12 Essential Modern Bedroom Ideas to Know Before Decorating |
Most modern bedroom ideas get dismissed for being boring or bland, when it fact, they are quite the opposite. Modern doesn’t have to mean lacking in character, but rather refers to a spaces that feel balanced, considered, even timeless.
Whether it’s your choice of bed frame, the way you experiment with color, the layout of your room, or the furnishings you choose to decorate it with, there are plenty of modern bedroom ideas that designers incorporate into their spaces time and time again.
Below we’ve shared some of the best ways we’ve seen to give your bedroom a modern edge, while ensuring it still feels soothing enough for slumber.
1. Be Playful With Color
Light blue walls needn’t be confined to children’s’ bedrooms. They can be used to build sophisticated palettes, too.
(Image credit: Megan Taylor. Design: Cúpla)
Don’t be afraid to experiment with colorful bedroom ideas, like this space by London-based multidisciplinary studio, Cúpla. There are ways to ensure brightly colored spaces still feel curated, not childish.
“The balance of colors is really important,” explains Gemma McCloskey, founder of Cúpla. For this modern bedroom idea, “The mustard and burnt orange ground the light seafoam wallpaper and provide depth which stops if being childish,” she says, adding that “the vintage side tables also help to avoid this and gives a sense of culture.”
2. Introduce Color Through Bedding
Bedding allows you to experiment with new colors and styles without making a big commitment.
(Image credit: Pablo Veiga. Design: Smac Studio. Styling: Olga Lewis)
If playing with color on the walls feels like too much of a commitment, experimenting with your soft furnishings is another option — one interior designer Shona McElroy of Smac Studio is a big advocate for.
“This Uzbekistan Vintage Suzani blanket from Cadrys adds interest and personality to a neutral space,” she says. “Bedding is also easily swapped out, so you can go with whatever shade or pattern you’re feeling that day. I always encourage clients to play really tonal in the bedroom, it should feel cohesive and calm. Right now I’m loving warm shades of linen and rich browns together.”
Puebla Quilted Bedspread, Multi
A riot of colors, this folk-style quit is an easy way to introduce pattern, texture, and a sense of play into your modern bedroom ideas.
3. Or Opt For a Pared-Back Palette
Modern bedrooms ideas often translate to minimal, but that doesn’t have to mean boring.
(Image credit: Gieves Anderson. Design: David Frazier)
If choosing a bold bedroom color idea feels overwhelming, you can still stick to something simpler and more pared-back without it feeling flat or boring.
“Ensuring that a pared-back palette still feels interesting requires a delicate balance of texture and contrast,” explains interior designer David Frazier. “In this bedroom, we focused on a rich mix of materials — side tables crafted from reclaimed, ebonized wood, paired with a linen headboard and bedding — to create depth and visual intrigue. Floor-to-ceiling draperies contribute warmth and softness, enhancing the overall ambiance that ultimately results in a space that feels both refined and livable.”
David Frazier is a NYC-based architectural and interior designer with a strong belief in the important of place-based architecture. That means, he designs spaces that reflect the lives of their inhabitants — combining modern-day comforts with plenty charm and personality.
4. Style a Bench Seat at the Foot of the Bed
You don’t want your bedroom too feel cluttered, so finding multifunctional furniture is key.
(Image credit: Brian Wetzel. Design: Melissa & Miller. Styling: Kristi Hunter)
If you’ve got the space, styling a bench seat or even modern daybed at the foot of your bed can serve a number of functional and aesthetic purposes.
“We always like to add additional seating in a bedroom, even if it becomes a place to perch while putting on shoes, or an area to rest clothes,” explains Melissa Urdang Bodie, co-founder of Melissa & Miller, who designed the modern bedroom shown above. “It also provides aesthetic value, both by adding another beautiful texture and in terms of grounding out the bed. It acts as a frame for the room, and elongates the space.”
5. Start With a Statement Headboard
Headboards can often anchor a space, but are also a great starting point for developing an aesthetic for the space.
(Image credit: Sergey Krasyuk. Design: Shefler Interiors. Styling: Natalie Onufreychuk)
When it comes to styling modern bedroom ideas, a statement headboard is a good place to focus, as it can help anchor the rest of the room. It’s where Lada Shefler, founder of Shefler Interiors, started with the modern bedroom shown above, selecting a soft and feminine fabric from Lelièvre Paris.
“The terrazzo-inspired textile, with flecks of rose and clay, gave me the palette to build from and set the tone for the space: warm, tactile, and quietly joyful,” she shares. “Though designed as a guest room, the family’s little girl might one day move in, so I wanted the space to feel playful. The headboard became the focal point — not just for its shape, but for its personality. Once it was in place, everything else followed naturally: soft, clean walls, tonal bedding, natural textures in the wood, woven rug, and dusty rose pendants.”
6. Or Extend the Headboard from Wall-to-Wall
Let your headboard become part of the architecture, for a real hotel-vibe.
(Image credit: Lauren Miller. Design: Studio Brocca)
But when it comes to choosing a headboard, look beyond the bed. In this modern bedroom, interior designer Samantha Brocca, founder of Studio Brocca, opted for an extended headboard as a way to introduce some character to the space.
“The bed sits between two perpendicular walls, which gave us a naturally cozy nook to work with,” she shares. “To keep things intentional and balanced, we added a seam in the headboard where the wall trim runs — it frames the nightstands nicely and helps direct attention to the sconces at each end. Just a little detail that pulls the whole wall together.”
