The bedroom: 10 recommendations to follow

Discover our little decorating tricks for turning your bedroom into a truly cosy nest. 10 points to follow one at a time or all at once, and you will make it your favourite room.

1/ The large mirror

If your bedroom is small, placing a mirror in it is an excellent solution. It should be large, while its shape depends on the room as a whole. Thanks to its reflective surface, a mirror creates the visual impression of a bigger space. Ideally, place it facing a source of natural light so that it reflects it better. If the layout of your room does not allow for that, try adding artificial lights and directing them towards it. You will achieve the same effect. You can also replace the large mirror with several small ones set side by side. The essential thing is that there should be no frame edge. Otherwise you will overload the result and end up with a sense of clutter.

2/ The wall covering

Sometimes it takes very little to make a room beautiful — working on the colour of the walls, for instance. In our homes, we tend to keep walls immaculately white and simply hang pictures on them. And while white guarantees a certain neutrality, it has ended up standing for a certain blandness. So you might bring a little personality to your bedroom simply by changing the colour of a single wall. Preferably the one where your headboard sits. The only constraint you face is to make sure that colour harmonises with the whole.

3/ The headboard

The central element of a bedroom is, of course, the bed. And so one of the easiest ways to show the room off is to decorate it. The headboard lends itself to this very readily. You may not have one at all. In that case, create one by fitting a curtain rail above your bed. The fabric you choose — whether it is designer, sophisticated or made of sheer voile — must not touch the bed. If you dislike the idea of fabric, here again you can turn to colour: paint a headboard directly onto the wall. The shade must of course harmonise with the whole and be slightly darker than that of the other walls. If you do choose to paint your headboard, however, take care to match your bed linen, otherwise the result will look muddled. And if you are after something simpler still, opt for large cushions placed at the top of the bed and against the wall. These cushions should be in bright colours or carry cheerful patterns.

4/ The lighting

If there is one room that lends itself well to lighting, it is the bedroom. There is nothing better for creating an atmosphere given over to relaxation, sensuality or rest. Depending on your bedroom's layout, of course, place a few small lamps (two or three) in the dark, cosy corners (dressing area, dressing table, writing desk if you own such a jewel) and choose them in different heights. This lets you create soft lighting and a warm atmosphere. You can also add wall lights on either side of your bed. Try to avoid neon and overly cold light, and replace conventional low-energy bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which are not only economical but give off even light.

5/ Decorative letters

Culturally, we have a strong feeling for the art of calligraphy. To add a touch of modernity, we can use three-dimensional letters, available in decorating shops. If you have not found what you are looking for near home, you can make your own by salvaging cardboard. The advantage of letters is that they bring an immediate personal touch to the room. So line up your letters and play with words on a headboard or elsewhere, as long as it is somewhere they will be noticed.

6/ Creating themes with objects

Objects help give a bedroom a certain atmosphere. When they are badly placed, or too numerous, they create a feeling of clutter. The little trick is to find a theme common to the various pieces, to create a link between them. That link can be forged through period, through materials (wood, glass, fabric, plastic, metal, etc.), through style, or through colour (two or three at the very most).

A little tip: remember to harmonise objects with the furniture already there, and do not forget that too much of a good thing does harm.

7/ And why not a four-poster or a bed canopy?

It is perfect for romantics and quite simple to set up. For a bed canopy, all you need to do is fix a few curtain rails and hooks from one wall to the other. And if you dream of a four-poster, arrange the hooks on the ceiling. To avoid weighing the room down, opt for sheer voiles and muslins in soft, pastel shades when creating your canopy. With a four-poster, you can allow yourself thick fabrics such as velvet. In summer, favour tulle, which will also protect you from mosquitoes.

8/ Shelving

If you are one of those people who collect magazines, books, trinkets, little soft toys and other personal details, you may need shelves to keep them from ending up all over your bedroom. To preserve a sense of space, choose shelves that fix directly to the walls rather than standing on the floor. Reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass) bounce light back and therefore create an impression of space. You can also play with colours and shapes, and with whether the units are closed or open.

9/ The windows

In decorating a room, curtains are an important touch. They are chosen last, once the bedroom decor is finished and all the trinkets are in place. They must suit the colours and styles adopted in the room. You can favour fine, coloured, plain voiles that let the light through while creating a certain intimacy. If you have put together a room with modern, design-led decor, you can allow yourself blinds or fringed curtains.

Tip: mind the length! Your curtains should not sweep the floor. That looks careless. Nor should they be so short that part of the glazing shows. That looks like poor taste.

10/ The colours of the bedspread and cushions

If you cannot make major changes to your bedroom decor, you can bet on changing the colour of the duvets and/or cushions. Choose good, bright colours: orange, red, fuchsia, royal blue, zesty green. You can allow yourself every extravagance where walls and ceilings are in light colours. Do not forget the rule about colours, however (stick to 2 or 3 shades that harmonise with one another). And remember to take into account the tones and colours already present in your bedroom.

In summary: the 10 recommendations at a glance