Some people have an eye for interior design with the seemingly magical ability to pair furniture, textures, colours, and décor to create beautiful spaces.
It turns out that what these people actually have an eye for interior design principles—proportion, harmony, rhythm, balance, emphasis, and contrast—and these are the keys to creating a beautiful bedroom.
A full breakdown:
Proportion is the pleasing relationship between the sizes of various elements within your bedroom space. It is essential to strike the right balance between the room's dimensions and the scale of the furniture and decor pieces.
A well-proportioned room feels comfortable and inviting, while disproportionate elements can create a sense of disharmony and unease.
For example, a low bed frame paired with a tall bedside table wouldn't look right, nor would a massive wardrobe next to a slimline dressing table.
Harmony is when all the elements in your bedroom space have a sense of unity and visual flow – basically when nothing looks out of place.
Harmony can be achieved with a consistent colour palette, complementary textures and patterns, and matching bedroom furniture styles and materials.
Pictured: Willis & Gambier Bed and Furniture. Available from Bedstar.
A harmonious bedroom exudes a calming and serene ambience, promoting restful sleep and relaxation and forming the basis of minimalist design.
A well-balanced bedroom can focus on symmetrical and asymmetrical arrangements or merge them for eclecticism -- symmetry has a more traditional aesthetic, while asymmetrical balance has a more dynamic and modern feel.
A few examples:
Symmetrical arrangements:
Asymmetrical arrangements:
Rhythm is the sense of movement and flow in your bedroom – you can achieve it with repetition, such as a series of pendant lights above the nightstands or a recurring pattern on the bedding and curtains.
Repetition creates a cohesive and visually pleasing environment that guides the eye through the space – think floral patterns leading plants and bonsai trees.
You can emphasise your bed through bold design moves like an oversized statement headboard -- an upholstered headboard with intricate details, rich textures, or vibrant colours will command attention.
Pictured: Limelight Polaris 4FT 6 Double Ottoman Bed –Blue. Priced £529 (Save £270 on RRP) Available from Bedstar.
Another option is to make the bed "pop" against a contrasting accent wall in a deep, saturated hue. Strategic lighting can also highlight the bed—mount stylish sconces on either side or hang a striking pendant or chandelier overhead.
All other bedroom furniture and decor elements should complement and support this emphasised centrepiece.
Contrast is about merging different colours, textures, and shapes to create minor feature points in your bedroom design.
Pair light and dark hues together, like a charcoal grey upholstered bed against crisp white walls, or combine complementary colours on the colour wheel, like a deep teal accent wall highlighting a mustard yellow velvet headboard.
Mix smooth and rough textures like a sleek, lacquered nightstand styled with a chunky woven jute area rug or a lush velvet and nubby boucle fabric on your bed.
Curved and angular forms also make for eye-catching contrasts—an oval-shaped velvet tufted headboard could be flanked by angular, geometric nightstands, or a bedroom with mostly cushy, organic curving furniture shapes might feel more dynamic with the addition of a striking, linear four-poster bed frame.
I like the symmetrical set up. Especially true if there is enough room to make it work right.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great guide for planning a bedroom. I need to implement some of these.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea how much proportion and contrast could impact the vibe of a space!
ReplyDeleteYou know honestly I never thought about proportions and balance when setting up a bedroom but you make great points!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of having symmetry is something we fixed in our bedroom. Also plants!
ReplyDelete