How to Create a Bedroom like a Designer

For years I thought I had to have an endless budget to create the spaces on TV, but that is not the case. You can even use what you have and shop your house! Decorating has more to do with knowing WHAT TO DO and WHEN TO DO IT, than budget. How to create a bedroom like a designer, begins with trusting the process and intentionality. Let’s get started.

1. Prepare

As you prepare for the project, look around the room and notice what is causing clutter. What stuff do you see and why is it not in its home? Reflect on the problem areas and create a solution for it as you go through the steps today. In the bedroom, this is most likely clothing or items on horizontal surfaces, such as nightstands. What is there and why is it not in its place?

To get inspired, start a Pinterest board or save clips that you love to Instagram. I grab a cup of coffee and dream. What if money were no option? These pictures help determine my style and vision. Then, I look for pictures similar to my current room layout or furniture I currently own. Doing this is helpful when choosing paint colors or considering the balance of the room.

Make sure to check out this blog post on the whole house declutter.

2. Declutter

If you can see it, it is decor. That’s probably a quote from The Nester. She’s right! Simply hanging a picture and not addressing clutter, is not going to give you the final look or practicality you want. Many of your decisions for decluttering today, will most likely be clothing-related. The more you can do in one setting, the better!

For clothing ask these questions:

1. Does it fit? Do you like how it fits?
2. Are there holes, stains, or wear?
3. Does this item match your style NOW?
4. How often do you wear it?
5. Do you love it? Like, REALLY love it?
6. How much does this cost to replace if I regret donating it? If under $20, consider whether it’s worth keeping.
7. Would you buy it again?

For all other items you decide to keep like books or products, make sure they belong in the bedroom. I find the bedroom to be a place that is easiest managed with only the necessities. When I decluttered, I decided to move my make up back to the bathroom. The vanity is always a mess and not worth managing in the bedroom.

One great idea is to remove the item temporarily. There’s no permanency here. If you want to try something out, just move the stack neatly to the back of your closet and see if you miss it! If you do, get it back out! However, this will allow you to see and feel what it’s like without the items and usually, we are just so used to clutter we don’t notice how it affects us.

Pro Tip: Hang what clothing is left on the hanger backward and whatever you haven’t worn in 6 months, donate.

3. Organize

In the bedroom, begin with the nightstand. Group like items together using old shoe boxes or small bins. Remember to keep any leftover organizing bins for the rest of the challenge, so you can use what you have before you buy them!

Work through the room grouping items by category and then by how often you use them. If you don’t use them every day, don’t give those items prime real estate! This will help your home be not just beautiful but functional. I start with the problems I found during step one. Usually, these need an easy fix so that it is just as easy to put those items away as it is to leave them out.

Closet tips: Make sure to sort clothing by type, not color. So, dress, short sleeve shirt, and long sleeve shirts, then by color if you’d like within the category. Use the same hangers for a consistent look.

4. Clean

Stick with me, friend. This feels SO good. To clean, start at the top of the room and work your way down. Play music and set a timer, then get as much done as you can so it’s over. The freshness of the room, can’t be beat and some of my best ideas come when I’m cleaning.

5. Decorate

Now it’s time to decorate! Look over your Pinterest boards and note what is common with them. Then, forget what the room looks like now and prepare yourself to do something new. Get out a sheet of paper (I like to use graph or Canva) and create the room following these steps.

Furniture Layout

This step is the most important you will do, so don’t skip it. Your furniture placement has a big impact on how the room looks and feels. As I always say, moving furniture is free. First, decide on the focal point of the room. This will be the first and second thing you see when you enter the room & use that as a guide for furniture placement.

Next, Consider room’s purpose and what you will do here. Rest is the main focus of a bedroom, but will you read or work on morning devotionals? What is working or not working so you can add or eliminate as needed?

The focal point of a bedroom is the bed. Make sure it is located on the main focal wall or the first uninterrupted wall. It should not be on the same wall as the door, Center the bed if possible and give it the moment in the room. Flank nightstands on one side or both and then add in other furniture or seating as needed. AS NEEDED keywords. Less is more. Challenge yourself to remove any furniture pieces that need to be in this room.

Rugs

If your room has a rug, make sure you like it and it matches your style. Your rug MUST BE BIG ENOUGH. No ifs, ands, or buts! The number one problem I see with rugs is the size! I know we want to spend as little as possible, but $100 more is worth the price to make your space look well done! It is ok to not have a rug.

