Bedroom Layout Ideas

A bedroom is a place to rest and recharge, free of the pressures of daily living. It should be a space without distraction, stimulation and clutter. Keep your room clean and tidy and the layout simple whenever possible. Here are some general suggestions to optimize flow in the room:

• Position the bed so that air can flow from the window across your feet rather than your head
• Place your bed so that the head is in the south or southwest of the room to align with the sunrise and sunset
• Give yourself sufficient space to move around your bedroom easily
• Allow doors and windows to be open from time to time so the space doesn't become stagnant and stuffy
• Position an area rug in the center of the room to anchor the space and provide texture
• Avoid putting any furniture in the room that isn't necessary
• Use solid-hue paints in neutral colors like beige, gray and pale blue. Bright or dark colors often make a room feel small and tight.
• Select solid hues or calming patterns for your bed linens and curtains. Busy and overly colorful prints can be overstimulating. Soft shades of blues and greens promote a calm and soothing environment.
• Textured materials soften a space and create a sense of luxury
• Decorate with throw pillows to accent the space with pops of rich, warm colors
• Use lamps and soft lighting. Bright overhead lighting is often harsh and overstimulating.

Mirrors and reflective surfaces help carry light throughout the space. This is especially useful when you only have one small window or your windows are north facing.

The mirror or mirrors should carry the light through the space. If the mirror is directly across from a window, it will reflect the light back out. Mirrors facing a door will direct the light out the door. Hang it on the side wall closest to the window or the opposite wall offset from the window.

A large reflective surface can be a framed photograph or print with glass over it. A large mirror has the added benefit of making the room seem bigger. Ocean or landscape canvases are also a great choice to create a sense of expanse.

For small reflective surfaces, decorate with glass vases, hi-gloss planters or a shiny jewelry box. Smaller reflective surfaces dance the light around the room to provide movement in a stagnant space.

Houseplants add a sense of movement, flow and growth. They also improve air quality by absorbing toxins like formaldehyde, benzenes and molds. Sun-loving, air-purifying house plants include bamboo palms, spider plants and aloe vera. Peace lilies and snake plants tolerate lower light and are suited to rooms with north-facing or small windows.

Tall houseplants like rubber and palm, or hanging plants like English ivy and spider plants, will draw the eye upward and create the illusion of vertical space.

Unlike small bedroom layout ideas, large bedroom layout ideas allow more flexibility. Since you have more space to work with, you can create a more opulent space. Don’t be afraid to mix and match items and wall decor in a bigger space.

Other large bedroom layout ideas include scaling everything up to the size of the room. Choose big pieces of bedroom furniture and decor, then give everything its own space in the room. Queen-sized and king-sized beds fit especially well in larger rooms without dominating the space. If using large bedroom layout ideas for square rooms, just make sure everything is symmetrical.

Bedroom ideas for rectangular rooms rely on arranging everything in the room based on the bed’s position. As in a smaller bedroom, keep the bed in the center to allow room for night stands on either side. For a narrow room that feels constricting, add mirrors to make the room feel more spacious.

Other bedroom ideas for rectangular rooms include installing a large window to add more light and dimension. Divide the room into sections to make the space appear larger and more dynamic.