Skip to main content

Essential bedroom furniture for every household

green bedroom with headboard
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The bedroom is a unique space because it is truly your own. Unlike most of a home, it is a private space for you to get away to and recharge. The design should reflect your personal style and bring a sense of calm each time you enter the room. To create a relaxing bedroom atmosphere, the pieces in your place should offer both form and function. Sure, a bed and night table are a must, but what else is essential for elevating your bedroom from standard to fit for a king or queen? Here, we take a look at other key pieces to take yours to the next level.

Headboard

Nothing makes a bed look more put together than a headboard. It can transform a simple mattress and box spring into a statement. Functionally, it protects the wall behind the bed, but what it does to the styling of any chic bed makes it stands out. With so many options available, it offers a way to elevate your average bed into something more upscale. Plush, fabric headboards convey an inviting warmth and give you added cushion when sitting upright. Looking for something more textural and organic? A reclaimed wood headboard will add both. Maybe you have a flair for the modern? Try leather to add a sleek, contemporary element.

Bench

Now that you have taken care of the top of the bed, it is time to think about the bottom. A bench placed at the foot of the bed is a great addition. It gives you a place to put on shoes, a luggage rack, and a spot to lay out clothes or hold extra blankets. If storage is at a premium, select one with cubbies or drawers. Again, here is a chance to amp up your style and add to the look of the room whether that be rustic raw wood, upholstered, or painted.

Dresser

This may seem obvious, but its usefulness cannot be understated. Not only does it provide great storage, but it also offers a convenient surface for decorative items. Stylish baskets and bowls can be used to hold small, everyday items such as sunglasses, wallets, and jewelry. Lamps can be placed for additional lighting. Just remember, before selecting a dresser, measure your space and determine if it can accommodate a lower, rectangular version or if a taller, narrow one is better. If even more storage is needed, a small chest that doubles as a night table will give added drawer space.

women using pouf as footrest
Nelia L/Shutterstock

Mirror

Almost any space can benefit from the addition of a mirror. It reflects light and makes a space feel larger. A tall, full-length one will take minimal floor space and give interest to whatever wall it is placed against or mounted on. Select one that works with your aesthetic. Since the bedroom is often where you get dressed, it also allows you to get a look at yourself before heading out.

Seating

If space allows, a chair and side table are a great addition to any bedroom. They offer the perfect place to read, watch television, relax, or even get a little work done. Not only is a bedroom chair functional, it is also an accent piece that should complement your design. Consider fabrics that coordinate with bedding, and add a throw pillow to tie it all together. If you are lucky enough to have a bedroom that can accommodate a full seating area, set it up as a second living room. A small sofa, chairs, and coffee table will give you a place to unwind without interruption.

Add personality

Bring your design together with accents and accessories. Poufs are versatile because they offer additional seating but can also be used as a footrest or even a side table. They come in a variety of fabrics and textures including fabric, leather, woven materials, and more. To add to the look, layer floors with area rugs that designate different zones — the bed and a reading or conversation area.

The last step to the bedroom of your dreams is to bring nature inside with plants, which not only improve air quality but also add a great design element to the space. Consider hanging them to add interest without taking up room on tabletops or dressers.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Darcey Gohring
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Darcey Gohring is a freelance writer based just outside New York City. She served as the managing editor of New Jersey…
Are you inviting spiders into your bed? Make these decor changes to avoid unwanted pests
Here's how to get your bedroom to be free of spiders
Bed pushed up against a wall with flowers on it

Of all the spaces in your home, the very last place you want to come face to face with a spider is in your bed. Your bedroom is a sanctuary designed to make you feel comfortable and safe, so seeing a creepy crawly there can shatter this sense of comfort completely.

Unfortunately, the choices you make while designing your bedroom can make it easier for spiders to crawl into your bed. Your bedroom layout (and precisely how you situate your bed) can attract spiders into your most sacred space. Read on to discover a few common design mistakes that can attract pests and some methods to prevent spiders in bed.

Read more
Want to level up your wall decor? We love this interior designer’s trick for blank wall space
Try this clever tip for tackling blank wall space in your home
Woman hanging beach art

A common struggle for many homeowners is decorating a wall without making it feel too cluttered or, worse, too empty. Too much negative space can leave a room feeling unfinished, lackluster, and downright visually unappealing. Thankfully, Julie Jones, founder of Julie Jones Designs, took to TikTok to share a fantastic design trick for dealing with blank wall space by using a clever rule for your wall decor.

https://www.tiktok.com/@juliejonesdesigns/video/7254366084768320811
Try the 70/30 rule
Interior designer @juliejonesdesigns shared her trick for handling blank wall space with a unique rule that works for nearly any wall. “I have a 70/30 rule,” Jones says in her TikTok video. She explains that the rule means 70% of the wall needs to be filled with positive space while the other 30% can be negative. “It’s a really easy formula that you can apply to almost any wall.”

Read more
Modernize your oak wood decor with these gorgeous paint colors
These colors can give oak wood a modern, refreshing look
Kitchen with black cabinets and dark wood inspired by midcentury design

Whether you’ve just installed your favorite oak kitchen cabinets or you’ve decided on a stunning oak wood floor for your home, it can be difficult to find a modern color palette that looks seamless alongside these warm wood tones. While oak wood is stunning with traditional design, modernists who favor its classic appeal might find blending this tone with their existing palette frustrating.

Oak wood has a tendency to look outdated or overly traditional in a home's design. This happens for several reasons. For example, a dark or brown color palette makes oak look a bit drab in spaces where modernists prefer light or airy tones.

Read more