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24 Cool Bedroom Ideas to Liven Up Your Space

Master bedroom in new luxury home with chandelier and large bank of windows with view of trees
hikesterson / Getty Images

You’re mostly happy with your bedroom, but it's a little boring, and you've found yourself scrolling through social media looking through ideas for a cool bedroom. You like your furniture and the color scheme works, but something is missing—personality.

Your bedroom can be a place that bridges comfort and rest with an inviting space that shows off your personality and design style, whether that's modern, contemporary, rustic, boho, traditional, or eclectic. You can try upgrading your bed, painting the walls in a calming color like white, blue, or sage, adding wall decor, adding new lighting, styling an accent wall with a mural or wallpaper, or choosing a new headboard.

When you're looking for inspiration, there are countless bedroom design ideas and bedroom makeovers involving budget-friendly bedroom decor that are easy to recreate, but here are 24 of our favorite cool bedrooms. 

  • 01 of 25

    Show Your Artistic Side

    Art above a neutral bed

    Alvin Wayne

    Are your walls empty stretches of white? Although few people forget to hang artwork in the living room, its decorating impact is often overlooked when it comes to the bedroom. Go ahead and hang your favorite painting, print, poster, quilt, or collection of family photos on the wall over your headboard, or on whichever bedroom wall has the most open space. You’ll get an immediate dose of interest. Feeling ambitious? Combine multiple pieces to create a stunning gallery wall

  • 02 of 25

    Highlight a Great Headboard

    Boho headboard in a neutral bedroom

    Arbor and Co

    A great looking headboard turns even the most plain-Jane bedroom into something special. In an otherwise neutral bedroom, a striking headboard can add just the touch of interest and contrast that's needed.

    One of the easiest ways to show off your creativity and personality in the bedroom with a repurposed or DIY headboard.

  • 03 of 25

    Add Metallic Elements

    Light blue bedroom with gold accents

    Brexton Cole Interiors

    A little bit of bling adds excitement to your favorite outfit, and it’s no different in the bedroom. A few touches of shine, whether from glass, metallic surfaces, or reflective embellishments. Warm metallics, particularly gold, are riding especially high on the style charts right now, but if you prefer the cool tones of silver or chrome, go right ahead and add a touch to your bedroom. Take care, however, because a little bit of shine is a good thing but too much metal can be overwhelming.

  • 04 of 25

    Choose Colorful Throw Pillows

    Room with blush pink throw pillows

    Chelius House of Design

    Neutrals are soothing, but a bedroom without any contrast is boring. Not to fear— you can add a touch of color just by adding a few colorful throw pillows to your bed. This room uses soft pinks to add a feminine touch, and you’ll find colorful throw pillows to match at HomeGoods, Target, or bed and bath shops. As a general rule, your bed will look best with three throw pillows that coordinate (they don’t have to match perfectly) in color, style or design.

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  • 05 of 25

    Update Your Lighting

    Gold Light fixture in bedroom

    Instagram/@amberpiercedesigns

    Is your bedroom ceiling adorned with nothing more spectacular than a lightbulb encased in a frosted glass bowl? Boring! Swap out your dull ceiling fixture for something spectacular. Even if you change nothing else in your bedroom, a bold ceiling fixture gives the space immediate panache. And there are nearly endless styles to choose from, or you can even make your own pendant light, so you are sure to find something you love.

  • 06 of 25

    Start an Indoor Garden

    Potted plants in the bedroom freshen up the staleness in more ways than one

    Bernd Schwabedissen / EyeEm / getty Images

    When it’s time to liven up the bedroom, you can’t go wrong with something alive. Houseplants not only add color, contrast, and natural appeal, they also help to purify your bedroom air. Even if your thumb isn’t green, you can grow easy plants like pothos, Chinese evergreen, or dracaena.

  • 07 of 25

    Create an Accent Wall

    Navy accent wall in bedroom

    Interior Impressions

    An accent wall at the head of your bed is a surefire cure for the bedroom blahs. There are many ways to create an accent wall. When painting, go bright, go dark, go strong—just choose a color that you love, and tie the look together with a throw pillow or two in the same hue. For even more impact, add a stenciled design to the wall or removable wallpaper. 

  • 08 of 25

    Update Your Bedding

    Geometric Bedding with chartreuse sheets

    Alvin Wayne

    Your bedding is one of the most important factors in setting your bedroom’s mood and style, so if you’ve been making do with nothing more than a boring blanket, it’s time to switch things up. Choose styling bedding in whatever look you love, whether it’s rustic country, sleek contemporary or something in between. This is one area to splurge since you sleep on your bedding every night.

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  • 09 of 25

    Swap Out Your Rug

    Bedroom with vintage-inspired rug

    Instagram / @dominiquegebru

    Floors are frequently forgotten when it comes to decorating. Covered with neutral carpeting or wood, your bedroom floor is merely utilitarian, not a decorating asset. But add a strongly patterned or colored area rug, and suddenly your bedroom floor says “This room is anything but boring.” For proof, check out the vintage-inspired bedroom rug here, which echoes the colors in the room.

  • 10 of 25

    Paint the Walls

    Dark Navy bedroom

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    Color washing an entire room in a moody dark blue can turn a bedroom into a tranquil escape. By painting the walls, trim, and door, the room gets a seamless, sophisticated look that feels both modern and nostalgic.

