We’ve been asking a lot of our bedrooms lately. All that time spent within the same four walls has most of us in need of an in-home refuge — a peaceful spot to get away from it all. But with kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms becoming pop-up offices or schoolrooms, serenity is hard to come by these days. We turned to Sonoma County designers and stylists for some bedroom decorating inspiration. Here are some sweet spots with ideas for making our bedrooms offer more of what we need — click through the above gallery for details.
Sonoma Designers Share 10 Tips for Creating a Serene Bedroom
We could all use a peaceful spot to get away from it all.
Create soothing symmetry: The orderly look of a symmetrical layout has a calming effect on a space. Interior designer Chelsea Miller of Olive and Rose home store in Santa Rosa achieves this balanced look with a high contrast yet restrained use of color. The mirror effect is beautifully disrupted here by the pretty yellow of fresh flowers and a stack of books. Olive and Rose Studio, 111 4th St., 707-919-3072, oliveandrosestudio.com. (Olive and Rose Studio)
Go bold but cool: Strong style statements don’t have to be jarring and can work really well in the bedroom. Inspired Spaces Design in Santa Rosa makes a fantastic choice with cloud paper, which is bold indeed, but also really cool and soothing in navy. Gold and yellows warm up the look a bit. Inspired Spaces Design, 3579 Westwind Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-546-0997, inspiredspacesdesign.com. (MG Photography)
Bedroom by Inspired Spaces Design in Santa Rosa. (MG Photography)
Use touches of color: A quiet palette goes colorful in gentle touches in this space by Chelsea Miller Interiors. Textures and neutrals warm up the look to create a perfect spot to de-stress. Olive and Rose Studio, 111 4th St., 707-919-3072, oliveandrosestudio.com. (Olive and Rose Studio)
Draw from natural textures: The warmth of wood meets the cool of fig-leaf foliage in this layer-riffic bedroom by Faith Parker of Boho Bungalow stores. Her masterful mix of many textures keeps things rich and colorful without becoming a design overload. BOHO Bungalow, 3692 Bohemian Highway, 707-874-6030, 125 N Main St., Sebastopol, 707-861-9241, 143 Kentucky St., Petaluma, 707-874-6030, thebohobungalow.com. (Boho Bungalow)
Use storage that stuns: Don’t forget that all the pillows and throws can use a landing spot come bedtime. Inspired Spaces uses a pretty bench and basket that blend into the tonal palette. Faux furs give things a perfectly glam, but not-at-all glitzy vibe. Inspired Spaces Design, 3579 Westswind Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-546-0997, inspiredspacesdesign.com. (MG Photography)
Add soft-to-the-touch textures: We want our bedrooms to look good, but don’t forget the sense of touch. Kaitlin Lowenthal of Hello Penngrove boutique has outfitted her home’s beds in many layers, some of which involve soft velvet quilts and European shams. “I always aim for comfort — so anything cozy, soft, inviting. Soft texture and natural textures and tones are always a go-to,” she says. Hello Penngrove, 101 Main Street, Penngrove,707- 665-5759, hellopenngrove.com. (Hello Penngrove)
Let kids choose: Kaitlin Loewenthal let her son choose this jungle print paper. He did well for himself, as this pattern is both bold but soothing in natural tones and a fern green. The bed frame repeats the green as does the striped throw blanket which Lowenthal knit herself. The wallpaper can be purchased through Hello Penngrove. Hello Penngrove, 101 Main Street, Penngrove,707- 665-5759, hellopenngrove.com. (Hello Penngrove)
Sneak in a workspace: We love this space with room to work by Cokas Diko. Finding a great piece like this secretary-style desk can add visual interest, storage space and a desk that you close up at the end of the day. Cokas Diko Home Furnishings, 1125 W Steele Ln., Santa Rosa, 707-568-4044, cokasdiko.com. (Cokas Dikos)
Create a reading nook: Reclining isn’t just for the bed. Inspired Design put a lounge chair in front of a show-stopping view. Perfect for reading or, as designer Natasha Stocker puts it, “With this view? We'd never get any reading done!” Inspired Spaces Design, 3579 Westwind Blvd., Santa Rosa, 707-546-0997, inspiredspacesdesign.com. (MG Photography)
Bedroom by Inspired Spaces Design in Santa Rosa. (MG Photography)
Personalize with accessories: Just because you’re creating a tranquil place to rest, doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize it. Stocker warns against just filling it with finds from big box stores. “Your bedroom should be a place where you surround yourself with all of your favorite things, so no copying a page out of Pottery Barn! Collect souvenirs from your trips, rocks from the beach, your grandmother's music box. Proudly display the items that bring up happy memories.” Inspired Spaces Design, 3579 Westwind., Santa Rosa, 707-546-0997, inspiredspacesdesign.com. (MG Photography)