at the foot of the bed and a pair of armchairs positioned on opposite sides of the room provide extra seating, and a large area rug anchors the space.
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Add a Loveseat
Design by Brexton Cole Interiors
In this light-flooded bedroom from Brexton Cole Interiors, shades of white and cream create a luminous look, and a crystal chandelier anchors a small seating area at the foot of the bed with a backless loveseat, a sculptural occasional table, and a comfy throw.
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Create Zones
Design by Forbes + Masters
This spacious primary suite from Forbes + Masters is large enough for a sleeping area and a large dedicated sitting area that functions like a private living room. The tonal beiges and light browns were kept consistent throughout the room, with the layout of the furniture and individual area rugs creating distinct zones.
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Use Soft Pastels
Design by Will Brown Interiors
This bedroom from Will Brown Interiors has a soft beige and gray palette accented with sherbet-colored pastels that create a serene feel. A simple vanity adds a touch of old-school glam.
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Balance It Out
Design by Brexton Cole Interiors
While it's fun to play with asymmetry, there is nothing wrong with embracing symmetry in a bedroom layout. In this bedroom from Brexton Cole Interiors, a bed with a framed tufted headboard floats between identical closet doors.
Matching nightstands with a pair of sculptural black lamps flank the bed. It's a simple no-fail formula that is easy to achieve and can be easily changed with new nightstands, bedding, or lighting. -
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Accent With Bright Pops of Color
Design by Will Brown Interiors
This bright and airy bedroom from Will Brown Interiors has a neutral base of soft whites, beiges, and taupe, punctuated with pops of bright orange, red, and turquoise on the walls and bedding.
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Choose a Wraparound Headboard
Design by Forbes + Masters
This thick velvet upholstered wrap-around headboard from Forbes + Masters creates a fortress-like effect that grounds the bed and sets the stage for dramatic bedding, hanging globe pendant lights and saturated black walls.
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Embrace the Arabesque
Design by Maite Granda
This bedroom from interior designer Maite Granda features a royal blue accent wall with a white Arabesque pattern behind the bed that adds dynamism and interest.
Crisp white and blue bed linens are accented with yellow and gold touches that are perfectly suited for a Florida bedroom. -
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Hang a Vivid Piece of Art
Design by Alvin Wayne
In this NYC bedroom from interior designer Alvin Wayne, a glossy and colorful floral print behind the bed is set off by matte black walls, black-lined mirrored chests of drawers on either side of the bed, crisp white bed linens, and modern bedside lamps.
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Add Subtle Pattern
Design by Desiree Burns Interiors
In this bedroom from Desiree Burns Interiors, patterned wallpaper in a soft gray-and-white diamond motif adds subtle texture to the wall behind the bed. A rattan headboard and wood and woven bench add warmth, complemented with black bedside tables with 60s-style angled legs.
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Turn Up the Drama
Design by Forbes + Masters
This theatrical bedroom from Forbes + Masters has emerald green walls, plush upholstery, blingy lighting, colorful art, warm mustard and gold accents, and a sense of the dramatic that creates an escape from the everyday.
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Include a Wall Mural
Design by Maite Granda
Interior designer Maite Granda added interest to a Florida bedroom with a wallpaper mural that depicts a tropical scene in soft neutral tones of cream and white.
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Use Sepia Tones
Design by Becca Interiors
This bedroom from Becca Interiors has high ceilings, rustic beams, and soothing sepia tones of cream and light brown, making it both a relaxing haven and a tranquil spot for a small home office.
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Install Some Board and Batten
A Beautiful Mess
This colorful bedroom from A Beautiful Mess has DIY board and batten walls painted in a creamy shade of raspberry pink, with retro-style headboard and sconce lights that nod to throwback glamour.
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Use Earth Tones
Design by Gray Space Interiors
Olive green wallpaper and tones of brown and burnished gold tones create a relaxing feel in this bedroom from Gray Space Interiors, while a bold patterned wallpaper creates a sense of movement and interest.
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Preserve Original Features
Fantastic Frank
Your bedroom might not have the architectural bones of this residence on the Spanish island of Mallorca from Fantastic Frank, with its restored golden stone wall, ceiling beams, and slanted ceilings. But unearthing or preserving original features, or adding decorative beams or rustic finishes, can add character to your room that allows you to keep the decor simple, calming, and timeless.
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Pair Brown and Blue
Design by L.A. Weddings & Interiors
This spacious bedroom from L.A. Weddings & Interiors mixes warm browns and subtle grays with a bold blue velvet headboard and plenty of textiles that give it a calm and soothing feel.
