Your bedroom is the most personal space in your home. It’s the place where you can relax and be yourself, so it’s important to feel comfortable and cosy. If your bedroom feels a little bland or uninspiring, here are a few ideas to help make it more romantic and inviting.
Our bedrooms are the epicentre of our romantic relationships. Certain aspects can make or break the romantic mood within a room. But what is the psychology behind romance, and why do we crave romantic love?
The first stage of falling in love is lust. The kind of attraction that makes our legs go weak, our hearts pound and suppresses our appetites. Chemical substances like testosterone, serotonin and dopamine flood our brains, making us energised and excited. Dopamine especially affects the senses, making us flush a little more from arousal, increasing sexual desire, and heightening our mood. Just thinking about that special person makes us feel happier. It’s pleasurable and, in its way, addictive –no wonder we crave those feelings.
The release of serotonin gives us a rose-tinted view of our lover, and we often believe that we have a closer or more special connection than any other couple. It’s this ‘love-blindness’ that makes us want to stay together and enter the next stage of love, attachment.
We release oxytocin during the attachment phase, a powerful chemical known as the ‘cuddle hormone. Oxytocin deepens the feelings of attachment and, if mutual, leads to that heady state that we all crave –falling in love.
Designing a bedroom with romance in mind can (and most certainly should) go beyond satin sheets and heart-shaped beds. The secret is to set a comfortable ambience built around the details of the room. Textiles, wall paint, and lighting are just a handful of the important elements that can separate a cool and calming oasis from a subpar one that falls flat.
Whether you’re looking to spice things up or need a little passionate refresh, take a design cue from our favourite bedrooms where romance takes the lead—and see what we learned from each.
Make It Open Air
Suppose you’re in the right climate for an open-air design. In this Hawaiian escape by Catherine Kwong, the accordion-style doors slide open to let in the breeze.
Add Special Lighting
Hotel rooms always feel a little dreamier and more romantic than the average bedroom. So why not take notes to bring home with you? The Firehouse Hotel, designed by ETC.etera, is the perfect example. The Moroccan pendant lamps add a touch of brass while also shining a beautiful pattern throughout the space. Perfect for mood lighting!
Pile On Soft Layers
Have you ever wanted to crawl into a bed more than you have right now? The moody grey velvet walls and matching headboard bring a smokey, texturally rich allure and mystery to the otherwise white, bright, and airy space designed by Alison Pickart. No artwork is needed, as these walls speak for themselves.
Display Fluffy Florals
Roses are red, and violets are blue, but have you met the most romantic flower of them all yet? Of course, we’re talking about the fluffy, ethereal dried plant known as pampas grass. Corinne Marthern displayed it in this California bedroom for some minimalist romance.
Lacquer Your Walls
The high-shine gloss of lacquer paint will make any space feel sleek and sexy in an instant. And in a shade of red like this one, things will heat up even more. Because the walls are so over the top, go with classic ivory bedding and traditional sconces to polish it all off.
Add A Sitting Area
When you have enough space in your bedroom for an extra place to hang out that isn’t your bed, create a mini (more intimate) living room. Follow this formula à la Romanek Design Studio: Two armchairs angled towards each other with a small coffee table or ottoman for drinks, a candle, and another decorative item.
Highlight Repeating Motifs
With a recurring motif of soft curved lines and a balanced colour palette of airy blush-beige and cool white with moodier navy accents, interior designer Heather Hilliard creates a romantic—but not in-your-face-romantic—atmosphere in this main bedroom.
Mix Old With New
Equal parts classic and edgy, this space designed by ETC.etera is a masterclass decorating a romantic bedroom. The curtains and built-in nook framing the bed introduce a sense of intimacy while the toile maintains a more traditional spirit.
Light A Fire
A bedroom with a fireplace ignites the passion like no other. But, while the showstopper is the fireplace, that textured paint and stone wall make this bedroom feel like an old-world sanctuary.
Accentuate A Juliette Balcony
If your space features a Juliette balcony, then your bedroom is guaranteed to be romantic no matter how you decorate it. Here, Brigette Romanek of Romanek Design Studio dresses it down with linen bedding and sculptural light in true SoCal fashion.
Create A Cocoon
Hang curtains in front of your bed to intensify the sense of privacy and intimacy. It’ll feel like a little cocoon from the outside world. But, of course, a fluffy comforter you’d never want to toss off doesn’t hurt either.
Emit A Rosy Glow
In this bedroom designed by Arent & Pyke, the plush carpet almost looks iridescent, radiating a sense of luxury and comfort. The textured panel headboard introduces the perfect contrast. For the ultimate touch of romance, hang light pink sheers that create a rosy glow throughout the space.
Stay Grounded
A low-to-the-ground bed sets the pace for sexy bohemian energy. Loose linens are also a good call—the effortlessness makes the bed irresistible.
