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123 bedroom ideas from the world's best interior designers
Whatever style of house you live in – be it a country house or a tiny flat – the House & Garden archive is your one-stop-shop for bedroom ideas from the world's best interior designers.
How to decorate a bedroom
The scheme for a bedroom should be something that you find relaxing and cosy, although a quick look through our gallery of ideas suggests that there are plenty of ways to interpret that. Pale paint colours and understated patterns certainly have their moment, but spare rooms are often a great place to run riot with colour and pattern, perhaps in the form of a bedroom wallpaper, since they're unlikely to be occupied every day. Make sure the bones of the room work for how you use the room. If space and budget allow, some built-in joinery can make all the difference for storage, and give the room a more seamless feel than if it's stuffed with furniture.
Window treatments are hugely important in a bedroom; some people prefer that not a chink of light can get in, while others like to wake up with the daylight. Long, luxurious curtains are beautiful in a bedroom, in a thick material that will feel cosy in winter, perhaps with sheer blinds behind to let the light in during the daytime. There are plenty of readymade curtains out there if you're on a budget, and blinds alone can also be a cost-effective way to dress your windows. Having a blackout blind made in a fabric of your choice does not have to cost the earth.
MAY WE SUGGEST: Small bedroom ideas
Buying bedroom furniture
The bed is obviously the most important feature in the room, and there's a huge variety to choose from. Perhaps you'd go down the traditional route with a box spring, prettily finished with a valance, and accompanied by a headboard upholstered in a beautiful fabric. For a more contemporary look, a wooden bed frame can be a stylish option, harking back to Arts & Crafts or mid-century design. These also take up less visual space in the room. We're also huge fans of four-poster beds, which can work well in both traditional and modern interiors. "If I have a small room, I try and overscale the furniture," says renowned hotel designer Olga Polizzi. "Putting itsy-bitsy furniture in just makes it feel smaller." Many of the interior designers on our pages agree, and we've seen brilliant examples of imposing four-poster beds used successfully in very small rooms. And above all else, don't skimp when choosing a mattress. You may be sleeping on it for many years to come, so make sure you get it right!
Beyond the bed, you'll obviously want to think about bedside tables, preferably something big enough for a lamp, a book, and a glass of water. In a very small bedroom, we've seen interior designers build nooks into the wall or into built-in wardrobes either side of the bed, a neat solution we adore. And speaking of wardrobes, clothes storage is an essential. Hanging rails can be a great alternative to bulky wardrobes if you're short on space. If you have some space to play with, it's always rather civilised to have a dressing table where you can get ready in the morning and prepare for bed in the evening. And last but not least, a smart little armchair in the corner of the room is always lovely when you need somewhere to sit and put your shoes on - although it inevitably gets covered in yesterday's clothes.
MAY WE SUGGEST: Our edit of where to buy bedding
Choosing bedding for your bedroom
Rita Konig knows how to make a beautiful bed, and emphasises the importance of what's on it. "Beds – and bed linen – really make bedrooms. It is not unusual for people to skimp on the linens – if not financially, then mentally, when coming up with the design for the room. All-white sheets and a duvet create a colossus of white in the centre of the room that can detract from the rest of the space. The bed linen, quilts, blankets and eiderdowns you choose make a huge difference to the room, how it looks and how inviting it is to you and/or your guests." If you do love crisp white bedding, consider adding a patterned blanket at the bottom of the bed to brighten things up. We're also big fans of relaxed coloured linen, pretty pillowcases (or even silk pillowcases) and some patterned bedding from time to time.
Boz Gagovski1/123In this Chelsea flat by Daniel Slowik, the fabric of the bed and blinds is Bennison's ‘Crewelwork’, and the green fabric of the curtains is Jean Monro, supplied by Turnell & Gigon. The chest of drawers is from Pinch in a bespoke lacquer colour. The modernist brass column lamp and shade is from Svenskt Tenn.
Christopher Horwood2/123Pierre Frey's 'Le Paravent Chinois' covers the walls of the master bedroom in this rectory by Tamsyn Mason, chosen by the client. Tamsyn paired it with a headboard and valance in Guy Goodfellow's ‘Roussillon’.
Helen Cathcart3/123The walls are painted ‘Pale Egyptian Blue’ by Papers and Paints in the main bedroom of this Georgian house in London by Octavia Dickinson. The fabric for the bed tester is Penny Morrison’s ‘Begum’, the ottoman is upholstered in Lerio by Namay Samay; the antique oval mirror is from Lorfords. The wall lights are from Vaughan and their accompanying shades are from Robert Kime.
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Paul Massey4/123In the main bedroom of this Montecito house by VSP Interiors, the walls are painted in ‘Mountain Green’ by Rose of Jericho. The amazing antique panel behind the bed is from Robert Kime, as are the painted Italian chests that serve as bedside tables. The bed was designed by VSP in collaboration with the client and made by Nicholas Walton. On the bed is an antique bedspread, antique red cushion from The Lacquer Cabinet, and gold cushions in a Pierre Frey fabric.
Michael Sinclair5/123In the main bedroom of this artist's house by Maria Speake the walls, ceiling and curtains are in ‘Ikat’ in rocket and grapefruit by Peony & Sage, creating a calm and enveloping feel. Cushions in Fay's 'Spots' fabric for Laz Studio enliven the pale bedcover.
Christopher Horwood6/123‘Brighton’ from Paper & Paints is on the walls of the master bedroom in this Cotswolds house. To bring in more colours and a feminine touch, the owner layered the room up with pretty colours in other ways.
Christopher Horwood7/123Studio Squire designed a contemporary bed tester for the primary bedroom of this cottage, using fabrics from Guy Goodfellow, Marvic and Claremont. The velvet bed throw is from Toast.
Christopher Horwood8/123The lovely crewelwork behind the bed in this Rachel Allen Spitalfields project came from Instagram textiles dealer Sallie Ead and provides the perfect backdrop to the bed, which was made bespoke by Coryndon Cabinet Makers. The walls of the main bedroom are painted in Atelier Ellis's ‘Shadow Grey’, a colour that echoes the Portland stone of the Baroque church outside the window. while the bed was made bespoke by Coryndon Cabinet Makers.
