Who needs to run to the store when this space might already have all the fun styling tools you want to play with? Perfume bottles, mirrors, heels, throws—look around your bedroom and bathroom and pull it all together in pretty vignettes that grace your dresser top, nightstand, bed—even that lonely corner near the closet. Get personal, too, as this space doesn’t need to be seen by others. Goofy photos that make you laugh, a cracked teapot you can’t part with but are too embarrassed to use … we’ll just keep it all between the two of us.
I can get sophisticated if I want to, see? A toned-down color palette relaxes this traditional bedroom with its tufted bed, black window moldings, and antique Provençal nightstands. To give it a lush look, we channeled our inner princess as we dressed the bed with four euros, two king shams, two standards, and throw pillows. Not many folks want to sleep in a uber-formal bedroom, so a few touches add an everyday vibe: a duvet with a little wrinkle, a casually folded bed throw, a sisal rug, and simple curtains that are pushed open rather than tied back. It’s a look that totally puts you to sleep—in the very best way.
B. Sisal is a calming (and inexpensive) option for a huge rug in the bedroom.
C. Matching nightstands and bedside lamps reinforce the bed’s traditional look.
It never hurts to use books in your color palette, especially when styling a formal room. Serving as a pedestal, they also help bump up the scale of this tiny lamp.
why this works
With all of the light tones in this bedroom, it would be tempting to go full-on princess dresser here. But we needed to add some “dude” so both parties feel represented. Here are a few ways we kept this style loose and laid-back:
• This feminine dresser takes on a farmhouse masculine vibe with a dark distressed finish (just think how saccharine it might seem in white).
• We skipped the frames and just leaned a fun photo booth strip against the mirror.
• A tray in a contrasting finish catches your attention for a dresser-top vignette.
• The flowers keep the whole thing from looking too dark and handsome.
Hidden storage with a built-in headboard? Yes, please. This room solves the little square footage problem without skimping on style. With an arched headboard—encased in woodwork and dressed in tufted fabric—this room is totally feminine, regal, and sophisticated. To expand the space even more we dressed the bed with a tonal mix of cotton, mohair, linen, and quilted fabric, skipping any busy patterns. Tip: In small spaces resist the urge for large-scale, strong prints. They’ll only stop your eye and make the space feel small. The visual chaos they create can be exciting in the right space, but claustrophobic in some bedrooms.
A. A plant peeking out adds energy to the soft, quiet textures.
B. Tonal bedding with subtle patterns keeps the space calm so it looks bigger.
C. White built-ins keep clutter tucked away so the focus stays on the feature bed.
D. Pale aubergine (not just purple, mind you) is a great color for a tonal room as it works just like a neutral.
We styled two euros, two standards, and three decorative pillows—all different sizes, colors, and textures but in the same soft color palette.
My first instinct in this space was to go wild with color and make it exciting to stay in. Then I stepped back after a crazy multi-colored paint job and realized that it wasn’t working. What was I thinking? Luckily, paint is an easy risk to take and also to fix and so I repainted the room in Old Faithful by Dutch Boy. Now I get lots of oohs and ahhs (and, ahem, unexpected self-invitations) when friends walk into our guest room because it’s so calming to set foot in. Decorating a guest room is a great excuse to pull out all of your styling stops—especially if those objects can make a weekend guest feel more at home. What surprised me when I styled this space is that rather than adding on a retreat just for guests, I gained a room that I also use for myself, as now I spend more time in it than before.
A. We bumped up the contrast on the pillows and the end-of-bed bench so this quiet room had enough style without feeling overpowering.
B. Art in guest rooms should be crowd-pleasers but still interesting. Skip the cheesy landscapes; go for the cool, unexpected pieces.
C. A tucked-in bed looks hotel-like and makes guests feel like you’ve been awaiting their stay (even if you just finished the laundry).
Let’s be honest: no one’s getting comfortable in this chair, but with other seating options nearby, it becomes a super-cool sculpture that adds a global style contrast to the room’s more streamlined look.
Don’t assume that your guests can take the whole weekend off. They might feel more relaxed if they can steal away to solve work problems quickly in a space that feels fashionable. And who knows? Your styling might actually inspire some of their greatest work.
