Winter Bedroom Retreat
October 2024
Like it or not, winter is coming. However, falling snow and chilly temperatures are not quite so bad when you enjoy them from the interior of a warm and comfortable home. If there’s one room in the house where indulgent coziness is especially welcome, it’s the bedroom.
Do you want to have that snug and cheerful yet well-appointed bedroom that you can retreat into during the cold and dark winter nights? If so, here are winter bedroom furniture and design ideas that interior designers recommend, and they can help you create the space that will be the delightful retreat you deserve, night after winter night.
Start with Layers of Texture
Imagine a room with an opulent fluffy comforter on the bed, a deep pile rug at bedside, a sheepskin draping an armchair and plenty of plush pillows close at hand. You can just about feel the warmth, and texture is the reason why. An inviting winter bedroom is not a minimalist one where texture is concerned. A little is good, and more is better.
Begin with the bedding. Consider a combination of quilts, blankets and comforters, both to make up the bed and to lay across the foot. A soft blanket against a foot board is an exceptionally luxurious look and feel. A chunky knit blanket or a wool duvet adds another lavish layer to your bedroom hideaway.
Don’t ignore the sheets. Brushed cotton or linen keep you sumptuously tucked in with a warmth that you’ll remember, even when the bed is made and sheets lie under those magnificent outer covers.
Plush carpeting is a plus, but if your floor is hardwood, a large and deep area rug will accent it and emanate its glow throughout the room. Thick curtains make the room feel warm, and they look warm as well. You can even drape fabric where there is no window.
For seasonal variety, some of the pillows and bed coverings can be reserved only for the snowy time of year. Bringing them out and spreading them about will become a ritual that welcomes the indoor serenity of the winter months and helps turn your master bedroom into a winter oasis.
The Comfort of Nature
It’s not an accident that most of the desirable textured items are natural. Bedroom accessories of wool, boucle, velvet, mohair and sheepskin connect with us because they connect us to nature. If there are natural construction materials like wood and stone, the space will be one that people are drawn to. You might top off this theme with decor items made of natural materials and winter wall art with scenes of the outdoors from any season. To give you bedroom a finished, designer-approved appearance, add a little greenery to your nightstands or dresser top.
Cozy Colors
Most interior designers agree that warm and earthy colors will bring a room in and make it into a haven, while the cool colors tend to feel open and spacious. This tucked-in look is the one that makes the ideal winter bedroom such a pleasurable cocoon. While neutrals will dominate in this scheme, it could incorporate richer natural tones like natural greens and a variety of browns. You might add a few pops of color that echo nature, such as berry and cranberry red.
It’s not for everyone, but some people are creating winter bedrooms in darker colors, even including a darker ceiling. This makes a large room feel smaller and more intimate. If this interests you, a designer can show you how to build the right balance with this intriguing option.
The Importance of Lighting
Like texture, lighting in a winter bedroom retreat works best when it’s layered. Overhead lights should be deployed with caution. If not properly shaded or diffused, they can lead to a harsh look, just the opposite of what a winter bedroom needs.
A combination of table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights and sconces is ideal. They create a soft and comfortable illumination that can be varied when you want to modify the atmosphere. For the utmost in easy lighting choices, have them wired to be controlled from the bedside. There are also beds that have touch lighting built into an elegant bed frame for an extremely stylish and convenient experience.
The right lamps add to the ambiance in more ways than merely shedding light. An antique bronze or burnished brass finish coordinates nicely with the layers of textures you’ve built. A lampshade that is lined in bronze or gold rather than white enhances and beautifies the light’s glow.
Special Spaces within the Room
Few things are as magical as a four-poster canopy bed, and this luxurious classic is making a comeback. These beds create a delicious private area in a large bedroom and make a smaller room burst with drama. With their curtaining, they provide plenty of opportunity to introduce even more texture. If a canopy bed doesn’t seem to fit your space, consider an upholstered headboard or bed frame as an alternate textural addition that makes your room feel extra luxe.
With your inviting new bedroom, you might want a reason to linger a while, so how about a reading nook? What could be better than curling up in a generous chair under an extravagant blanket with a softly glowing lamp and your favorite beverage on a side table?
Final Touches
Your winter retreat is an even more special place when it’s filled with winter bedroom decor that you love. This can be anything from souvenirs from treasured vacations to family photos to the artwork that has touched your heart. Don’t forget about the power of scent! A supply of scented candles or essential oils adds that little extra that can make your room homey and exotic at the same time.
Winter Is Hygge Season
The Danish word is elusive to translate, but it applies to the feeling of cozy contentment that comes from enjoying those things in life where the warmth and balance are just right. When you take that first sip of cocoa while tucked up under a quilt that feels like it was made to embrace you, you’re experiencing hygge.
A winter bedroom retreat is a wonderful wellness experience that can help you enjoy moments of comfort throughout the season. Talk to one of our interior designers about how you can make your bedroom into the snuggly sanctuary that everyone will want to copy.
