Tired of Your Bedroom Style? Here Are 10 Ways to Make it Charming

You want a new look for your bedroom because you’ve gotten tired of its current style. Great idea, right? But you want something inexpensive. Something nice but affordable without wrecking your savings.

How can you achieve this?

Here are ten ways to upgrade your bedroom design using what you already have, but enhancing the space with other elements and features to give it a near-brand-new look.

(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

 

Ten Ways to Up Your Bedroom Style

1. Paint

A new coat of paint does wonders for an interior space. Choose a relaxing colour scheme that evokes a calm or vibrant mood. Use charming colours that arouse high-spirited feelings. Set the mood of the room by painting the focal wall a different colour from the other three.

2. Headboard

If you don’t have a headboard or just have an okay one, change it to something stylishly different. Use a creative headboard idea that will make the wall it’s placed against the focal point of the room. From a gallery of framed pictures to large wall art, the focal wall you create sets a good starting point for decoration.

3. Wall Decal

If you don’t have (or don’t want) a headboard, use an elaborate wall sticker (wall decal). Decals used in place of headboards make a good statement. They are bold and attractive enough to draw instant attention to the bedroom.

4. Bed Cover/ Bedspread

Add some drama to your bedroom with this feature. Choose a vibrant and colourful ethnic blanket, a plush red quilted velvet with a contrasting pile of throw pillows, or a wide damask throw, neatly laid or stylishly thrown across the bed (looks great on platform beds without side panels).

5. Bedside lamps

Beautiful bedside table lamps are enhancing. Their shades come in numerous styles, shapes, and sizes. The styles and materials you choose must be unusual, especially if you plan to create something extraordinary. Add figurines, mementoes, framed pictures (small), a table clock (vintage-inspired or digital), etc. and the like on the table and around the lamp.

6. Footboard bench

These make great additions to the bed and will effortlessly make the room look stylish and make the bed look dignified. Whether you choose an Ottoman bench, a simple bench with a cushioned seat, or a carved wooden storage chest that you picked up at a garden sale.

7. Window treatment

Lovely drapery, wooden blinds, and bamboo shades are transformative, but you should choose based on your bedroom décor. For example, a traditional theme calls for classic window coverings: drapery, brass rods, padded period pelmets, swags, and valances. A modern setting works best with wooden blinds and shades, fabric sliding panels, or decorative vinyl window stickers.

8. Area rug

Placing a runner rug on each side of your bed is a picker-upper for a drab room. Make sure it’s nice and colourful so that it conspicuously stands out against the floor finish (or covering).

9. Artwork

Wall art in all forms can tie every feature and theme in the room together. It can be a colourful painting that ties in with a couple of colours in the bedroom, vintage-inspired black and white hand-drawn artwork, a wall-hung tapestry (faux is fine), or a cluster of framed pictures and illustrations.

Stylish bedroom in a modern theme. (Image used under license from 123rf.com)

10. Accent furniture

Make your bedroom beautiful and versatile; add accent furniture. An occasional chair and a round-top side table will do the trick of raising the bar in the bedroom. You can relax and read a book without lying down or sitting on the edge of the bed.

(Image created by author, on Polyvore)

 

Let Your Bedroom Décor Reflect Your Personality

Remember. Only add décor items that reflect your personality. Make them aesthetically pleasing things that make you feel comfortable in your surroundings. Let your stylishness show through your choice of bedroom accents: unusual bedside lamps, wall hangings, vases, throw cushions, a rag rug, chairs, and bed cabinets. You can find unusual pieces from Estate sales, car booths, and garage sales.

If you can comfortably afford it, you can also upgrade the bedroom style using many of the above-mentioned upgrade ideas. All the items need not be bought at high-end stores. Expensive doesn’t necessarily translate to stylish. It’s the way they are all put together that creates the aesthetics and makes the statement you desire.

(This blog post was originally published by the author on 9/1/2015)

Browse more posts in Room Solutions for more room solutions and improvement ideas.

Articles of interest

7 Ways to Change Your Living Room from Drab to Uplifting
9 Eclectic Style Mistakes to Avoid

7 Ways to Change Your Living Room from Drab to Uplifting

Are you tired of your dreary, lacklustre living room and would like to upgrade the space, but have a tight, almost nonexistent budget?

Well, you are not alone.

