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7 Outrageous (But Worth It!) Design Ideas for Your Bedroom

Adrienne Breaux
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne loves architecture, design, cats, science fiction, and watching "Star Trek." In the past 10 years she's called home: a van, a former downtown store in small town Texas, and a studio apartment rumored to have once been owned by Willie Nelson. She currently lives in her colorful, maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
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updated Mar 11, 2020
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Many of us probably have an idea of what will be in anyone’s bedroom. A bed, nightstands, some clothes storage. Maybe a lamp for reading. But sometimes the most amazing bedrooms are the ones with unexpected elements! Consider including some of these (admittedly outrageous, but totally worth the effort) design ideas for your bedroom.

1. Using something odd for your nightstand

You don’t just have to use a plain old table as a nightstand. From chairs, to drum sets to anything with a somewhat flat surface and sturdy construction can serve as a stylish nightstand.

→ 10 Unusual Things to Use as a Nightstand

2. Going for bold patterns

You might be tempted to stick to peaceful colors for a soothing bedroom that lulls you to sleep. But you also might want to try for something more bold to give a jolt of energy when you wake up, too.

→ Do this Don’t: Wake Up with Bold Prints in the Bedroom

3. Going beyond art above the bed

Don’t feel like you have to stick to just a hanging canvas or framed art above your bed. Go for a shelf. Hang a rug. Paint a pattern. Go beyond art for this wall in your bedroom — it’s a natural focal point and the whole room will feel special if you do something unique over your bed.

4. Getting unusual with your headboard

Whether your bed has an attached headboard or not, don’t let this prime real estate go to waste. The headboard area — like the nightstand — is another spot to experiment with.

→ 10 Unusual Things to Use as a Headboard

5. Not forgetting the end of the bed

Even in a super small bedroom, don’t forget about this little spot of square footage. Try a bench. A couple of stools. A trunk. Or get crazy and use stacks of books or some other odd object.

→ 13 Ways to Rethink the Foot of Your Bed

6. Layering rugs

Whether you have a carpet in your bedroom already or are working with bare floors, really up the comfort and coziness of your bedroom by layering lots of rugs around your bed.

→ How To Layer Rugs Like a Champ

7. Adding live plants

House plants fit right in perfectly in a bedroom, where they might work to help keep the air fresh as well as add in a lovely green, organic feel to the whole room.

  • Breath Of Fresh Air: Plants In The Bedroom
  • Plants That Help You Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Re-edited from a post originally published 12.19.15-NT

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Bedroom
Decorating
Ideas & Inspiration