Dean Hearne9/123In the main bedroom of a country house by Bodil Blain, the wallpaper is GP and J Baker's Ferns, which continues onto the canopy above the vintage Ralph Lauren bed.
Christopher Horwood10/123The main bedroom in this Georgian townhouse has a variety of textures in the same serene family of neutral tones. Even the light above the bed from Pinch Design is soft and textured, satisfyingly matching the light linen curtains. The interesting lamp in the corner is a midcentury design with a bespoke shade from A Shade Above. There are several plinths throughout the house, but this one in the bedroom feels more sculptural and less minimalist.
Mark Anthony Fox11/123Cole & Son’s ‘Sweet Pea’ wallpaper is complemented by striped cushions in this bedroom of a 17th-century house by Emma Burns. A bedside lampshade in ‘Squiggle’, from Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, and a pendant shade from Howe at 36 Bourne Street fabric add texture.
Simon Brown12/123With its ‘Poppy Sprig’ paper by GP&J Baker and blue bespoke paint colour ‘25-18D’ from Papers & Paints, this guest bedroom of a Studio Vero house was designed to be suitable for children later on. The headboard by Trove by Studio Duggan is covered in Hector fabric from Vanderhurd. The mid-century chair is upholstered in Compton by GP&J Baker and the fabric for the custom-made bedspread is Morgana from C&C Milano.
13/123In designer Carolina Irving's Portuguese house, the main bedroom features a striking headboard covered in colourful tiles handmade in a small village in Andalusia, which were also used to create a splashback in the kitchen. An antique textile from Crete brightens the foot of the bed.
Milo Brown14/123For this eaves bedroom in a Holland Park house, Lonika Chande and her team chose to paint the entire space - ceiling included - in Little Greene’s Mister David, “Painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls gives a lovely cocooning and cosy feel and avoids the eye being drawn to any awkward corners,” says Lonika. The headboard, covered in Guy Goodfellow’s olive sacking in Peacock, was bespoke. Lonika cleverly added a “little cubby hole” in the side of the joinery “as the space was too tight for a pair of bedsides”. The inside of the joinery is hand painted in Turquoise from Edward Bulmer. The Penny Worrall pillow in Swat Marriage adds a pop of colour to the space, as does the silk velvet panel above the bed, which was sourced by Nushka from Uzbekistan.
Boz Gagovski15/123Benedict Foley and Daniel Slowik have incorporated a number of ingenious design ideas to make the most of their tiny apartment in London. The sitting room has a large opening into the bedroom, that can be screened off with curtains. The blind is made from a 19th century painted silk from Florence which is embroidered in gold and silver metal thread.
Christopher Horwood16/123Despite its compact space, this south London flat on a pioneering 19th-century estate is both pretty and practical thanks to the imaginative decoration of Carlos Garcia. A chimneypiece in Fenwick & Tilbrook's ‘Caspian’ and a Pooky lamp complement Carlos's ‘Hibiscus’ saffron wallpaper and fabric in the main bedroom.
17/123This elegant London flat has a glorious terrace overlooking Kensington Gardens. Inside it is decorated in with layered and sophisticated ease. The bedroom features walls in C&C Milano’s ‘Volterra’ linen in dust, which are the backdrop for a headboard in ‘Verdi’ mohair velvet by Janet Yonaty. A vintage brass Bergbom table lamp from Studio Schalling sits on a bedside table designed by Laurence.
Paul Massey18/123Cath Kidston's west London house has a clever approach to colour and print. Bed hangings in Lisa Fine Textiles’ floral ‘Samode’ linen in poppy and a William Potts linen, with a Heritage Trimmings tassel fringe, set off the bespoke Colin Orchard four-poster. On the antique Swedish rug is a bench covered in George Spencer Designs’ ‘Mosaic’ in raspberry.
Owen Gale19/123On moving back to the UK after two decades spent living in Sydney, this couple wanted to create a family home which was respectful of the traditional architecture, while introducing modern decorative influences. In the main bedroom of their new house in Bath, there is a running thread of blue throughout. It takes inspiration from American homes: the ceiling is painted in ‘Borrowed Light’ by Farrow & Ball.
Paul Massey20/123Phillip Hooper's Georgian house in Somerset is filled with his experiments in colour and pattern. The main bedroom features Curtains in Lee Jofa’s ‘Indian Zag’ in indigo and a bed – made to Philip’s design for his previous house and adapted with a scallop-edged canopy to suit the proportions of its new home and painted in Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler’s ‘Bark’ from Fenwick & Tilbrook – are showcased by walls in ‘Mustard Blanket’ by Dulux. The embroidered Turkish cushions are from Susan Deliss.
Michael Sinclair21/123In the main bedroom of our ‘Project of the Year’, a restored ice-cream factory by Russell and Oona Pinch, Pinch’s ‘Christo’ four-poster bed and ‘Yves’ desk – both in walnut – and ‘Avery’ oak and leather chair establish a classic contemporary feel. A Tobit Roche painting, a Pendleton blanket from Brooklyn flea market and a rug created as a sample for one of Russell’s designs for Crate & Barrel are eye-catching additions.
Christopher Horwood22/123Radbourne Hall, one of the last remaining John Fowler interiors, has been subtly and sensitively restored to its former glory by its current owner, Lady Chichester. Annie was absolutely committed to restoring Fowler’s work. For the George III mahogany tester bed in what was then the owner’s father’s bedroom, Fowler chose red and white ‘Grande Arbre’ printed linen with a bullion fringe.
Christopher Horwood23/123For Annie’s mother’s bedroom (now the main spare room), she turned to Claremont’s collection for the majority of the reupholstery projects, since Fowler had sourced many of the fabrics for Radbourne from there and several of them are still available. ‘It was wonderful to be able to use these, as it enabled us to keep to his original palette,’ Fiona Shelburne, who helped with the decoration of Radbourne, explains. The bedside tables, headboard and bed corona are all original and were painted by George Oakes.
