14 Quick and Easy Ways to Transform Your

BedroomEugene Chrinian

Giving your bedroom a fresh new look and feel doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. Here are 14 simple ideas to perk up a tired

bedroom that won’t break the bank or take all day.

Make Your BedThere’s a reason your mom was always nagging you to make your bed every morning. A nicely made bed pulls the room together and brings a sense of order to things, even if the rest of the room is a bit of a mess. Plus, it takes two minutes, tops.

Wash Your SheetsThere’s nothing like newly laundered sheets to help you feel like you’re in a new room. To keep the freshness lasting longer, you can also try using your own homemade linen spray: simply shake 30 drops of an essential oil of your choice, 3 ounces of vodka, and 1½ cups of distilled water together in a jar, pour into a small spray bottle, and spritz away.

Try New SheetsAs the bed is the centerpiece of a bedroom, changing up your duvet cover, bedsheets, or pillow shams is a quick way to create a whole new look for the room. Bed linens in a new color or pattern can take your bedroom from modern to classic, or from bold to soft in the time it takes to make your bed.

Add a HeadboardIf you don’t already have a proper bed frame, a simple wall-mounted headboard can turn your bed into a striking visual focal point. If you love DIY projects, why not try making your own by mounting crown molding to a simple sheet of painted plywood? Or, if you prefer a quicker and more whimsical option, use a headboard wall stencil to create a fun, painted-on version.

Add a RugA properly sized area rug helps unite different pieces to give the bedroom a more pulled-together look. You can add a rug even if you already have carpeting; just choose one that’s big enough to fit under both the bed and at least one more piece of furniture.

Manage ClutterClutter is the number-one thing that makes a bedroom feel blah. But even if you can’t get rid of it, it’s less noticeable if it’s better managed. Keep your dirty laundry tucked away in a closed top hamper, store bedside table items like books in small wicker baskets, and keep visible surfaces like the top of your dresser clear.

Image courtesy joecolatemilk on Flickr

Limit Your PillowsManaging clutter goes as much for what’s on the bed as for what’s around it. Pillows are cute and a nice way to add different colors and patterns to your bedroom, but they shouldn’t take up so much space that you can’t see the bed any more. Two sets of bed pillows in appropriate sizes, as well as perhaps a neck roll, should be your maximum pillow population.

RearrangeYou don’t have to invest in new furniture to give your bedroom a different look. Just take a few minutes to move around the furniture that you already have. Moving your bed, dresser, and wardrobe to a new configuration instantly makes the bedroom feel like a completely different room. And while you’re at it, flip and rotate your mattress to prolong its life and keep it wearing evenly.

Rearranging isn’t just for furniture, either. Try moving around the artwork and photographs on your walls, or swap a piece of art in your bedroom for one that’s in your living room.

Experiment With Wall DecalsWall decals are an easy and inexpensive way to test out fabulous patterns and new colors in your bedroom without going through all the trouble of repainting or putting up wallpaper. Even just a few well-placed decals can add instant personality and flair.

Dress Your DresserIf you prefer to leave your walls alone, painting or wallpapering the front of your dresser or the drawers of your nightstand is a good, low-commitment way to introduce new color or design elements. It also helps dress up older furniture that may be looking a little shabby or showing signs of wear and tear.

Get a Handle on ThingsIt may be a small change, but replacing old drawer handles and pulls with new decorative ones is a low-effort way to give some personality to otherwise nondescript furniture. Try mixing and matching different pulls to create a fun, whimsical effect.

Change Your Lightbulbs

Lighting makes a big difference to a bedroom’s atmosphere. For maximum flexibility, use three-way bulbs in your bedside lamps so that you can adapt the room’s brightness level to your needs or mood.

Add Some GreeneryNothing livens up a room like fresh greenery. Adding a few small potted plants brings a whole new feeling of life to a bedroom. Be sure to choose plants that are appropriate for the level of light; if your bedroom receives no direct sunlight, for example, find plants that won’t mind that. If you’re short on surface areas, a small hanging basket makes it easy to suspend plants from the ceiling. If you’d prefer not to bring in a plant permanently, adding a vase of fresh flowers will help brighten the bedroom for a few days.

Try a ValanceA valance helps draw focus to the windows and can liven up neutral curtains without overwhelming the room. Be sure to contrast patterned curtains with a solid-print valence, and vice versa.