Walls

Paint is one of the easiest ways to give a room a facelift and change the vibe. I’m all for painting, I just want you to understand the power of color. If you have a safe neutral color to paint the room or you REALLY understand your style, go ahead and paint it! Otherwise, wait until you get to step 3.

Wall Art

Wall art is another thing that is better bigger. I can guarantee that if you don’t like your room, wall art could be to blame. I used to find art I loved, and then find a place to put it. This is backwards!

Remove everything from the wall and look at your Pinterest board for wall art layouts. I want you to get used to less. I’ve spent many months with empty walls. Give your walls a break.

When you are ready, choose wall art for your 2 focal walls. (Spolier: Not every wall needs art) First you will decide if the wall shape is horizontal, vertical, or square. This tells you the shape of the wall art needed.

Remember: We are not buying anything. Trust the process, but if you have it and love it, use it. Don’t forget to shop your house and challenge yourself to use new artwork in new places!

Lighting

Your room should be coming together by now. Lighting is a basic need in every space. However, for this step, the only thing you CAN buy is the ceiling light. This is a quick and easy upgrade for every room, but keep it simple. The lighting in your home should be cohesive and somewhat match from room to room, so be aware of that as you make your selections.

Other than the lighting in the room, use what you have. Place a lamp on each nightstand and maybe task lighting for reading by a chair IF NEEDED.

Surfaces & Accessories

First, I want you to remove every item from every horizontal surface in the room. I know it’s weird, but normal is overrated. Create a stack in a corner for now.

This is where I want to challenge you. If you are like me, you have been “Decorating” the room by buying all the little things that match your decor and then collecting them on every surface in an attempt to decorate. We are no longer doing that. It doesn’t work and this isn’t decorating your room!

Start with the Nightstands. A lamp on the nightstand is enough, but if you must, you should not have more than 3 total items on your nightstand. Maybe choose a small vertical picture frame, plant, or the books you are currently reading. I like to look for a triangle shape with those items for a professional finished look.

If you have a dresser, consider a large horizontal item for the middle of the dresser or simply add a candle and picture frame. DO NOT add just to add. Maybe even consider leaving it blank for now so you get used to not seeing as much. Cleaning will be much easier!

Bedding

Your bed is the largest item in the room, so it really matters! Any sheets you no longer love or use, donate them. The bed shouldn’t be a whole to-do. Here is what I have on my bed.

1. Mattress pad, fitted sheet and top sheet (2 sets. One on my bed & one clean & ready)
2. Quilt
3. Down comforter in duvet
4. Throw blanket
5. 3 LARGE Euro pillows, 4 standard king pillows.

I could use a lumbar pillow for seasonal decorating or to add interest, but I enjoy not having one more pillow to make my bed! Keep it simple and intentional.

6. Finish

When you are here, your reward is the space you just created. I am the worst at not finishing a project, so I made this a step! Finish this space by:

• Throwing away trash
• Dropping off donations
• Rehoming all items you are moving to a new room
• Collecting leftover organizational bins and decor and move them to a holding place until the declutter is finished. You’ll be glad you held onto these items for now.
• Put the “Maybe Bin” in the attic or wherever it’s kept. Remember, you only get ONE bin.

You are finished! I feel so accomplished and proud when I finish a space, so I know you feel similar! Make sure to share your pictures with me!

7. Celebrate

Now is the time to rest, reflect on your space, and enjoy it! I usually have some great ideas for future projects so I sit down with a coffee and brain dump all those in my Home Binder so I remember them for later.

Now, take the day off. Sit on the back porch or better yet, sleep in and enjoy your bedroom for a little longer than usual. I also like to grab a few splurges as a reward for my hard work!

I find working through the steps in order creates an experience that leads me to create a home with character and charm. Doing this allows me to sit in the room long enough to create and intentionally plan a vision for the room to come. Now, If I see a lamp on sale or want to buy wall art, I know exactly what I’m looking for and the end result saves me time and money.

Favorites & Bedroom Splurges

1. Velvet hangers/ 2. Room spray/ 3. Candle/ 4. The best slippers/ 5. Fav Bag ever

Next up are the Kids’ Rooms! Whew, I’m taking a 3 day or so break and then I’ll be back at it. The faster I can get this done the better chance I won’t fizzle out and lose momentum. Until Next time!