There’s much to consider when artfully assembling this oh-so important serene space, so we turned to top interior designers who use RH furniture and accessories to create their schemes to give us their bedroom idea must-haves for creating the ultimate retreat. These are their favorite ways to design a bedroom, the RH way.
RH bedroom ideas
From bed ideas to considering wellness, these RH bedroom ideas will inspire your new scheme.
1. Set the mood with lighting
Focussing hard on bedroom lighting ideas to get the mood right is all important. ‘Lighting is everything,’ New York-based interior designer Cara Woodhouse (opens in new tab) declares. ‘Whether you want to set a mood or light up the entire space, the key is layering lighting.’ Woodhouse often opts for recessed lighting for practical purposes but defers to a variety of sconces and lamps to create alternative moods. Houston-based designer Katie Davis (opens in new tab) steers clear of overhead lights. ‘In a bedroom we use lower lighting,’ she explains, ‘at different heights and layer it into the space because it’s good to have options when you’re tired or more awake.’ South Florida-based designer Laetitia Laurent, of Laure Nell Interiors (opens in new tab), echoes the power of dimly lit interiors. ‘Soft dimmable lighting is the only option in a bedroom,’ she states. ‘It leads to peace, rest, intimacy and feeling energized.’
2. Layer for better sleep
RH bedroom ideas are typically packed with layering. And what’s a bedroom without layers of tactile interest, after all? ‘Good sheets, amazing mattress, great night table lamps and a candle by my side table,’ are Woodhouse’s must-haves. ‘Layers and various textures are necessary for comfort, but increasing fabric elements to absorb sound also helps to damper noise,’ says New York-based designer Laurence Carr (opens in new tab), who also thinks they aid better sleep. ‘This is where you want to pay special attention in order to achieve those amazing nights of uninterrupted sleep.’
3. Introduce a mix of materials
Senior designer of Ontario-based design firm Aspen & Ivy, Ria DaCosta explains that a well-designed space often has a mix of several materials, from metal and wood to fabric and stone, offering depth and intrigue to a space. This can be kickstarted by headboard ideas. ‘I love an upholstered headboard on a wood-frame bed with stone nightstands topped with metal table lamps,’ says DaCosta. ‘Design is all about marrying together various pieces and materials to best complement each other, creating a layered and dynamic bedroom that can be explored and enjoyed.’ Woodhouse drives home the notion that your bed is the single most important consideration in the bedroom. ‘This is where you spend half your life,’ she asserts. ‘I regularly hear, “I don’t care about my bedroom because no one will see it” and I think that should definitely not be your thought process when it comes to your bedroom!’
4. Choose a stylish bed as a focal point
Houston-based designer Nina Magon (opens in new tab) points out the design integrity a fashionable bed adds within a bedroom. ‘Selecting a stylish bed will create a lovely eye-catching focal point within the bedroom design,’ she explains. ‘Beds range in many different styles and can be customized in various ways, so there is always a way to really add a personal touch and style to this important design element.’ When it comes to bed styles, Laurent adds, ‘Lately I’ve been loving boxed velvet platform beds – they feel very luxe and grounded.’ Davis shares, ‘We always put an antique in a bedroom, it adds some age and soul to the space.’
5. Make it feel luxurious
When it comes to finding the best bed sheets, Laurent turns to lighter threads that look clean and crisp against a contrasting headboard. Toronto-based interior designer Anne Hepfer (opens in new tab) has her own recipe for creating welcoming soft spots in the bedroom. ‘Good bedding that looks full enough to sink into is always the goal,’ she explains. ‘We spend so much time in bed that shopping for bed linens is not the time to economize! Invest in bedding that makes you want to curl up and close your eyes.’
6. Plan for well-being
Just as great bedding is a must, so is choosing the best mattress. ‘The ability for one’s furniture, especially your mattress, to support your body and adapt to your pressure points can ensure proper rest, and more energy during the day,’ notes Carr.
