I don’t know about you, but my bedroom sometimes resembles something closer to Grand Central Station than a cozy and inviting retreat to relax and catch some z’s. Between kid’s toys, books, magazines, and clothes that never seem to make it into the hamper, it’s hard to tell what, if any, sense of style the room actually has.
Even though clutter is inevitable, especially when you have kids, I recently decided I wasn’t going to take my room’s ho-hum sense of style any longer. I wanted an inviting space that had relaxation written all over it. The trouble was, I didn’t have a lot of money to help make it that way. So I decided to get creative and between some advice I found online and a little help at my local craft and hardware stores, I restored by bedroom using the power of fabric.
Yes, fabric! Fabric might not seem all that magical, but it sure beats shelling out thousands of dollars for new bedroom furniture or expensive artwork. Let me share with you four fast and easy ways I came up with that just might give your bedroom the quick and cozy change it really needs. Best of all, not one of these ideas requires a sewing machine, a lot of money, the ability to be “crafty”!
- Perhaps the simplest way to cozy up your bedroom with fabric is with rugs, pillows, and bed linens. These floor coverings and throw pillows provide the fastest change to any look. Simply put them where you want them and change them out according to the season or your mood. If you want a pop of color, pick a bold shade and coordinate between bedside throw rugs and pillows. This will naturally draw your eye to both areas and give it a uniform look. This is also a fun way to play with texture and shapes – use a shag type and silk pillow coverings or choose a round one and square pillows. The contrast will give your bedroom that final designer touch.
- Create your own fabric headboard. A custom headboard can easily set you back at least $1,000 but for less than $300, you can create your own using medium density fiberboard or MDF. Pick up some at your local hardware store and cut it into your desired shape and size. Add some padded foam and cover with fabric in a pattern of your choosing. Attach your finished headboard to the bed frame using bolts and allowing the foam side to face the wall. The finished product will be a one-of-a-kind piece that’s only limited by your imagination.
- Don’t want a traditional headboard? You can still create a focal point for your bed by using curtains to create an inviting partial canopy. Create a frame around the bed using curtain rods mounted to the ceiling. Place curtain panels behind the bed, at each corner and the foot of the bed. You can then hide the rods by installing white moulding. The effect is a romantic, cozy look just perfect for sleeping in and hiding away from the world. Go with white, gauzy sheers for a dreamy, ethereal look or choose a print that spices up neutral-colored bedding.
- Wake up to inspiration by creating a fabric panel that displays your favorite quotes, sayings and song lyrics. On a wide curtain panel in a light or neutral color, use permanent markers in varying thicknesses to inscribe your favorite sayings and quotes. You could choose quotes about sleep or resting to invoke a peaceful atmosphere or choose more motivating sayings to get yourself inspired and ready to face each new day. And don’t just write in one direction or style – go across, down, vertical, stack the words in stanzas, use both cursive and print and get a friend with good penmanship to help – the finished product will look as inspired as the words themselves. Hang the panel on a curtain rod behind the bed for a quote-worthy headboard or use it as wall hanging.
Have I inspired you yet? I thought so! How will you use your favorite fabrics to make your bedroom more inviting?