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  1. Real Simple
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  5. 20 Decorating Tricks for Your Bedroom

20 Decorating Tricks for Your Bedroom

Real Simple Author
By Real Simple Editors Updated June 22, 2018
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White Bed Sheets
Credit: Pexels
A gallery of simple ideas to make your slumber zone dreamy.
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Pile on the Pillows

White Bed Sheets
Credit: Pexels

Pile on the pillows, and don’t shy away from mixing patterns. Combine large prints with small ones, florals with geometrics.

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DIY Artwork

Pink bedroom with tapestry and chair
Credit: Pieter Estersohn/Getty Images

Hanging a graphic quilt is an easy solution to the “big blank wall” issue. Complementary bed linens pull the decor together.

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Put Pattern to Work

Bedroom with purple and green accents
Credit: Gaf_Lila/Shutterstock

A printed bedspread, like this distinctive botanical design, does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to décor.

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Incorporate Prints on Accent Pieces

DIY floral lampshade
Credit: Place of My Taste

But prints aren’t reserved for the bedcovers. They’re just as arresting when set on a modern-shaped lampshade.

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Work the Walls

Girl's room with bright colors and metallic sconces
Credit: littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

Nightstands and adjustable lamps affixed to walls smartly save space in a small room.

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Reveal a Personal Side

Classic bedroom in grays, blues, whites
Credit: Christopher Testani

Your bedroom should express your personality (not just design principles), so feel free to go a little off-center, as with the art here.

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Decorate With Consistency

Bedroom with romantic elements. pinks, blues
Credit: Christopher Testani

Note that the soft curves of the headboard are echoed by the feminine details in the bedding.

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Make Your Bedroom Comfy

Allswell classic bedding set
Credit: Courtesy of Allswell

Top your bed with covers made for snuggling, like a down comforter. For total indulgence, choose ultra-soft eiderdown.

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Choose a Focal Point

Bedroom with natural materials, soft warm colors
Credit: Christopher Testani

A beautiful piece of furniture becomes the focal point when embellished in gorgeous hardware and leather. Try positioning your bed at an angle to save space in a tight room.

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Keep Scale in Mind

Natural Bedroom
Credit: Pexels

Gauge the size of your bedside lamp by the scale of your bed: A four-poster would call for a big fixture; for a low bed, choose something smaller.

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Introduce Pops of Color

Sugar & Cloth Bedroom Reveal
Credit: Sugar & Cloth

If you want color without an all-out commitment, inject hits of it with your art and accessories.

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Pay Attention to the Floor

Charlie's Bedroom
Credit: Tessa Neustadt

A cheery striped rug is like a burst of sunshine in a low-key room. For most bedrooms a four-by-six-foot rug by the bed is ideal.

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Layer With Color

ben higgins lauren bushnell bedroom
Credit: Nicole Gerulat for Joss & Main

At the bold end of the scale, go for saturation with a favorite color. Use a variety of tones and textures to give your room a layered feel.

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Add Warmth With Neutrals

Light airy bedroom with pillows and throws
Credit: Carlsson, Peter/Getty Images

That idea works just as well with neutrals. Here, the neutral duvet and natural-lit room creates a cozy atmosphere.

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Don't be afraid to use color

Joy Cho Bedroom
Credit: Photo by Casey Brodley for Oh Joy!

According to lifestyle expert Oh Joy!, "A good way to give your room a fun splash of color without being too overwhelming it is to color block the wall by painting just the lower half of it. We chose a happy banana yellow and left the top half white to keep it bright and simple."

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Reinvent Your Safe Haven

Purple bedroom
Credit: Pexels

Tuck a chair into a corner seat for an instant resting spot. Lush silk draperies turn the room into a cocoon.

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Personalize Your Space

Millennial Pink Bedroom
Credit: Hero Images/Getty Images

Mix in offbeat pieces for an eclectic look, like an shabby-chic headboard in an eye-catching gingham print.

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Turn Photos Into Art

Art wall
Credit: Pexels

Make your most personal space even more so with artwork of those you love, whether photographs…

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Transform Photos in Meaningful Ways

Photo Block Family Photos
Credit: We Are Scout

…or framed cameos of your favorite memories.

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Make Rest a Priority

flowers nightstand
Credit: Pexels

Your bedroom should be your retreat, a sanctuary for peaceful reading, writing, studying, as much as a resting place. Set fresh flowers on your nightstand to boost your mood, as pictured here.

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    1 of 20 Pile on the Pillows
    2 of 20 DIY Artwork
    3 of 20 Put Pattern to Work
    4 of 20 Incorporate Prints on Accent Pieces
    5 of 20 Work the Walls
    6 of 20 Reveal a Personal Side
    7 of 20 Decorate With Consistency
    8 of 20 Make Your Bedroom Comfy
    9 of 20 Choose a Focal Point
    10 of 20 Keep Scale in Mind
    11 of 20 Introduce Pops of Color
    12 of 20 Pay Attention to the Floor
    13 of 20 Layer With Color
    14 of 20 Add Warmth With Neutrals
    15 of 20 Don't be afraid to use color
    16 of 20 Reinvent Your Safe Haven
    17 of 20 Personalize Your Space
    18 of 20 Turn Photos Into Art
    19 of 20 Transform Photos in Meaningful Ways
    20 of 20 Make Rest a Priority

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