If there’s one space in our home that’s often neglected and overlooked it’s our bedroom. It’s particularly true of the master bedroom. While our kids have fully decorated sanctuaries where they can escape, can you say the same for your own bedroom? Whether the neglect is due to money, time or know-how it’s often just a place to lay our head without any thought to its design or our comfort. Today I want to share simple ways we can turn this neglected space into a special place in the home where you can truly retreat and reset.

The first thing I recommend is to begin by decluttering. Often when a space hasn’t been completely decorated it can become a dumping ground for the stuff we don’t know what to do with. Before we can turn it into a sanctuary we need to remove all the things that have been accumulated and stored in this neglected room. Once this is complete we have a fresh, blank slate to work with.

Why You Need Your Bedroom to Be Your Sanctuary

It might feel self indulgent but trust me, you need this. It’s important for all of us to have a space we can retreat to when we feel overwhelmed, stressed or even just to reset from a busy family.

It’s not selfish to want time alone and like we’re told on planes, it’s important to put our own oxygen on first. Having a few minutes or an hour to reset can make us better family members when we return. It’s easy to forget that nourishing our soul can enhance our connection to ourselves. And in a busy world where we’re being asked to be so much to so many, we really do need to maintain that strong connection to self everyday.

But how do you begin if you’re doing this on your own? If you feel overwhelmed by space planning and feel unsure about where to place things and applicable sizes I’ve created a 10-page digital ebook that covers everything you need to know about space planning in your bedroom.

5 Ways to Create a Bedroom Sanctuary

A bedroom without pillows, throws, curtains and a rug is going to feel incomplete. There’s not a lot of furniture in a bedroom and since the bed takes up so much space, it’s visually imperative that it be decorated with all the right pieces.

Always prioritize bedding and make sure that it aligns with your own vision of luxury. For some that might mean high thread count cotton or Belgian linen duvet covers. For others a lightweight blanket with the most luxurious down pillows is the way to go. This is your space and your decision but don’t sacrifice what you love when it comes to bedding. You spend so much time in bed so prioritize your own comfort.

Textiles also add a sound buffer to the room which is important to create a feeling of peace. That’s where a rug, curtains or an upholstered chair will help. When a room doesn’t have enough soft textiles it can sound like an echo chamber and create a feeling of vastness instead of serenity.

2/ Consider the Lighting

Lighting is an essential ingredient in creating ambience so pay particular attention to correct lighting in this room. Overhead lighting is not enough to create the feeling of a sanctuary. I strongly recommend having a dimmer switch installed if you don’t already. It will allow you to dim the strong overhead light in the evening when you’re winding down for the day. While recessed lighting or a centre pendant is essential to good lighting we want to go further.

It’s important to layer different types of lighting to create the perfect retreat and create a feeling of peace and tranquility. Table lamps, floor lamps, sconces and art lighting are all examples of secondary lighting that will really create a relaxing ambience. Not sure how to select light fixtures that will work? Read this post.

And don’t forget about candlelight because that’s going to provide a beautiful soft light as well as a calming and serene scent to the space.

3/ Include Storage Pieces

Now that the bedroom is decluttered we don’t want to revert back so including storage pieces will help. Determine what’s causing clutter in your space in order to determine which pieces are needed.

I love the look of an upholstered bench at the bottom of a bed and it can work double duty as a storage piece for extra blankets as well. If you love to read, include a bookcase and show off your favourite reads. Nightstands need to hold a lot of the important stuff but that stuff can often be ugly to look at. Even a single drawer can hold our glasses, books, and chargers that we don’t want on display.

4/ Tap Into All the Senses

We don’t often consider all five senses when designing a space but it can make a profound impact on our bedrooms. Consider how you can personalize your space to suit your very unique senses but here are some examples:

Sight - What we see when we lay in our bed can affect our mood. Add some artwork or some family photos but make the sightline something visually appealing to you.

Sound - Do you want to relax with some music when you’re hiding away? Bring a portable speaker into your bedroom. Or maybe you need to block out the sounds of the home. There are white noise machines that will allow you to sneak away to your sanctuary while also blocking out the household sounds.

Touch - Create a nest for yourself with soft, elegant fabrics that make you feel like it’s a luxurious treat to step into your bedroom.

Smell - Scented candles are perfect because they offer a favourite scent while also enhancing the mood of the room through candlelight.

Taste - Leave yourself small but decadent treats for when you’re alone. Maybe you drop a few of your favourite chocolates into your nightstand drawer and only indulge in them while you’re having a moment to yourself throughout the day.

5/ Make It Personal

Include pieces in your space that tell a story about you. This space should be a reflection of everything you love including family photos, mementos from travels or even beloved, found objects.

These aren’t pieces that you’ll go out and buy but rather they’re the pieces that you’ve accumulated over your lifetime. Often we have things that we love but have never been able to find a place to display them. You might need to be creative but consider framing as a way to highlight a random object. I’ve seen lace napkins, a button collection and even rusty old tools that all look like impressive art once they’ve been framed.

Where to Save and Where to Splurge

It’s hard to imagine how we can transform a space when our budget is limited but it can be done. Try to invest in the pieces you’ll have for a long time. For many the investment in a great mattress is a worthwhile investment. For others, it might be the carpet that your feet touch every morning. Decide what is worth the splurge and go for it.

It’s easy to save when it comes to buying bedding, textiles and even artwork. Use big box retailers and search sites like Etsy for reasonably priced items. Create a gallery wall of your favourite photos using simple, inexpensive frames from Ikea. And never underestimate the power of paint to transform a space on a budget.

If you feel you need additional help with your bedroom, reach out to me. I’d love to hear about your project and how I can help.

Warm regards,

Adrienne