How to Design the Perfect Bedroom Retreat

Tips for designing your Dream bedroom retreat

Creating spaces for the family to enjoy and areas for your guests to gather seem to take precedence when it comes to decorating our homes. And yet nothing is more important than our own personal spaces. I’m talking bedrooms. Our bedroom is where we escape from the world. It is where we shut out all the worry, stress, noise and challenges of our busy, hectic lives. We need our bedrooms to provide a literal and figurative retreat, an oasis where we recharge and refuel our minds, bodies and souls. There really is no space more important. Creating a place where you feel happy and even a little spoiled is essential. I recently restyled not one, not two, but three bedrooms in my home, and I’m so excited to share them with you in hopes of inspiring you to create your own bedroom retreat.

This post has been sponsored but contains all my honest opinions and beliefs. I hope you enjoy these companies I am telling all my friends about.

Creating a Mood in Your Bedroom Retreat

First, ask yourself, what kind of mood do you want to create? Do you want it to be sleek and contemporary? Elegant and refined? Country cottage quaint? I have my clients begin with a mood or a feeling. After you define the mood you want you can then move on toward choosing how to express that mood.

For this bedroom restyle I wanted it to have an overriding romantic feel. I created it using a mix of cottage, farmhouse, and French Provencal elements.

“Defining” the Style of Your Bedroom Retreat

What is the overriding style you want? Don’t worry if your “definition” crosses style boundaries. Jodie and I often need 2-3 style definitions to categorize any given space. We say feel free to cross boundaries, mix it up to create your own decor that defines you and no one else. For example, my current bedroom I would define as romantic, cottage, farmhouse, with a bit of French Provencal mixed in for good measure.

• Next, move on to color: What colors speak that mood for you?
• How much detail will help create that mood for you?
• Consider your partner and his/her tastes if you share your bedroom.

In this guest bedroom restyle I changed out the bed, the art, some details and the bedding to create an entirely new look. This incredible all linen hand-sewn coverlet is created with love and care by Rhonda @hallstromhome. Visit her at her website of the same name and follow her inspiring feed on Instagram.

Consider your Bedroom Retreat Budget

Next, we always address the budget. A bedroom restyle could be a complete overhaul where the sky is the limit (rare!) Or, more likely, you are looking to “update.” Examine your budget and be realistic. Look at what you can afford to spend and then look at the possibilities. You need to weigh your priorities and decide what you love, what you dislike, and where to spend your hard-earned dollars. This is tough but very important.

I always suggest to clients to do their homework. Whether you are working with a decorator or are on your own you still will benefit from doing your homework. With great resources online you can let your fingers do the walking.

I loved mixing romantic elements with rustic to create a bedroom retreat that would appeal to both sexes. The rustic wall is created by wallpaper from Milton and King.

The Anatomy of a Bedroom Retreat

Let’s look at the elements to consider:

• Flooring: Will this remain? Can you update with a rug?
• Walls: Do you love the current color, treatment? Repainting is a relatively inexpensive update, especially if you paint it yourself.
• Furniture: What pieces are staying? Can any furniture be updated, i.e. refinished, repainted. Otherwise, the style and finishes need to be taken into consideration as “givens” in your finished look.

In this bedroom restyle I changed out all the bedding, added the stools at the bottom of the bed and new art on the other walls for a fresh feel that my son loves.

• Lighting: A great way to add wow to a room is to change up the lighting. Is a new chandelier in the budget?
• Bedding: This is the most common (and most budget friendly) way to update a bedroom.
• Accessories: Lamps, wall decor, and small decor items are another budget-friendly way to make updates to your existing space.

Enjoy the best bedding on the market by investing in products from Boll & Branch. When you do you support a small family business whose success is built on quality, commitment to fair trade, and ensuring nothing but pure, chemical-free ingredients go into their all-cotton products. Since being introduced to this amazing company, the way I look at bedding has changed. They pour so much love and care into creating bedding that will last decades. By selling exclusively online they eliminate the middleman, the cost of a storefront, and advertising/marketing. This allows them to deliver the highest value bedding possible. I am sold, and when you experience Boll & Branch I think you will be too.

