How To Create The Perfect Bedroom Sanctuary

The bedroom should be a refuge from everyday life where you can retreat beneath crisp, luxurious bed linen and find your inner calm. We asked interior design expert Emma Hooton to share her tips on creating the sleep sanctuary of your dreams.

Colour and texture

"The key to a serene interior is the use of gentle neutrals layered with soft textures to add interest and atmosphere without fuss. To give an edge to the scheme, a rich colour accent such as a deep aubergine or dark red velvet adds a touch of luxury and romance. Bed linen should be kept clean and white with colours introduced in cushions or bed throws for a lasting look."

 
(Photo courtesy of The Fox at Oddington)

Furniture and accessories

"The bed should be your biggest investment in comfort and style. We love using four-poster frames teamed with high quality bespoke sprung mattresses. Accessories with gorgeous textures such as marble lamps and beautifully upholstered tailors’ dummies work well. Greenery is also important (and creates a healthy environment) so where possible use a windowsill or chest of drawers to show off a lovely hydrangea or other bedroom flowers"

Linen and soft furnishings

"We always go for clean white bed linen with simple, classic textures that act as a backdrop to our schemes. Bed covers should always be oversized to drape on the floor and extra-large pillows with super king size beds mean you can spread out and feel totally spoiled. When it comes to thread count we go for a minimum of 300 thread count as not only does this mean high quality but it sits well on the bed and also launders beautifully."

Bedroom lighting

"For ceiling lighting, dimmable downlights are a must. A central chandelier can be a lovely feature although we prefer to use lighting in the corners of the room and let the bedside table lamps become main feature lights, along with floor standing reading lights next to armchairs, to give the room an all-encompassing feel."

Emma is the founder of Studio Hooton which provides residential interior design services across London and south-east England.

Emma Hooton - www.studiohooton.com