Samantha Pynn shows us how to take a boudoir from dreary to dreamy.

Whether you’re livin’ large in a spacious suburban bedroom or keeping it cozy in a 500-square-foot condo, we all want a blissful sleep retreat. But that doesn’t mean your bedroom needs to look like a hotel room. This is your private space, where you should feel free to amplify your personal style. Follow along, and I’ll show you sleep-easy decorating tips and tricks that come in all sizes! 

Any & Every

No matter the size of their bedroom, whenever I ask people to describe their perfect version, they usually start with key components – a super comfy bed, crisp sheets and storage. Then come the decorating dreams. Some want bold pattern while others want soothing neutrals; still others want dark, enveloping colour. There is no right or wrong when it comes to style. This is your space to relax and recharge in, and its aesthetic should reflect you. In a bedroom I designed (shown here) on HGTV Canada’s Save My Reno, the goal was to create a lakeside-inspired sanctuary. So we ran with it, letting nature – water, sand, stone and wood – inspire all the colour choices in the room. The sky blue grasscloth wallcovering was our jumping-off point. Next, we layered a rug in shades of water and sand over the existing wall-to-wall carpet, which gave us a base for the velvet channelled headboard that’s upholstered in a deeper shade of sand. And last, we hit repeat on every colour in the bedding and pillows. 

Photography Valerie Wilcox

Grasscloth WALLCOVERING, Thibaut Design, thibautdesign.com. HEADBOARD, NIGHTSTAND, RUG, Sunpan, sunpan.com. LAMP, West Elm, westelm.ca. BEDDING, HomeSense, homesense.ca. PILLOW, Tonic Living, tonicliving.com. 

Luxuriously Large 

The biggest challenge in decorating a large bedroom is to make it feel cozy and inviting. If you’re blessed with major square footage, a seating area with a side table and armchairs or settee will create a peaceful place to have your morning coffee. A bed with a footboard or a bench will also keep a big room from feeling cavernous. 

In this space, we flanked the bed with identical nightstands to build out the headboard wall and give the room symmetry and balance. 

To add architectural detail, contractor Sebastian Clovis, my Save My Reno co-host, added beefy crown moulding and baseboards, as well as panel moulding to frame the grasscloth wall covering. Textured and fabric wall coverings are a great way to dampen the echo in a large room, while applied moulding and trim add instant character to any space that feels like a big white box.

Photography Valerie Wilcox

ART, Art Interiors, artinteriors.ca. Pax WARDROBES, IKEA, ikea.ca. CABINET HARDWARE, Richelieu Hardware, richelieu.com. Faceted VASES, Teatro Verde, teatroverde.com. Posey VASES, EQ3, eq3.com.

 

Pretty Petite   

Small bedrooms used to be the toughest to pull together. But with so many of us living in condos, plenty of small-space solutions now exist. Retailers understand that every square inch counts, so it’s easy to find beds with storage and narrow furnishings. Opt for a thin headboard or create the illusion of one with large cushions in upholstery fabric. For tall windows, I like velvet or blackout lined drapery panels because they block light and dampen sound, as well as add a layer of softness. To free up the top of the nightstand, use plug-in sconces and camouflage the cords with paint so they look built in. 

For closets that look custom, we trimmed IKEA Pax wardrobes with crown moulding and added hardware (see above). With Pax’s option for cabinets that are only 13 inches deep, you can maximize vertical space. 

 

TIP: Make It Personal 

Let your personality drive the decor in this ultimately personal space. Here’s how.

• Art isn’t just for the living room. Let a favourite painting or print inspire your colour palette. 
• Display collected treasures and objets d’art. A grouping of sculptural vases lends an artful element. 
• Add a flash of personality with playfully patterned pillows or colourful sheets. 

1. Small blue stoneware Air vase, $50, EQ3, eq3.com.
2. Mantis swivel wall sconce in brass, $249, CB2, cb2.ca.
3. Eloise nightstand, $749, Mobilia, mobilia.ca.

Van Deusen Blue HC-156, Benjamin Moore (left), Winter Lake 2129-50, Benjamin Moore (center), Balboa Mist OC-27, Benjamin Moore (right)