10 Tricks to Make Your Bedroom Feel Extra Cozy

Design for Touch

Kiawah Island Home Master Bedroom — Laurey W. Glenn

"Employing comfortable layers and textures is key to making a room cozy," says interior designer Elizabeth Newman about this primary bedroom. Mixed materials like the down-filled duvet, grass cloth wallcovering, bamboo bench, and wool Berber carpet add warmth. The sleepy space gets a gentle wake up from the quiet splashes of celadon green on the bed linens, pillows, and bench cushion. Plus, the plush wool Berber carpet is a soft landing spot for bare feet. (The rest of the floors in the house are sisal or hardwood.)

02 of 10

Pick a Peaceful Palate

Purple Bedroom — Courtesy of Lindsey Coral Harper/David Giral Photography

"Lavender creates calm and tranquil spaces," says designer Lindsey Coral Harper. "It's also light and airy, which helps because this room could feel like it doesn't have a ton of ceiling height. Here, I complemented the lavender with pops of green, but gray and aubergine also make great partners." (Pictured here: Pale Iris, 2073-60; benjaminmoore.com)

03 of 10

Add a Little Patina

Teal 2016 Idea House Bedroom — Laurey W. Glenn

In our 50th Anniversary Idea House, this bedroom mixes the brand-new with the well-loved. A pair of tall, antiqued mirrors by Mirror-tique hang above the vintage nightstands, adding both height and age. Associate Decorating Editor Elly Poston wrapped the room with a textured, blue-green raffia wallcovering to "play up the jewel-box effect," she says. Then, she had overscale monograms in chartreuse by O'Connor Monogramming appliquéd on the bedding; layered two rugs (a sisal one from Jaipur Living and a vintage one from Paige Albright Orientals); and pulled everything together with the drapery fabric, Le Lac Toile Linen. When decorating with new things, it's important to pull in older pieces to jump-start some patina," advises Poston.

04 of 10

With Lights, Go Low

"I don't think I have a single bulb in the space that's more than 15 watts," decorator Matthew Bees says about his "calm bedroom," which is painted a custom Benjamin Moore pale pink to complement his bed hangings (in Deconstructed Stripe by Miles Redd for Schumacher).

05 of 10

Don't Take Traditional Too Seriously

The Master Bedroom: Lighten Up Tradition — Laurey W. Glenn

With a homeowner who would "monogram her underwear if she could," as Barrie Benson jokes, the large-scale appliquéd initials on the Leontine Linens bolster were a must. But to keep things looking more fun and personal, not prissy, Barrie brought in a vintage Moroccan rug—the tension it creates with the classic bedding makes for an irresistible space. "The owner's mother loves this room, and so do her friends who visit from Los Angeles," says Barrie. "It's the playful mix that really makes an impression."

06 of 10

Mix High and Low

James Farmer Buffalo Check Bedroom — Laurey W. Glenn

James Farmer mixes bargain finds with designer picks without even flinching. Here, his custom bed is dressed in buffalo check linens he got from Ikea. Warm creams and browns up the cozy in this elegant bedroom.

07 of 10

Spare Color, Layer Sumptuously

Dana Wolter Master Bedroom — Laurey W. Glenn

"You don't always need busy patterns or bold colors to create an interesting look; you can do that with a tonal palette and tactile elements," says designer Dana Wolter. Here, a linen headboard, tailored bedspread, and slightly puddling window treatments create a relaxing space built around texture play. The walls are the perfect neutral, November Rain by Benjamin Moore, which Wolter cut with 75% white to keep the green-gray hue from overpowering the room's calm atmosphere.

08 of 10

Envelop the Room

Blue Gray Master Bedroom — Laurey W. Glenn

Create a hotel-style escape by enveloping the room with textiles. A velvet headboard takes up the majority of the wall. "There is nothing more comfortable for sitting up in bed than this," says designer Andrew Howard. The bamboo silk rug echoes the headboard's plushness, while the gauzy draperies and bohemian, block-print bedding contrast with the dramatic coffered ceiling.

09 of 10

Get Gauzy

Lisa Sherry Island Bedroom — Laurey W. Glenn

Designer Lisa Sherry loved the original faux-painted driftwood wall in the guest room, so she centered the bed on its textural expanse and turned it into a focal point. To make visitors feel a bit like they are on safari, she hung a fanciful canvas canopy from the ceiling. "I found this little tent-like structure at a local shop and fell in love with it," she says. "So, I cut a hole in the top to make it fit over the fan. It adds a bit of softness and romance, and it's very exotic. People love this room." Make your own canopy with yards of mosquito netting. Try joann.com for materials.

10 of 10

Enliven the Walls

Blue Green Master Bedroom — Photo: Eric Piasecki

In this 20- by 18-foot primary bedroom, Ashley Whittaker upped the cozy factor by covering the walls with a large-scale, blue-and-green flowering tree motif. The densely patterned wallpaper makes the large room feel more snug, and the crisp white headboard, lamps, and bedding give the eye a place to rest. Scalloped bedding (Mirasol by Matouk), edged in a colorful band of aqua, adds a preppy vibe to the room and brings just a bit of color to the basic white bedding.

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