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Add Drapes
Design by Jenn Pablo Studio
Both the windows and the canopy bed are draped in soft matching curtains that nonchalantly puddle on the floor of this serene and spacious bedroom from Jenn Pablo Studio.
The 14 Best Places to Buy Curtains of 2023
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Mix Black and Gray
Design by Kara Mann
At this farmhouse in Pound Ridge, New York from interior designer Kara Mann, a mix of antique and contemporary furniture and textiles in shades of black and gray strike a stylish balance between old and new.
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Embellish With Tassels and Pom Poms
A Beautiful Mess
This soft and playful bedroom from A Beautiful Mess includes blushing pink walls, a tasseled hand-woven wall hanging, pom poms on the curtains, and a Moroccan blanket at the foot of the bed.
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Choose Black and Shades of White
Design by Jenn Pablo Studio
In this Palm Springs modern Spanish Revival primary bedroom from Jenn Pablo Studio, a dark carved wood bed and dark beam add contrast to the soft interior in shades of white.
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Keep It Simple
Fantastic Frank
This simple Swedish country house bedroom from Fantastic Frank is peak Scandi minimalism with its toned-down color palette, lack of embellishment, and mismatched chair nightstands that make it feel intentional.
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Mix Grays and Greens
Design by Louis Duncan-He Designs / Photo by Eymeric Wilding Photography
In this calming bedroom from Louis Duncan-He Designs, a wall-to-wall headboard and abstract mountain wallpaper mural in soft shades of gray are offset with green accents to create a soothing feel.
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Choose a Dramatic Bedframe
Design by Jenn Pablo Studio
Jenn Pablo Studio added a dramatic focal point to a calm neutral bedroom design with a dramatic spindled bedstead
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Add a Chunky Wood Platform Bed
Fantastic Frank
This bedroom in a Modernist building in Barcelona from Fantastic Frank features a chunky platform bed, retro-style lighting, a large golden mustard-colored velvet floor pouf, and an absence of art or decor on the light taupe walls that gives the room a minimalist feel.
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Decorate with Baskets
Fantastic Frank
This Ibiza bedroom from Fantastic Frank is decorated with natural materials like the decorative baskets above the repurposed door headboard, a leaning wood ladder, a rattan pendant light, and graphic wire bedside lamps with burlap shades.
Salmon and indigo blue bedding add a shot of color to the neutral mix. -
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Mix Wall Finishes
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly
If you're going for a lived-in, effortlessly chic look or decorating an old house, embracing more than one wall finish creates a layered look and a sense of history. This cottage bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors has a timeless look and a charming patina thanks to a mixed smattering of wall finishes, from two tones of wallpaper to white-washed brick, plaster, and wood.
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Create an Archway
Fantastic Frank
In this bedroom suite in Frankfurt, Germany from Fantastic Frank, an open archway separates the sleeping area from a spacious dressing room, allowing light and air to flow between the adjoining spaces.
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Add a Picture Railing
Design by Malcolm Simmons for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Keyanna Brown
If you live in a part of the world without a high risk of earthquakes, add a picture ledge to your headboard like this main bedroom designed by Malcolm Simmons for Emily Henderson Design that allows you to display artwork without the hassle of creating a gallery wall.
It's a good idea to affix leaning artwork to the wall using double-sided tape, sticky tacks, or a rubber liner, just in case. -
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Make the En Suite Open Plan
Fantastic Frank
If you live alone or are part of a couple with no secrets, creating an open plan en suite might work for you. In this primary en suite from Fantastic Frank, most of the wall between the bedroom and the bathroom has been removed, increasing light and airflow as well as circulation, and allowing a view of the bathtub from the large wood platform bed.
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Add a Modern Canopy Bed
Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Alexandra Ribar
This minimalist bedroom from Leanne Ford Interiors has high ceilings with warm wood beams and a small window that is placed very high up on the wall. A tall modern canopy bed with graphic black lines helps to bridge the space and create a sense of coziness in an otherwise spare and minimal room.
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Map It Out
Design by Tyler Karu / Photo by Justin Levesque
In this converted schoolhouse condo in South Portland, Maine from interior designer Tyler Karu, the highlight of the bedroom is a custom 14-foot mural of an 18th-century map of the Maine coast that highlights the tall ceilings and creates a personalized wow factor in an otherwise compact space.
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Hide the Bathroom Behind the Bed
Fantastic Frank
In this bedroom suite on the Spanish island of Mallorca from Fantastic Frank, the bathroom is located a few steps up behind the headboard, partially obscured by a paned glass wall.
