When taking a pared-back approach to your home design, the bedroom is a good place to start. The reality is that we spend about one-third of our lives either sleeping or trying to sleep, and many of us struggle unnecessarily with our nightly slumber because our sleeping environments are chaotic and cluttered mess. By taking a minimalist approach to your bedroom, you can eliminate unnecessary design elements that drain you and replace them with functional items that make you feel calm and centered (think cozy weighted blankets and lounge chairs with 100 percent down cushions).
Right now, you’re probably imagining a sterile-looking bedroom with completely bare walls. But when done right, minimalism is anything but cold and boring. Here are nine minimalist bedroom ideas that promise to streamline your home’s look without sacrificing its warmth and coziness.
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Stick to Warm and Earthy Paint Colors
Minimalist design doesn’t necessarily mean being devoid of color. While it’s true that many minimalists gravitate toward neutral paint colors (read whites and grays), you can achieve a calm and simplified look by opting for earthy paint colors and monochromatic color schemes. Consider painting your walls a gorgeous terracotta clay or an elegant sage green. As long as the results are clean, and simple and instill you with a sense of contentment, that’s the important thing.
Add Subtle Character with Textured Walls
If you prefer classic white or gray walls, more power to you. But if you ever find yourself staring at your minimalist walls and wishing they had more visual interest, you may want to consider a plaster wall. Interiors finished with plaster appeal to minimalists for many reasons, not least of which is their ability to subtly transform a space without straying from a traditional neutral color palette. A plaster finish gives your walls the illusion of depth, making your space feel bigger and calmer. It’s also free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it a smart choice from an environmental and health perspective.
Simplify Your Bedding (But Don’t Overdo It)
Paring down your possessions is a key tenet of minimalism, but you should be careful not to go overboard when downsizing your bedding. While throw pillows are often purely decorative, bed pillows play a vital role in keeping your spine in a neutral alignment. So, if you need to sleep with four pillows to get a good night’s sleep, don’t get rid of them just for the sake of minimalism. Similarly, if you know you sleep better with a weighted blanket and/or a fluffy down comforter, look for these items in neutral colors rather than doing away with them altogether.
Choose Furniture with Clean Lines
When shopping for bedroom furniture, choose dressers and nightstands with low profiles and clean lines. A great example of clean lines in interior design is the trendy Japandi style. A portmanteau of “Japan” and “Scandi,” this minimalist style blends Japanese and Scandinavian design elements to create a home environment that is clean, calm and simple.
Embrace Natural Materials
When a space feels stark, adding pieces made from natural materials is a surefire way to create instant warmth. Paper lanterns, woven baskets and handmade ceramics are stylish go-to’s that will provide your bedroom with character and uniqueness. Plus, natural materials tend to go hand-in-hand with sustainability, which is a must for those practicing eco-minimalism.
Ditch the Drawers
If you’re in the market for a new nightstand, look for one without drawers. Why would you willingly forgo extra drawer space, you might ask? Because if you’re like most people, that single drawer will inevitably turn into a dumping ground for bookmarks, headphones, pens, notebooks, phone chargers, etc. Instead, choose a nightstand with a single shelf and use it to store your must-have bedtime essentials, like a weighted eye mask and a trusty alarm clock. That way, if clutter starts to build up on your nightstand, you’ll notice the chaos before things get out of control.
Install Simple Light Fixtures
Light fixtures in a minimalist bedroom should be simple yet functional. When shopping for light fixtures, look for products with clean lines and limited color. Also, try to layer your lighting by installing a mix of overhead and wall fixtures. Modern sconces and a rattan floor lamp will cast a warm glow throughout your space, making it feel cozier and more inviting while also helping you get better sleep.
Use Warm Metals
Highly durable and functional, metals are a must-have in any minimalist-designed space. But not all metals are created equal. If you want to make your bedroom visually striking without sacrificing warmth, you should stick to warm metals — like brass, bronze, champagne, and copper. These warm finishes can add a pop of style and majorly elevate your room while still maintaining a timeless minimalist look.
Shape Up
When designing a minimalist bedroom, it’s easy to find yourself gravitating toward rectangular pieces with straight lines.But too much “hardness” in a single space can make the room look flat. One way you can avoid this is by decorating your room with circular accents. For example, you might hang an abstract circle print on the walls or choose lighting in a circular shape. Round mirrors are another simple way to soften your space — plus, they can help maximize your natural light and make your bedroom feel bigger.
Designing a Bedroom That Brings You Joy
Minimalism is about taking a less is more approach, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice warmth and personality in the bedroom. At the end of the day, your bedroom should be a place where you feel calm and content. If that means peppering a little more color into your space or adding several cozy blankets to your bed, then so be it. As long as you’re designing with intention, you’re on the right track!