Chris Horwood24/123The main bedroom of this 18th-century workers' cottage in historic Greenwich, charmingly restored by the interior and production designer, Anna Rhodes, is a serene and warm space. Soane's ‘Seaweed Lace’ Roman blinds frame the windows. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Dropcloth’ and ‘French Grey’. The cushion is from Volga Linen and the lamp is homemade from an old mochaware jug. On the walls, Nicole Heidaripour's ‘wind pruned’ tree drawings are displayed.
Astrid Templier25/123By designing the space to incorporate antique pieces and using a neutral, comforting palette throughout, Pandora Taylor ensured this south London home could shift with her clients' needs. The romantic canopy bed is constructed from ‘Washed Linen’ fabric from The Cloth Shop, and the headboard is ‘Tendril Vine’ from Soane. The sofa is antique, with upholstering in Susan Deliss' ‘Sprig’ in red and blue. The curtain add to the comfortable, enveloping atmosphere; they are ‘Pomegranate Fresco’ in Marina by Lewis & Wood.
Mark Anthony Fox26/123With her signature approach to layering and clever use of colour, Lucy Cunningham has injected personality into her idyllic cottage.
In the primary bedroom, the headboard is made from a Nicole Fabre fabric and complements the plain linen valance from Namay Satay. The bolster cushions are Robert Kime. The throw was a leaving present from Alice Temperley, given to her about 20 years ago when Lucy worked there. The painting is by Cornish artist John Harvey.
Owen Gale27/123In a contemporary project on the Isle of Wight by Níall McLaughlin architects, a glazed sliding door offers a glimpse inside this copper-clad modular unit, where a built-in bed is teamed with a patterned bedspread and Toast cushions in complementary tones.
Boz Gagovski28/123This spare bedroom in a Notting Hill townhouse belonging to Stella Weatherall has walls covered in Phillip Jeffries' ‘Manila Hemp Pomegranate’ grasscloth. The headboard fabric is Christopher Farr Cloth's ‘Lost and Found in Indigo’. The large lumbar cushion is ‘Tansy’ fabric by Robert Kime. The bedspread is Anthropologie and the bedside lamps are Pooky.
Michael Sinclair29/123Wallpaper and a blind in Schumacher’s ‘Marella’ in delft and a Cutter Brooks bedcover showcase the headboard by Catherine Chicester (in her lovely converted barn) in Rose Uniacke’s java velvet. Originally red, the velvet of the antique footstool has faded to a soft pink.
Kensington Leverne30/123Cushions in Brook Perdigon Textiles’ brick ‘Staccato Stripe’ and a bedcover from Soho Home contrast with a headboard in Pierre Frey mohair and Innovations grasscloth wallcovering in this Sophie Ashby south London project.
Simon Brown31/123The main bedroom of this VSP Interiors project in Dorset has a headboard in Guy Goodfellow's Fez Weave. The cushions are from Chelsea Textiles, with the centre one in Namy Samay's ‘Rouen’ flamestitch, while the bedspread is from Aleta. The ottoman is covered in Lisa Fine Textiles' ‘Pandora’.
Paul Whitbread32/123The main bedroom in this Oxford house by Charlotte Boundy has walls in Edward Bulmer's ‘Jonquil’, while the headboard is in Bennison's ‘Pomegranate’ fabric. The bed is the ‘Colette’ design from Howe, and a vintage Uzbek suzani from Nushka over bed is spread on top. The wall lights are Soane Britain's ‘Reading Wall Light’.
Lucas Allen33/123Designed by Bunny Turner in her Oxfordshire rectory, the bespoke four-poster bed in the main bedroom has curtains in a slubby linen by Sheila Coombes, lined with a simple ticking fabric. An antique suzani from Pentreath & Hall used as a bedcover, a cushion in Kate Loudoun Shand’s ‘Pow!’ linen and a Turner Pocock x Peter Page rug introduce subtle colour, pattern and texture to the space. In the window, a desk by Turner Pocock for Julian Chichester is partnered by a Paolo Moschino chair.
Christopher Horwood34/123In the blue bedroom of this London house by Devereux Designs and Steph Hill Designs, the bedside tables are from Max Rollitt, the curtains are from Robert Kime and the wallpaper is by Adelphi.
Mark Anthony Fox35/123A blind in ‘Clover’ linen union in honey by Angie Lewin for St Jude’s, a headboard in Ian Sanderson’s ‘Peverell Check’ in tarn and a 19th-century quilt and wool kilim, both from Tinsmiths, create a colourful, homespun look in Phoebe Clive's Ledbury cottage. The rush-seated chair is by Lawrence Neal.
Mark Anthony Fox36/123The bespoke four poster bed in this Anna Haines vicarage is by Titchmarsh & Goodwin. Woodwork in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Lichen’ frames a custom version of Tess Newall’s ‘Herbarium’ wallpaper.
Haris Kenjar37/123In this 1920s house in Berkeley, interior designer Heidi Caillier embraced the flood of natural light on the upper floor with an airy palette in the main bedroom. The primary bedroom is a favorite room of the homeowners, who find the soothing gray green Farrow + Ball Cromarty walls and views looking out to the Bay very peaceful. The curtained French doors hide an office nook.
Dean Hearne38/123The main bedroom in a Putney house by Field Day Studio has walls in the pale pink ‘Temple’ by Paint & Paper Library, and a quilt from Toast adorns the bed. It provides a place to retreat for the young owner of the house.
Jerome Galland39/123Robert Kime’s ‘Field Poppy’ print, on the walls and headboard, sets the tone for this scheme in Laura Gonzalez's French house. The bedside table and antique lamp both came from 1stDibs; the shade is from Casa Lopez
Paul Massey40/123In Nadine Finnegan's Oxfordshire house, the headboard in Rapture & Wright’s ‘Moorish Maze’ in madder pink is offset by a Tate & Darby rug.