You look around the room and are displeased. And although it’s filled with the stuff you love, it doesn’t feel that great and inviting anymore.

When you start to feel dissatisfied, then it is time to liven it up. Give it an upgrade. Transform it into an uplifting space without digging too deep into your pocket. And there are a few simple, budget-friendly ways to achieve that.

Budget-Friendly Ways to Upgrade Your Living Room

There are various ways to upgrade the aesthetics of an existing space without having to discard and replace them with brand-new ones. You can do anything from adding new features and refurbishing old furniture to changing the colour of the walls, removing items that add no aesthetic value to the room, creating a focal point in the room, enhancing the room with decorative accents, and creating separate zones within the space.

 

1. Indoor Water Features

Watching and listening to flowing water is not only therapeutic but also beautiful and captivating. There are various kinds available at low costs, like elaborate tabletop types you can place on a coffee table. Indoor waterfall features are dramatic and can be made the focal point of the living room.

If you have more money to spare, you can add a standalone feature that’ll serve as a zone divider, or a wall-mounted feature that appears as a wall of cascading water.

 

2. Throw Pillows

If your sofa looks plain and tired, liven it up with brightly coloured throw pillows. Choose perky, catchy colours that will dramatically complement the upholstery and arrange them in an orderly, eye-catching way.

Think of colours like fuchsia, turquoise, orange, mustard, sunny yellow, lime, etc. Make sure your choice of colours is complementary and not random. Make your choices intentional. Also, if your sofa fabric is one colour, add boldly patterned throw pillows. Make them a mix of plain and textured. And if your sofa has heavily patterned upholstery, pick a couple of colours from it to make the throw pillows. Mix them with neutral colours.

 

3. Create an Art Gallery Wall

An art gallery wall works great as a room’s focal point and is a great way to inexpensively upgrade a living room.

Use the wall that faces you when you walk into the room. Turning such a wall into a thing of beauty gives the room personality. To achieve this feature inexpensively:

Find and use a collection of anything you have at home. From family photos to textile prints, vintage record jackets, geometric art, sepia, and black and white prints. Add a unique touch by adding framed pieces of wallpaper, textured fabrics, or tie-and-dye materials. Make it a cluster of varying shapes and sizes of wall hangings. Use black, white, or coloured frames, and arrange them symmetrically or asymmetrically. The choice is yours.

A gallery of framed pictures and illustrations
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

4. Wall Decals and Stickers

This is one of the cheapest ways to transform any room. Wall decals can significantly alter the look of drab spaces. There are thousands of themes to choose from, ranging from big quotes that span a wall to picturesque scenes, skyscapes, beautiful beaches and forests.

Wall decals can transform your interior

5. Upgrade with Old Furniture Finds

If you visit estate, garden, or garage sales, you will find unusual pieces of furniture: antique tables and chairs, floor and table lamps, period cabinets, end tables, tapestries, corner units, etc., that you can repurpose or upgrade. They are affordable and pocket-friendly, and if you are a hands-on person, you can repair and upgrade them with a coat of paint or a high-sheen lacquer. You can also transform some pieces by adding stylish twists to make them complement the existing furniture and furnishings in the living room space.

 

6. Repurpose Bookcases

If you have a bookcase in your living room, you can repurpose it into an artsy piece of furniture. Line it inside and out with hand-painted wallpaper, chequered wall fabrics, mirror tiles, or even stick-on decals, then turn it into a display unit by removing some shelves to create display space. Aside from your most cherished books, showcase other items like tall glassware, glass bowls filled with seashells, a plant terrarium, ceramicware, mini sculptures, a collection of mementoes, pottery, and other decorative objects, some of which you may have already. Things that you may have collected over the years from travel and tours, including those acquired through inheritance, like book collections, vintage magazines, framed photographs, and framed art.

Regularly switch them around for a refreshed look.

 

7. Create Zones Within the Room

Creating zones within a living room is a practical way to make a single space feel organised, functional, and visually balanced. Instead of treating your living room as one open space, divide it into purposeful sections: a seating area for conversation, a reading nook, or a workspace using furniture placement, rugs, lighting, or subtle changes in colour and texture. For example, a sofa and coffee table can anchor a social zone, while a floor lamp and armchair define a quieter corner. This approach not only improves usability it also adds depth and character, making the room feel thoughtfully designed rather than cluttered or undefined.

