When thinking about a bedroom, it must be a place of relaxation, sleep and intimacy. You want this space to be a sanctuary; somewhere you can escape to after a long day. It really doesn’t take a lot to make it into a space for so much more than just sleeping.

The first place to start is paint. Choose a paint hue that is soothing and not too bright. Reds, yellows and oranges are not suited for tranquil spaces, so try to stay away from these. Instead go for earthy taupes or greys that will make the space feel more inviting. Darker shades—such as deep aubergines—also provide a great neutral palette to work with. You may also think about doing feature walls in an accent colour. The wall behind your bed is perfect for that punch of colour.

Furniture is key, but stay away from purchasing matching pieces as this will make your bedroom look as though it came from a catalogue and that’s not what you want. By incorporating different furniture pieces, you can mix and match high-end and more budget-friendly items. Invest in a good quality bed and mattress, pieces that will last you a long time. The trend now is simple, refined, clean and modern. Also, it’s a good idea to go shopping already knowing the size of your room and what type of bed it can accommodate. You don’t want to use a king-size bed in a room too small to fit it comfortably or a double in a room too big. Consider proportion. When thinking about placing a bed in a room, allow for a minimum of three feet around the perimeter of the bed.

Think about luxurious bedding. I tend to stick with Egyptian cotton in a simple white for the dressing of the bed. I also love to incorporate styles that have a simple stitch detail along the perimeter, in an accent colour that will add some pizzazz. As a finishing touch, your duvet cover and shams can provide the punch of colour. I am sure you have all have seen photos of beds overdone with pillows, but this doesn’t have to be the case—two or three accent pillows will do the trick. Think of introducing a pattern with these pillows to add some texture to the space.

Every good bed must have a great headboard, as the wall your bed is on will likely also be your feature wall. You want it to stand out, which is why most beds come with signature headboards. Upholstered styles with a lovely nail-head detail are also gorgeous—they add a touch of opulence and come in a wide assortment of fabric styles to suite your colour scheme. You can also create your own one-of-a-kind headboard, whether with artwork or by placing a decorative architectural detail above the bed. Remember to have fun with it and be creative.

Night tables are a must! They are not only functional but the fixtures also allow for a great space to have bedside lamps, providing the perfect accent lighting in a room. (Don’t rely on a single ceiling-mount fixture as the only source of light. It’s not very practical.)

There are a plethora of styles and sizes available as far as night tables are concerned. Choose those that are proportional to the bed. You can even have two different tables on either side of the bed, as long as they have some unifying quality between them, such as colour or texture.

If your boudoir has hardwood floors, you must think about the addition of an area carpet. This will add to the luxurious quality of your bedroom, and waking up on those cold Calgary winter mornings will be all the more pleasant when stepping onto a warm, plush carpet.

The rule of thumb for carpet size is to have the foot of the bed sitting on the carpet, and it must extend at least a foot-and-a-half on either side. The night tables do not need to rest on the carpet, so you can cheat a bit by pulling it forward. Try to pick a neutral carpet, as a good quality rug can be quite the investment. And this way, if you decide to change the look of your bedroom later, your carpet will always work with the space.

Window treatments are a good thing in any room! Make sure to address the windows you have in your bedroom with a gorgeous treatment. Blinds are a good choice, but also try to soften the hard edges by introducing gorgeous silk panels on either side of the window.

Sheers are wonderful and aid in the softening of the space. For the light sleepers, blackout lining in your drapes is a must—it will basically block out any sun from filtering in and is perfect for those lazy Sunday mornings! Try to have these drapes in the same accent colour that you have used with accent pillows on the bed to unify the space. You can even introduce the same pattern.

If the room size will allow, a sitting area is the perfect addition to that perfect bedroom—a place to read, relax, and yes, sometimes just throw your clothes on when you’re too tired to hang them up (on the odd occasion)! Most rooms are too small for this but even a small-scale chair with a wooden back and upholstered seat looks great in a corner. It doesn’t have to be a huge reading chair, just something to add a little interest to the room.

A few tips on romancing the bedroom and hopefully creating a little romance as well! Don’t be afraid to have fun and try different things with the space. It doesn’t have to be the same old hum-drum bedroom anymore. Play with colour, introduce it in unexpected ways, and make the bedroom your own sanctuary.

Happy Decorating!