DAVIDE LOVATTI41/123In the winter bedroom of this Umbrian house by Maria Speake, the 1960s crochet bedspread from Kirsten Hecktermann works well with the crewelwork headboard.
Chris Horwood42/123Salvesen Graham have expertly combined comfort and elegance in this top-floor Mayfair apartment, swathing the bedrooms in muted colours and patterns. “De Gournay felt like the perfect solution to elevate this small bedroom,” says Nicole. “We also had the challenge of incorporating air conditioning into the room so we designed bookshelves either side of the window to mask both units. This also had the effect of foreshortening what was previously an overly long space.” The use of a bed tester helped achieve that very English style the client was looking for.
Line T Klein43/123In the main bedroom in Michael Dansk's cool Copenhagen apartment, a bed by Rye Sleep is spread with a cover from Tekla. The ceiling is painted with Son of Mr Green by File Under Pop and the walls with Stones & Bones. The large rice paper lamp is by Isamu Noguchi, whose lamps Michael collects.
Mark Anthony Fox44/123In one of the bedrooms in Atticus Branch and Ahmed Hassan's shared flat in East London, the large painting is one of Atticus's own and is flanked by bookshelves in Little Greene's ‘Atomic Red’. The green armchair is from Sweet Interiors, and the lamp is from Past Caring in Islington.
Tom Griffiths45/123In the main bedroom of Kate Cox's Bristol flat, a light, airy feel is created by walls in ‘Pink Ground’ by Farrow & Ball and plenty of natural materials, including a woven lampshade and a rush-seat bobbin chair.
Dean Hearne46/123As Design Director at de Gournay, creativity is something India Holmes has in spades and the transformation of her London house proves it better than anything. The theme for India's bedroom was drawn from her grandparents' collection of Asian art, which mostly lives in her bedroom now. The yellow and red colour scheme was the starting point, with a custom yellow dupion wallpaper by de Gournay above the dado and a custom hand-painted wallpaper design called ‘Mapi’ below.
Read McKendree47/123After trading in Brooklyn's busy sidewalks for tree-lined pathways in suburban Philadelphia, a young family sought to put down roots in their ‘forever’ home during a difficult time – and called upon the interior designer Chauncey Boothby for an elegant, fast-paced refresh. The master bedroom is one of Chauncey's favourite rooms in the house. The floral-patterned fabric from Muriel Brandolini, which makes up the canopy. was her inspiration for the entire room's colour scheme. The sofa is custom upholstered in a fabric from Holland & Sherry and the coffee table before it is from The Lacquer Company.
Mark Fox48/123Behind the ordinary façade of Katie Glaister's 1930s house in south-west London lies an interior full of unexpected colour and personality, enriched by the work of talented artists and craftspeople. The main bedroom has walls in ‘New Pink' by Papers & Paints. A cushion by Kirsten Hecktermann, which reuses a small piece of old embroidery on a plain linen background, sits on the bed. Shades in Christopher Farr Cloth's ‘Tangle’ fabric sit atop lamp bases by Birdie Fortescue.
Rachel Whiting49/123The artist owners of this London house called on interior designer Beata Heuman to create a family home full of fun, distinctive design. A highly original space, unapologetically theatrical and oozing energy. 'The owners are both artists. They have quite wild tastes and they love strong colours,' says Beata. The main bedroom has a bespoke sofa upholstered in Beata's signature marbleised fabric and lion claw feet. Other notable features include a pair of breglass dance-hall mirrors from French Loft and the ceiling painted in 'Lulworth Blue' by Farrow & Ball. 'I have this thing about painting ceilings blue. It seems over the top, but it adds a feeling of height and once it is in, you don't really think about it'.
Ollie Tomlinson50/123Interior designer Anahita Rigby brought a Regency house in London out of the darkness and into the light with her soft, airy and detail-oriented design. The master bedroom is undeniably comfortable. The quilted bedspread is from Day Home, the terry arm chairs from Zara Home and the trunk was found at the Sunbury antiques market in Kempton. The curtains were made in Aureli Opaline fabric and are from Black Edition.
51/123In the main bedroom of artist Phoebe Dickinson's south London home, walls painted with a drag effect are the backdrop for a bed tester in ‘South’ from Claremont, edged in Soane’s ‘Old Flax’ in azure and lined with ‘Chancy’ in chaya by Nicole Fabre Designs. The pale pink quilt adds to the layered effect. The stool at the end of the bed is in Le Manach’s ‘Plumettes’ cotton in celeste. A painting by Daisy Perkins hangs above the bedside table sourced in Tetbury.
Dean Hearne52/123Having lighted on his ideal house in the wild Devon countryside, Tom Cox of HÁM Interiors set about making it into a warm and welcoming place to get away, filled with the distinctive art and antiques he has grown up with. The main bedroom has a headboard in ‘Delgado’ by Colefax & Fowler. A custom ‘Cabin’ sign artwork hangs above the bed, and a ‘Harrison’ side table (both by Studio HÁM) stands alongside.
Jan Baldwin53/123In the bedroom of a once-drab Victorian brookside house revivified by a former House & Garden editor, Thibaut’s woven paper wallcovering contrasts with the headboard and chair seat in Manuel Canovas’ ‘Bordeaux’ in ciel, from Colefax and Fowler.
James McDonald54/123Decorator Chloe Willis' own London house is not just a showcase of her skills, but a marvel in creating a comfortable country feel in the heart of the city. In the main bedroom, the antique Sumbanese Ikat weave, bought from John Gillow, was the starting point for the room. The kilim is from Seref Ozen in Istanbul; the headboard and valance are made from Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler’s Zig Zag print. To the left of the ladder hangs a linocut of Chelsea by her great grandmother Agnes Reeve; above the chest of drawers an Indian Pichwai textile, painted for a festival of cows, was bought back from Udaipur. The indigo throw is from the Chapel Collection. The blue Chinese indigo cushions are from Penny Worrall. The long bolster cushion is made from Santander by Rosa Bernal.
