Quickie Bedroom Makeovers

8 cheap and easy ways to get a cozier look.

Photo by jinkazamah

S o maybe your bedroom isn’t the picture of snuggle-in comfort that you would like. But it could be–and you don’t have to spend a lot or chuck your old stuff!

Low-cost design-pro tricks to try now!

1. A bed is like an enormous canvas just waiting for you to personalize it.

   You can try a new pillow arrangement. Or add a mattress topper for a slightly cushier look. And if all you have is a mattress and a box spring, add a headboard for a more finished look.

2. Use fun-to-touch materials.

   Aim for a bed that not only looks good but makes you want to climb in. The trick is choosing inviting materials-a silk throw, a velvet pillow, a matelesse (quilted) coverlet. To get ideas, check out department store bedroom displays; pay close attention to textures and layering.

3. Buy feel-good sheets.

   You don’t have to spring for 1,000-thread-count sheets. Anything between 200 and 400 will be soft enough. With counts over 400, the main difference is price. Buy two sets that you love and can mix and match. I suggest largely white bedding, perhaps a damask, because it’s restful and goes with anything. Crisp white sheets piped in a coordinating color is another nice look. Match a second set to your walls.

4. Add a personal touch.

   To keep white and solid sheets from looking too plain, add a monogram. Many stores and websites that sell linens, including Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Williams-Sonoma, and Horchow, offer monogramming for less than $10; also look for specials on free monogramming. Tip: For a more formal bedroom look, buy two plain white shams and embellish them with a large monogram.

5. Mix up colors and textures.

   Try stripes next to florals or offset prints with solids instead of using matching bedding sets. Also, mingle textures like fuzzy mohair and smooth silk. And change textures in different seasons, try plush velvet in winter and lighter linen in summer. Your bedroom presents an opportunity to personalize your space, so throw in a needlepoint pillow or one covered in antique fabric.

6. Cozy up the lighting.

   By installing dimmer switches on overhead and bedside lights you can instantly change the mood of the room. Also, replace plain white lamp shades with simple silk shades in a taupy neutral tone. They cast a nice warm glow and the color works in most rooms. And make sure your overhead light fixture is beautiful. It’s the first thing you see when you wake up.

7. Choose a soothing wall color.

   It will be a lot more relaxing and easier to decorate around. Use colors sunrise and sunset colors-golden yellows, pale blues, and light pinks. Colors like creams, light browns, and soft grays also offer lots of decorating flexibility. You can easily liven up these palettes with print pillows and bold pops of an accent color. And if you get tired of your smaller, jazzier accessories, it will be easy enough to change them.

8. Consider adding a rug.

   Put something soft and luxurious underfoot, even if it’s only on the side of the bed where you plant your bare tootsies each morning. A pretty rug is another easy way to bring personality, pattern, and accent colors into a room with neutral walls. Multiple rugs can also work; they don’t have to match, but they should go together. Just don’t go too crazy with patterns. You want to keep the focus on the bed.

Tagged as: bedroom, cheap, easy, makeover