Affordable Living Room Makeover - For a Young Family (Video)

On a final note, you can achieve an upgrade for your living room within hours or a couple of days, at the most. Cheaply and affordably.

If you can implement at least a couple of the living room upgrade ideas above, you will succeed in changing your living area from dreary to cheery.

(This blog post was first published by the author on 14/11/2014)

Browse more posts in Room Solutions for more room solutions and improvement ideas.

Further reading:

Design Interior Spaces

How to Style an Entrance Hallway
10 Ways to Add Charm to Your Bedroom

The 3-Colour Rule Designers Use to Prevent Visual Chaos (With Free Colour Palette Tool)

If your room feels busy, mismatched, or slightly chaotic, the problem may not be your furniture. It may be your choice of colours. Learning how to decorate with only three colours can instantly create a cohesive, balanced space.

Too many colours can hurt the eyes; competing for attention, while too few can make the space feel flat and lifeless. But three colours, only? Yes, because three creates a perfect balance.

Have you ever been in a fix and had to search for:

• How to choose a colour palette for a room.
• How many colours should be in a room?
• How to make my room decor look cohesive and balanced.
• How to successfully decorate a room with just a few colours.

If you have, or have searched for, similar home improvement queries, you are not alone. Many homeowners have also asked the same questions. This guide will walk you through a simple colour palette that works in any room.

Why the 3-Colour Rule Works

Using only three colours helps your room feel organised and balanced. It also shows:

Clarity: The space feels clean and easy to understand. Your eye isn’t overwhelmed by too many competing tones.

Visual rhythm: When colours repeat in different areas, your eye moves smoothly around the room instead of jumping from one random colour to another.

Cohesion: Everything feels nicely connected with the furniture, decor, and textiles, and they all look like they belong together.

Intentional design: The room looks planned. Even simple spaces feel more polished when the colour palette is controlled.

With only three dominant colours, your room will not look like it’s randomly decorated. It will look and feel perfectly planned.

Step 1: Choose Your Base Colour (60%)

Your base colour is the foundation of your colour scheme and should cover roughly 60% of the room. It usually appears in the following places:

• Walls
• Large furniture pieces
• Area rugs
• Floor finish

The popular choice for base colours includes:

• Warm white
• Soft beige
• Light grey
• Taupe
• Soft greige (a combination of beige and grey)

The base colour sets the mood and should feel calm and neutral enough to support the other two colours. If your base colour is too bold, the room may feel overwhelming.

Step 2: Select Your Secondary Colour (30%)

Your secondary colour supports the base and adds personality. It usually appears in:

• Upholstery
• Curtains
• Accent chairs
• Larger decor pieces

For example, if your base is warm beige, your secondary might be:

• Soft brown
• Muted sage
• Charcoal
• Dusty blue

The colour should contrast slightly with your base, but not compete with it. The base and secondary should feel like they belong in the same family (warm with warm, cool with cool).

Step 3: Add One Accent Colour (10%)

Your accent colour may be the smallest percentage, but it must have the biggest impact. The pieces best suited for accent colours are:

• Cushions
• Artwork
• Vases
• Lamps
• Books
• Small decor pieces

A real-life colour scheme example should be as follows:

• Base: Warm white
• Secondary: Soft brown
• Accent: Muted blue

The key rule:

Repeat your accent colour at least three times in different parts of the room. Repetition makes it feel intentional, and not just random.

Free Room Colour Palette Tool

Find your colour palette with the free tool below. Use it to find your personalised three-colour scheme for your room/space, in under sixty seconds.

Find Your Room Colour Palette

Answer four quick questions to get your personalised 3-colour scheme.

Which room are you decorating?

How much natural light does the room get?

What feeling do you want the room to have?

How big is the room?

---

Where to use each colour

Your saved palettes

How Do You Know If Your Room Has Too Many Colours?

You definitely have a colour riot in your room if:

• Every cushion is a different colour.
• Art introduces new tones that don’t repeat.
• Decor was bought individually, without a palette plan.
• Your eyes don’t know where to rest.

A cohesive room allows your eyes to move smoothly around the room.

