Decorating My Bedroom On a Budget

When moving into an apartment and faced with the task of its decor i was nervous.‎ Every person who walked into my new bedroom fell in love. It has high, ‎curved ceilings in an old Arabian Princess style with arching doorways and patterned ‎tiled floors.

The bedroom was so naturally beautiful on its own, whatever i chose to put in it ‎had to live up to it gorgeous structural standard.‎ On top of that, I didn’t have very much money, so I needed to figure out a way of decorating my bedroom on a budget.

Looking for Ideas:

Whenever I entered a cool shop I snapped pictures on my phone of different blankets, ‎bed spreads, lamps, etc so I could then check them out while in the context of my room. ‎I also took pics of the room with my phone so that I could compare the patterns and ‎colors to prospective purchases while in the stores. ‎

This way I could get a feel for whether things fit without having to commit to buying ‎anything. I like things simple and functional but with intrigue and uniqueness, so ‎keeping an eye out was key. Also, I like to use materials that I already have or can ‎come by easily to recycle them into something pretty and useful. ‎

Then came decision making time…‎

The Bedroom:

The heaters and doors are dark blue and the floor titles have a mainly dark blue pattern, ‎so I tried to look for little highlights in dark blue to keep things united.  I found a little ‎lamp at a home goods store for a great price.

I used the leftovers from our living room drapes to make my curtains which turned out to ‎be a perfect fit.

I wanted my big bed to match the eclectic grandeur of the room so I found a cool pattern ‎that included dark blue in it. ‎
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A flower pot from the home goods store became my trash bin and was a much cheaper ‎option than many of the actual trash bins!‎

The Bathroom:‎

There is a cool store that specializes in soaps and candles and I remember seeing their ‎sinks filled with colorful rocks. I thought this was a cool touch so I went for a walk and ‎picked up rocks along the way. They add a really nice zen touch to my sink. I also ‎picked up two cool sea shells and placed them on the top of the toilet.‎

To help with the color coordination, I also try to buy yellow colored toilet paper to match ‎the toilet seat. I find it’s the little things that count.‎

‎….‎
In the future:‎

My next project is to get some artwork up on the walls. Also it is so healthy to express ‎yourself. Why spend money on a picture when the act of making the picture is often the ‎best part? Even if your skill isn’t top notch, I’ve found that with a serious-looking picture ‎frame, anything seems professional.‎

I do love supporting artists but I think I’d be broke if I went to buy the art I really like.‎
Luckily, nature is the most detailed and intriguing art around… and for the most part it is ‎free! In this vain, I dried some flowers a friend bought me and am hoping to turn them ‎into some kind of picture or collage.‎

Shabby Chic Bedroom Ideas

A bedroom designed to look shabby chic will be relaxing and cozy. One of the reasons why shabby chic decorating is still so popular is because it combines feminine softness and comfort with subtle elegance. Here are some shabby chic bedroom decorating ideas to get you started.

Certain fabrics can give your bedroom a shabby chic look. Try using pillow cases and bedding with lace, ruffled edges and bullion fringe. Bed skirts are nice in a shabby chic bedroom. Use a variety of different fabrics for a cozy and inviting style.

A beautiful aspect of shabby chic bedroom decorating is glistening glass lighting. To incorporate this element, try hanging a chandelier over the bed or put glass candle holders around your room. You can also use lamps that have prisms or glass beads hanging from the shade or the base.

Shabby chic décor uses mostly white, pastels and floral colors and patterns. The general tones of the room should be in these colors. Also try added some floral elements like a wall hanging or a flower patterned bed cover.

To fit in old pieces that you love, try painting them white and giving them a distressed look. You can do this with old nightstands, lamps, dressers and any other piece of furniture you want to blend in with your bedroom’s new look.

I hope you enjoyed these shabby chic bedroom ideas! Have fun giving your bedroom a feminine, soothing style.

Bedroom Design

Finding a proper balance between space, color, texture, and lighting is essential to quality bedroom design. We don’t all have the luxury of a large and spacious bedroom, but we do have the ability to take inspiration from great designers and architects who understood that balancing a number of elements is key.

One of the most difficult elements to work with is the limitations of space. In the many places I have lived, the structure of the bedrooms themselves have ranged from asymmetrical to perfectly square, abnormally narrow and long, tiny, low or high ceilings, or even simply very large. Each time the challenge was to analyze the potential of bedroom design versus the limitation of space. Buying new furniture simplifies the issue, but if we are working with existing furniture, then we have to be prepared to find creative solutions to maximize our design potential through paying attention to furniture placement.

Lighting also plays a large role in bedroom design once spacial considerations have been taken into account. Ideally, the primary lighting should be natural and if your windows are large, well-chosen curtains can add tremendously to the color and mood of the bedroom. If the option for utilizing natural lighting doesn’t exist, then focusing on the proper ceiling lights and lamps can do nearly the same thing. The options today for creative lighting are endless and relatively inexpensive.