Alexander James55/123The bespoke headboard in the second bedroom in this Notting Hill pied-à-terre by Studio Peake is in Wicklewood on Rustic Col: Dark Pink from Blithfield, which sits prettily against Gayle Warwick bed linen. The wall lights above are the Carter wall lights by Pooky.
Michael Sinclair56/123Interior designer Philip Hooper’s masterful blend of the classic and contemporary has given this late-Regency house in Hampshire a greater sense of harmony and dignity. The walls in the main bedroom are covered in ‘Strie’, a linen-silk blend from George Spencer Designs. The pelmet embroidery is from Chelsea Textiles, which also supplied the ‘Daisy Sprig’ fabric used for the bedcover. A Louis XV revival window seat from Christopher Jones Antiques stands at the foot of the bed.
Bess Friday57/123When designer Hana Mattingly was asked to re-design her friends' basement in their San Francisco house, she saw the opportunity to transform the space into light-filled oasis perfect for a family. In the bedroom, Hana created a soothing oasis whose colour scheme makes for an inviting space.
Owen Gale58/123When photographer Laura Muthesius and her wife, stylist Nora Eisermann, acquired a neglected former schoolhouse in the north German countryside, it took a gut renovation to transform it into the calmly beautiful retreat it now is. The main bedroom, with a bed from Matri by Fennobed. The rug is from Sera Helsinki. The bed linen is from By Mölle with a linen blanket from Tekla.
Paul Massey59/123Modernising without losing character is no mean feat, but Carlos Garcia has approached the decoration of this early 18th-century house and its Tudor elements with great sensitivity, marrying period details with colour, pattern and contemporary touches. The headboard and valance in Nicole Fabre Designs’ ‘Laure’ linen and the 19th-century Turkish kilim runner add pattern and colour to this elegant bedroom.
Ngoc Minh Ngo60/123Designer James Huniford has breathed new life into this 18th-century farmstead in rural Connecticut, sensitively rearranging and restoring its period interiors to create a restful retreat for a Manhattan-based family. The classic floral prints of the bed covered in ‘Santander’ linen by Claremont and the Victorian armchair in a vintage textile are balanced by a ‘Bellucci’ rug in ice by Stark.
61/123The Argentinian architect Mario Connio has spent four decades transforming this traditional Andalucian farmhouse into a bright and welcoming retreat. The stylish guest bedroom once housed a bread oven.
Christopher Horwood62/123Serial renovators of historic houses on a grand scale, the dynamic design duo Peter Sheppard and Keith Day took on their greatest challenge yet with exquisite 18th-century Wolterton Hall in north Norfolk, which had lain uninhabited for almost 30 years. In the state bedroom, walls in ‘Pear’ paper-backed linen in grey from Watts set off the Antwerp tapestry and the bedcover made from panels of 18th-century cut velvet originally used on the state bed. The bed corona was sourced from Lukies Antiques, in Aylsham, in an unrestored condition and regilded with the addition of the globe and the Walpole arms.
James McDonald63/123Travels in the Cyclades influenced the decoration of Rebecca Körner’s house on Mykonos, in which the Australian interior designer has combined bold mid-century pieces with stylish elements in natural materials. In the main bedroom, Indian textiles were used for the headboard and curtains; the toleware palm tree chandelier is a French mid-century design.
Milo Brown64/123Interior designer Lonika Chande transformed an owner's rather dark childhood home in Holland Park into a light-filled oasis perfect for family. In one of the bedrooms, the twin headboards were original to the house and had been pushed together to make a double bed.
Simon Brown65/123Each area of the open-plan main room in this small west London flat has its own distinct atmosphere, thanks to the inventive details introduced by interior designer Beata Heuman, who relished the creative challenge of making every inch count. In the spare bedroom, Mark Hearld’s ‘Cirque d’Hiver’ cotton from St Jude’s was used for the headboard and bedcover. ‘Selma’ wallpaper in mossa by Astrid & Rudolf on the walls and ceiling unifies the space. The ‘Hector Medium Pleat Wall Light’ is by Original BTC.
Helen Cathcart66/123Small spaces always present their own peculiar challenges, but Isabella Worsley was determined to work with the quirks and charm of this house in Hove, rather than fight against them. In this bedroom, walls painted in Edward Bulmer's ‘Aquatic’ provide a moody backdrop for patterned fabrics, including ‘Thebes’ by Katie Leede on the headboard, and curtains in Lewis and Wood's ‘Oaksey linen with Samuel and Sons' Flanders Border in Raspberry on the leading edge.
STEPHAN JULLIARD67/123Take inspiration from Marianne Evennou’s creative use of colour and choice of flexible furniture to enhance the proportions and maximise space in this Paris apartment. A striped blanket and decorative ‘Raana’ cushions in rooibos from Caravane give a graphic flair to the bedroom.
Sarah Griggs68/123For this couple with a young child, it was a priority to live in a house that lent itself to family life as much as to entertaining. With the help of Tiffany Duggan, the small terrace is now a space that thrills as much as it functions. The main bedroom had to be ‘fun but liveable’, says Tiffany. The mixture of printed and plain fabrics and Farrow & Ball's 'Pond Green' balances the neutral with the bold.
Michael Sinclair69/123This idyllic cottage in Oxfordshire was looking rather tired until a trio of creatives - designer Sarah Delaney, architects Barnaby Gunning and garden designer Butter Wakefield - gave it a characterful update, both inside and out. In the bedroom, an elegant chandelier hangs above the bed and a handwoven cashmere 'Khumbu Blanket' from Rose Uniacke introduces rich colour to the space.
Christopher Horwood70/123Decorator Victoria von Westenholz, working with her longtime friend Xenia Buckhurst, has infused the interiors of the cottage where Xenia lives with warmth and a welcoming atmosphere. The primary bedroom is a haven of pattern with Borderline's ‘Apples and Pears' making up the curtains and bed. The bench is Décors Barbares ‘Rayures Datcha’ and the lampshade is ‘Tiger’s Eye' from Borderline.