Real Example of a Living Room Reset Using Only 3 Colours

Imagine a small living room with:

• A grey sofa
• Mustard cushions
• Blue throws
• Green plant pots
• Pink artwork
• A brown coffee table
• A beige area rug

Individually, they may be beautiful features, but together, they are competing with each other for attention. Now apply the 3-colour rule:

Base: Warm beige (walls and area rug).
Secondary: Soft brown (coffee table and chair).
Accent: Muted blue (cushions, artwork, and small decor items).

When you remove the mustard cushions and pink artwork:

• The room will feel calmer.
• The eye moves smoothly.
• Everything connects together.

Note that, although nothing expensive was added or changed, the colour structure improved.

Warm vs Cool Hues: Why Undertones Matter

One common mistake among decorating homeowners is mixing warm and cool tones unintentionally. Warm tones include:

• Cream
• Beige
• Warm wood
• Terracotta

Cool tones include:

• Blue-grey
• Crisp white
• Charcoal
• True grey

If your base is warm beige and your secondary is cool blue-grey, the room may feel slightly off. So, before choosing your three colours, first check the undertones. When there is consistency, then there is harmony.

What About Patterns?

You can absolutely use patterns as long as they include at least one of your three chosen colours. For example, a patterned cushion that contains beige, brown, and blue fits perfectly into the colour palette. Patterns should reinforce your colour choices, not introduce new dominant tones.

Can You Use More Than Three Colours?

Yes, you can, but they must be carefully introduced. You can include:

• Wood tones
• Greenery
• Metallics

These colours often act as neutrals, but if bold colours start exceeding three dominant hues, the room may lose clarity. When in doubt, reduce first and add later.

A Quick 5-Minute Colour Audit

Stand in your room and list the visible dominant colours. Ask yourself if:

• You see more than three strong tones.
• One colour dominates too much.
• The accent colour is repeated at least three times.
• Your chosen colours share similar undertones.

If the answer feels unclear, then your palette likely needs simplifying.

Why This Method Works in Small Spaces

Small rooms (especially) benefit from limited colour palettes. Too many colours, small spaces will feel cluttered, but with three, and in the right ratio, you will achieve visual continuity, beautiful calmness, and a more spacious look.

So, if you find that your small living room looks/feels busy, simplify your palette to instantly improve it.

Would You Like Some Help Choosing Your 3-Colour Palette?

If you would like a tool that will help you:

• Identify a base colour.
• Select a balanced secondary colour.
• Choose and repeat your accent colour with intention.

Or maybe audit your existing room decor, then: ↑ Try the free Room Colour Palette tool above

Final Thoughts

Decorating with three colours is not restrictive, but it’s more stylish and visually freeing. When your palette is clear and chosen with intent, then shopping for furnishings becomes easier, styling becomes simpler, and the rooms feel more finished, faster.

Structure creates calm, and calm is what you need to make your home feel comforting and aesthetically appealing.

Related Posts:

How to Fix a Room That Feels Messy, Disorganised, and Mismatched

How to Create Different Zones Within a Room

How to Develop an Interior Design Concept – 5 Basic Principles to Follow

How to Fix a Room That Feels Messy, Disorganised, and Mismatched

Why does your room feel messy or unfinished? Learn 5 simple interior design fixes to create a cohesive, balanced, and intentional space.

Let's say you bought the sofa, added attractive cushions, and hung art. And yet, something feels off. Or your room looks fine, but it appears unfinished. It feels mismatched, slightly chaotic, or visually confusing.

If you’ve ever searched:

• Why does my room feel unfinished?
• How to make a room look cohesive.
• How to fix mismatched decor.

You’re not alone. The good news? The problem is rarely your taste or your style.

In this guide, I will walk you through five clear steps to find out exactly why your room feels off, and how to fix it without starting over or overspending.

Step 1: Identify the Missing Anchor

Every well-designed room has a visual anchor. But first, what is an anchor? It is the element that:

• Make the space well-grounded.
• Draws the eye first.
• Organises everything else around it.

Common anchors include:

• A properly-sized patterned area rug.
• A statement wall-hung metal artwork.
• A fireplace with a classic look mantle.
• A headboard with built-in reading lights.
• A bold statue on a tall, clear Perspex display stand.

When a room lacks an anchor, everything is just… ‘blah’. Features and elements begin to float. And nothing feels intentionally set up.