Before & After’s: Details of My Bedroom Restyles

My Master Bedroom Retreat

Here is a look at it before my restyle:

AFTER

My Master Bedroom Retreat

New Bedding

Number one change was the bedding. I had literally been dreaming of a linen coverlet for what seemed like years, and even with my high expectations I was still overwhelmed by the beauty. The luxurious, lightweight, dreamy feel of linen draping and puddling effortlessly in the bedroom, I mean can we get any more romantic? Also, do you see the fabulous sky blue ruffle linen pillow shams? I know, don’t hate me because my bed is beautiful. These can be yours too. They are all made by my amazing, kind, and TALENTED friend Rhonda at Hallstromhome. She has many talents and a shop full of wonder, in addition to her handmade linens, so be sure to visit her blog shop and tell her that her loving friend Julie sent you.

New Rug

I also added a new rug to tie in the blue. This rug is from Well Woven Rugs. My choice was the Maxwell Blue Rug from their newly released collection called The Kensington Collection. I really love it. Their rugs are well priced (shockingly), there is no shedding at all, and even my sweet hubby loves it. I say “even my hubby” because Fred typically notices NOTHING. I mean it.The first night the rug was in our room he said, “Wow, I love this…is this new?” He loves the feel on his bare feet, so soft and lovely. Success! I have to say I was super pleased.

New Bench

If you know me at all you know there’s nothing I love more than a bench. Really, I feel like I can never own too many benches. They add the perfect “je ne sais crois” to any spot. So, it’s not that I didn’t love my old bench; it’s just that my benches like to play a game called “musical bench” around my house and who am I to stop them? They like to visit different places, see the sights, you know, and can you blame a bench for wanting such a life? No. So the former bench is enjoying an adventurous new life in a different room and for now I am loving this fresh farmhouse one.

New Throw

The gorgeous luxurious texture of my chunky knit throw makes a big impact wherever I put it. Any time of year but especially as we enter the cooler months this throw will get plenty of use here  in our master bedroom. This 100% Merino wool hand-knit chunky throw is made by Larissa at Becozi Jodie and I are thrilled to be able to offer all our followers a 10% discount for a limited time. Use TWINS10 to save now.

My Son’s Bedroom Retreat

Before

After

Fresh bedding makes all the difference! Smart, handsome, classic, this Boll & Branch bedding is beautiful and timeless.

New Bedding

Once again new bedding is the key to this bedroom restyle. All the bedding shown above is from Boll & Branch. The sheets are the softest flannel I’ve ever felt, and they have earned me loving and enthusiastic cuddles of gratitude from my lucky son. Worth it.

New Accessories

I also added this cool woven side table. I love the unique shape and texture. The bench I had in here was not suited for the rough housing that goes on the metal edges were sharp hey, this is real life. So I had to choose softer objects that could be “knocked about” and also not cause injury when inevitably run into. Both the woven side table and the woven poof compliment the colors and add interest to the room. They also serve as impromptu seating and are easily rearranged as needed. You can shop the exact items below. The prices of each are very budget-friendly. Sold.

My New Guest Bedroom

Before

This was my youngest son Julian’s bedroom. Now with his older brother Frederick moving on to college this bedroom is my new second guest bedroom.

After

This restyle is ALL ABOUT the bedding. I really didn’t change much else. Since this photo I added new art above the bed and a bench. And I made some updates to the shelves, but basically this is the new look.

The bedding is another incredible 100% linen coverlet hand made by Rhonda @hallstromhome. Her linens are an investment, and honestly, in person, there is nothing that compares to quality, the kind of quality that will last. I also love supporting amazing small businesses. Supporting small businesses is like supporting our communities and our country. It’s supporting your neighbor and the hardworking Americans trying to make an honest living. I love it, and when I have a choice I will always choose to shop small. Head to her website to see all she makes and fall in love with everything she stands for.

Well, Friends, are you inspired? I hope you see how easily you can freshen up your bedrooms to create the perfect bedroom retreat. No matter what your budget you can prioritize and choose what’s important for you. Each one of these restyles illustrates the power of simply changing out the bedding for a fresh new look. I also love the idea of investing in quality that will last whenever possible. This will give your room the look and feel of luxury in the most important space you create: your private bedroom retreat.

Looking for more decor inspiration from The Design Twins? Enjoy some of our favorite decor posts:

Fall Decor

Lighting Ideas and Sources

Fall Coffee Table Decorating

Budget Decorating

Happy Decorating, Friends!