7. Get Creative with Custom Furniture
Image 1 of 2
Modern bedroom ideas should be surprising, different, and design-forward. And what ticks all those boxes more than a sinuous, cantilevered built-in bench seat, as seen wrapping the walls of this bedroom by Studio Carol Egan.
“We designed a custom wraparound sofa to give the appearance of floating furniture, which lends itself to a clean, crisp, minimal aesthetic,” says New York-based designer, Carol Egan.
She even went so far as to round the corners of the bed to match, proving modern design doesn’t have to feel stark or severe — it can be soft and playful, too.
Carol Egan is an award-winning New York based designer with a particular interest in the way technology and design intersect, and as a result, creates modern spaces filled with unexpected and unique forms.
8. Add Warmth With Textured Wall Finishes
Wallpapers don’t have to be busy prints, they can also be a way to layer in texture to your modern bedroom ideas.
(Image credit: Mark Durling. Design: Alana Marie Interiors)
Textured wall finishes, whether that’s renders, limewash paint ideas, or grasscloth wallpapers, as seen in this modern bedroom idea, are an easy way to add instant warmth to an otherwise pared-back space.
“In the main bedroom, previously painted all white, grasscloth wallpaper in hues of sand, ivory, and gray with peach undertones brings warmth and texture to the space,” explains interior designer Alana Marie, principal at Alana Marie Interiors. “It ended up being a favorite feature in the room. This space represents the ultimate in laid-back luxury.”
9. Or a Fun Wallpaper
Wallpapers in darker colors or busier prints work the same way as color-drenching a bedroom — they make it feel enveloping and cozy.
(Image credit: Gieves Anderson. Design: David Frazier)
And of course, when it comes to decorating your walls, there are also endless wallpaper ideas to choose from. But how do you make sure it still feels modern, and not too traditional?
“It’s important to consider the print, scale, and overall application,” says interior designer David Frazier. For this modern bedroom, he selected a wallpaper with rich hues and an intricate pattern.
“We paired it with furnishings that feature soft, organic silhouettes to create a cohesive yet dynamic look,” he explains. “This wallcovering not only anchors the space but also establishes a distinct atmosphere — making a confident statement without overwhelming the room.”
When it comes to contemporary spaces, David says that geometric patterns are often the go-to, but he felt the sculptural lines and tonal contrast of this design worked in this space. “The floral motif on the wallcovering is elevated by the pairing of a vintage Turkish kilim rug and a contemporary sculpted marble side table by Matthew Fisher,” he adds.
Although it features a bold print, this wallpaper by Farrow & Ball still oozes with delicate charm, while its dark hue envelops you.
10. Create Cohesion with a Seamless Material Palette
Modern bedroom ideas are often sleek and sophisticated, and a pared-back material palette helps keep things streamlined.
(Image credit: Matthew Millman. Design: CLB Architects)
The built-in larch millwork in this modern bedroom idea, with integrated storage and nightstands, helps to build on this home’s ethos of simplicity, paring back the need for too many furnishings or finishes.
“Larch extends to walls and ceilings, creating a cohesive and serene environment, while concrete floors and stainless steel accents lend durability and a refined edge,” adds Jeffrey Johnston, project manager at CLB Architects. “This restraint in materials demanded thoughtful detailing, with each element contributing to a unified and harmonious design where the house itself becomes akin to a piece of art.
11. Elevate the Look by Elevating the Design
It’s not just about how you use your floor space, but thinking about ways you can use the vertical space in your room, too.
(Image credit: Richard Powers. Design: Studio Carol Egan)
In this modern bedroom idea, designer Carol Egan was able to effortlessly elevate the look of the entire bedroom, simply by elevating the bed.
“We built an architectural step which does double duty as a platform for the bed and bedside tables,” she explains of the space. Not only does it instantly create a sense of interest in the space, but it accentuates the interesting silhouette of the ceiling, and provides the perfect place to squeeze some extra built-in storage under the bed.
12. Add an Additional Seating Area
An additional seating area will help make your bedroom feel like somewhere you want to spend time in.
(Image credit: Scott Norsworthy. Design: ACDO)
A separate seating or lounging area is a simple way to make a bedroom feel like a hotel — and a five-star one, at that.
“Larger bedrooms are increasingly incorporating distinct seating areas, mirroring hotel suites and fostering a sense of expanded space,” elaborates Abraham Chan, co-founder of ACDO, who designed the modern bedroom shown above. “This addition transforms the private chamber into a personal observatory, offering a dedicated vantage point to engage with the outside view. It’s a subtle shift, prioritizing quiet contemplation and a deeper connection to the surrounding environment within the intimacy of one’s own room.”
Metro Lane Dareli Tufted Chenille
Positioned by the window or in a dressing room, having a separate seating area will give your bedroom idea that modern edge.
FAQs
How Do You Style a Modern Bedroom?
When it comes to the styling point of your modern bedroom ideas, it’s often the smallest touches that have the biggest impact. Changing the bulb in your lighting to something soft and ambient, decorating your nightstand with something personal, and layering throws on the bed and rugs on the floor for added softness.
“We prefer a wooden floor as it feels more modern, but you still need softness underfoot, so a rug is important,” says interior designer Adele Lonergan. “Choose an under-bed rug that extends past your bedside tables to give that sense of luxe.”
Got a particularly small space you’re working with? There are plenty of small bedroom ideas that can trick the eye to make it feel bigger, better, and more beautiful than you’d ever believe.
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