Anchor Tests You Can Apply

Stand at your room’s doorway and ask yourself these three questions:

• What draws my eye immediately?
• Is there one clear focal point?
• Does my eye bounce around the room?

If you find that your eye keeps moving without settling on a focal point, it means that your space lacks a strong anchor.

How Do You Fix This?

Choose a dominant feature, and build around it. For instance, if it’s an area rug, ensure it is large enough to draw attention. If it is wall art, centre it properly. Scale it appropriately to the wall at the right height for optimal visibility. When your space's anchor is clear and outstanding, the interior cohesion improves instantly.

Step 2: Improve the Scale and Proportion

One of the most common reasons a room looks uninteresting and feels wrong is the incorrect scale and proportion of features and other interior elements.

Typical issues are, for example, when rugs are too small, art is hung too high (or low), a coffee table is too tiny, or the sectional is massive for a compact space. Another reason is having microscopic light fixtures in large, spacious rooms.

Scale is not about how much a piece costs. It’s about scale and proportion.

The Rug Rule

A living room rug should:

• Sit under at least the front legs of your seating.
• Ideally, extend beyond both sides of your sofa.

With a small rug, you are shrinking the entire room visually and making the furniture look (sort of) disconnected.

The Artwork Rule

• Artwork should generally be:
• Hung at eye level (roughly around 145–150 cm from the floor).
• Scaled to about 75% of the furniture width below it.

A tiny wall-hung art placed above a large sofa creates an imbalance.

The Coffee Table Rule

Your coffee table should be about two-thirds the length of your sectional or sofa and roughly the same height as the sofa seat.

Correcting the scale alone can transform a space without buying new furniture. Sometimes, all you need is repositioning.

Step 3: Simplify Your Colour Scheme

Many mismatched rooms suffer from colour overload. Imagine this scenario: You have blue cushions, jade green throws, gold-plated lamp stands, pink walls, and a Grey sofa!

Individually, each item may be beautiful or even pricey, but together, the look is a disaster. They all compete for attention.

Use the 60–30–10 Method

Here is a simple formula you can use. Professionals in the interior design industry use this principle as well. For the best working colour scheme, use:

60% dominant base colour.
30% secondary colour.
10% accent colour.

For example, choose colours as such:

60% warm neutrals.
30% soft browns.
10% muted blues.

Use your accent colour in at least three different places in the room. Like blue cushions on the sofa, some blue detail in the wall art, and a blue vase on a side table.

When a colour appears more than once, it starts to feel intentional instead of random. The repetition helps make the space appear connected and balanced.

If your room feels chaotic, limit your palette and repeat deliberately.

Step 4: Add Visual Layers

A room feels unfinished and messy when it lacks depth. If your interior space looks flat, it probably has:

• Just one overhead light.
• Minimal textiles and textures.
• Bare walls.
• Few height variations.

A finished room must feel layered. Layering includes utilising lighting, textiles, height variations, and natural elements.

Lighting:

Overhead
Table lamps
Floor lamps
Accent lighting

Textiles and textures:

Rugs
Curtains
Cushions
Throws

Height variation:

Tall plants
Low coffee tables
Medium-height side tables

Natural elements:

Wood
Woven textures (rattan, etc.)
Greenery

Layering makes a room feel intentional and lived-in and not staged or sparse. So if your space feels flat, you don’t need more furniture. You need layered detail.

Step 5: Remove What Doesn’t Add Value

Clutter makes a nonsense of an interior. When too many items compete for attention, even a well-designed room feels messy. To remove what adds no value to your space, try this 30% edit challenge:

Remove 30% of your decor.
Step away for a few hours.
Return and reintroduce only what truly adds balance to the room.

Often, you will find that the room instantly feels calmer, airier, and more stylish. Simplifying the space is not about minimalism but about clarity.

A Real-Life Example of a Small Living Room Reset

Imagine a typical suburban living room, with:

• A big beige sofa.
• Small patterned rug.
• Random blue and mustard cushions.
• Tiny artwork.
• A single ceiling light.
• A small coffee table.

This mix is very mismatched. It feels like a decorating mess, as well.

Now, to fix this mismatch, apply the five steps:

1. Replace the rug with a larger neutral rug that fits under the seating and extends from the sides of the sofa.
2. Swap tiny artwork for one large statement piece that visibly stands out over the sofa.
3. Reduce accent colours to one (eg, muted blue repeated in cushions and art).
4. Add a floor lamp and a textured throw.
5. Remove the excess small decor.