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Add a Floor-to-Ceiling Bedframe
Design by Kara Mann
Interior designer Kara Mann chose a streamlined white canopy bed frame that almost touches the ceiling to add a modern touch to this Connecticut farmhouse bedroom. The slim but tall bed frame helps to create the perception of more space in a room with low ceilings and small windows and complements an antique wood spindle side table, dark wood flooring, and layered rugs.
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Mix Black and White Finishes
Design by Brexton Cole Interiors
This minimalist black-and-white bedroom from Brexton Cole Interiors has a restrained palette and minimal decor that makes every detail count, from a striking pendant light to a graphic piece of art hanging over the bed.
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Outfit the Attic
Fantastic Frank
This cozy Swedish bedroom from Fantastic Frank is a serene and simple Scandi-style getaway with its white-painted shiplap-clad floors and ceilings, burgundy accents, and Danish armchair covered in a wild sheepskin throw (which can of course be swapped out for quality faux fur).
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Add Bedside Mirrors
Design by Tina Ramchandani Creative
In this bedroom from Tina Ramchandani Creative, two fall mirrors with thin black frames and rounded corners hang above the bedside tables, reflecting light and creating a sense of depth.
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Add Overstuffed Seating
Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
In this bedroom from Emily Henderson Design, an overstuffed corner armchair with a rattan pouf and a simple floor lamp provides a cozy place to read or grab some me time.
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Add a Focal Point That Isn't the Bed
Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott
In this Tribeca loft's bedroom in New York City from Chango & Co., a large-scale piece of unframed art creates a focal point on a large otherwise blank wall while maintaining the soft, minimalist feel of the room. It goes to show that depending on your layout, the focal point in every bedroom does not necessarily have to be the bed.
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Mix Dark Wood Tones
Fantastic Frank
In an era where many have embraced the beauty of pale white oak flooring, this bedroom from Fantastic Frank is a reminder of the enduring charms of dark wood.
In a compact room with high ceilings, a mix of rich, dark wood tones on the flooring, ceiling beams, window frames, and double doors is warm, cozy, and inviting. -
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Add a Rattan Bed
A Beautiful Mess
Bright yellow and white print wallpaper, an eye-catching vintage-style rattan bed, a smattering of plants, and a geometric kilim rug in shades of pink and yellow turns this bright bedroom from A Beautiful Mess into a happy place.
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Mix Old and New
Design by Tyler Karu / Photo by Erin Little
Mixing in antiques and vintage pieces that have stood the test of time is a sure way to create a timeless look for your bedroom. In this Maine home from Tyler Karu, a carved wood French Louis XV headboard is painted in dark taupe and dressed in modern linens. At the side, a gilded mirror hangs above a modern pale blue-gray nightstand finished with gold-toned hardware and topped with a vintage-style lamp.
No Matter Your Style, Here Are the Best Places to Buy Vintage Decor Online
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Make It Monochromatic
Fantastic Frank
If your bedroom is modest in size, one way to make it feel bigger is to stick to a tonal palette. This compact Stockholm bedroom from Fantastic Frank is a study in shades of gray, from the floor-to-ceiling curtains to the wall paint, carpet, and bedding. This creates a monochromatic effect that is minimal and serene while retaining enough variation and texture to keep it from feeling flat and boring.
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Accent With Wood
Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
This bedroom from Emily Henderson Design has soft white walls and wood accents on the floors, windows, and doors that contrast with a green and gray palette to create a cool, fresh, relaxed retreat.
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Add Bling to Built-Ins
Fantastic Frank
In this bedroom in Barcelona, Spain from Fantastic Frank, gold-toned detailing makes a wrap-around wall of built-in closets look a little more glamorous.
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Create a Flex Space
Design by Kate Marker Interiors / Photo by Margaret Rajic
Many people chose to locate the primary bedroom on the ground floor, creating the possibility to age in place should mobility issues surface. Even if your main bedroom is located on an upper floor, in many large homes a ground floor guest room can be turned into a bedroom down the road, like this ground floor bedroom from Kate Marker Interiors, with high ceilings, a king-sized bed with a bouclé headboard, vintage wicker nightstands, a wool rug, and a soft earthy palette. Keeping the design minimal and neutral allows you to adapt it easily later on should your needs change.
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Mismatch the Nightstands
Design by Andrea May Interiors / Photo by Jenny Siegwart
In this bedroom from Andrea May Interiors, a pair of mismatched nightstands adds variety to the symmetrical layout of the room that works harmoniously while allowing each side of the bed to have its own personality.
