5 Things Your Bedroom Designer Needs to Know
Help your designer deliver the detail you want, for a slumber space straight from heaven
For most of us, the main focus when we work with an interior designer is often the kitchen or bathroom. This is understandable, given the functional importance of these rooms and the greater cost that renovating these spaces entails. Bedrooms are often overlooked and given nowhere near the same level of attention or detailing, which is a shame.
From my standpoint as an interior designer, I think the bedroom should not be conceived as an afterthought at the back end of a long project. Although design work for the bedroom is not as intensive as the bathroom or kitchen, your designer will nonetheless need to know a fair amount of detail to get this important room right for you.
From my standpoint as an interior designer, I think the bedroom should not be conceived as an afterthought at the back end of a long project. Although design work for the bedroom is not as intensive as the bathroom or kitchen, your designer will nonetheless need to know a fair amount of detail to get this important room right for you.
In thinking about the bedroom, your designer will focus first on some key areas – circulation, furniture placement, outlook, outdoor access, light and ventilation. In initial discussions with your designer, you will be well served in the long run if you reveal to them your wish list (what you want in your bedroom) and your existing behaviours (what you do in your bedroom – beyond the obvious, that is). For the benefit of those thinking about getting a professionally designed bedroom, let’s unpack these two vitally important factors and add a few others.
1. Your ultimate wish list
Like you do when you’re working with a kitchen and bathroom designer, you need to draw up a bedroom wish list. This is all about clarifying your needs versus your wants. It should also reflect elements of your existing behaviour. This will be the brief that will help shape your project through the design process.
The wish list can cover all manner of bedroom-related things, ranging from big moves such as adding a new exterior door to access a private courtyard or accommodating the size of the bed, through to smaller details, such as wanting bedside wall lights or a recess for the ceiling-mounted curtain.
Find an interior designer on Houzz. See their projects, read their reviews and contact them online.
Like you do when you’re working with a kitchen and bathroom designer, you need to draw up a bedroom wish list. This is all about clarifying your needs versus your wants. It should also reflect elements of your existing behaviour. This will be the brief that will help shape your project through the design process.
The wish list can cover all manner of bedroom-related things, ranging from big moves such as adding a new exterior door to access a private courtyard or accommodating the size of the bed, through to smaller details, such as wanting bedside wall lights or a recess for the ceiling-mounted curtain.
Find an interior designer on Houzz. See their projects, read their reviews and contact them online.
As part of this ultimate wish list, take the time to collate a series of photos to show your taste. You can create an Ideabook on Houzz to share with your designer, for example. This is a vital part of your brief – it’s easier to demonstrate what you like with pictures rather than just words – and you can tell the designer whether it’s a particular look or style you’re after, an actual product, or just a lovely colour you want to use.
2. Your priorities
After creating the ultimate wish list, you need to set your priorities in order. This is often linked to the budget, which, like any other part of your design project, needs early definition, and needs to be communicated to your designer. How much you get of your wish list can be determined by your willingness to trade off what you would really like to have in your new bedroom, versus things you must have. The key reason to establish and articulate your priorities to your designer is so that you both have the same vision of the final result.
After creating the ultimate wish list, you need to set your priorities in order. This is often linked to the budget, which, like any other part of your design project, needs early definition, and needs to be communicated to your designer. How much you get of your wish list can be determined by your willingness to trade off what you would really like to have in your new bedroom, versus things you must have. The key reason to establish and articulate your priorities to your designer is so that you both have the same vision of the final result.
3. Your existing behaviour…
This is a good place to start because how people prefer to use their bedrooms can vary more dramatically than many other rooms in the house. Disclosing this to your designer will let them know how you want to continue to use the room – or whether you want a new bedroom to create a new set of behaviours or habits.
Browse images of contemporary Australian bedrooms on Houzz
This is a good place to start because how people prefer to use their bedrooms can vary more dramatically than many other rooms in the house. Disclosing this to your designer will let them know how you want to continue to use the room – or whether you want a new bedroom to create a new set of behaviours or habits.
Browse images of contemporary Australian bedrooms on Houzz
…such as sleeping patterns
If there are two of you sharing the room, does one of you get up earlier than the other? Would the sleeping partner prefer not to be disturbed? Do you need a dark room for sleeping because any sliver of light will keep you awake? Or do you prefer to be woken up by the early morning sun? Do you spend a lot of time in bed reading before you nod off to sleep?
Take notes about what your usual sleep patterns are and how you would like these to be maintained or improved in your new bedroom. For example, if you read in bed, there will be greater consideration by the designer of a comfortable and soft bedhead for you to sit back on, a bedside table to hold your books, as well as excellent task lighting for easy reading. If you like your room to be dark, then block-out curtains will be essential.
