IN THE DETAIL Decorative and practical touches for bedroom schemes
BE INSPIRED BY THESE DECORATIVE IDEAS FOR BEDROOMS, FROM STANDOUT PATTERNS TO SURPRISING TOUCHES
SIZE IT UP
The headboard you choose will set the tone of your bedroom and opting for an oversized statement style can help anchor the space. In this Terrace Suite at Kit Kemp’s The Soho Hotel, the master bedroom features a hand-embroidered applique headboard created in collaboration with fashion designer Clio Peppiatt and inspired by the local Soho music scene. For your own scheme, consider creating a headboard with your favourite fabric for a finish that feels personal. For this, a stockist to know is Ensemblier London. Go for a wall-mounted design that also sits on the floor for support and finish with studwork or a contrasting pipework for a luxurious hotel-style look. →
STORY TIME
“BEYOND JUST DECORATION, THE TRANSPORTIVE EFFECTS OF A SCENIC WALLPAPER WITHIN A BEDROOM CREATES EXPANSIVE SURROUNDINGS AT AN INTIMATE SCALE”
CLAUD CECIL GURNEY, founder of de Gournay
Wallpaper doesn’t have to be pasted across the whole of your wall. Here, a characterful mural has been applied in panels for a window-style effect. Design by Stewart Manger Interior Design. Hand-painted Rateau on Deep Rich Gold gilded paper by de Gournay.
SWEET ESCAPE
Picking a palette of one core colour and using different tones of it is a way to be bold without incidentally clashing. Wendi Wolf Lewitt designed this cocooning bedroom as such, with built-in open shelving, too, so personal belongings can be displayed.
INTO THE WOODS
Timber cladding is a great way of adding texture to a space if wallpaper isn’t your thing. It is relatively easy to apply with brands such as Naturewall offering self-adhesive designs. It is paired here with Bedfolk’s cotton bedding in Snow, £99 for a double set.
PAPER THE CEILING
For those who prefer a more neutral look it’s wise to think about ways of adding details to a space to prevent it from feeling too stark. A textured cushion or patterned curtain may be the first ideas that spring to mind, but have you considered decorating the ceiling? All too often the ‘fifth wall’ is left untouched but it can be a great opportunity to incorporate colour or pattern. We love how this Nuvolette wallpaper by Fornasetti for Cole & Son provides a playful ‘head in the clouds’ moment, yet doesn’t detract from the simple scheme by Gunter & Co in this Grade Ii-listed house in Chelsea. A design on your ceiling is best enjoyed when in bed, so choose a pattern that is calming to look at. →
STICK WITH NATURE
Painting both walls and ceiling in the same colour can create a cocooning feel. Soft greens were used in this garden-inspired room and adding leafy patterns and florals works well as they’re all based on the same colour palette. The Colefax and Fowler curtains tie in nicely with the headboard covered in Rapture & Wright’s Walled Garden fabric. It shows how accessories can help bring the design to life – including the Wisteria lamps with Empire shades in Cloud Chevrons by Pooky. Knightsbridge headboard, The Odd Chair Company. Tapa Kahala quilt; Osborne oblong cushion; Kemble cushion (centre back), all Wicklewood. Rosita cushions, £110 each, William Yeoward. Florentine rug, Woven.
EASY REFRESH
A bold paint job is often all it takes to give antique furniture a new lease of life, which interior designer Elizabeth Hay has done with these two locally found beds. The deep red makes a bold statement, so paler tones were applied to the walls for balance.
MARBLE MARVEL
Decoration is all about accessories. A quick way to incorporate more detail into your scheme is with cushions, throws and lampshades (check out Rosi de Ruig for marbled shades). You can switch these out easily, season to season, or as your mood changes.
“BEDROOMS ARE OUR PRIVATE INNER SANCTUARIES AND GIVEN THAT ARTWORK IS SUCH A PERSONAL CHOICE, IT CAN BE USED TO ELEVATE SCHEMES AND PROVIDE A SENSE OF IDENTITY”
ROSLYNKEET, associate director, David Collins Studio
WORK OF ART
‘Wall art plays a critical role in establishing the overall atmosphere in a space,’ says Roslyn Keet, associate director of David Collins Studio. ‘A series of pictures placed together adds a strong focal point and is a great way to bring interest to plain walls.’ →
PLAY WITH PANELLING
Panelling is a popular way to add character to your walls and there are plenty of techniques to try. Consider cladding half or three-quarters of the height of your walls and painting the wood in a contrasting colour. Test out the shades in your room before committing, to see what they look like in different lights. The woodwork here is finished in Paint & Paper Library’s Blue Gum, which looks much brighter as light floods the space, complementing the headboard and curtains. The tongue and groove design not only adds an interesting visual element but is practical, too, as it allows the wiring of the light and touchscreen below to be hidden and has created a shelf for pictures above.