71/123Ceramicist Steve Harrison works from pared-back studios in London and Wales, where minimal concessions to modern life create the conditions that ground him. In the bedroom of his cottage, the calming tones and rustic textures is in keeping with the history of the house.
Rachael Smith72/123When interior designer Lucinda Griffith fell for a cottage that took her back to her Welsh heritage but was almost beyond her means, she cleverly employed all the tricks of her trade to furnish it in a thrifty, inventive and charmingly inviting fashion. Set against walls in ‘Kelp’ by Fenwick & Tilbrook, the four-poster is brightened by a headboard in Jean Monro’s ‘Apperley Bouquet’ linen.
Dean Hearne73/123Having inherited the house from her parents, fourth-generation antiques dealer Dana Jennings Rohn has made it a space that pays homage to her family traditions while reflecting her own convivial spirit. The bedroom is a riot of deep blue and white pattern which is also echoed in the Chinese and Delft pottery choices. An inlaid Spanish chest of drawers serves as a graphic bedside table.
richard@richardpowers.co.uk74/123A sympathetic renovation has seen Louis Kahn’s iconic mid-century Esherick House in Philadelphia become a stylish home fit for 21st-century life. In the bedroom, a Herman Miller bench stands at the foot of the bed, which is another William Hinn design.
Paul Massey75/123Lisa Mehydene, founder of online homeware platform edit58, was looking for a weekend house in the Cotswolds when she found this loftily proportioned converted barn on the site of a former spiritual retreat. In the bedroom, walls in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’ showcase a headboard made by John Haswell from a rug; the remnants were turned into a blind and a cushion (on the sofa from Lassco) by curtain maker Agota Balint. A Caroline Popham collage hangs above a Turkish runner sourced by Lisa for edit58.
Owen Gale76/123The most ambitious in Joanna Plant's West London house is her own bedroom. This haven of peace and quiet is wallpapered in a stunning Laura Ashley chintz matched to similar but ever so slightly different ‘Chinese Paper’ hanging fabric from Bennison, which she trimmed in red to better define its edges (as the Laura Ashley chintz is discontinued, Joanna had to amass the wallpaper roll by roll whenever she came across it on eBay). The quilt is vintage from Katharine Pole, as is the chest of drawers, from Myriad Antiques. On top of it is a lamp with a scalloped shade by Matilda Goad.
Paul Massey77/123A recessed bed creates a cosy, cocooning atmosphere. Panelling painted in ‘Asian Blue’ by Emente offsets walls papered in Morris & Co’s ‘Marigold’ from Style Library in this bedroom of a Georgian house by Ben Pentreath. The bedcover is in ‘Therese’ paisley cotton by Les Indiennes.
78/123Rachel Chudley’s design for the velvet headboard in the bedroom of her warehouse flat was inspired by the leaves of the toleware lights. It makes for a unique focal point of the room.
Michael Sinclair79/123A half-tester bed creates a traditional feel in this room in a Hampshire vicarage.
Tom Griffiths80/123Melinda Stevens' bedroom in her west London house is a dramatic space with glossy turquoise panelling and a riot of patterns on the bed. “The drawings that line it are by Edward Le Bas, my husband’s great uncle, who was part of the Bloomsbury crew. They are his costume designs for a production of The Duchess of Malfi, given to me by my mother-in-law."
Jonathan Bond81/123This attic bedroom in Elizabeth Hay's charming Devon cottage is a triumph of matchy matchy pattern, featuring ‘Pise’ wallpaper in cream from Aleta; the bench at the end of the bed was painted by Elizabeth’s mother.
Owen Gale82/123In Angus and Charlotte Buchanan's bedroom, they have created an easy, airy canopy using a lightweight aluminium frame and lots of white linen. The valance and headboard are done in Buchanan Studio's Studio Stripe in rose. A vintage sofa re-upholstered in a cream boucle from Yarn Collective stands in the window.
Anne Nyblaeus83/123In Cathy Nordstrom’s bedroom, the wallpaper is William Morris. “I pinned a picture with a bedroom from, I think, Soho House Barcelona and knew I wanted to use that wallpaper one day.” The headboard is her own ‘Gingham’ in Lemon. “It complements it so well, and I just love spending time here.” The chest of drawers is a flea market find and the quilt is an antique American quilt. “This is one of my favourites; it’s super soft and delicate so it has to be treated gently.” The throw cushions are in Cathy’s ‘Spotty’ fabric in Sage. The lamps are hand-painted by Vicke Lindstrand for “another iconic Swedish ceramic factory, Upsala-Ekeby. Vicke is one of my absolute favourite Swedish designers. The shades are, again, Pooky.”
Owen Gale84/123The colour combination in the master bedroom of jewellery designer Sandra Barrio von Hurter's house is a soothing use of ‘Setting Plaster’ on the walls, with ‘Sulking Pink’ on the woodwork, both from Farrow & Ball. Pooky lampshades sit on brass lamps from Chelsea Antiques Fair. The bed is one of Sandra’s favourite things in the house. It is a traditional matrimonial bed that she and her husband bought from Lotts Road. “What I really like is the feature of two little hands holding hands together in the middle of the headboard,” she details.
Chris Horwood85/123Francesca Gentili's farmhouse is filled with Moroccan influences and in the spare bedroom, a Penny Morrison lampshade sits atop a tamegroute lamp base, from a collaboration between Francesca and Laurie Lamps. Francesca found the vintage wall hanging while on a buying trip to India. The antique Swat Valley wedding cushion on the bed is one that Francesca sells similar versions of on her website. The suzani bedcover and Turkish kilim in the spare bedroom were sourced by Francesca on a buying trip – similar styles are available on her website.
Michael Sinclair86/123In a small bedroom in Thea Speke's country house, curtains in a green check from Merchant & Mills screen an iron bed from The French House.