The Result

The room has not changed in cost, but it now feels cohesive, calm, intentional, and aesthetically appealing.

Summary: Why Rooms Feel Off

If your room feels cluttered, unfinished, or decoratively messy, it’s usually one of these:

• There is no clear focal point (anchor).
• Using an incorrect scale.
• There are too many competing colours.
• Lack of visual layering.
• There is too much visual noise.

Before going out to shop, notice what is missing first, then fix it.

Will You Like a Free Printable Step-by-Step Room Diagnosis?

If you’d like to walk through this process with a clear worksheet, I created something for you. And it’s free. The Room Clarity Blueprint is a 7-page printable guide that helps you:

1. Identify your room’s anchor.
2. Test scale and proportion.
3. Refine your colour scheme.
4. Assess layering.
5. Create a focused action plan.

It helps to turn this article into a practical working session.

Download the Room Clarity Blueprint here.

When Your Space Begins to Look and Feel Finished.

A room rarely feels wrong because you lack style. It only does because it lacks structure. Once you understand anchors, proportion, colour rhythm, layering, and editing, you will stop decorating randomly and start designing intentionally.

And that’s when your space begins to look and feel finished.

Related Posts:

How to Develop an Interior Design Concept – 5 Basic Principles to Follow
How to Create Different Zones Within a Room

4 Bedroom Design Ideas with Exotic Ethnic Flair

An ethnic bedroom design offers several style potentials that are not restricted to concepts related to African, North American, and Australian natives. Contrary to the general belief that ethnic designs are tribal, the concept of the style can often be associated with the exotic. The bedroom is one of the interior spaces that can translate the style in a striking manner.

From subtle earth tones and rough textures to vivacious colours and elaborate patterns, fashioning your bedroom in an ethnic style means that it is infused with both traditional and art-inspired features and elements typical of the style’s theme.

Creating a bedroom design depicting an ethnic theme is easy to achieve and fun to put together, and in a contemporary bedroom set-up, the trick is to ensure you complement your modern furniture with different local art, furnishings, and finishes.

A modern bedroom with an ethnic touch. Notice the wall art, headboard, and bedspread - all ethnic elements, set in a modern bedroom with a clean tiled floor, a modern wall sconce, and Venetian blinds.

How to Create an Ethnic Theme Bedroom

If you wish to create an ethnic theme, though some may disagree, it is best to keep within a particular theme rather than create a mishmash of ethnic elements. For instance, if you wish to create a Mexican ethnic theme, mixing Mexican elements with traditional native American themes may end up giving the bedroom an undefined look.

Using the word 'ethnic or tribal' may sound objectionable to people who don’t appreciate the artistic interest this holds for some designers, decorators, and homeowners, but being ethnically inclined means having an interest in the arts and crafts of ancient times that can be incorporated with modern features.

Examples of ethnic bedroom interior design are:

African theme

With a sleek modern bed, nightstand, and dresser introduce elements like:

• An African tribal mask mounted on the wall (or wall-hung talking drums).
• A heavily patterned handwoven rug on a stone floor finish.
• A couple of large floor pillows covered in rustic textiles or African prints.
• Collection of décor objects like artefacts,
• Stone or hardwood floor finish.
• Faux animal skin.
• Woven baskets and wood carvings.
• Brass or copper sculptures.
• Pendant lights and table lamps with textured fabric, feathers or shades.

The bedroom design may contain all or a minimum of four of the listed elements to create an ethnic look.

Japanese ethnic theme 

For an oriental inclined ethnic bedroom décor, use a low bed with side cabinets and a chest and introduce furnishings like:

• Umbrella-art inspired ornaments
• Oriental hanging lanterns or table lamps
• A two-panel folding screen.
• Traditional Japanese plants, like bonsai and bamboo.
• Tabletop water feature. Elements of water are important in Japanese homes.
• Bamboo wood flooring or stone tile floor finish.
• Simple bamboo window shades, or sheer, gauzy fabrics for curtain panels.

Japanese style revolves around a clean, orderly, and uncluttered look, with all elements set together in a balanced order.