Embrace Nostalgia
This bedroom is designed by Elizabeth Georgantas and is bound to feel romantic, thanks to its 273-year tenure and Nantucket location. The cracked beams are given a fresh coat of crisp white paint above an antique decoupaged bed for a high-contrast impact.
Get Cheeky With Pillows
This bedroom gives “pillow talk” a whole new meaning. There’s something sexy about the unexpectedness of a cheeky pillow in an otherwise traditional bedroom.
Build A Bathtub
In this loft bedroom designed by ETC.etera, the bedroom is lined with mirrors for a magnifying effect, and the elevated en-bedroom bathtub ensures plenty of romance and style.
Hang A Canopy
Is there anything sexier than a gauzy canopy? There’s just something enchanting about the flowy, semi-sheer look. So take note from this bedroom and punch things up with a vibrant dose of colour in your throw pillows and area rug.
Bring In Oversized Plants
Turn your bedroom into a lush garden oasis with indoor trees and plenty of florals. Though this main bedroom feels grand and over the top, it’s also grounded thanks to the nature-inspired design elements.
Choose A Luxe Headboard
That luxe green velvet headboard in a bedroom by Ashby Studio evokes the romance of a garden or hidden forest. However, a headboard like this one in a rich hue is the perfect romantic touch for anyone looking for something less overtly romantic.
Emphasise A View
Lookout points are also called makeout points for a reason, so take note and accentuate an expansive view. The bed faces a beautiful mountain view in this Montana home designed by Kylee Shintaffer. The rustic materials mixed with elegant decor strike the perfect balance.
Display Evocative Art
That abstract artwork is a highly romantic note in this main bedroom. There’s just something about that smoke-like scene that makes us want to dim the lights.
Go All White
Piles of sumptuous layers ensure you’ll never want to leave the bedroom. All-white interiors channel the dreaminess of clouds, while the antique mirror has an alluring, nostalgic presence.
Keep It Light
Sometimes a four-poster bed is more romantic when it doesn’t have curtains or a canopy attached, as is the case in this bedroom by Ishka Designs. The simple neutral colour palette and easy-breezy sheer curtains are well-suited for the Jamaican locale, where heavier, layered fabrics might weigh down the space.
Venetian Headboard
“Exuberantly feminine, yet resolutely chic” was designer Jonathan Berger’s motto for decorating this Brooklyn townhouse. The vintage pieces scream romance.
Hang Sheers
Semi-sheer, gauzy curtains evoke a sense of ethereal romance. They’ll diffuse the light for a soft and dreamy effect. Even better if the bed looks out onto a gorgeous view when the curtains are pulled back.
Set The Scene
In this bedroom designed by Hecker Guthrie, the dark, long, lean wooden panels bring grit and polish, while the luxe red armchair and plush cream carpet create warmth.
Evoke The Clouds
This bedroom designed by Heather Hilliard is pure and simple elegance, enveloped in gorgeous shades of white and cream punctuated by blue accents. Add a mohair throw (or something equally fluffy) for a luxe, cosy atmosphere.
What Makes A Romantic Bedroom?
Let’s start with your bed.
It needs to look as inviting as possible. Big plumped up pillows and crisp, freshly laundered sheets, all beautifully made up, are key to making your bed look appealing. Try bold colours like a black headboard to add a sense of drama. Think 5-star hotel!
It’s also important to clear away any clutter.
You want to make your bed the main feature, and clutter will distract you. If you’re inclined to use your bedroom as a ‘floordrobe’, now is the time for a serious tidy up.
.Creating romantic lighting in your bedroom can make all the difference.
Make sure that your overhead light is switched off –it can be unflattering as well as just too bright. Either use soft glow bedside lamps or groups of tea lights in pretty safe holders to create the mood if they are lightly scented, so much the better. White is a much more romantic colour than red for lighting, which has been shown to cause stress rather than desire.
Romance and desire are strongly linked to your sense of smell.
As well as scented tea lights, you could also use a pillow mist, a fragrance plug-in or just a spritz of your usual after-shave or perfume on the pillows and around your bed. Don’t go overboard on too many different smells; just one or two, especially if familiar, will trigger desire.
Try sprinkling your bed with a few rose petals.
They don’t have to be the real deal –you can buy artificial petals or use petal shaped confetti. For example, scatter a few petals up the stairs and across the landing towards your bedroom if your bedroom is upstairs. It will indicate both romance and intent.
Keep the mood and ambience focused on intimacy and passion.
Put ironing boards, clothes airers and any other chore-based equipment out of sight. Also, tidy children’s toys away.
You may not feel that you need to play music, but if there is a special song that you share or music that carries happy memories for you both, then play it fairly softly. It works better with gentle, mellow music than a heavy rock!