Alexander James87/123The large antique patterned suzani that lines the bed canopy inspired the colours for this room in a house by John McCall, with outer bed hangings in ‘Tapa’ by Fortuny from Claremont and walls in a blue linen-effect paint finish by Hughie Turner. Hughie also painted and grained the metal rafters to resemble wood. The bedside tables were made by Jonathan Sainsbury to a design by John.
Tom Griffiths88/123The wallpaper in this bedroom in Victoria Barker's cottage is by Molly Mahon, and the bed was designed to sit beneath the beams, with an upholstered headboard and frame again in 36 Bourne Street's ‘Little F’ linen in ‘Tutti’.
Christoper Horwood89/123Re-using their old bed from the previous flat in the spare room, Lucy Williams and her husband “breathed life into it” by adding a vintage wall light and a big cushion by Howe. The quilt is a Toast piece. The rattan bedside drawers are vintage and display a Zara Home lamp atop them. The painted carafe is Petra Palumbo.
Simon Brown90/123Interior designer Kerri Lipsitz has always been drawn to calm, serene interiors, and her own house in London combines this tranquil mood with a luxurious, sophisticated aesthetic. In the bedroom on the raised ground floor, the walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Smoked Trout’. The simple curtains are in Romo's ‘Alana’ fabric in alabaster. The wall lights are by Rose Uniacke.
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91/123Leaving his lovingly restored Georgian house in Whitechapel behind, conservation architect Tim Whittaker has turned his hand to a 17th-century farmhouse originally built by his ancestors, filling the beautifully preserved interiors with a remarkable collection of antiques. The main bedroom has an 18th-century walnut bed with a cornice painted by Tim and hung with plain linen and ticking fabric. The original 16th-century cruck trusses are visible in the roof.
Paul Massey92/123In this Tom Morris house, walls in Little Greene’s ‘Olive Colour’ set off the rich blues of a chair in antique Dutch cloth from Howe London and a Melin Tregwynt blanket on the bed, under which is a Turkish cicim kilim rug from Francesca Gentilli. Displayed in the fireplace is an ash vessel by Anthony Bryant and, on the mantel, an abstract painting by Giovanni Mattio. The Seventies brass light by Florian Schulz was chosen to add interest to the room.
Simon Brown93/123A headboard in ‘Beaucaire’ linen by Nicole Fabre Designs from Tissus d’Hélène blends with walls in ‘Pavilion Blue’ by Farrow & Ball in this bedroom by Samantha Todhunter. The bedcover is by Torna Lucia and the ‘End of Bed’ bench is from the Turner Pocock x Lorfords Contemporary Collection.
Paul Massey94/123In novelist Andrew O'Hagan's house, an antique Spanish mirror stands out on Lewis & Wood’s ‘Beech’ wallpaper above a bed from Seventh Heaven, with cushions by Ben Pentreath. The chair is upholstered in a Susan Deliss suzani.
Paul Massey95/123In Alexandra Tolstoy's bedroom, the antique bed, dressed in linen and fabric from Volga Linen and Robert Kime, is placed in the window to make space for a 20th-century Irish wardrobe and embroidered Uzbek coats, which recall the allure of the Central Asian steppes.
Paul Massey96/123The walls in this eighteenth-century house in Bath are painted in Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Slate III’ and the floor is painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Slipper Satin’. A delicate metal four-poster bed is hung with antique mangle-cloth drapes, with cushions covered in vintage Swedish ticking and antique flags, all from Howe. The two striped rugs are Turkish, circa 1950. A French tôle peinte helmet wall light is above the twentieth-century Indian teak folding table, which probably came from an old civic building. A mid-century brass-framed oval Swedish mirror hangs by the window.
97/123In Gabby Deeming's Bloomsbury flat, the bedroom window has a linen half-curtain made from a vintage tablecloth as a concession to privacy. The lack of other curtains or blinds mean that the attractive curved tops of the windows are still visible. Of the canopy bed she says "it feels so self-contained, a bit like a ship that's going to set sail with me in it, which I love. It's a very good bed for daydreaming."
Paul Massey98/123A subtle palette of Farrow & Ball paints and a headboard and bench covered in alpaca wool create a relaxed mood in the bedroom of Ochre director Solenne de la Fouchardiere. Ochre’s ‘Beach Pebble’ pendant casts a soft light.
Romain Ricard99/123In the main bedroom of a London house by Maria Speake, cushions on a bedcover from Antiques by Design echo the colours of a headboard, upholstered in a mix of fabrics including hand-dyed velvet by Kirsten Hecktermann. An antique chandelier from Schmid McDonagh picks up on vintage Italian bedside tables with ‘Trafalgar’ lamps by Pooky. The carpet by Jacaranda balances Farrow & Ball’s rich ‘Green Smoke’ paint on the walls.
Paul Massey100/123Olivia Outred is responsible for this fresh bedroom. In the main bedroom, Farrow & Ball’s ‘Drag’ wallpaper in colourway 1252 is similar in hue to Claremont’s ‘Antique Serge’ linen, which was used to upholster the banquette by the window. It also picks up on the muted green tones of ‘Dandelion Clock (Faded)’, a patterned linen fabric from Robert Kime, used for the curtains and headboard. The flat’s owner bought the blue-painted antique chest of drawers from Brownrigg in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. The blue glass lamp base is one of a pair from the London-based dealer Christopher Butterworth.
Elsa Young101/123In the main bedroom of an Ibizan house by Joanna Plant, a discontinued four-poster by Chelsea Textiles stands on a vintage rug from Joshua Lumley. Lamps from Magus Antiques, with shades made from saris, pick up on the colours of an antique Indian hanging. The cotton bedcover is from Oka.
Davide Lovatti102/123In her own bedroom, interior designer Tara Craig has made a small space sing by sticking to a bold blue colour scheme throughout, broken up by her neutral half canopy bed. A bespoke eiderdown picks up on walls covered in Marialida’s ‘Urbino’ cotton in azzurro/antique white from Tissus d’Hélène.