Mediterranean ethnic theme

The Mediterranean style is primarily a fusion of several different sub-styles influenced by the colourful and classic Spanish influences, the Greek style with hues of blue, turquoise and plenty of white, and the old-world charm of the Italian style. There is also the bold influence of the Moroccan style that can take a bedroom in an entirely different direction. Bedroom furnishings you’ll require to create an ethnic style include:

• A white backdrop of walls and natural, but vibrant, earth hues.
• One textured wall.
• Wrought iron light fixtures.
• Moroccan rug.
• Wrought iron chandelier.
• Wall art with images of Mediterranean scenery.

The Indian touch

The two main elements of Indian design are their rich colours and exotic textures, and adding Indian features to your ethnic bedroom design gives an intriguing effect. From furniture to décor items, the unique traditional pieces typical of the region include:

• Handwoven Ikats textiles and upholstery.
• Indian embroidered cushion covers
• Wood floor lamp.
• Ottomans
• Colourful lanterns.
• Ethnic solid wood bedside tables
• Copper vases.
• Silk cushions
• Indian ethnic cotton bedcovers.
• Traditional India carpet.
• Glasswork and ceramic vase.
• Brocade upholstery.
• Kashmiri rug.

A Mix of Different Styles

This can be dicey unless you want an eclectic theme. If you have to, don’t for instance, mix a Moroccan theme with other styles like Asian or Hispanic. Moroccan is an African theme so it's best to keep it African. A good mix will be a Moroccan theme with a dash of Safari East Africa.

Blending elements of the American prairie bedroom design with some Latin American basics will give a surprisingly stylish look. Also, you can combine Native American with Prairie furniture décor and a couple of understated tropical themes.

Luxurious bedroom setting in predominantly ethnic style.

Blending the Modern with Ethnic Design

If you're not one for the total ethnic look, you can mix ethnic furnishings with modern bedroom furniture. Alternatively, you can have ethnic furniture enhanced with modern finishes and decor. But how can you create this effect?

It's not that hard, considering there is no hard and fast rule on how to achieve a successful mix. But there must be a balance.

• Use beds, headboards, and/or chests with clean classic lines and then incorporate ethnic furnishings, like an accent chair or two, with a carved stool or chest and a modern reading lamp.
• Spread a plain white modern duvet on the bed and arrange some African print throw pillows at the head of the bed. A faux animal print rug like zebra, leopard, or tiger prints at the foot of a modern sleek bed set.
• Hang metal artwork on the focal wall of the room which is usually at the bedhead. Add Moroccan pendants or fretwork lamps to illuminate the room by casting out patterns on the walls. Let everything else in the bedroom consist of modern furniture.
• Set an ethnic fretwork divider against the wall to serve as a headboard or use it as a screen to hide away an open wardrobe or clothes rail.
• Add ethnic texture to a modern bedroom setting through fabrics, window coverings, duvet covers, upholstery, wall art, or lampshades.

Use decorations to replicate the modern or ethnic look. These decorations include vases, candle holders, tabletop ornaments, stone or wood carvings, aromatherapy oil burners, etc... Little details like these will create a theme that works well together.

Ethnic oriental bedroom design with a blend of modern style.

Some other ethnic-style furnishings you can add to your bedroom design include:

• All kinds of pottery
• Animal-inspired ornaments
• Umbrella art, painted wall fans, and classic paper lamps
• Traditional incense holders
• Hammered metal sconces
• Beaded box containers
• Chests
• Handwoven rattan tables

A modern minimalist bedroom layout with a rustic floor finish, a modern chair, and contemporary table/reading lamps. The setting is typical of an ethnic theme.

Ethnic decor colours you can blend with a modern bedroom interior design include white, off-white, earth colours like ochre, burnt orange, bright red, deep shades of blue, all shades of brown, terracotta, and sand. All these warm hues will add a comforting cosiness to any bedroom fashioned after the ethnic style.

(Article originally published at hubpages.com on 01/07/13)

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Bedroom Design Ideas for Stylish Bachelors Who Love Their Privacy

There is something undeniably refined about a well-designed bachelor bedroom. It is stylish, masculine, and designed with intention. It is spotless and clutter-free, with every object in its designated space. It has a strong and personal style. Why? Because the occupant is a guy who values his privacy and will not compromise on comfort. His bedroom is more than a place to sleep. It is a retreat that reflects his character.

