An easy guide to planning the best layout and design for every bedroom

Identifying the Bedroom Needs – Your Bedroom Plan

The design of private spaces in the home like – most important of them being the bedroom – should be based on the unique and personal requirements of the main occupants. Identifying your needs for the bedroom is a great way to streamline the design. First look at who and how many people will be using the bedroom. This affects the main features like size of the bed and storage requirements. Depending on the size of the room, you will need to figure out how you will be using the space.

Make a comprehensive list of those items or features you feel you absolutely need, then add those you would like to have in your bedroom plan. These items could include bedside tables, a reading nook or seating area, a separate closet for shoes and accessories or a work station. Once you have everything in front of you, it is equally important to streamline the list. In a big bedroom, it is easy to add everything you want. But if you are working with a small bedroom design and limited space, take out those that you can live without. Finally, set a tentative budget. Identify those items you need to spend the most on. Quality beds, wardrobes and mattresses are key elements here. Read our guide to creating the ideal wardrobe here.

A Basic Bedroom Layout

Keep this rule in mind – measure twice, cut once. Knowing the exact measurements of your room is very important in not only planning how to use the space but also picking out the right furniture. Start with the biggest pieces – the bed(s) and wardrobe(s). To help you with your master bedroom layout, we’ve listed out a few key dimensions here. Other than the size, you also have to make sure there is enough space for movement and use of the item.

You should be able to easily walk past a wardrobe when its doors are open or have enough space to open the under-bed storage. With hinged wardrobes, the width of each shutter is important to note. You need to have enough free space in front of the wardrobe to open the shutters and move around easily. Your master bedroom plan may also afford incorporating a walk-in wardrobe into the layout. A spacious walk-in wardrobe is not only a luxurious storage option but it can also incorporate features like a dressing table, vanity and sinks, laundry zone and ironing area.

• Start with bringing in bedside tables. You could also consider adding a bed bench at the foot of the bed, preferably one with some built-in storage.
  
  
• Since your bedroom design is the space where you unwind, you should ideally place your work area in another part of the house. If this is not possible or you are planning a children’s bedroom design with a study area, keep in mind that the table requires enough clearance for movement of other occupants while being used. The ideal placement includes 48 inches between the back of the chair and other objects.

• Another key element that adds to both the comfort and design of the bedroom is a headboard. Tufted headboards are extremely comfortable and can add a lot to the aesthesis of the bedroom design. 

• Remember that light is a fundamental factor in the master bedroom plan. Too many or too bright and you won’t have a calming atmosphere; on the other hand, under-doing the lighting can lead to a dull, lacklustre bedroom. 

• Take your wardrobes right up to the ceiling for extra storage and choose a neutral or light colour.
  
  
• Working with monotones gives the small bedroom layout a contiguous appeal. Bedroom furnishings are the perfect way to bring in a few pockets of colour, texture and/or prints that will help uplift this palette.
  
  
• A queen-size bed can easily fit two people comfortably but you can also opt to get a custom size made that is big enough for the occupants but fits well in the space available.

• Elegant master bedroom ideas incorporate efficient use of space by utilizing the area beneath the bed. Either opt for a bed with built-in storage or create custom under-bed storage to suit your needs. This could cut down on using the available floor space for another piece of furniture like a chest of drawers.
  
  
• Try choosing a few taller and thinner pieces of furniture or décor. The less visually bulky an item is, the less cramped your bedroom will look.