7. Choose the best color for your bedroom
If you are looking for bedroom color ideas, it’s vital to think beyond your favorite shades. Asking, ‘Which color is best for a bedroom?’ should be centered around the need to create a space that’s perfect for inducing sleep, too. ‘One also has to consider color psychology – the colors you choose play a large role in the emotional response one has to a space.’ Harking back to our bedrooms being our sanctuaries, whether bright or dark, subtle or rich, the color psychology of this space must speak personally to its inhabitants. Hepfer adds, ‘A sense of comfort and serenity that begins with a comfy bed and extends to all the tactile elements you encounter in a bedroom, from the linen of the toss cushions to the glaze of a lamp,’ she continues, ‘when properly considered, everything in a bedroom should make you want to exhale a sigh of relief.’
8. Choose a serene color palette
‘I think when you create a zen-den vibe you feel it and can relax and rest your mind, body and soul,’ muses Woodhouse. ‘I love creating softer palettes in bedrooms to give a serene feeling – spaces filled with creamy whites and light tones of color definitely do the trick.’ And when it comes to furniture, stick with your palette. Woodhouse notes, ‘You can lighten up your bedroom with furnishings as well and try to make things as highly functional as possible whether it’s through task reading lights next to your bed or adding a carafe of water with glasses ready for each night.’
9. Add space for seating
If you’re considering bedroom furniture ideas, don’t underestimate the restorative nature of a cozy seating or reading nook in your bedroom. ‘I love the idea of a sitting area in a bedroom,’ mentions Davis. Laurent echoes the sentiment, adding, ‘I use the Cloud Sectional (opens in new tab) on repeat along with many Ben Soleimani rugs (opens in new tab) in bedrooms I design, but I think the Royce chaise (opens in new tab) is one of my personal favorites.’ Woodhouse also recognizes the significance of a reflective seating area in a bedroom design. ‘I love creating a serene feeling and experience and intentional seating adds to the storytelling,’ she explains. ‘It is the place where we spend most of our time in and it’s such an important room in our homes.’
10. Layer with bedroom rugs
Cara Woodhouse believes that adding that soft, luxurious bedroom rug ideas underfoot help to ground the space and sets your senses in the right direction each morning. Laurent shares that ‘a good rug is essential. You want to step onto a soft cloud, and I like to introduce subtle contrast with a rug, a higher pile with some silk or viscose to allow the light to bounce off of it and give that beautiful sheen.’
What kind of bedroom style is RH?
At its core, a RH bedroom is seemingly formulaic and functional with a shabby chic edge, with vintage accessories and distressed furniture. But its in the artful assembly of these elements that take it from a store-bought look to a special space we lay our heads at night to serene sanctuary. ‘The bedroom’s base elements – like the bed, nightstands, and dressers – create a prescriptive landscape,’ explains interior designer Anne Hepfer, ‘and then we add soft, sumptuous layers and accessories to make it more special and meaningful.’
Which RH bedroom furniture to buy?
Interior designer Anne Hepfer prefers RH nightstands because of their superior quality for a fair price. She also notes, ‘They also provide ample storage space so you can keep your sightlines clutter-free.’ Designer Katie Davis shares that she turns to the Maison Cane bed (opens in new tab) for interest in a bedroom. ‘The cane detail is something different that adds warmth and texture like wood, but is not too heavy,’ she says. Woodhouse, on the other hand, is partial to curves and often recommends the Lotus bed (opens in new tab) to her clients. ‘It is super curvy and imparts softness to the room,’ she explains. ‘It makes you want to jump in it and go to sleep, and I also like to pair it with the Wyeth Travertine Nightstands (opens in new tab).’ Philadelphia designer Maria Viola- Kuttruff (opens in new tab) looks to RH for textural cues. ‘RH has incredible table options that display textual materiality like faux shagreen or boucle – perfect for a bedroom,” she says. ‘And, you can’t underestimate the cool factor texture brings to a bedroom.’
