How to Create a Minimalist Bedroom
/Bedrooms are a great place to start going minimal. If you think about it, there’s not much a bedroom really needs—a bed, maybe some clothing storage, a place to set your book and a glass of water, that’s about it. If your bedroom isn’t cozy and inviting, if it isn’t your place of refuge and relaxation, it’s time for a change. A minimalist bedroom is simple to achieve and easy to maintain. You’ll have less to clean and fewer surfaces to accumulate clutter. Take out the unnecessary items that are costing you time and energy, and turn your bedroom into a relaxing retreat.
Tidying-up
The first step is to put away anything that has a place elsewhere in your home. Get everything up off the floor—put the pile of clothes in the hamper and the shoes on the shoe rack. Clear every surface of items that are out of place—the Tylenol on the dresser, the necklace on your nightstand, the batteries on the chest of drawers—put these items back where they belong. Once the room is tidy, you’ll be able to focus on making a plan for creating your minimalist bedroom.
Choosing the Right Furniture
Bedroom furniture should be simple, neutral, and timeless. While your furniture will be the focal point of the room, it shouldn’t be overly dramatic or bold. Choose furniture with clean lines and a classic look that you will enjoy for years to come. It’s likely the bedroom furniture you already own will fit great into a minimalist design. Just remember, less is more.
Bedroom furniture—headboards, dressers, and chest of drawers—are all large pieces of furniture that typically fill much of the space. Remove any unnecessary furniture, such as workout equipment, desks, and maybe even the chair that’s great at collecting laundry. If possible, find a better room to keep these items. Could the treadmill go in the basement? Would the chair look good in the family room? Could another room double as your workspace? Our goal is to make the bedroom a relaxing retreat. Unless working out and sending emails are what soothe you to sleep at the end of a long day, these items should go elsewhere. With the excess pieces out of the way, your remaining furniture will anchor the space.
If you want to update the look of your existing furniture, consider re-staining, painting, or something as simple as changing out the knobs and pulls. There are a lot of ways to revamp the furniture you already own to create a new look.
Styling the Space
Start with a neutral color palette. A neutral wall color will make your space appear open and have a calming effect. I also recommend starting with neutral bedding. Let the textures of your bedding, rather than color, help give your space the desired style. Keep the bedding simple—a sheet set and a comforter, or duvet. If desired, add in a pop of color with a blanket or throw at the bottom of the bed and coordinating decorative pillows. These pieces will be easy and affordable to swap out as your taste changes.
Decor should be simple and practical—a catchall or ring dish, a few books in your ‘to read’ stack, a framed photo or keepsake, maybe your favorite candle. Keep it minimal. Less decor means less dusting. Because headboards, dressers, and chests of drawers typically take up a lot of vertical space, wall decor is less needed. Hanging too much can actually make your space feel overly full and cluttered. Having negative—empty—space on surfaces and walls will make your bedroom appear more open and spacious.
To give your room a fresh and airy look, add in a plant or flowers. Plants give a nice pop of color to a minimalist space, they help purify the air, and studies prove that tending plants actually helps reduce stress levels! If caring for plants isn’t your thing, Ikea has a great faux plant selection. So, you can still have that fresh and airy look, without the work.
Maintaining the Look
A minimalist bedroom will inspire you to keep the space clean and clutter-free. Keeping surfaces uncluttered with decor will in turn make it easier to maintain order.
Use a basket or catchall for the items that will inevitably land on bedroom surfaces, such as watches, pocket change, and lip balm.
Follow the ‘one-minute rule’ to help keep your space clean. If you can put an out-of-place item away in less than one minute, do it immediately. Stay on top of the surface clutter.
One last tip, I hate to sound like your mom, but make your bed everyday—it’s such a simple chore, it only takes a minute, and it sets the tone for order for the rest of your day.
