Whether you’re furnishing a master bedroom for the first time or you’re looking to redecorate, sometimes it can be hard to think creatively about how to make it just right for you.
Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you! Here are our top twelve furniture and décor ideas to give you a head-start with some master bedroom inspo:
1. CHOOSE YOUR BED FRAME THE MOST CAREFULLY OF ALL
No piece of furniture sets the mood of the bedroom more than the bed frame.
While it may seem like a hassle to choose the frame separately from the mattress, there are so many reasons why choosing a bed frame is better than buying an ensemble package. The most compelling of these reasons is simply that both the mattress and the bed frame need to match very personal requirements—for your health and your aesthetic preferences respectively—and it is highly unlikely that you’ll find the perfect mattress with the perfect bed frame.
(As an aside, our list of reasons why you should choose a bed frame over an ensemble remains one of our most popular blogs to date. Give it a read if you want to learn more about bed frames versus ensembles!)
2. BUY YOUR BEDSIDES IN PAIRS
Unless you’re using it as a lamp table or you're trying to deal with a really small master bedroom, it’s relatively uncommon to only buy one bedside at a time. This is why it makes sense to buy bedsides as pairs and save.
3. A COMFY BLANKET BOX
Blanket boxes (a.k.a. storage benches) are rarely just for storage. More often than not they’re used as a versatile seat at the end of the bed—instead of or in addition to the bedroom chair—and are especially handy for putting on your shoes just before you rush out the door. If you’ve ever used a blanket box like this, you know the value of having some padding for comfort. Ideally, it should also match the headboard of your bed.
4. LOWBOY AS A TV UNIT
A master bedroom typically requires a lot of storage space, especially if you can’t/don’t take advantage of other storage solutions like under-bed storage drawers. It’s also not uncommon these days for people to have a TV in the master bedroom. So why not kill two birds with one stone by using your lowboy as a TV unit?
BONUS TIP: Lowboys can create stunning consistency when matched with tallboys from the same furniture range. If you can, but both at once—it’ll save you some hassle when decorating later!
5. CHOOSE SUSTAINABLE FURNITURE
Environmental problems are ‘super wicked’ and scary, and oftentimes it’s just hard to know what to do, or even if there’s anything you can do. When faced with a range of materials—renewable or non-renewable, reclaimed or virgin, recyclable or not recyclable, so on and so forth—trying to completely understand the environmental impact of each can feel impossible. And along with environmental considerations are so many other considerations, like cost, durability (i.e. whether it’s kid- and pet-proof), design, quality, warranty, brand loyalty, social pressures, trends, your mood… and the list goes on.
Nevertheless, the environment should remain an essential consideration. We’ll cut to the chase: we think you should choose reclaimed timber where possible, or at least a combination of reclaimed timber and plantation pine. We suggest these materials because they prevent further deforestation and minimise wastage, while reclaiming the timber extends the time it keeps the carbon inside it trapped (preventing the carbon from cycling to other places on Earth, like the atmosphere). Reclaimed timber also makes some uniquely characterful furniture!
6. UNDERSTAND HOW A MIRROR AFFECTS THE SENSE OF SPACE
The humble mirror has long been considered a staple in bedroom furniture. (How else are you going to know you’ve got a lump of cat fur clinging onto you in an embarrassing place as you rush to work in the morning?)
But the mirror does more than just show who’s the fairest of them all. It creates the illusion of extra space where there is none, helping a room feel larger without pricey renovations.
So what can we take away from this? Well, two things. Firstly, if your master bedroom feels more like a concert hall than the most intimate room of your home, then taking away or downsizing the mirror can instantly make the room feel cosier. And secondly, if your master bedroom feels a little bit too cosy (yes, there really is such a thing), then installing a bedroom mirror appropriately will do much to help the room breathe.
7. USE BEDDING TO DEFINE THE COLOUR PALETTE
If you’re looking to set or reset the accent colours in the master bedroom, bedding is the among the cheapest ways to go. It’s also much easier find a wider range of colours in bedding compared to, say, bed frames.
8. DON’T THROW SHADE ON THE LAMP
Bad lighting can ruin even the best interior styling. Get it right, however, and you can transform the look of your master bedroom with the flip of a switch.
9. CREATIVE AND CHARACTERFUL CUSHIONS
You can do more with cushions than just show accent colours. The great thing about cushions is that they’re substantial yet affordable enough for you to experiment with different colours, shapes, patterns, and textures—whether you have one cushion or a dozen, and whether you have the same all year round or you change them with the season.
In the master bedroom we’ve styled below, for example, we’ve chosen a consistent sky-blue palette and instead experimented with different cushion patterns and shapes. This is perfect for those whose interior design preferences are more understated.
10. KEEP IT COSY
If you want your master bedroom to feel cosier, go for the throw blanket. But be careful which textures you choose—not only for practical reasons, but so you’ve got the right throw for the season. Thicker textures like wool will keep you warm during those chilly winter nights and help your master bedroom feel more inviting, whereas a lighter texture like cotton is perfect for trans-seasonal styling.
11. LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE
Whether you’re the sort of person who wishes they could live in a perfumery or you’re the sort who can’t stand any “artificial” scent in the home, candles are the most effective way to create ambience in the master bedroom. Perfect for intimate and contemplative moments.
12. BREAKFAST IN BED
Perfect for when your servant partner brings you your favourite breakfast every morning!
