This is a collaborative post: There’s nothing quite like curling up in a luxurious bedroom at the end of a long day. It might be the room in your home least seen by guests, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to create a space you love. Decorating your bedroom on a budget doesn’t need to look cheap, in fact, just the opposite.
There are plenty of inexpensive ways to give your bedroom a luxe facelift, with creative changes that make a big impact – like buying new bedlinen, swapping your furniture around, improving the lighting or redecorating the walls. Read on for some low-effort tips on how you can make your bedroom look new, without breaking the bank.
Tip 1: Refresh your furniture without the price tag
Here are two tips that don’t involve spending any money at all. Depending on the layout of the fixed features in your room, like doors and windows, simply rearranging your furniture will give you a fresh start.
Try drawing up a scale model of your bedroom, cut out pieces representing your furniture, and play with various layouts to figure out what works best. This ensures you don’t start moving heavy furniture only to discover you can’t make your vision work.
If moving your bed isn’t an option due to space constraints, see if there’s any furniture you can swap from other areas of your house to use as bedside tables or for storage. Even replacing one statement piece of furniture will re-energize your room.
If you do wish to update furniture pieces, consider buying them second-hand. Giving some pre-loved items a new lease on life will be easier on your wallet and better for the environment. Buying new hardware for an existing chest of drawers or bedside table – or on second-hand furniture – is a very inexpensive way to give your furniture a facelift.
Tip 2: Switch up your linen
Giving your bedroom a facelift can be as easy as swapping your quilt cover, bedspread or sheets for a new colour or pattern! Whether you’re adding a pop of colour, or toning things down with textured neutrals, fresh linen can make a massive difference to how you view your bedroom.
For summer, dress your bed in linen and other breathable fabrics. This will not only look light and airy on your bed, but will help regulate your body temperature and keep you cool as you sleep. Usher in winter by replacing these with velvet, jersey and flannel in richer colour palettes to keep your bed looking and feeling snug no matter how cold it might get outside.
If you have a small space, lighter tones can make your room feel more expansive, while darker tones will be cosier. If you haven’t experimented with patterned sheets before, it can be fun to give those a try in combination with a solid coloured quilt cover.
Tip 3: Add texture
If you love the linen you already have on your bed, but feel like it still needs a zhuzh up, try layering throws, blankets and cushions in a similar colour palette, but different textures.
Add a large area rug under your bed to give your feet a comfortable start to the day. As a rule of thumb, a rug should sit under at least two-thirds of your bed, and extend out on all sides. It might seem counter-intuitive, but the larger the rug, the more spacious your room will feel. Again, different fabrics and weaves can radically transform your bedroom – whether you opt for a flat weave or a cushy pile rug will change the look and feel of your space.
Tip 4: Change up your walls
Bored by waking up to bare walls or the same artwork you’ve had for years? Changing it up for something new is a quick and easy fix that will make a significant impact. The great news is that large-scale prints are now very affordable, or if you enjoy making art (or even if you’ve never given it a try before) you can buy paint and a blank canvas and create your own abstract work for a personal touch.
Take your revamp a step further by painting a feature wall or the entire room. Choose colours that suit your decor and make you feel good on the inside to make it the perfect calming retreat after a hard day at work.
Other wall art ideas that won’t break the bank include:
- Framing family photos or photos of special memories or places (or alternatively printing them onto canvas).
- Creating your own art with fabric or other textiles.
- Framing maps or other graphics.
- Painting a mural directly onto the walls.
- Using reusable wallpaper or decals.
Tip 5: Let there be light
Is your room overly dark or much too bright? Buying a new bedside or floor lamp is an inexpensive way to add a new feature, while solving any lighting-related issues. Try playing with lighting at different levels, such as hanging dim pendant lights above your bedside tables. Place a floor light next to an armchair to create a comfy reading nook.
Alternatively, give your current bedside lamps a fresh look by switching the covers, or simply opting for a brighter or dimmer bulb.
Tip 6: Bring nature inside
Adding a selection of houseplants will instantly bring a sense of calm and relaxation to your space. Greenery adds a pop of colour that complements any colour scheme and indoor plants can even help purify the air. Choose planters or pots in a variety of textures that match your decor. If you’re not a green thumb, buying a bunch of flowers on a regular basis and displaying them in a beautiful vase can help you connect with nature. Maximise the natural light in your room for positive wellbeing.
Your bedroom should be a haven for escaping after a hard day at work and a retreat for enjoying that rare morning sleep-in, so it’s important to make it a place that reflects all that makes you content and happy. Fortunately, there are many creative ways to give it a facelift that won’t cost you much in terms of time, effort or price tag. What changes are you dreaming of making?