How to Transform your boring Master Bedroom into an Oasis

Your master bedroom is probably THE most important room in your home and yet, its most likely the last one to be decorated. A lot of us spend our time, money, and attention on the more public areas of our home (guilty!). We want our homes to be inviting, cozy, and beautiful for when we entertain others. Yet, we don’t take the same care and consideration for ourselves by updating our master bedroom.

Pause with me here for a minute. I want you to imagine a 5-star beach resort somewhere in the Caribbean. You and your significant other have booked a private villa to escape for a week. Imagine arriving to the resort after a long couple days of traveling. You’re wowed by the hotel lobby and warmly greeted by the concierge. After a few minutes, you are checked in and headed toward your private oasis. You’re so excited! You can’t wait to take a dip in your private pool and sit on the balcony overlooking the ocean. Your SO unlocks the door and lets you step inside first. And your heart sinks. The room is a mixture of old, dingy furniture. The windows are covered by dark curtains that let little light into the room. A desk sits in the corner with a computer. This was not the private oasis you were hoping for!

Isn’t this the way it is for so many of us with our Master Bedrooms? We spend the day taking care of our families and our responsibilities, only to come home to a cold, dark, unwelcoming cell in which we sleep. And then we do it all again the next day. Let me tell you something – listen real close because this is important! – your master bedroom furniture and décor is VITAL to your well-being. You deserve a master bedroom oasis that cares for you after you are done caring for everyone and everything else. You deserve a space where you can rest, de-stress, and recharge before starting out on another work day. So why are you still putting yourself – and your master bedroom design – last?!

I know, your mind is probably flooding with excuses: I need to do the living room first. The Kitchen needs an update so badly. I don’t have the time right now to design a new bedroom. It's just going to have to wait until after…

Listen, there will always be something in the way – some excuse to keep you from decorating for you. But it is possible to start your journey to a Master Bedroom oasis today! I’ve put together a few quick, small changes that will help you update your space and start practicing some Interior Design Self Care in the bedroom!

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4 Simple Tips to Transform Your Bedroom into an Oasis:

Identify Areas of Stress

A lot of designers will come in and tell you that you need to de-clutter your space. And maybe you do. But you also have to learn how to manage the clutter that will happen again and again in your space.

Let’s be real for a second – clothes are going to get piled on the floor, trash, bills, and receipts are going to pile up, and random stuff is going to get left around the room. The best way to deal with clutter is to creatively problem solve how to deal with it.

If you love books, but they are just in piles all over the floor – consider where you can add a bookshelf to your space. Or maybe add a basket or bin on your floor or under the bed to contain them. If your husband’s clothes can never seem to find their way into the hamper in the bathroom (funny how they don’t have two legs and can’t walk there), see if there’s a way you can work the hamper in the design near your bed.

Instead of just removing all the clutter, I recommend planning for it to happen again by instituting ways or decor to contain it. In my bedroom, we have storage ottomans at the foot of the bed to contain extra pillows and blankets because I don’t like them laying all over the floor. That’s one way I used a decorative item as a functional piece in my room!

Layer textiles

You know what I hate more than anything – scratchy flat comforters at hotels! There is nothing more irritating. It’s already difficult enough to sleep in a new place, I don’t also need to be scratched all night by the bedding!

A quick way to make your master bedroom more inviting and cozy is to simply update your bedding. I recommend white sheets, a duvet, and a white or neutral duvet cover. Layer a colorful blanket or patterned quilt at the end of the bed. This keeps it simple and chic.

Set the mood with lighting

You may have never noticed this before but most hotel bedrooms do not have overhead lighting. They usually have wall sconces controlled by a switch or lamps in the corners of the room. Why? Because overhead lighting can be harsh. And since its just a bedroom, most people don’t need a lot of ambient light. Yet, a lot of builder grade homes will install one light smack-dab in the center of the room (usually with an equally atrocious ceiling fan!)

You can leave the light and ceiling fan in your master bedroom design scheme, but also add some lamps to your bedside tables or wall sconces above your bed. Try to wire them to a switch so its easy to turn them on and off. This will help set a softer mood creating an atmosphere that is warm and inviting.

Remember, the goal of your master bedroom is to cue your brain that it’s ok to rest and relax now. We don’t want the same type of lighting that you have in your office or workspace. So by choosing dimmer lighting options, we set the stage for the brain to relax, turn off the work thoughts, and rest.

Personalize with art and decor

While you may want that 5-star resort look in your bedroom, don’t forget that this is YOUR bedroom and not a hotel that 50,000 people will walk through. You don’t need a generic vase or picture frame with a stock photo. Add in a lot of personal touches, art, and décor. Your master bedroom décor should after all reflect you. This is a great place to display personal photos and memories that make you happy. And consider decorating with everyday items you use to cut down on clutter.

Your master bedroom furniture and design may need a major overhaul. But don’t wait until it can be absolutely perfect to do anything! With the simple bedroom ideas above, you can start personalizing and decorating your master bedroom so it becomes a private oasis that is just for you!

What are some ways you can de-stress or decorate your master bedroom today? Remember, one chic change a day adds up to massive style over time!