Looking for some cozy bedroom ideas on a budget? Then learn how to create a restful retreat by optimizing your bedroom layout, choosing the right lighting, and selecting the perfect decor.
Optimizing Your Bedroom Layout
When it comes to the layout of your bedroom, the position of your bed should be the number one priority, as it is the centerpiece of the room.
Everything else, all your other furniture and decor pieces, should take a back seat. But before you even start considering the best place to put your bed, get a good idea of your room’s proportions and fixed features.
- Does your room have alcoves?
- Do you have sloped ceilings?
- Where are your windows?
All of these features will affect your bed’s placement, which is why it is a great idea to sketch up a rough floor plan with all these detailed measurements first.
The Ideal Bed Position
If you have enough room, the most ideal location for a bed is the command position, which means that when in bed, you’re facing the door while not directly in line with the door.
Alternatively, you may have a fireplace, so placing your bed opposite this focal point will create a sense of balance and symmetry. Regardless of position, one that is often agreed upon is to not have doors open up directly in line with the bed.
Besides that, just try to put the bed in the most optimal location, whether it is between a window, beside a fireplace, or even pushed to the corner. It really doesn’t matter if it is not the most ideal, as long as it is the most ideal for the space.
Allow for at least 24 inches around your bed to navigate, or ideally 36 inches if you have the space for it. After your bed, think about the function of your bedroom besides sleeping. Do you need extra storage, like a dresser for your clothes? Do you need a desk for working or for doing makeup? Note down all of these things.
Nightstand Considerations
The nightstand or bedside table is the next piece to consider. Here, it is important to choose something that does not match your bed frame. In other words, don’t buy a furniture set.
It is always suggested to mix different styles or materials, so your space feels more thoughtful and curated. It is preferred that a nightstand have closed storage so you can easily tuck away small items like lip balm and hand cream, but this totally depends on your preference.
One thing for sure is that clutter is not going to make your bedroom cozy, so if you have little knickknacks to hide, then try to get one with close storage. If your space is not large enough for two traditional nightstands on either side of your bed, don’t force it.
Think about how you can more creatively fill all the functions that you listed previously. For example, if you need extra space for your clothes, consider a compact dresser that doubles as a nightstand beside your bed. If you need a working space, maybe put a lightweight desk to the side of your bed instead of a nightstand.
Mattress and Bedding Choices
It is also advised not to skip out on your mattress, as the average person spends one third of their entire lives asleep in bed. That doesn’t mean that it has to be unnecessarily expensive either, as there are plenty of good quality mattresses that are decently priced. Many companies nowadays also offer returns, so you can try out your mattress for a little bit before committing to it.
A mattress protector is another good investment, but this depends on the price of your mattress and how long you expect it to last. It keeps the mattress clean, and you can also wash the protector to keep it fresh.
High-Quality Linens
Investing in high quality linen is also a welcome addition for extra comfort. Cotton, bamboo, and linen are all popular natural fibers which vary slightly in terms of comfort and breathability. Your choice should first and foremost be comfort and then looks.
If you’re a hot sleeper and your home is always warm, don’t get thick flannel bedding, as no matter how nice it looks, you’ll regret it very quickly. If you prefer cotton, don’t get misled by the thread count. A better quality fiber at a lower thread count is going to be softer and sturdier than your 1,000 thread count made from cheap fiber or part polyester.
Look for a long staple or extra long staple cotton; they’re usually a good benchmark for quality. If you’re a hot sleeper, get a percale weave, and if you prioritize softness or warmth, then get a satin weave. Linen and bamboo are both great for hot sleepers as they’re very breathable, and the choice comes down to preference. Beware of cheap linen, as they are very expensive fabric, so cheap ones tend to be very scratchy.
Pillow, Quilts, and Comforters
Also, take the time to choose a suitable pillow for yourself. Front, back, and side sleepers usually like different types of pillows, and they also come in many different materials from latex to feathers, so it is best to test them out.
Quilts, duvet and dunas, and comforters come in many different thicknesses and materials. A weighted blanket stuff with down or synthetic fibers that is put into a cover, but there are also comforters and quilts which are designed to be thrown on top of your sheets straight away. In other words, you don’t need to struggle getting them into a cover.
Comforters tend to be more substantial than quilts, as they contain down filling as opposed to quilts that are typically made with a thin layer of batting, making comforters more appropriate for colder environments. Like with everything in this part, your choice comes down to personal preference. There’s no right or wrong answer.
Bedroom Lighting Strategies
Lighting is important in every space but is arguably even more so in a bedroom. You may be thinking that doesn’t sound right, most of the time spent in your bedroom is asleep with the lights off, but you actually need lots of lighting options from reading before bed to getting ready in the morning while getting dressed or putting on makeup.
A layered approach is always recommended, so a combination of different light sources such as overhead, table, floor, and wall lights. You don’t want your bedroom looking clinical, as much as you don’t want them to be dark and dingy. At a bare minimum, have another lamp or light source by your bed. Most people spend some time in bed before going to sleep or may need quick access to a light source if waking up in the middle of the night.