Be prepared
A lot of the art of creating a romantic and sexy bedroom is in preparation. Think about covering up or moving your TV out of the bedroom or putting a faux fur or velvet throw over the bed. Having a bottle of champagne sitting invitingly in an ice bucket, perhaps with some ripe strawberries or cherries in a bowl, will also enhance the sensual mood.
Think of using all your senses to create a romantic mood in your bedroom. While it’s easy to trigger desire with luscious aromas, music and lighting, don’t forget touch is also a big factor in making your Valentine’s night even more special. So wear something soft and sensual like silk or satin, and maybe keep a feather or a silk scarf to hand for teasing your partner and getting them in the mood for some passion-filled intimacy.
Layer On The Textures.
Actress Becca Tobin had the right idea in the main bedroom of the Los Angeles home she shares with her husband (and pup). After all, romantic bedrooms, first and foremost, are all about the textures. Linen bedding, a plush comforter, and maybe even a throw are key to creating a sumptuous bed.
Vary The Lighting
“Setting the mood,” or whatever that means to you, typically starts with adjusting the lights, so making sure you’re giving yourself options is key. For example, in Melanie Shaver-Durham’s Pennsylvania townhouse, she went with a combination of an overhead fixture (with fabric shades to diffuse the light), a floor lamp, and a gooseneck sconce, with a frosted glass shade, for an ambient addition. Layered lighting will ensure that you have an option for reading and romance.
Champion Moody Paint Colors
Few things say romance like a dark-walled room. It’s charming and not too over-the-top or overpowering, especially if you can keep the bedding and window treatments on the brighter side. So take a cue from this bedroom and offset a navy backdrop with bright green plants and billowy white textiles.
Turn Up The Cozy Factor
We’re talking shag rugs, and faux fur throws—anything you can sink your toes into! Don’t be afraid to double down on texture, but keep your palette subdued, so things don’t start getting too uncomfortable. Take notes from this charming scene for inspiration.
Spring For The Canopy
No, a canopy bed doesn’t have to feel like you’re living in a palace, surrounded by dust-attracting draperies. There are plenty of sleek and modern versions on the market, like the one shown here from Room & Board, that will give your main bedroom a grand dose of elegance.
Turn Up The Heat
We’re talking here. Yes, you likely have far less control over the architecture of your room than, say, swapping out pillows, but if you’re about to embark on a renovation or a new build, may we suggest the addition of a fireplace to your boudoir? A crackling fire can do wonders on this front.
Make Yourself Blush
A trade secret we’re letting you in on? Painting bedrooms or bathrooms in a soft shade of pink can make *almost* everything (and everyone) in it look amazing. So instead, opt for a hue in a “peachy” realm, like the soft walls in this dreamy bedroom.
Conclusion
Making your bedroom cosy and romantic can be a lot of fun. Here are some tips to help you get started. First, consider adding some soft lighting. Candles or lamps can create a warm and inviting atmosphere. You might also want to add some plants or flowers, which can help to make the space feel fresher and more natural. Finally, try using comfortable furniture and bedding to create a relaxing environment. With these tips, you can turn your bedroom into a haven of peace and romance!
Faqs
How Can I Make My Bedroom Cozy And Romantic?
Add a myriad of soft decorator pillows to a sofa or bed to provide added comfort to a room. Choose faux fur or chenille fabric to highlight the comfortable nature of the space. Decorate a tabletop with a bouquet of fresh roses in a silver vase to amplify the romantic decor.
How Do You Style A Romantic Bedroom?
Drape sheer fabric across the upper portion of a canopy bed for an instant romantic touch. Then, lean into a moody palette along with pillows, throws, and lampshades in lighter hues for contrast. A terracotta-coloured accent wall and pillows warm up this bedroom, while soft peach and white tones offer just enough balance.
How Do You Make A Romantic Setting?
The key to creating the perfect romantic atmosphere at home is to appeal to each of the five senses:
- Cater to the sense of touch by making your space cosy.
- Incorporate romantic lighting and alluring scents.
- Set the tone with music.
- Serve enticing foods.
Which Is The Best Colour For The Bedroom?
- Indigo and White. Indigo Blue and White is a soothing palette for your bedroom.
- Brown and Cream.
- Lavender and Off-white.
- Light Blue and Radiant Yellow.
- Shades of Grey.
- Light brown and Muted Green.
- Lime Green and Wisely Pink.
- Peach and White.
How Can I Make My Bedroom Intimate?
- Clean & Freshen Up: Sure, the act of cleaning up does not sound romantic.
- Light Some Candles
- Romantic Scents
- Dim The Lights
- Flowers & Rose Petals
- Have Your Kids Sleep In Their Room
- Put On Romantic Music
- Plan An Activity