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How to design the perfect modern bedroom

Sleek, minimal, and stylish: Here are our best tips for a modern bedroom design

Bed sheets on king size bed
Ground Picture / Shutterstock

Your modern bedroom should be the pinnacle of seamless and luxe design. This simple space offers relaxation and the perfect aesthetic for winding down at the end of a busy day. If you’re struggling to curate a modern bedroom design that caters to your needs and looks absolutely stunning, then you’re in the right place. Today, we provide you with some of the best modern bedroom ideas to create a gorgeous look that suits your personal style.

Focus on function before form

minimal and modern white bedroom with midcentury modern lamp
Burst / Pexels

Modern design is all about simplicity. Gaudy, excessive, and frivolous decorum has no place in a modern bedroom. Instead, cut the clutter and choose furniture and decor pieces with intention. As you design your bedroom, focus on function and utility before form.

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Your bed should be simple and comfortable, positioned in the best spot to aid your sleep. Rugs should be minimal and meant to cushion your feet after a long day. Decor, patterns, curtains, and bedding should all provide a necessary benefit in minimalistic fashion before you begin choosing pieces specifically for their aesthetic.

Don’t forget midcentury details

midcentury modern pink and grey bedroom design
Ground Picture / Shutterstock

Once you have all of your necessary furniture and furnishings jotted down on a list, you can begin considering the finer details. To add more excitement to your room design, opt for midcentury modern details that can provide a little flair.

While modern bedrooms tend toward simplicity and minimalism, you can show off your unique style with midcentury pieces. Hairpin legs on furniture and orb lighting are great ways to invite personality into the space without overcrowding your design.

Stick with a neutral color palette

A restful bedroom
Photographee.eu / Shutterstock

It’s best to keep your modern bedroom design grounded with a neutral color palette. Choose beige, cream, white, off-white, and brown tones to give the space a more natural and refined look. While some modernists favor dark brown or black spaces for a moodier look, you could also keep things classic with simple white or off-white walls. Tie your design together by opting for a monochromatic look or using neutral tones throughout every aspect of your space, including the bedding, textiles, and furniture.

Natural materials are a must

Pale green bedroom walls.
Ryan McVay / Getty Images

Today’s modern aesthetics often showcase natural materials. Dark oak wood on dressers, headboards, and tables is common in modern roomscapes. However, unless you want a rustic-modern room design, we recommend decorating your space lightly with natural materials. A wood headboard and dresser can be enough to add an organic touch. Or, add a few plants, like a fiddle-leaf fig, to invite a more biophilic aesthetic to your room.

Geometric patterns and shapes will lift your design

boho headboard in blue bedroom design
brizmaker / Shutterstock

Geometric patterns and shapes are a staple of modern design. The trick is choosing a pattern that isn’t too busy and has a muted or neutral color palette. Use geometric patterned wallpaper to create an accent wall behind the bed and headboard instead of using a large piece of artwork. Or, consider a patterned rug to help add more visual appeal to the space without going overboard. If you choose patterned wallpaper or a rug, be sure to keep other textiles and walls simple to avoid clashing patterns or creating a “busy” design.

Use large pieces of artwork

A green and brown abstract painting of leaves hangs above a bed.
ShopSlo / Unsplash

Large artwork has often been used as a focal point in modern bedroom designs. Choosing to feature a large piece of artwork above the bed or across the room on a blank wall is a great way to make an impact on the space without over-cluttering a modern design. Some homeowners opt for installing a long floating shelf with a grand piece of artwork sitting on top for more emphasis. Others prefer to invest in a picture TV to make this decor piece more functional.

Mirrors make a difference

gray modern rustic bedroom design
Photographee.eu / Adobe Stock

A quick design hack that can uplift any space is using mirrors. Add a large mirror in place of artwork to bounce light and open up a small room. Or, use geometric mirrors as installation artwork on a blank wall to create a unique focal point. Alternatively, a large standing mirror in the corner of the room by the closet can offer more utility for homeowners as they get dressed in the morning.

Raised furniture refreshes the space

Bright modern bedroom with wood floor and white linens
Westend61 GmbH / Alamy

A simple tip for achieving a clutter-free look is raising the furniture off the ground. Modern aesthetics typically showcase a sleek, clean, and refined environment. In your bedroom, consider raising your furniture by choosing a raised bed frame, hair-pin-leg nightstand, or hair-pin-leg dresser and opting for floating shelves rather than a large bookcase. Keep your floor space open and tidy for the best look.

Modern bedroom design is about maintaining a simple appearance. Keep colors muted and opt for soft patterns and textiles that produce a calming effect in the space. By following these design ideas, your modern bedroom can be a haven of relaxation.

Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson (author pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She often enjoys topics on…
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