Choosing between taper lamps or wall scones is completely down to your preference. Sconces are often preferable in smaller bedrooms, as they free up space on your nightstand. Many people are concerned that scones are rental friendly at all, but you can actually get plugin wall scones if you prefer to not install them permanently.
Additional Lighting
If you plan on your bedroom having additional functions like having a study nook, makeup area, or seating area, make sure you also add lighting there. This may maybe a table lamp in a study nook or a floor lamp in your seating area.
Accent lighting like LED strips can also be a nice addition if you have a more contemporary bedroom. You can add them behind your bed or incorporate them into any joinery in your bedroom like shelving to make your room more atmosphere. Do not have them exposed, which many people do; these LED strips are designed to be concealed and diffused evenly, hence the visible individual bulbs.
Remember to pay attention to the color temperature of your light bulbs. Bedrooms typically call for warmer lighting around 2700 to 3,000 Kelvin, but anything up to 3,500 Kelvin should be fine if you prefer more neutral lighting.
Studies have shown that exposure to warmer light temperatures in the evening can enhance sleep quality by better aligning with our natural circadian rhythms. It is also worth choosing light fittings that are compatible with dimmers, so you can adjust the light levels throughout the day. Otherwise, smart light bulbs are a great investment, especially for the bedroom. You can adjust the brightness and color temperature of your bulbs and connect them with a wireless remote, which you can place by the bed.
Also consider the location of your light switches. It is always handy to have one near your bed, so you don’t have to get up and out of bed to turn your lights off if possible.
Window Furnishings
When it comes to window furnishings, your choice really depends on your preferences and sleep schedule. Like artificial light, the ability to control natural light is crucial in bedrooms. Curtains are a very popular option, as they’re very easy to operate, and there are many different options to choose from.
Whether you get blockout, dimout, or sheer curtain is up to you, but a combination of blockout and sheer is ideal if you want complete control of natural light. Another option is to go for something like Roman Shades, roller blinds, or even something like Plantation shutters.
At the end of the day, your choice depends on how much natural light you want to be able to get into your room and also your sleep schedule. If you don’t want natural light waking you up at the crack of dawn, it may not be a great idea to have a single layer of sheer curtain.
Likewise, if you have trouble waking up in the morning, complete blockouts may make you want to sleep for even longer. Having control over how much natural light enters your bedroom is crucial, as the quality of your sleep is highly affected by light.
Storage Solutions & Decor
A cluttered bedroom with clothes everywhere is not a cozy space to be in. A functional and cozy bedroom is all about having adequate storage solutions and keeping clutter at bay. Choose between a freestanding and built-in closet for cloth storage, or even have both. Built-ins are great for rooms that have an awkward shape, especially ones with sloping ceilings, and are also great in small bedrooms as they’re designed to fit the space.
Additional storage like a chest of drawers or dresser is also not a bad idea for folded items if you don’t already have drawers in your closet. In a small room, go for a tall boy as a tall vertical storage solution. In particularly small spaces, look at how you can use under bed storage or a bed frame with built-in storage drawers.
Cable Management & Organization
Cables also have to be tidied away, and they’re usually particularly messy near a bedside table. Get cable boxes tucked underneath the bed or behind the nightstand to hide away all the plugs. If you like to charge your devices, get a cable clip behind your nightstand to hide the cable away neatly, or get a wireless charger if it supports one.
At the end of the day, no matter how much storage space you have, if you don’t change your mindset about organization, the clutter is not going to magically go away. Put things back where they belong and make it a habit to fold or hang your clothes.
Color and Scents
Color is a deeply personal choice. If you want a cozy feeling in your bedroom, a darker color may be your best bet, whereas if you want an airy and open feeling, a lighter tone may be better. Whatever you do, stay away from overly bright neon colors as your backdrop, and exercise some restraint in your color scheme, as you don’t want your bedroom to be overly busy.
Diffusers or candles can be a wonderful way to elevate your space and make it feel more luxurious, especially if there’s a scent that you love. Whether you love scents or not, getting fresh air into your bedroom is an absolute must. Try to open your windows every day, if not a few times every week, to stop your air from getting stale; that alone makes a huge difference. Also, remember to wash your sheets regularly. There’s nothing like getting into bed with freshly laundered sheets, and your whole room smells really fresh because of it.
Extra Furnishings & Decor
Once you’ve got all of those aspects sorted, all that is left to do is decorate and add in extra furnishings. If you’ve got a small space and can really fit anything more into your bedroom, don’t fret, as all of these things are just nice additions. If you have extra space, extra seating in your bedroom, whether there’s a bench at the end of your bed or an armchair for reading, is a nice addition.
Having a rug underneath your bed is another valuable addition to ground your space, and it’s also great if you want something warm and soft to step on to in the morning. Just make sure that it is large enough. The general guide is that 18 to 24 inches on all three sides of your bed is about right for a bedroom rug. You don’t want to get a rug that is too small; otherwise, it will look disproportionate and also be completely useless, as it will be nearly completely hidden under the bed.
You can also get something like a bed blanket, which is larger than a throw blanket, and it’s usually draped from around the middle of your bed to the end of your bed off for contrast here, which could either be in color, fabric, or pattern. Variations in textures and tones will always make for a more elevated feeling when mixing bedding.