  • 11 of 25

    Add Wallpaper

    Room with wallpaper above molding

    Ajaj Guyot

    Wallpaper can add interest to a room without having to add any art to the walls. Try a monochromatic wallpaper to keep the scene more relaxing, or hang it above a chair rail or wainscoting.

  • 12 of 25

    Hang Sheer Curtains

    Sheer curtains in a neutral bedroom

    Instagram/@afrobohemianliving

    Sheer curtains will give a bedroom an ethereal, dreamy look, especially when paired with calming neutrals, like in this bedroom. Adding one accent color, like this neutral sage, creates an even more relaxing retreat

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  • 13 of 25

    Choose Interesting Wall Decor

    Wood Headboard

    Ashley Webb Interiors

    Art isn't your only option to decorate your bedroom walls. Try a piece of interesting and eye-catching decor, like this wood panel that doubles as a headboard. It doesn't have to be complicated. One simple piece can make a statement.

  • 14 of 25

    Decorate Areas Within the Bedroom

    Coastal bedroom with sitting area

    Becca Interiors

    This light and airy coastal bedroom is a comfortable place to land, and it shows off the power of carving out an area within your bedroom to sit and relax—that's not your bed. Adding an accent chair, ottoman, and side table is both functional and beautiful.

  • 15 of 25

    Commit to a Style

    Green boho tropical bedroom

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    If you're going to lean into a style, lean all the way in. From the textured, natural bed to the textured green bedspread to the rattan bookshelf to the tropical plant in the corner, this room goes all in on an island escape.

  • 16 of 25

    Incorporate Vintage Items

    Blush bedroom with wallpaper

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    This charming bedroom has major nostalgic appeal. The classic, cottage-inspired blush wallpaper and painted trim are offset by a vintage-inspired nightstand and other styling pieces that look as if they've walked out of another decade.

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  • 17 of 25

    Try a DIY Project

    Bedroom with plates

    Lucy Loves Ya

    Add a DIY touch to your bedroom and extend the look of your headboard by hanging plates above your bed. This is a quick, easy DIY project, plus, you can use a store bought set of plates or collect secondhand plates from thrift stores for a budget-friendly version.

  • 18 of 25

    Incorporate Interesting Lighting

    White bedroom with sconces

    Calimia Home

    In this tiny bedroom, modern sconces mounted on the wall not only provide practical lighting, but they also add a sculptural touch. The warm metal finish brings an organic, natural feel to the stark white paint.

  • 19 of 25

    Add Architectural Elements

    Bedroom with wood beams

    Ashley Montgomery Design

    Add interest to the bedroom by bringing in architectural elements that are usually reserved for living spaces. These strong wood beams show off a high ceiling and add a modern, rustic touch to a light yet moody bedroom set amidst the trees.

  • 20 of 25

    Bring in Faux Fur

    Neutral bedroom with faux fur throw

    Arbor and Co

    Faux fur lends a soft, sumptuous look to bedroom styling. Especially as the weather gets cooler, it introduces an element of hygge. Imagine curling up before bed with your nighttime tea and a faux fur blanket to read a few pages in a new favorite book. This neutral and sage room is the perfect meeting of cool and cozy.

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  • 21 of 25

    Look at Unique Bed Options

    Bed hanging from ceiling

    Ashley Webb Interiors

    This one may be even more unique than expected, with a charming country-inspired bed hanging like a front porch swing from the ceiling. But that's to say, you can think outside the box! A bed doesn't have to be on four posters, and you can get creative.

  • 22 of 25

    Add Painted Furniture

    Bedroom with navy painted chest

    Becca Interiors

    Adding painted furniture to a white room adds depth and character. This navy chest brings an element of sophistication and richness to a room that's otherwise light and neutral. The result is a cozy, inviting space.

  • 23 of 25

    Embrace Different Patterns

    Room with multiple green patterns

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    Pattern mixing doesn't have to be bold. This serene green bedroom has a green floral on the wallpaper and a large scale watercolor floral on the accent pillow. Together they create a classic, unique look.

  • 24 of 25

    Paint Your Ceiling

    Bedroom with magenta ceiling

    Dekay and Tate

    Why stop with painting your bedroom walls? This glamorous bedroom has a magenta ceiling, which immediately draws your eye up. Add in a sculptural chandelier and jewel tones throughout, and you have a gorgeous, modern space.

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  • 25 of 25

    Go Black and White

    Black and White bedroom

    Instagram/@hmbien

    You don't need color to be cool. Try mixing multiple black and white prints and even DIY'ing your own simple and graphic black and white art to create a bold, striking bedroom look.

FAQ
  • What colors are trending for a bedroom?

    Relaxing shades of green are favorites in the bedroom, with sage green, pale green, and other cottage-inspired neutrals at the top of the list.

  • How to decorate a room with a low budget?

    Paint is one of the least expensive ways to give your room a complete face lift. Then try incorporating secondhand and vintage items to add major style without breaking the bank.

  • How do you fill an awkward bedroom space?

    If you have an extra space leftover in your bedroom, try creating a reading nook. All you need is enough room for a chair and a tiny table (just big enough for a glass or a book!), and you'll have a stylish place to sit and relax.