dressing up the bedroom: 4 fun vignettes
Your dresser and nightstand are two of the main surfaces in your bedroom and, if you’re anywhere near as busy as I am, they’re probably not getting the attention they deserve. Next to making your bed, organizing them will bring instant style to your sleeping quarters and hopefully these four vignettes will give you new ideas for doing so:
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1 Flaunt It If You Got It Your best style secret is hiding right in that jewelry box. That’s right, pull out those rings and pearls and place them in bowls or on a small tray on your nightstand. Of course, a jewelry display isn’t complete without a bunch of beautiful blooms—indulge in the nicest variety at the market. Orchids will always look rich. |
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2 Try a Novel Idea I always leave out a few of my latest reads on the nightstand. It’s a little trick that has a soothing effect and it will make you feel good about skipping brunch and staying in bed on a Saturday to catch up on “me-time.” |
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3 Use Your Street Smarts Your kid’s dresser deserves attention, too. Look around his or her bedroom for styling essentials. A simple stack of children’s books, topped with a favorite car toy, puts playtime right within reach. Framed family photo strips are a sweet reminder of your love. |
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4 Surround Yourself with Inspiration Let your nightstand hold only your most prized possessions—a marble box for your watch and rings, a few photos from your recent travels, and a bubble vase of farmers’ market flowers. I promise that you’ll wake up in a very good mood. |
A small lofted bedroom gets cozy in layers of blue and lots of warm brick and woodwork. This little room maximizes its space without filling every nook and cranny. Two mounted sconces leave room on small nightstands for a few favorite books and a simple vase of flowers. Art books stashed beneath the bed stay out of the way while still (kind of) on display. A map of the east Mediterranean hangs on the headboard to remind the homeowner of past travels. The bottom line? You’ll never regret living only with the things you love in a small room. Any excess will just make you crazy.
A. A leggy nightstand matches the height of the boosted-up bed.
B. A vertical art piece helps mask the sconce cord.
C. The quirky and cool trapezoid shape updates this antique frame.
D. The throw and pillows pick up on the colors in the map.
Pull in one of your favorite collections from another room. Here, a bunch of blue glass fits the color scheme. Consider what similar objects you might have en masse that might fit in the bedroom, whether cute Japanese teacups, decorative ceramic bowls, or metal typography letters.
Whether your bathroom is connected to your bedroom or shared with a roommate down the hall, setting up this space to feel like a spa will do wonders for your day. Try some of these styling tricks—no installation needed:
• Add an extra seat. In a room of marble, tile, or other hard surfaces, having something soft will instantly put your mind (and body!) at ease. Try an ottoman or small stool upholstered in outdoor fabric (to counter any dampness).
• Set out a robe and slippers. Something soft to slip into after a bath might be the best luxury at the end of a long day. Go for a slim and slinky style over plush and puffy to keep your space looking luxurious.
• Invest in fluffy white towels. White will remind you of a hotel hideaway and will help reinforce the idea of getting away from it all. For a special touch, get them monogrammed with your initials.
• Bring in sweet-smelling flowers. While I always avoid jasmine or lilies by the bed or in the dining room, where the smell can interfere with sleep and supper, the bathroom is the perfect place for natural aromatherapy.
• Bring in wooden accessories. Bamboo or other natural woods add a quiet texture to a bathroom that suggests the outdoors. For a more modern bath, try slate or stone accessories to match marble sinks or showers.
• Paint your space in a spa-like shade. White tile and white ceilings call for ice blue, cream, or light gray on your walls—tonal colors used at some of the best spas that relax and rejuvenate. With the lights turned off and candles lit, the walls will blend into the floors and ceiling and the whole room will feel like a quiet cocoon.
An antique theater screen featuring a forest sets the scene for this bedroom, which is a sight for the senses. Soft textures, rich colors, and metallic finishes are scattered throughout, giving this elegant bedroom a dreamy feel.
A. A deep forest scene sets the tone for the room.
C. Gold finishes that catch your eye lighten the room’s look.
D. A colorful throw is styled slightly off-center so it doesn’t dominate the room.
A white bed creates the ultimate retreat, but don’t just stop at the bed. This bedroom goes even further with layers of white everywhere you look: on the curtains, floor, and walls. The details are simple and functional—in a space where you sleep, less is always more. By keeping the color palette and textures quiet, the statement headboard really shines and anchors the whole room.
C. A bright blue pair of heels fills the corner in a fun way.
D. Polka dots add some whimsy and personality to a serious white bed.
E. The shade is drawn just high enough to “frame” the painting.
F. The bedside vignette follows the rule of threes: vertical (the flowers), horizontal (the dish), and sculptural (the candle) to bridge the two.
A wood dresser calls for getting back to basics with a collection of natural materials. Perfect for a quiet bedroom, these objects are all texture without too much color: rock, gold, and raw rope fibers. By the way, macramé is totally in (better call your aunt and ask to borrow that piece she crafted in the seventies that’s sitting in the attic).
When it comes to lightweight objects such as these feathers, don’t be afraid to just tack them on the wall as art, creating a small vignette like this one here with the painting.
photo tip Prop something realistic at the bottom of your perfectly made bed—in this case, I casually tossed in a pair of worn jeans, because who puts all their clothes away anyway? Since the jeans aren’t the focus of this photograph, you almost miss that detail, but sometimes the best props just help set the scene rather than tell the whole story.