If you’re working with new furniture, the color of the bedroom should be considered beforehand, especially if you have the option to paint. Color plays a large role in effecting our mood and contributes to the overall ambiance. If you prefer white, then a fresh layer of paint will help create a more new and clean feel to the room. If you’re willing to put in a little extra effort, you can paint a slight cream and give the bedroom a warmer feel. Those who find themselves a bit riskier can consider greens or any other variety of more powerful colors. It’s important to settle on the color before setting out to by the new furniture and accessories so that the color theme is relatively consistent.

Once you’re managed to arrange the furniture properly, utilize the lighting, and work with color, the next step is to consider the element of texture. Many people forget that texture is an incredibly powerful element in bedroom design, from the texture of the carpet to even the texture of the paintings you have on the walls. When developing and experimenting with different room decorating ideas, remember that the contrast between different textures of complementary colors can make the difference between a simple bedroom and one in which anyone who walks in will feel the touch of inspired design.

Bedding Décor

It’s not always obvious that the way you decorate your bed has a major impact on the entire aura and appearance of your bedroom. Your choice of linens, pillows, pillow cases, duvet covers, bedspreads, bed skirts and comforters is actually essential when coming up with your specific room design. Different patterns, fabrics, and colors each make statements of their own and will affect the final look of your bedroom accordingly.

One way to make a bed the focal point of your room is by making it bold and loud. To do this, chose fabrics with bright colors and blunt designs. You don’t need to have a lot of “stuff” on your bed, but rather make it so that the bedding itself is noticeable. Another way to make a visual impact is by choosing white bedding and throwing on a few brightly colored pillows or fabrics. The contrast can help but demand your attention!

You might want to give your room a clean, simple, toned down look. By sticking to tans, pale blues and grays your bed will exude a serene energy and have a natural, organic character. Keep to simple basic designs and keep extra pillows to a minimum.

To create an elegant look, try using a bed skirt. Bed skirts hang from your mattress to the floor adding loads of style (and hiding whatever’s underneath)! I personally love using one or two embroidered throw pillows that reflect my own style. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on the bedding décor when creating your beautiful bedroom!

Bedroom Theme

Choosing a theme is so much fun and is something you can do in all your rooms. A theme can be absolutely anything you like, think is beautiful, or that reflects your hobbies and interests. It can be anything from city sleek, trendy, Middle Eastern, retro, Hollywood-glam, Zen industrial and even butterflies. When it comes to themes, there are absolutely endless room decorating ideas out there!

When decorating according to a theme, every inch of your bedroom must be considered, including the floor, walls and ceiling. You also need to identify the colors, patterns, types of fabrics, furniture, accessories and lighting that will give you the particular look you are going for. You will need to do a bit of brainstorming and researching but it is worth it if you want your bedroom theme to turn out just right.

The following is an example that you can follow when coming up with your own bedroom theme!

Example: Zen Decorating Theme

• Colors: Stick to neutral, organic shades like tan, green, blue and white. Use these colors in walls, fabrics, accessories, furniture etc.
• Furniture: Japanese-style low platform bed, simple nightstand out of Asian hardwood, dresser with Chinese handles, perhaps out of wood from government controlled forests or something “zen” like that
• Ceiling: White ceiling, make sure not to have a bright light coming from the ceiling onto the bed
• Floor: Tatami Bamboo mat or woven rug,
• Walls: Hang watercolor and calligraphy paintings
• Bedding: Simple, high quality, tightly woven, tan or white
• Lighting: Paper lanterns, bamboo lamps paper blinds over the windows
• Accessories: Candles, stones, plants and maybe a small fountain. Accessories should be kept minimal, uncluttered and related to nature.

Just keep to these basic instructions and your bedroom will have a beautiful theme in no time.

Relaxing Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Your bedroom is a place specifically meant for rest and relaxation. The way you decorate it can create a peaceful and Zen-like mood. Here are some ideas to get started:

Color: Nothing is more relaxing than nature itself, so try choosing colors inspired by the great outdoors like greens, browns, or grays. Using different shades of the same color help create a serene feel. To keep things interesting, other colors can be used for accents and in accessories. Try to avoid shades that are very bright or very bold. They tend to evoke more energizing emotions.

Sounds and Scents: Gentle music playing in the background instantly gives a room a relaxing feeling. You can also try putting on CDs with soothing sounds of nature like waterfalls or crashing ocean waves. A sweet aroma can be easily added to your room by lighting incense, candles or scented oil.

Accessories: When looking for accessories to create a relaxing vibe, nature inspires once again. Plants filter the air, add color, and have a mood lifting effect. Other ideas are candles, vases, wall art with tranquil natural themes, and flowing white curtains.

Avoid Clutter: If you have too much stuff in a room, focus gets frazzled while furniture, artwork and accessories go unnoticed. Make sure to have a place for everything and only keep things in the bedroom that belong there. Get rid of extra odds and ends lying around and have storage space hidden places like under-the-bed containers.
I hope these relaxing bedroom decorating ideas will help you create a peaceful atmosphere and get all the ZZZs you need!