Does the thought of investing in a bed with silver-cladding, or art that costs the moon, set you back before you can begin? Here is real good news: you can give your bedroom a warm, wonderful wake-up call without delving too deep into your pockets. Ideas and inspiration to help you get it right:
Pillows: Pile on the pillows, and don’t shy away from mixing patterns. Combine large prints with small ones, florals with geometrics.
Bedspreads: A printed bedspread can literally spread cheer across a dull bedroom. It is easy to find fabulous botanical and floral prints that don’t cost much but can make winter feel like spring.
Decals: Work with wall decals. So what if you cannot afford expensive wallpaper? Decals and stickers are a fun and magical way to add personality to your bedroom. Be it quotes or patterns, decals are guaranteed to grab attention!
Lighting: Night stands and adjustable lamps affixed to walls smartly save space in a small room, and create efficient pools of light that spell romance while helping you curl up with a book. Make sure you have a dimmer switch to fine tune the light for reading or relaxing, as you want.
Comfort: Top your bed with covers made for snuggling, like a down comforter or a lovely, beautiful quilt covered with an old sari or patchwork from old but beautiful fabric.
Side tables: Paint the side table! Basic brown is so yawn-inducing. How long has your side table been sitting there unnoticed; a glum sidekick in a boring screenplay, so to say! Get some white or blue enamel and give it broad brush strokes of fresh colour. Now watch it come into its own, a proud accessory to your beautiful bed.
Art: Can’t afford exorbitant art? Indulge your creative urge! Take a blank canvas. Put it up on a dull bedroom wall. Paint it in the colours of your imagination. The advantage with pops of art and colour is that you don’t have to be stuck with it, unlike expensive paintings that seem boring after a while.
Rugs: A cheery yellow rug is like a burst of sunshine in a low-key room. For most bedrooms a four-by-six-foot rug beside the bed is ideal.
At the bold end of the scale, go for saturation with a favourite colour. A four-litre bucket of wall paint is not costly, and if you get friends together to help you create a splash, it is a fun way to transform your space! Use a variety of tones and textures to give your room a layered feel. But remember—bold and heavy colour is not for everyone.