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Bring the Midcentury Vibes
Design by Michelle Boudreau Design
This midcentury modern style bedroom from Michelle Boudreau Design has palm print wallpaper, a Jonathan Adler retro-style pendant light hanging from the painted wood ceiling, and classic midcentury bedside tables that create a retro-inspired vibe.
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Consider Sightlines
Design by Michelle Boudreau Design
The rest of this midcentury modern bedroom from Michelle Boudreau Design is outfitted with a built-in wall desk/vanity and a vintage sideboard that echoes the sink vanity in the adjoining visible en suite bathroom, helping to tie the spaces together.
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Wallpaper the Ceiling
Design by JK Interior Living
In this light and airy bedroom from JK Interior Living, a dark wallpaper ceiling detail framed with decorative molding creates an anchor point for a chandelier and a focal point in an otherwise neutral room.
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Add a Writing Desk
Design by Tina Ramchandani Creative
In this comfortable bedroom from Tina Ramchandani Creative that is covered in shades of white, blue, and gray, a writing desk on one side of the bed adds function and another spot to get some work done or write a sonnet before bed.
Tips for Small and Large Bedrooms
Bedrooms come in all sizes, from small to large. Keep these layout, paint, and furniture selection ideas in mind when perusing the spaces below for ideas on how to decorate a main bedroom suite.
For small bedrooms:
- For a small bedroom storage idea, consider built-in cabinetry spanning the wall at the head of the bed to take the place of a bulky headboard and other furniture.
- A quiet neutral paint palette is soothing in a small bedroom. Neutral paint ideas can include beiges, grays, or greiges, but monotone all-white walls and bedding is refreshing and airy, too (think Scandinavian-style decor).
Add a pop or two of vibrant colors on the wall or bedding. - Embrace the concept of cozy minimalism and opt for streamlined modern-style furniture for small bedrooms.
For large bedrooms:
- Consider adding texture everywhere—from a chunky, tufted upholstered headboard to layered floor coverings—to create a comfy, welcoming large bedroom space. Paint the walls with limewash paint to add a subtle, soft texture to the walls that will cozy up a large bedroom.
- Make a large bedroom more attractive by adding layers of lighting, including chandeliers and floor lamps.
- To avoid a large empty space at the foot of the bed, add an upholstered bench, a loveseat, or a seating area comprised of two slipper chairs and a low table.
Tip
If you're setting up your first primary bedroom, you might be wondering what it should have for that "grown-up" vibe. Simply opt for a proper headboard, mattress, and bed frame or platform to elevate your bedroom style.
26 Guest Room Ideas That Are Equally Welcoming and Stylish
Wall above the head of the bed: 10 decor ideas
TipsDecor
The bed is the main "heroine" of the bedroom, here we spend most of our time. Therefore, the design of the sleeping area should be as conducive to rest and relaxation as possible. It is not enough to take care of the beauty and convenience of the sleeping bed itself, you also need to thoroughly think over the decor on the wall above the head of the bed - after all, all eyes will be riveted here. A painting, an art object, a mirror or a shelf with souvenirs - there can be a lot of options. We've rounded up the best headboard wall decorating ideas for you, any of which will enhance the visual appeal of your bedroom.
Director Valeria Gai Germanika's apartment. Designed by Diana Balashova. The bas-relief is the work of the animator Ali Trofimova.
Large-format painting
A painting or group of paintings is the most popular solution for decorating a wall above a headboard.
Art not only allows you to create an artistic atmosphere in the bedroom, but also visually highlight the wall, creating a bright accent.
Apartment in Moscow. Project by Olga Litvinova.
Children's room designed by designer Delfin Krakoff. On the wall is the work of artist Vik Muniz.
By the way, the picture does not have to be bright and eye-catching. This can be a monochrome canvas without a frame or black and white photographs in simple frames.
Apartment in Moscow. Project by Anton and Natalia Petrov.
Apartment in Minsk. Project of VAE design studio.
- Photo
- Alexandra Kononchenko
Picture gallery
If you want to make your bedroom not just an accent, but an entire accent wall, the best way is to hang your collection of paintings, photos and posters over the bed. To learn how to create a home art gallery and what mistakes to avoid, read our special materials at the links below.
Apartment in Sao Pulu. Artur Casas project.
Canopy or canopy over the bed - not necessarily an attribute of the nursery. It looks good in the parent's bedroom, and in addition, it creates coziness and helps to feel like in a royal bed.
Apartment near St. Petersburg. Project by Yana Grosheva.
Apartment in Moscow. Project by Dmitry Velikovsky and Guli Galeeva.
Instead of a picture, you can hang an antique screen above the bed. This is a great way to give a room an exotic charm and uniqueness. The screen, by the way, may not decorate the wall, but also serve as a headboard.