If there are two of you sharing the room, does one of you get up earlier than the other? Would the sleeping partner prefer not to be disturbed? Do you need a dark room for sleeping because any sliver of light will keep you awake? Or do you prefer to be woken up by the early morning sun? Do you spend a lot of time in bed reading before you nod off to sleep?
Take notes about what your usual sleep patterns are and how you would like these to be maintained or improved in your new bedroom. For example, if you read in bed, there will be greater consideration by the designer of a comfortable and soft bedhead for you to sit back on, a bedside table to hold your books, as well as excellent task lighting for easy reading. If you like your room to be dark, then block-out curtains will be essential.
As it’s obviously the centrepiece of most bedrooms, the bed’s style, size and position are important. Quality is also critical, given you will spend a fair amount of time using this item. The bed is the main piece of furniture that you will need to specify, if you don’t plan on keeping your existing bed.
What size is your bed? The size of your room will dictate how big your bed can be. Do you need extra storage space in your bedroom? Then a lift-up storage bed or a bed frame with drawers would be ideal. Have a small bedroom? A bed on legs is often the way to go – being able to see beneath the bed adds to the feeling of space in the room and is considered excellent feng shui because it lets the ‘chi’ (good universal energy) move more freely around the room!
What size is your bed? The size of your room will dictate how big your bed can be. Do you need extra storage space in your bedroom? Then a lift-up storage bed or a bed frame with drawers would be ideal. Have a small bedroom? A bed on legs is often the way to go – being able to see beneath the bed adds to the feeling of space in the room and is considered excellent feng shui because it lets the ‘chi’ (good universal energy) move more freely around the room!
…and other activities
Apart from your bed, what other activities need to be accommodated in the bedroom? Is this where you also get dressed and put on make-up? If so, what sort of a wardrobe and clothing storage do you like? And what about a mirror with good lighting, or a dressing table? Tell your interior designer if you dream of a separate dressing room or walk-in wardrobe.
Do you hang out in the bedroom in your down time? A comfortable bedroom chair or window seat could be required. Is your bedroom also your reading room? Add some built-in shelves for your book collection. If you long for a quiet haven away from the rest of the house, work with your designer to create it.
Apart from your bed, what other activities need to be accommodated in the bedroom? Is this where you also get dressed and put on make-up? If so, what sort of a wardrobe and clothing storage do you like? And what about a mirror with good lighting, or a dressing table? Tell your interior designer if you dream of a separate dressing room or walk-in wardrobe.
Do you hang out in the bedroom in your down time? A comfortable bedroom chair or window seat could be required. Is your bedroom also your reading room? Add some built-in shelves for your book collection. If you long for a quiet haven away from the rest of the house, work with your designer to create it.
4. Existing furniture and fixtures
Agreeing on the size of the bed first is essential to work out the rest of the furniture layout for the bedroom. What other furniture and fixtures – existing or new – are you keen to have in the room? These pieces can include bedside tables, bedside lights, a tall boy, dressing or make-up table, an occasional chair, armoire, pendant lights, an end-of-bed bench, shelving, a mirror, art and rugs.
Agreeing on the size of the bed first is essential to work out the rest of the furniture layout for the bedroom. What other furniture and fixtures – existing or new – are you keen to have in the room? These pieces can include bedside tables, bedside lights, a tall boy, dressing or make-up table, an occasional chair, armoire, pendant lights, an end-of-bed bench, shelving, a mirror, art and rugs.
5. Your mood and style
To finish off the design process, we look at the mood and style of the proposed bedroom. Take a look at the series of photos you’ve collected as part of your Ideabook or wish list – you will often find there is a common theme. Is it light, minimal and serene? Or is it dark and cosy with rich textures?
Consider the style of the house too – is it traditional, modern, country or eclectic? Remember the bed is a large item, so the bedlinen you choose will be a dominant feature. Good design takes time and will evolve as you go through the process with your designer – but often the results are better than you expected, giving you sweet dreams and helping you to sleep well.
Your turn
What would your dream bedroom be like? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
For an overall look at how to approach your entire renovation, take a look at Pro Panel: 8 Reno Blunders and How to Avoid Them
To finish off the design process, we look at the mood and style of the proposed bedroom. Take a look at the series of photos you’ve collected as part of your Ideabook or wish list – you will often find there is a common theme. Is it light, minimal and serene? Or is it dark and cosy with rich textures?
Consider the style of the house too – is it traditional, modern, country or eclectic? Remember the bed is a large item, so the bedlinen you choose will be a dominant feature. Good design takes time and will evolve as you go through the process with your designer – but often the results are better than you expected, giving you sweet dreams and helping you to sleep well.
Your turn
What would your dream bedroom be like? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
More
For an overall look at how to approach your entire renovation, take a look at Pro Panel: 8 Reno Blunders and How to Avoid Them