A bedroom should be a calming, relaxed environment where you can unwind and escape from hectic everyday life

Interior designer Jenny Allan explains how to create a cohesive scheme for one of the most important areas of a home.

The base of interior design for a bedroom has to be the colour palette. Neutral, soothing colours will set the tone for the rest of the scheme and can be enhanced by textures rather than harsh colour combinations. Opt for cool greys or beiges and taupes which will work seamlessly in any home and will not jar the senses.

Textures such as cashmere, velvet and silk all work beautifully in a bedroom and combine to create a sumptuous, relaxing space.

These textures should be used in every element of the design from the furniture to the carpets, as tactile, soft materials will make such a difference. Hand knotted silk carpets are perfect for a bedroom, particularly as the softness and luxurious feel will be really appreciated when walking barefoot in the morning.

The layout of a bedroom, as with any room, is key to its success aesthetically and practically. The focal point, of course, will be the bed and a statement headboard is ideal for creating impact. Usually, with headboards, the taller the better and often a bespoke full wall headboard will work well, depending on the size and shape of the room.

Aside from the actual bed, including a seating area within a bedroom, particularly a master bedroom is a good feature to add. From just an occasional chair in the corner to a large space with sofas, chairs and a coffee table, seating areas are definitely a bonus. Coordinate fabrics from the headboard or bedroom cushions to materials used in the seating area for a cohesive look.

Lighting is another aspect which makes a big difference with the look and feel of a space. With bedrooms, mood and task lighting are usually the main requirements and it is often a good idea to have a number of circuits which give the options of different adjustments to the lighting. Always ensure that there is adequate lighting in areas such as near a dressing table to allow enough light for applying makeup alongside other ‘task lighting’ for reading in the seating area.

Once the colour palette, fabrics, layout and lighting has been decided on then the finishing touches can be added. With bedrooms, in particular, personal, meaningful items are ideal for display, resulting in the space feeling like a home not a hotel room. Accessories such as beautiful photo frames, scented candles and perfume bottles all compliment a bedroom scheme and can be added to give the room an elegant finish.

Spending time creating the perfect bedroom is time well spent as our environment directly affects our well-being and sleep quality. A beautiful bedroom is always a wonderful sanctuary to return to at the end of a long day.

About the author

Spending time creating the perfect bedroom is time well spent as our environment directly affects our well-being and sleep quality. A beautiful bedroom is always a wonderful sanctuary to return to at the end of a long day.

Jenny is the founder of London-based interior design practice JCA Interiors providing luxury, residential interior design services to private clients and property developers throughout the UK and abroad.

Her work has been internationally recognised by the Society of British and International Design with one of her projects being nominated as a finalist in the International Design Excellence awards.

Jenny has travelled extensively and speaks fluent Spanish as well as a good level of French. She is passionate about interior design and has written editorial pieces for a number of high-end magazines. Jenny is also in the process of writing a luxury interior design book.