Apartment in Moscow. Hope Chuck Project.
Apartment in New Orleans. The wall above the headboard is decorated with an old Chinese screen.
Metal Sculpture
Another common wall decoration above the headboard is a metal sculpture. It can be an abstract composition, a bas-relief on a plant theme, or even a "mobile" - it all depends on your imagination.
Designed by Irina Grave.
Apartment in Moscow. Project by Angelina Askeri.
Map
Maps are another alternative to paintings and photographs. It can be a reprint of an old nautical chart, a vintage find, or a modern interpretation of a world map. This decor looks especially good in the nursery, and it is suitable for both boys who dream of becoming pirates and girls. Which of us did not dream in childhood about distant wanderings and exotic countries?
Designed by Ekaterina Plotnikova.
Neon signage
Neon signage and signage was a staple of the trendy nightclubs and bars of the 1990s. What if you use them in the bedroom? The result can be very impressive! Don't believe? Ask Kourtney Kardashian - after all, her former bedroom was once decorated with a neon sign!
House near St. Petersburg. Project by Timofey Veresnovsky.
Apartment in Minsk. Project by Alexey and Anastasia Zakharevsky.
Mirror or group of mirrors
The mirror in the bedroom is not only decorative and not only used to look into it before going to bed.
It allows you to visually enlarge the space and make it lighter. And the mirror above the headboard is beautiful, especially if it has an unusual frame or shape.
Apartment near St. Petersburg. Lampa Design Studio project.
- Photo
- @maxiimov
Decorative plates
Plates are not only a serving item, but also a beautiful decorative object. The composition of the plates can look equally impressive in any room of the house: living room, dining room, kitchen and bedroom - especially if you combine porcelain with art or antiques.
Apartment in Lisbon. On the wall are papier-mâché works by John Derian and old English Chinese porcelain plates.
Open shelf
Perhaps the most functional solution is an open shelf or a small shelving unit. This is especially true for small bedrooms, where every square centimeter counts.
Unlike cabinets with solid doors, a small open shelf does not visually burden the space. In addition, you can put a book on it that you read before going to bed, charge your phone, gadgets, put photos of loved ones, a beautiful vase or a picture in a frame.
Apartment in Monaco. On a vintage shelf from the 1950s is a drawing by artist Joe Bradley.
The apartment of photographer Jimmy Eriksson and his girlfriend Hannah in Stockholm.
Tags
- bedroom
11 ideas from the pros - INMYROOM
Interior decor
Inspired by the best examples
We share a selection of ideas from Russian designers.
Wooden panels
To decorate a bedroom in a three-room apartment in Balashikha, Natalia Chaika from Studio 8 architectural bureau and Grigory Sevastyanov used an oak plank.
Design: Natalia Chaika, Grigory Sevastyanov
view the project in full
Paintings or posters
The customers of this project wanted a strict color scheme, and when choosing furniture they were guided by functionality, simple design and universal finish.
Against the background of such minimalism, decor, modern paintings and posters look great, which can be changed according to your mood.
Design: Tvoy Designer
see full project
Graphic mural
Designers from ANTEI studio furnished this apartment based on popular series and comics. And for the wall behind the head of the bed, they chose black, which is a rarity for a bedroom, and a contrasting pattern.
see the full project
Bright color + inspirational quote
Designer Svetlana Yurkova painted the wall in a cool shade of yellow and added just one accent to it: an inscription made in an elegant font - it turned out stylish and fresh.
Design: Svetlana Yurkova
see the full project
Exclusive wallpaper
Anastasia Tuganova made a sketch of the wallpaper for her customers' bedroom - they were made in a single copy especially for this project.
Design: Anastasia Tuganova
view the project in full
Floral ornament
This kopeck piece is located in a “Stalinist” house at the intersection of Novy Arbat and Garden Ring. The endless stream of cars outside the window and the gloomy “book” houses on Novy Arbat do not set you up for relaxation and rest, so designer Katya Chistova decided to create a real oasis in the apartment: this is how the project got the name “Flora and Fauna”: parrots and bright flowers.
Design: Katya Chistova
see the full project
Upholstered headboard
This solution fits perfectly into the interior concept: Sergey Sargin kept the whole project in the style of minimalism. The soft headboard provides additional heat and sound insulation, and also serves as a comfortable backrest, on which you can lean on to read a book before going to bed.
Design: Sergey Sargin
view full project
Texture + color
Despite the neutral color scheme, the room does not look dull, thanks in large part to the accent wall, which combines several shades of rich blue at once.
