A bedroom is one of the few spaces in your home where you don’t need to splurge to make it feel luxurious. Even the smallest decor can add a touch of royalty and class to your bedroom.
Additionally, you don’t always need to redo the entire room to transform it—with some easy bedroom styling tricks, you’ll have a royal sanctuary in no time.
The slowly curated, minimal updates approach ensures you don’t break the bank on each decoration escapade. Besides, expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better.
We’ve prepared 25 easy bedroom styling tricks to help your space look and feel luxurious on a budget.
Take a look!
1. Declutter Your Space
Removing items is a cost-friendly and easy bedroom styling trick that makes your space look expensive and luxurious. A bedroom with well-appointed furniture and accessories will always look expensive compared to one full of clutter.
Decluttered rooms look modern and elegant because they have white space that allows eyes to rest rather than focus on multiple items. Add thoughtful or essential items in your bedroom to ensure it’s clutter-free, removing the ones you aren’t using.
2. Add Layers of Lighting
With the right areas highlighted, the light in your bedroom can be just the glamour you need. The good thing about lighting is that numerous options are available, from custom lighting solutions to easy-to-install portable lights.
Consider these types of lighting: ambient, task, and accent lighting. I usually prefer switching up the ambient light as it is easy; for example, add puck lights in wall sconces in your bedroom to instantly elevate the mood.
3. Use Different Textures
Introducing various textures in the bedroom is essential if you don’t want the space to feel bland or monotonous.
In my bedroom, I‘ve combined soft throw pillows, linen bed sheets, textured rugs, and woven baskets to create a cohesive bohemian style, and it’s one of the most relaxing rooms!
4. Upholster Your Headboard
Nothing transforms a basic bedroom into a luxurious retreat faster than an upholstered headboard. It creates a focal point and instantly refreshes the look of your bedroom. For the ultimate budget-friendly project, consider DIY options.
Basic supplies (plywood, foam, staple gun, and fabric) typically cost under $50, yet create custom results indistinguishable from boutique pieces. You can easily learn to make one from online tutorials, even if you’re a novice crafter.
5. Add a Statement Art Piece
One easy bedroom styling trick to make a space feel luxe is to opt out of small, minimal decor items and go for a large statement wall art. It doesn’t always have to be expensive; one of the most eye-catching art pieces in my bedroom is a DIY project.
You can create wall art items with plywood, lattice strips, and a large canvas. While it’ll hardly cost a fortune, large art pieces give the illusion that they are expensive, making the space feel luxurious.
6. Add Houseplants
Houseplants revitalize your space by making it feel more lively. Whether real or faux, plants add a bit of zen to any room, and if you already have a garden, you won’t spend a dime on this easy bedroom styling trick.
Houseplants work particularly well in large bedrooms, where you can find empty spots to place them. If you use real plants, consider the light the room receives before settling on a plant, as different houseplants have different lighting needs.
7. Add Crown Molding
Crown molding is a proven way to add architectural interest at a very affordable price. While subtle, it gives your bedroom a high-end, tailored look.
If crown molding isn’t available or feasible in your space, opt for decorative wall molding or use baseboards to achieve a similar effect.
8. Use White Bed Linens
There’s a reason why most five-star hotels prefer white bed sheets. They add an element of purity and make a space feel crisp and extra clean.
Applying the same principle to your bedroom can evoke the same luxurious feel. Light colors like white and cream make your bedroom look calm and inviting, making it the perfect spot to relax after a long day.
9. Choose the Right Size Area Rug
The rug’s size can significantly impact how your space feels. If the area rug is too small, it can make your bedroom look cheap and unfinished. On the other hand, it can fail to impact the space if it’s too big.
I love a rug that fits all the furniture while leaving some bare floor around the room. If you can’t afford a rug of that size, arrange your room with the illusion of a big rug. Most of the time, when I find the rug is small, I fit the front feet of the furniture so that I can still enjoy the insulated areas.
10. Hang Curtains High and Wide
Floor-to-ceiling drapery always gives a sense of opulence to a space. Curtains way above your bedroom’s window frame provide the illusion of a space with a high ceiling.
As a result, the space looks larger overall and more spacious. Go for large curtains that touch the floor for a more relaxed and royal look.
11. Upgrade The Nightstand
Those basic bedside tables you rarely think of may undermine your bedroom’s potential. Fortunately, you can upgrade your nightstand for a fraction of your bedroom’s decor budget. Skip retail markup by transforming existing pieces with budget-friendly DIY techniques.
A $15 lacquer spray can transform tired wood into glossy surfaces, while adhesive mirrored panels create high-end reflective furniture for under $30. Swap standard pulls for inexpensive brass knobs or crystal handles to instantly elevate your furniture’s perceived value.
12. Try Authentic Material
Whenever possible, always go for authentic material. A space with several cheap but authentic pieces will always look better than one with expensive but spurious materials. For example, you can try solid wood furniture rather than veneer.
This also applies to antique finishes like leather and brass. While these options may be expensive if bought brand new, you can always visit flea markets and antique stores for unique finds.
