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Wake up your sleeping quarters

Anna Tobin suggests some easy spring refreshers for your slumbertime décor

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You spend a lot of time in your bedroom. So, it’s natural to want to change the look and feel of this personal space every once in a while. And you don’t have to find a fortune to do so. These simple tweaks will have your bedroom feeling like new in no time and they can be applied to the master bedroom, the children’s rooms or the guest bedroom.

Redo the backdrop

Repainting your walls, ceiling and/or woodwork can turn a bright and colourful bedroom into a calm neutral space — and vice versa. You can repaint your bedroom furniture too; Annie Sloan Chalk Paints, which are suitable for multiple surfaces, are particularly effective for this.
Alternatively, you could use wallpaper to change the background, either going for a contemporary feature wall or a more traditional full wallpaper look. For a timeless feel, opt for a delicate repeating pattern. There are some wonderful prints in Sanderson’s Morris & Co collection, inspired by Arts and Crafts designer William Morris.

Redress the windows

You can give a bedroom a whole new image by changing the window dressings. Think about mixing up your scheme with white-painted or natural wood-stained New England-style wooden shutters.

Switch patterned curtains for nautical striped Roman blinds, or ditch the blinds for floor-length lined curtains, which will not only add a touch of drama to your room, but will also keep out the draughts and daylight when drawn. Or you could team blinds with some curtains.

Invest in your bed

If you’ve had your bed for more than ten years, chances are you could benefit from a new mattress. This won’t be an aesthetic change, but it could seriously improve the quality of your sleep.

Or, you could go all the way and buy a new bed. As the bed is the focal point of any bedroom, a whole new style of bed will really transform the space.

For a zen-like feel, think about a low futon; for a luxurious look, opt for an upholstered divan with matching headboard, while a simple wooden bed frame fits the Scandi trend.
If you don’t want the expense of a new bed, perhaps just alter the headboard. A new headboard can completely change the appearance of your bedroom. Wicker, upholstered and rattan are particularly fashionable.

Or you can just make over your existing headboard. If you have an upholstered headboard, consider reupholstering it, perhaps in an on-trend sky blue brushed cotton or a classic buttoned neutral velvet. Wooden headboards can be easily painted. For a more minimal Far Eastern feel, remove the headboard altogether.

Change the sheets

A fresh set of bedding instantly injects new life into a room. Start by layering from the mattress up. Treat yourself to a mattress topper to add an additional comfy cushion of support to your sleeping station. New plump pillows and a duvet will bring some extra depth and warmth to your bed.

Then choose some deliciously soft organic cotton sheets and a new duvet cover and pillow case set. Stripes are in vogue at the moment, as are colourful floral prints and plain linen sets that softly crease.

Finish off your bed with some textured square cushions and a chunky knitted throw in a contrasting colour.

Rethink the lighting

The latest lighting technology is incredibly agile. Not only can you dim the lights at bedtime and put them on full beam at wake-up, you can change the colour at the flick of a switch too. For an ultra-modern look, use colour-changing LED lighting strips around the bed or along the skirting or swap your lightbulbs for some colour-changing smart lightbulbs that dim. These work particularly well in teen rooms.

If the idea of being able to turn your bedroom into a disco doesn’t appeal, simply update your light fittings and shades.

For a boutique hotel-style scheme, opt for elegant wall lights either side of the bed and a complimentary central pendant light fitting. If you’re after a more traditional English feel, place lamp bases topped with fabric shades on the bedside tables and hang a classic chandelier pendant light from the ceiling. For a vintage look, go for mix-and-match shades.

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