Decorating My Bedroom Ideas Reddit Cheap

Photo cred: Sonnie Hiles - @sonniehiles

Hey r/malelivingspace!

I see a lot of "help me decorate" requests, so thought it'd be good to try to make an "ultimate" guide, especially for bedrooms. I decided to focus on the Scandinavian style, so for those of you trying to decorate your bedroom into your dream Nordic-inspired haven (or should I say "Valhalla"?), this is for you!

I've included visual examples for the things I mention, as a handy reference, so don't be afraid to click the links. (There are no affiliate links here; just Pinterest links, mostly.)

This is a long post, so feel free to skip around to the section(s) you're most interested in.

Your Backdrop

• Natural lighting is huge with Scandinavian interiors. Don't be afraid to take down or drastically minimize your window treatments. Let that sun shine on through, baby!

• White or light grey walls serve as the perfect backdrop for your decor. Don't worry about it looking stark; your decor is going to warm up the space a lot, if you nail the look!

• If you've got wood floors, you've got it made, as this look works especially well with wood flooring. Carpets will work fine, too; just don't cover up those wood floors if you've got them.

• Still hanging onto that old collection of spent booze bottles from college, or does your clean laundry have a permanent resting place on the chair next to your bed? Time to Marie Kondo that noise, friend. Invest in some minimalist-looking storage solutions. Scandi decor is all about clean, open spaces. Before you do anything else, get everything organized, and introduce some new, open spaces to your bedroom .

Bedding

This is your bedroom, so naturally the bed of the room should be a focal point, right? It should be comfortable and stylish. How do you Scandi it, then?

The good news is, this look offers a lot of leeway in terms of color palettes that work well. I'll break it into some subcategories, to make things easier.

Bold

• Darker colors and sharp contrasts can make a strong, elegant statement. Your bedding can do the same, with dark charcoals, light greys, navy blues, and black.

Airy

• Bright whites, soft greys, and warm woods can all contribute to a cheery, cozy bed, and a breezy, comfy bedroom.

Neutral

• Neutral colors could easily slide into the "Bold" category, but with the incorporation of tans, browns, creams, whites, and another (complementary) pop of color, like green plants, neutral-toned beds remain out of the drama.

Eclectic

• After all the white, neutral and dark colors, you can get more expressive with colors, particularly with your bedding. Mustard yellow, teal blue, burnt orange, and pastels all work really well with Scandinavian bedrooms.

Lighting

• So as mentioned above, natural light is best, but what do you do if you don't have tons of windows? Scandi decor is also known for its statement lighting fixtures. Think:

  • Metal cage pendant lights

  • Wicker pendant lights

  • Industrial-inspired chandeliers

  • Whimsically-shaped hanging lanterns

  • Tripod floor lamps

  • Overarching floor lamps

  • Metal pendant lights of various shapes

• Only have like, a window? Maximize the natural lighting by incorporating a strategically-placed large mirror or two, to help bounce the light around the bedroom.

Furniture

When selecting furniture for this look, keep in mind a few guidelines:

• When possible, opt for furniture that is stylish and space-savvy. Treat furniture as if it were "functional art."

• Mid-century modern-style furniture works extremely well with Scandi style.

• Hairpin-legged furniture looks great. You can use it on bed frames, nightstands, chairs, or even a small bench.

• Minimalist slatted, upholstered, or wooden headboards are best.

• Club chairs work well for a comfortable place to relax, and authentic Eames chairs are kind of the Holy Grail of Scandinavian/minimalist looks.

Decorative Pieces

• Houseplants are your friend. Put them in geometric-shaped pots, sturdy woven baskets, or solid white planters.

  • The following are some of the most-popular houseplants:

    • Fiddle leaf figs

    • Pothos/Devil's ivy

    • Snake plant

    • Spider plant

    • Split-leaf philodendron/monstera

    • Research "best indoor plants" and choose your favorite

• Layer monochromatic artwork. Having just one monochromatic artwork piece can look stark and cold, but by "layering" the pieces, you can add warmth and personality to a room, even with monochromatic colors.

• Don't overlook the importance of an area rug! Traditional-inspired prints, faux sheepskin or faux cowhide, deep-dyed indigo patterns, Persian rugs, or a textured rug like jute, handwoven or loop, all fit within the style.

• A chunky knit blanket in a neutral color draped across the bed can add personality and coziness to the room.

• Layers in general are a great way from making the room look austere. Layer different blankets, different textured/colored pillows—you can even layer rugs—to bring in warmth and depth to the space.

• While allowing in as much natural light as possible looks great for photos, it probably will be annoying if the sun wakes you up in the morning. Roman shades look great for this style. If that's not enough sunlight blockage, the layered curtain look is also commonly used in Scandi-inspired decor.

Colors, Textures, and Patterns

• Neutral colors—like whites, creams, grays, charcoal, black, tans, browns, and sepias—are the main colors for this look.

• That said, bursts of color can be utilized.

  • Don't forget that plants can count as a pop of color, visual interest, and a "coziness" factor!

• High contrasts between colors, even textures, can make striking, elegant statements.

• Incorporate wood furniture pieces, like oak or teak, walnut, pine, etc.

  • Live edge wood pieces are always a great addition to a Nordic-inspired bedroom, and will add character and visual interest.

• Geometric patterns and clean-lines on stark backdrops are visually striking and contribute to the overall clean aesthetic.

• Traditional prints like Baule, Bògòlanfini (or "mud cloth"), and others, can also be used as accent pieces (throw pillows or throw blanket, an area rug, a lampshade, etc.). You can also use stripes, though avoid using navy blue, to avoid accidentally making your theme look nautical.

  • Note: I tried to link to designers who are actually from the regions where these prints originated. With "ethnic prints" being so popular right now, it's good to be aware of cultural appropriation. Support indigenous artists and the print's original heritage where you can!

• Like I mentioned elsewhere, in order to prevent the room from looking bleak and hospital-y, it's important to bring back in "coziness" through textures. Knubby blankets, rough-looking but soft-to-the-touch linen, worn leather, wicker, faux sheepskin and faux cowhide add warmth back into the room.

• For visual interest, metals—like golds, bright copper, and wrought iron—can be added to the mix. Think lighting fixtures, decorative knick-knacks, and those hairpin legs of your furniture.

I hope this is helpful! If you have any questions about Scandinavian style, particularly your own challenges in achieving the look, feel free to comment below or PM me. I'll do my best to respond to every comment and message and help out. Good luck!

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Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/malelivingspace/comments/9p29b1/need_advice_for_decorating_your_first_adult/

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