I love fun, bright, peppy rooms. But, when it comes to the master bedroom, I am a big believer in designing a calm retreat where one can rest and rejuvenate. I think life is so hectic that one needs to have a space to get away from all the ‘noise’ of the world.
Unless a client tells me they want something different, these are 4 elements I use to evoke serenity when designing a master bedroom
1) Calm color palette
Unless you are a boisterous soul, a nice, soft color is a great way to create a relaxing bedroom environment. I often select a soft paint tone with just a hint of color. A very pale blue, green, cream, or even off-white work very nicely.
Canadian House & Home
Monochromatic looks are even better at evoking serenity. One of my favorite groups who do this regularly is McApline, Booth and Ferrier. Their work has frequently been published in House Beautiful, Veranda and Architectural Digest.
They often use one color but many textures, such as linen, velvet, mohair and silk, to add interest to that single color palette.
McAlpine, Booth & Ferrier- House Beautiful
McAlpine, Booth & Ferrier- House Beautiful
2. Balance
Some of the ‘prettiest’ bedrooms are by Phoebe Howard, who is a queen of symmetry. She manages to pull this look off every time, even occasionally with nightstands that don’t match.
The key goal to achieve balance is on your headboard wall. You need to have nightstands of similar size and of the same height (at least within 1”-2”). Your lamps should then match, also being the same height.
Above the nightstands you can place nothing, a pair of mirrors or art, or if you have ‘matching’ windows, so much the better. It is a balance of repetition and pairs in the bedroom which makes the room feel soothing.
3. Solid Bed linens
There are probably quite a few people who will cringe at this- no color- no pattern! But I will give you some free advice- solid color linens, especially white, will last you years longer than colored/printed ones.
You will never tire of white, it is always refreshing, bright and uplifting. Also, it is often machine washable. So, throw that duvet cover in some really hot water with bleach if it gets dirty. However, with printed bed linens you will often have to take to the dry cleaner every time your child or dog gets on them.
If you have a printed fabric you just love, have two 22”x22” accent pillows made of that fabric and put them in front of the shams. Three years from now you can change them out and your partner won’t have a coronary over all the money you spent on the bedding you don’t want anymore!
Interiors Magazine
4. Luxurious Textures
The final element for a restful retreat is luxurious textures. These are natural fibers, such as linens, cottons and silks, as well as richer, textural fabrics like velvets and mohair.
If you look closely at each of these pictures you can see a richness of materials that comes from quality fabrics. It is hard to see the sheen of the velvet and the softness of silk, but this is one area where you can splurge and really make your room luxurious.
Melanie Turner Designs
Imagine coming home to a bedroom that feels like a high end hotel suite! By focusing on implementing these 4 elements you can put yourself there in your own home!