The average cost of updating a bedroom ranges from £1,500 to £4,500 according to Checkatrade, depending on the scale of the project.
Whether you’re transforming your sanctuary into a sumptuous boudoir or a chic minimalist haven, the renovation process starts the same way.
And it all begins with the design.
1. Designing the bedroom
Collect inspiration
First things first, you'll need to decide your theme and colour scheme as everything will build from here.
A mood board is a great place to start when decorating any room. Collecting textures, colours, swatches and swathes of fabric will help you to set the atmosphere for your sleeping sanctuary.
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Pinterest is brilliant for collating ideas for inspo, while major department stores and curtain suppliers offer collections of colour swatches for you to take home and compare.
Gather samples for blinds, wallpaper and carpet and you’ll soon see your look coming together.
Think about lighting too, you’ll definitely want ambient warmth for cosy evenings.
Decide the colour scheme
It helps to build a design cohesiveness if you have one main colour theme complimented by two accent colours.
You might choose raw plaster for your wall colour and pebble white and sage green for your accents, for example.
Start with three colours and it’ll help you to tie everything else together later.
Natural hues are making a comeback for 2023, think sage greens and bare wood for the ultimate in sleep chic.
Zoe Warren at PriceYourJob.co.uk says: “Try experimenting in your bedroom with a range of neutral, natural materials that bring you back to nature, while keeping decor and furnishings simple and to a minimum.
“Opt for light, wooden textures such as rattan pendant lighting, solid wood cabinets and wicker baskets. Garnish your bedding with various layers of cosy, neutral fabrics.”
Alternatively, if all out luxe and bright colours float your boat, the maximalist trend is also making a re-entrance.
“Have fun experimenting with your style,” says Andrew Henry from Andrew Henry Interiors.
“Vibrant colours and bold, interesting furnishing choices are on their way in.”
Think about storage
Identify any dead space in the room. If you’ve got sloping ceilings where you can’t stand up, could you build in storage?
What about windows? Window seats are a great opportunity to add a cosy seating and storage place without losing any space.
Panelling can add interest and wow factor to a room, while also providing a bit of sneaky storage in the form of a shelf or picture rail.
Another critical thing to work out is if your furniture fits properly. Sell or recycle anything that looks awkward or makes the room feel cluttered.
Use technology to help
Want to see a preview of your plans? There’s help at hand in the form of Decorio App, which uses AI to help you create your look.
Simply upload some photos of your room and you can experiment with changing the wall colours and furniture at the click of a button.
Furniture positioning
If you know where your bed goes and you have a plan to store all your clothes, then you’re halfway to nailing this.
If you fancy a new vista from your pillow position, then shift the bed around and lie in it to see what feels and looks right in the room.
“The bed position should be associated with the views from the room’s window,” says Matthew Willemsen, Architectural Associate at Spatial Future.
“Ensure you are happy with how you approach it from the door. Most bedroom doors are intentionally hung so that you can’t easily see into the bedroom without fully entering.”
Lighting
Bedrooms require a mixture of lighting styles.
Overhead or ‘task’ lighting is needed for daily dressing or make-up application, while bedtime is all about cosy lamps for bedtime reading.
Think about whether you’d like wall lights, dimmable switches and bedside lamps on side tables.
Laura Ashley’s Creative Director Mary Buchanan says: “Bedside lamps and floor lamps can provide a lower level light and better set the mood for lulling you into a relaxing sleep.
“Using a warm, white light is more soothing for the eyes, and opting for an LED amber light has been known to preserve your body’s natural levels of melatonin, which will aid the sleep-wake cycle.”
Window dressing
From soft, sumptuous drapes with hidden blackout blinds to sleek wooden shutters, how you dress your windows matters.
In bedrooms it’s all about blocking out the summer light in the early morning and offering privacy for dressing, while also creating feelings of comfort and safety.
Decide if you want to make a big statement or go for subtle, neutral and functional.
2. Renovating a bedroom
The key to a stress-free bedroom renovation is efficiency and speed. Sofa sleeping needs to be kept to a minimum.
1. Clear the room - pack everything away and remove the furniture if possible
2. First fix electrics - if you're moving sockets or changing the lighting, arrange for an electrician to perform a first fix
3. First fix heating- if you’re changing the position of your radiators, or the radiators themselves, get any pipework done before any plastering begins
4. Wall and ceiling prep - decide if you need a full replaster or are able to smooth over any cracks and bumps with filler
5. Second-fix electrics and heating - ask your electrician to install the light switches and sockets and a plumber to install your new radiator
6. Skirting boards and woodwork - sand down and repaint doors, door frames and skirts
7. Painting or wallpapering - it's time to transform your walls
8. Lay flooring - have carpets fitted or other flooring installed when the walls are dry
9. Install storage - if you’re getting fitted wardrobes, now’s the time to put them in
10. Dress windows - put up blinds, shutters or curtains
11. Style the room - place furniture, add bedding, pillows, books, mirrors and pictures
12. Enjoy a great night’s sleep - you’ve earned it!
3. Renovating a bedroom on a budget
Yes you can. A new bedroom doesn’t have to mean fancy new carpets and a total remodel.
A fresh coat of paint and brand new bedding can work wonders in rejuvenating a room.
”An overhaul of duvets, cushions and throws reinvigorates the whole room, “ says Joanne Evans of Homescapes.
“Other easy upgrades include throwing down a snuggly rug and modernising with finishing touches like plants.”
If you don’t need to fit new carpets or replaster, and your renovation involves one or two new pieces, then you could well keep your budget under a grand.
How to renovate a bedroom for under a £1,000
1. A fresh coat of paint can work wonders in making a room feel brand new
2. Crisp new bedlinen always feels amazing
3. Check out flea markets for bedside tables, antique wardrobes, drawers, mirrors and dressing tables
4. Sites like Freecycle and Facebook Marketplace can be great places to pick up free or cheap furniture
5. Consider upcycling your furniture, sanding down drawers and mirrors or painting them a brand new colour can completely transform their look
6. New blinds and curtains can be ordered online for self installation at bargain prices
7. New bedside lamps create instant cosiness, transforming a room’s ambience
8. A large rug on painted wooden floors adds instant chic to any room