A built-in nightstand is a great way to stash your stuff while giving you plenty of surface for interesting displays. With smartphones, there’s no real need for digital alarm clocks, so why not treat yourself to a vintage timepiece instead?
Classic Americana details like a plaid rug and a cabin-style wool throw loosen up the traditional tufting on the headboard, and the mid-century-style nightstand. Two bedfellow colors, blue and gold, are styled opposite each other (in the lampshade and the throw pillow) to help hold this neutral story together.
If only every bedroom had a little coffee nook. Most people don’t think of putting a table and chairs in a bedroom, but this set-up can act as a private office and a secluded morning spot.
Layering a bedroom in shades of brown and tan might not be your first instinct, but with a huge window that adds lots of sunlight, the tones feel pure and soothing. Here, a wide range of textures work together: Leather, wood, jute, and wool all emphasize the rustic style.
A. This leather bench matches the headboard and acts like a functional footboard.
B. Burlap curtains and a burlap pillow give the room an unexpected texture.
C. The bed’s matelassé quilt adds a pattern without busyness.
D. A wall-mounted nightstand allows for a magazine rack below.
E. The roughed-up kilim rug replicates the artwork on the wall.
Give a gal all the shades of pink she deserves in a bedroom she can call her own. A girl’s bedroom is hard to style so that she won’t quickly grow out of it, but a white canopy bed is easy to update whenever she wants. For the time being, we took to the posts with a funky felt banner and a plug-in lamp cord that hangs overhead. A sheepskin rug and a bay window bench provide soft seats for play dates and marathon Harry Potter nights.
A. Go for handmade dolls from a local market or Etsy, which are much more charming than plastic ones.
B. Impress your kid by wrapping her bed post with a pendant cord and a bare lightbulb—it’s so cool that she won’t even miss the expensive shade.
C. Give her a pretty throw and a soft rug—a little motivation to make her bed and pick up her space.
Why worry about filling every picture frame? Leave it empty to tone down the contrast in a bedroom for a calmer mood. This antique frame is artwork enough to break up the expanse above the bed.
Mixing patterns might be one of the most overwhelming styling principles, and if you’re not careful, it can quickly go wrong. Keep in mind these four easy tips to coordinate an effortless, layered look with different prints:
• Stick to a strict color palette. Limit the colors of your patterns to just three or four: a main color, an accent color, and one or two “hits” of smaller colors.
• Combine different pattern scales. Avoid styling more than one kind of pattern scale—for instance two oversized stripes—simply because your eye won’t be able to tell the difference. To keep prints from competing with each other, go for one large pattern, one medium scale pattern, and one small, “bitsy” pattern. Don’t know the difference? Squint. If the patterns look similar, then they’re the same scale.
• Limit your patterns. Pull out the excess patterns that you’re not wedded to and add a few solids to let your eye rest. As a general rule, you should have two or three patterns on your bed or sofa—three to five in the whole room. Make sure to add textures, too, which add depth without vying for your attention.
Doesn’t this bedroom make you want to pack that trunk and take off for someplace foreign? Bohemian details balance the masculine details like the nail studs and a square pillow. A cream fringed sheet, a kilim draped over the headboard, and turquoise and navy glass soften the look just enough. This bed also shows off my best bed styling trick: You don’t always have to lean bed pillows against the wall. Instead, layer two flat standard or queen pillows on top of each other with throw pillows facing out.
A. A antique kilim on this headboard adds pattern—plus, it looks cool. (Make sure to bring it to the dry cleaner!)
B. This light wood in the trunk perfectly balances the headboard.
C. A tray makes these three items feel like one so they don’t crowd the trunk.
D. We peppered the bed’s blues around the room to make the palette intentional.
A chair, side table, and art create a quiet reading nook with a throw waiting for you to snuggle in. The pink flowers intersect the vertical line of the lamp, while the basket at right draws your eye quietly, adding texture and depth.
This corner vignette pairs wildly different styles, but it works because the shapes are so similar. The traditional chair matches the curves of a Noguchi lamp and the basket, and each feels delicate in its own way.
Who says red, white, and blue can’t work year-round? This bedroom shows how a few accents can keep you from thinking Fourth of July and instead suggest an updated country cottage look.
A. Gold offers a modern highlight in a classic color palette.
B. A carafe of water is the best bedside accessory.
C. Large patterns mix well with a tiny print.
D. A gray blanket throws off the patriotic palette just enough.
E. The stripes on the rug are positioned to lead your eye to the nightstand.
F. A single large bowl grounds the book vignettes above.