13. Paint the Wall and Trim the Same Color
One easy bedroom styling trick I discovered for making a small space feel larger when working on minimalist design is using a uniform color combination. Traditionally, most people preferred painting walls and trim different colors, usually making the trim a lighter shade than the walls.
However, while this may improve the space’s aesthetics, a uniform paint color makes a room feel larger since there are no frequent visual breaks.
14. Add a Footboard Bench
A footboard bench is one hallmark of a truly sophisticated bedroom. While it features in most high-end bedrooms, you can still add a cost-friendly footboard bench that’s both functional and stylish.
Choose easy-to-clean materials like leather and velvet to minimize maintenance costs. Besides improving aesthetics, a bed bench can provide extra seating or storage, especially in space-savvy homes like small apartments.
15. Understand Bedding
The primary use of a bedroom is sleeping, so it’s only fair you put a lot of work into how your bed feels. The right choice of bedding can give your space an upscale feel.
Start with the fabric choice first; you want soft and plush bedding with good fabric and a color that matches or complements your bedroom’s theme. You can still find quality bedding at your local store if you can’t afford high-end brands.
16. Add a Vintage Piece
As previously stated, the flea market is a great place to find one-of-a-kind antique pieces. Even better, you can get vintage furniture pieces that breathe fresh life into your bedroom. Generally, when looking to give vintage furniture pieces a new lease of life, look for items in good shape.
Sometimes, you can find interesting furniture items that only need a fresh coat of varnish, so always be keen, as the lack of gloss and chipped paint may not tell the whole story.
17. Change the Lampshades
If you’re tired of the same old monotonous look of your bedroom lighting fixture, changing the lampshade could go a long way toward updating your space. Old lampshades make your space feel dated, so opt for new, modern designs.
In addition to changing the lampshades, changing light bulbs is another easy bedroom styling trick. Alternating between warm and bright bulbs can offer options for switching between a cozy vibe or an open, airy one.
18. Mismatch Furniture
Bedroom furniture packages might seem convenient, but they’re a missed opportunity for savings and style. The secret? Intentional mismatching to create custom-looking spaces without hefty price tags. Try this zero-cost trick: swap a dresser from another bedroom to instantly break the cookie-cutter look.
I love how this simple change adds visual interest and creates a curated, collected-over-time vibe that mass-produced sets can’t match. You can always visit the local thrift store or the marketplace for more custom pieces.
19. Add Wallpaper
Custom aesthetics don’t always demand premium investment. A well-patterned wallpaper delivers an outsized visual impact. Strategically install it behind your headboard or use it to create an accent wall in your space.
If you’re hesitant about permanent modifications, peel-and-stick is an excellent alternative. While they provide identical aesthetic benefits, they don’t require installation complexities or removal concerns.
20. Try Neutrals
Decorating your bedroom around versatile beiges, grays, and whites for big-ticket items creates instant sophistication without breaking the bank. Investing in neutral curtains, furniture, and area rugs provides maximum flexibility while minimizing wasteful replacements.
These timeless elements create the perfect canvas for affordable self-expression. With a neutral background, you can experiment with bold and colorful decor without worrying about major space redos.
21. Custom Window Treatments
Custom window treatments deliver an astonishing bedroom transformation without demolition-scale budgets. While seemingly splurge-worthy, these elements create high-impact focal points that elevate your resting room.
Roman shades offer another budget-friendly option for a unique-looking bedroom. Consider affordable, ready-made versions that mimic custom looks, or try simple DIY tutorials using existing flat sheets that coordinate with your bedding.
22. Don’t Hold Back on Rich Hues
While we’ve previously highlighted the importance of emphasizing neutrals, some spaces’ bold hues can sometimes be just as effective in creating luxurious bedrooms.
Shades like navy blue, metallic browns, or even matte blacks can elevate your space’s look while adding a dramatic and sophisticated feel. If you go for bold tones, it’s essential to match them with light neutrals or metallic accents to balance out the space and create some contrast.
23. Don’t Forget the Ceiling
The bedroom ceiling is often overlooked for decoration projects, but it might be your most untapped decorative asset when funds are tight. It’s reasonably cheap to decorate and will add an interesting dimension to your space.
I’m consistently amazed by how a simple ceiling treatment transforms modest bedrooms into seemingly expensive retreats. A gallon of ceiling paint in a subtle hue costs under $30, yet it’ll completely reshape your spatial perception. Budget-friendly peel-and-stick tiles or rustic wood beams create high-end architectural interest without hefty contractor fees.
24. Increase Your Pillow Range
Ideally, most people like having at least 2 – 4 pillows in the bed, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t have more. Numerous pillows are an easy bedroom styling trick that’ll make your space even more attractive for relaxing after a long day.
I always recommend getting at least two large pillows and accompanying smaller pillows that can act as accents to the bigger ones. With various pillows, you can create a color scheme on your bed that complements other elements in the room.
25. Repaint
Repainting is an age-old trick for any home improvement expert or decorator worth his salt, providing a cheap but tremendously impactful way to revamp a bedroom. Simply decide on a color that resonates with luxury, then redo the entire space or just add an accent wall.
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with bold colors like crimson and charcoal black, and I have to say, they add an element of drama and sophistication that’s simply unrivaled.