Image: Created by viryabo@polyvore

  

What Makes a Man’s Bedroom Stylish?

A man’s idea of style is rarely complicated because he chooses things that match his vibes and personality. But first, functionality takes precedence. Aside from these, he knows what he likes and chooses accordingly.

Apart from the essentials: a bed, dresser, nightstands, and perhaps an accent chair, what makes his room tastefully styled? It's in the details, the seemingly small (but effective) touches that bring life into the room.

• One bold piece of wall art or a small cluster of black & white framed photos.
• Personal mementoes and keepsakes like trophies, plaques, medals, and awards.
• A proudly displayed sports jersey.
• An occasional chair with suede or leather throw pillows.
• A runner or area rug with bold geometric lines, abstract art, or textured patterns.
• A table/display shelf with small collectables that tell stories.
• Materials like leather, dark wood, or metal. While leather connotes power, resilience, and sophistication, dark wood is classic, impressive, and bold, and metal is modern, sleek, and masculine.

The top color choices are grey, navy, white, brown, black, deep plum and steel blue.

With carefully chosen and well-placed elements, a man can turn his simple room into a lived-in masculine haven that is stylish without being showy and personal without being crowded.

Some Furnishings You'll Find in a Man's Stylish Bedroom
Image: Created by viryabo@polyvore

Privacy, Style, and Masculinity

So, what are the benefits of a thoughtfully designed room? And why will some men never settle for less? Here are some reasons why:

1. They have total control over their space.
2. They have the freedom to design and furnish as desired.
3. They have a clutter-free, calming, serene, and orderly comfort zone.
4. There is nobody around to disorganise the space and disturb its serenity.
5. Everything object, no matter its size, has its place.

The bachelor's bedroom should be his kingdom, a place to live the single life in style. It must be private. It should be stylish. It must ooze masculinity. But best of all, personal.

50+ Creative Men's Bedroom Decor Ideas (Video)

 

Being a bachelor means having the space to fully express who you are, in the way that feels right to you. When your bedroom reflects your confidence and taste, you don’t just sleep better — you live better.

Now, tell me, which bachelor won't desire a great and enticing bedroom design that sends out a statement of pure untainted masculinity?

 

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African-Themed Ethnic-Style Interior Design Idea

African-styled ethnic interior design in modern-day home styling is often associated with exotic interiors. The style is embraced by creative and artsy people who love ideas that make them stand out "from the crowd".

An ethnic-style interior setting.
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

Ethnic interiors are associated with bold patterns, textures, vivid earth tones, unusual forms, artwork, and some eccentricity.

Many believe ethnic designs are tribal. While many more think tribal designs connote ethnicity. They are all right in many ways. How? The ethnic decor is a beautiful mix of tribe, tradition, art, nature, and the elements.

How to Transform a Room Into an Ethnic Haven

Transforming an interior space into a stylishly-ethnic haven from scratch is simple. It is fun to put together because there are no rules per se, only three basic requirements typical of the theme.

1. Natural (plants, jute, clay).
2. Traditional (wood, fabrics, furniture).
3. Art (carvings, sculptures, local art, handmade crafts, animal prints).

The requirements reflect the African cultural identity and traditions.

Assuming you already have the basic furniture all set in place: sofa, coffee table, armchair, side tables, dining set, etc., add some of the listed to enhance or upgrade the space to an ethnic-styled interior:

• African tribal mask (one large piece or a group of three smaller ones).
• Wall-hung talking drum.
• Handwoven rug with a tribal pattern.
• Large floor pillows (for sofa) - a mix of plain textured fabrics and African prints.
• Leather pouffes (footstools).
• Planters (terracotta, rattan, handwoven baskets).
• Display wood carvings, stone sculptures, and other small-size artefacts on surfaces (tables, stands, floating shelves).
• Faux animal skin throws.
• Large brass, copper, or clay urns.
• Lampshades (made from local Ankara or loom-woven fabrics).

Bedroom design with a touch of ethnic.
(Image used under license from 123rf.com)

If the room is already styled contemporary (or modern), you can add tribal accents and complements. Add at least five items to create an aesthetically pleasing ethnic interior decor. This type of mix with a modern style works best for most.

Going totally ethnic may end up looking consuming and overwhelming. But there is no rule against going the whole nine yards. Some like it that way.

African-Inspired Home Decor (Video)

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