Paul Massey103/123This Arts & Crafts house decorated by Ben Pentreath features plenty of green and brown shades. The greeny-brown grasscloth in this room is in the colour referred to by Ben as "freshly laid cowpat". ‘I love the richness that grasscloth brings; it has so much more depth than a flat paint,’ he says. He has used grasscloths in a number of rooms in this London house, including Altfield’s ‘Minka’ (bamboo), 91cm wide, £58 a metre, and Phillip Jeffries’ ‘Manila Hemp’ (truffle brown), 94cm wide, £44 a metre. ‘You do have to warn clients that the joins between panels are visible, but I’ve never minded the effect,’ adds Ben.
Michael Sinclair104/123The main bedroom of Jo Vestey's Oxfordshire farmhouse has Jo's photographs on display and a Japanese light on the desk. Exposed beams, wooden floorboards and the desk contrast nicely with the white rug and walls, giving an overall look that is both clean and rustic.
Paul Massey105/123Nicola Harding’s team collaborated with Naturalmat to design the headboard in the main bedroom of a Berkshire house she redecorated, which is upholstered in ‘Carolina’ linen from Vanderhurd. Walls in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’ and a rug from Guinevere continue the pale pink and blue theme.
Jérôme Galland106/123This pared-back bedroom is in Pierre Yovanovitch's château in the South of France. The bench is by Jan de Swart, circa 1955; bedside table by T. H. RobsjohnGibbings, circa 1950; wall lamp, twentieth century, Austria; Maori fabric wall hangings by Fortuny; PY bed.
Simon Brown107/123A framed nineteenth-century Indian embroidered panel hangs above the bed in this deeply comfortable bedroom in a London flat designed by Hugh Henry.
Alicia Taylor108/123Shades of white and green make for a bright but serene scheme in the spare bedroom of Cameron Kimber's house in New South Wales. The eighteenth and nineteenth-century dog pictures on the wall are just two of Cameron’s collection.
Paul Massey109/123This Arts & Crafts house was designed by Ben Pentreath. The bedside table is from Christopher Hodsoll. In this room Ben has used the William Morris wallpaper ‘Fruit’ (lime green/tan). It is sold in 10-metre rolls and costs £73 from Style Library.
Elsa Young110/123Victoria von Westenholz's Battersea house is undeniably pretty and the interior designer's bedroom is no different. Cole & Son’s ‘Cow Parsley’ wallpaper is paired with a headboard in Bennison Fabrics’ ‘Malabar Stripe’.
Paul Massey111/123A headboard designed by Rita Konig for Ensemblier, covered in Schumacher’s ‘Knox’ cotton in rose, stands out against walls and curtains in striking ‘Pomegranate Print’ linen in charcoal by the same company. This is the master bedroom in Rita's farmhouse.
Elsa Young112/123On the bedroom in an Edinburgh flat she worked on, Susan Deliss said "This flat is all about cosiness - it's a place to hunker down on cold nights. That was the impetus behind the red in the bedroom. I started with the Robert Kime "Susani" fabric for the curtains, and the bright red emerged from that. It's designed to be cocoon-like, and the bookshelves are full of Scottish books, perfect for reading when the weather outside is gloomy."
Paul Massey113/123The main bedroom in Susan Deliss's country house in France has a simple headboard made from an antique suzani. The bed is spread with an antique quilt, hand-dyed by Susan with indigo. She has mounted an antique Ikat textile to create an artwork for the wall.
114/123If you don't have room for a four-poster bed then a pelmet like this one by Paolo Moschino can be a creative alternative. The linen curtains are made from 'Nyvelle Oyster' by Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam. The clean, straight lines and border of blue stands out against the dark walls.
Richard Powers115/123In this glorious Tuscan farmhouse, a Gervasoni bed stands on a raised oak platform above the polished concrete floor. The curtains are made from two linen fabrics from Holland & Sherry. A rattan ‘Hanging Egg Chair’ by Nanna Ditzel is suspended from a beam next to a lamp by Serge Mouille.
Paul Massey116/123In Fiona Golfar's Cornwall house, pretty florals, including a headboard in a vintage Colefax and Fowler fabric, an Indian quilt and botanical prints from her husband's aunts bring nostalgic charm to a spare room.
117/123A vivid blue bedroom in Audrey Carden's northwest London house. The bedspread is from Shine by Sho.
Romain Ricard118/123Émilie and Pierre Frey upholstered one wall of their bedroom in their favourite Braquenié ‘Indore’ fabric. Pierre Frey’s ‘Yeti’ wool mix in honey provides a colourful contrasting bedcover.
Paul Massey119/123The nineteenth-century chaise longue in the main bedroom of a light-filled house by Marion Lichtig has been left 'as is', for a relaxed feel; the curtain fabric is 'Tulipano' from Tissus d'Hélène.
Mel Yates120/123The walls in the main bedroom of a Hampshire Vicarage decorated by Max Rollitt are covered in Adam Calkin's "Adam's Eden' from Lewis & Wood. At the foot of the four-poster is a George I chair-back walnut settee.
Lucas Allen121/123This brightly patterned room in Edward Bulmer's Queen Anne house includes an eighteenth-century painted Chinese wallpaper, a carpet by David Bamford and curtain fabric from Chelsea Textiles; Edward designed the bed.
122/123The best thing about having a small or strangely shaped room is the opportunity it presents to use your space imaginatively. The alcove behind the door, in the home of designer Patrick Williams of Berdoulat design, has been turned in to a charming sleeping nook. Enclosed behind the curtain are shelves, and a lamp for reading. The room is painted in Farrow and Ball's 'Lamp Room Gray'; while the random-width floorboards were bought on eBay. Reclaimed drawers are used under the bed as storage.
Simon Brown123/123In this north London house, designed by Caroline Holdaway, the light wall panelling and white bedlinen act as a foil for various patterned Celia Birtwell fabrics in the main bedroom. The owner Paul says, 'It's the most lovely house to wake up in. We never completely lower the bedroom blinds, so we wake up with the light. In spring, the views are of blossom, in summer of leaves, in winter the sky.'
