Bedrooms are such intimate places, and probably the place in your home you spend the most time - especially if you're including sleep time. Whether you're all over heaps of blankets and throw cushions everywhere in your bedroom, or you prefer something much more minimal, designing your bedroom has to factor in creating a relaxing, comfortable space. No matter your style, there are a few fundamentals to creating the perfect bedroom that apply across the board, so we caught up with award-winning interior designer, Joanne Kelly - who is the brains behind Think Contemporary, an interior design consultancy based in Dublin - to ask about them.
Joanne recently was awarded 'Best of Houzz 2017' in the bedroom category, for the above bedroom that she designed, so she knows a thing or two about what it takes to create the perfect bedroom. We asked her everything you need to know before you start re-decorating your bedroom. Read on for her top tips!
1. If people are thinking of re-decorating, where should they start to create the perfect bedroom?
"It's really important that you plan the room before you start, and that really goes for any room. There are no set rules as to where to start, however, I would generally draw inspiration from a piece of art, a rug or an environment and build the design from there. Generally speaking, the paint colour for the room would be one of the last things that we select, as you will find a paint colour to work with any concept."
2. Are there any colour schemes that really work, or really do not, for bedrooms?
"Personally, I'm not that big of a fan of pastel colours, with the exception of mint green. Now this may go against the idea that a bedroom should be calm and relaxing, but I think that if the bedroom is well designed then brighter and bolder colours work beautifully in a bedroom. Navy or petrol blue is one of my favourite colours at the moment and can almost act as a neutral colour, in terms of adding accent colours."
3. Are there any pieces of bedroom furniture its really worth investing in? And conversely, is there any you can skimp on if you need to?
"You should most definitely invest in your bed and mattress. Not only are these pieces the main focus of the room, but your bed needs to function well for you. You can definitely skimp on the smaller pieces, such as your bedside tables and chest of drawers. Ikea is great for adding in smaller pieces, but there are also really great websites offering very cost effective furniture, such as Made.com or Bluesuntree.com."
4. Do you have any tips on making your bedroom look/feel bigger?
"Lifting your furniture up off the floor is always a great way to give a sense of space. So, opting for wall mounted beside tables or a bed frame as opposed to a divan base is a great place to start. Also choosing blinds as opposed to curtains in smaller rooms will help to save space, as the blinds sit up off the floor."
5. What's the secret to having a cool/stylish bedroom, that still looks and feels comfortable and cosy?
"I am a big believer in keeping your interior personal. So whether your style is more traditional or you really love a quirky interior, add pieces that are personal to you."
6. Are there any big bedroom decor trends for this year?
"As mentioned above, I think that navy is going to be big this year. It has slowly been creeping in over the last few years, but I think that we will see home owners starting to embrace this beautiful colour this year. Although I am not a big fan of pastel colours, I really think that dusky pink is going to be big this year. Mix it with bolder colours if you don't want a completely pastel palette."
