Dream a little dream in luxury

You don’t have to break the bank for a luxurious bedroom.

Your bedroom is your sanctuary and it should be relaxing, comfortable and luxe. Every week, the AJC’s Private Quarters takes you inside some of the most beautiful homes in Atlanta, and this week we’re giving you inspiration and ideas to spruce up your bedroom. From modern to traditional, industrial to farmhouse, crafting a comforting bedroom goes beyond any style.

While it might be tempting to break the bank with expensive curtains, plush bedding and new statement furniture, there are a few simple ways you can update your bedroom to make it as luxurious as you want it to be. The tips below will guide you through making your bedroom look and feel expensive without having to shell out the cash.

Add texture and warmth

Incorporating a rug is a quick and easy way to add texture and warmth to any room. You can also add warmth with a statement blanket if you don’t want to splurge on new bedding. “A big chunky knit throw placed across the foot of your bed will take the focus off a tired duvet or comforter,” writes Apartment Therapy. Rugs and blankets can also help with incorporating different textures like a faux fur throw or a geometric print rug.

Design your nightstand

For most of us, our nightstands become a catch-all for unread books and glasses of water, but adding some structure and style could up the ante. “It’s time to rethink how that’s all displayed. Hide some things away in a drawer; display small items in a beautiful tray,” reads Elle Decor.

Make a statement

While the cost of furniture can add up quickly, it’s a good idea to invest in at least one statement piece that serves as the focal of your bedroom. “A dark wood bed frame; a gorgeous gilded dresser; a velvet arm chair — each bedroom has its own centerpiece, but make sure it’s the room’s focus,” says Elle Decor. Once you have your statement piece, be sure not to add clutter or overcrowd it.

Frame it

Adding framed artwork or a new mirror to your room can also help to elevate the style.

“If you still have the plain mirror you got during college, it’s time for a change,” says Apartment Therapy. “Try an antiqueinspired brass mirror or something curvy that will open up the room.”

Mirrors and artwork can get expensive so you might try starting out your search at a local flea market to keep costs low.

Try some new lighting

New lighting can make all the difference in a small room or one with limited natural light. Swap out the standard ceiling light in your room for something a little more elegant. Elle Decor recommends replacing them with a glamourous chandelier or even a drum-shaped pendant.

Overdo it on the pillows

Who knew the key to making your pillows more luxurious was to simply overstuff them? Apartment Therapy says, “Stylists do this by buying inserts that are slightly larger than whatever their pillow coversare. So if you have a 18-inch square pillow, for example, buy 20-inch inserts.”

A few other additional tips to create the most comfortable bedroom possible are to add a tray or raise your curtains. You could also try upgrading thehardware on old furniture and adding plants or other greenery.

ROGERS. TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS Marcia Jaffe’s master bedroom is cool and more modern than the rest of her home, with a wooden ribbon sculpture by artist Renee Dinauer hanging above her bed. The accent wall behind the bed is painted Martha Stewart Hosta Green.

TEXT BY LORI JOHNSTON/ FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS/FAST COPY NEWS SERVICE. The master bedroom’s decor is contemporary yet cozy. “I think color changes the mood. For me, blue, and gray, is really soothing,” homeowner Jen Newman said. She built the headboard by drawing and cutting the pattern on plywood and covering it with fabric. The wood bird is made out of old piano keys by Dryads Dancing, a Chamblee company, and the signs are from Sugarboo & Co.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PICTURE BY REYNOLDS ROGERS. An accent wall covered in wood-grain tiles from Floor & Decor is the focal point for the master bedroom of Poul Olson’s loft home. On the advice of an interior designer from Cooper’s Creations LLC Olson decided to paint his ceilings black. The black ceiling makes the exposed pipes and ductwork of the loft less obvious and makes the space feel warmer.

PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS. TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. The master bedroom of Nancy and Gene Hooff’s home is chic and open, with high ceilings and a clean, neutral color palette. A custom headboard, made by Barter & Galambos from some wooden architectural detail pieces that Nancy used to have hung horizontally above the bed, centers the room, while a curtain rod and art hanger by Smith Ironworks Inc. dominates the wall around the window. Art hanging from the rod includes pieces by Rich Gere, Guillaume Bourquin and Sally King Benedict.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS The master bedroom of Rand and Shell Royster’s Atlanta home is soft and serene, with walls in Sherwin-Williams Passive and hints of pink in the cabinet and West Elm bedding. At the foot of their bed from Macy’s sits a bench that used to be part of their old dining room table set. When they switched out their dining room furniture, Shell made the table into a photography surface, gave one of the benches away and kept the other bench as a drop space at the foot of the bed.

TEXT BY SHANNON DOMINY. PHOTO BY REYNOLDS ROGERS. French doors open from Ali and Bob Van Dillen’s master bedroom onto a private balcony that overlooks a lake. The doors and windows give the space great natural light, making the room fresh and bright, and the Joss & Main bed with Target bedding creates a cozy retreat for the couple.