Design & Decor

Bedroom Design and Furnishing: Where to Save and Where to Splurge

Story Highlights
  • Splurge: Mattress
  • Save: Headboard
  • Splurge: Comforter (and bedding)
  • Save: Nightstands
  • Splurge: Area rugs
  • Save: Accent lighting
  • Splurge: The walls
  • Save: Decorative accessories
  • Splurge: Window treatments

Sleep is something many people are willing to sacrifice in their busy lives, and many of us pay attention to the quantity of sleep we manage to get but underestimate the importance of sleep quality

But did you know that an average person spends more than 20 years sleeping? This makes the design and furnishing of the bedroom more important than you might think. 

Still, upgrading and redesigning are both expensive affairs, and you need to think carefully about where you are going to invest and how much you are willing to spend. We’re here to help you choose what’s worth spending on:

Splurge: Mattress

When a mattress doesn’t provide proper back support, it may interrupt your sleep and contribute to back pain. It can also cause you to wake up not well-rested and tired throughout the day.

Poor-quality mattresses also tend to decline in their support in a short time, so it’s clear that there is no place for tight budgeting here. 

When buying a mattress, make sure you try it out to see whether it can keep your spine in a neutral position and support all of your pressure points (the heaviest parts of your body).

Some of the great choices are memory foam, gel-infused foam, and airbed. A good mattress should last 10 years and since you spend almost one-third of your life on them, they are usually a very good investment. 

Save: Headboard

While a headboard is not a necessary element of a bedroom, it surely makes an outstanding visual component.

This, however, does not mean that you need to spend a lot of money on a headboard. There are beautiful items available for a fraction of that price, and you can even get crafty and make your own headboard.

Splurge: Comforter (and bedding)

It’s easy to find cheap bedding and comforters, but should you settle for that? 

Your bedding and comforter affect the quality of your sleep and the health of your skin. When buying bedding, opt for natural fabrics such as cotton. For a softer feel, go for a higher thread count.

For the perfect finishing touch, find a comforter that will keep you warm and cozy but not overheated. 

Save: Nightstands 

Everyone needs a bedside table, which is a valuable addition to the bedroom both in terms of functionality and aesthetics.

Almost every furniture store has affordable nightstands that look just as lovely as the high-end ones.

The DIY options are also incredible. You can up-cycle wooden beams, stack wooden crates, tailor a nightstand with salvaged wood (for a true vintage bedroom feel), plant a wooden crate on hairpin legs, etc.

Splurge: Area rugs

Having something warm to land your feet on in the morning is a blessing. An area rug has the additional function of protecting the floor from scratches.

An extra plus is that it looks amazing and gives the room a more layered, warm appearance. Since it’s not something that you will change often, you might as well put some extra money into it. 

Save: Accent lighting

Layered lighting is both functional and gorgeous. It makes the room look bigger and warmer. It boosts the ambiance of the entire space.

While you might spend a few extra dollars on the ceiling fixture, attractive bedside lamps come in different styles and sizes can be quite affordable. 

Splurge: The walls

The walls will influence your bedroom’s style, and if you choose the color well, they will help you fall asleep much faster. Opt for a cool tone instead of a warm one because it will reduce stress and ease you into sleep. 

Quality paint that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals is not something you should save on. Also, if you are feeling bold, you can spend extra on a catchy wallpaper for one accent wall.

Save: Decorative accessories

Do you really need that expensive vase on your nightstand? Probably not.

The bedroom should be a place of serenity and, as such, it should contain as few decorative items as possible. Keep the decoration subtle with a couple of affordable items that enhance the beauty of the space. 

You can rely on artwork to achieve a striking visual feel without disrupting the tranquility of the room. Art pieces can be effective without being expensive. You can even frame a series of black and white photos to tell a compelling story. 

Splurge: Window treatments

Blocking the outdoor light is essential in the bedroom because you don’t want anything to disrupt your sleep. Custom drapery is not only a good way to block the light, but also an additional decorative piece. By going custom, you can choose the color and the appropriate length, proportional to the ceiling height.

Creating a bedroom that is both functional and beautiful doesn’t have to be expensive. But it also cannot be done on a shoestring budget.

You need to know how to pick your battles to get the best out of the project. Hopefully, the ideas above will help you with that. 

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