A bedroom is your most personal space, it should communicate a sense of tranquility while meeting the practical requirements.
Creating bedrooms for my clients is always such a pleasure, as I relish the thought that this room is to become their personal oasis and private retreat. While your personality should of course shine through, there are key practical elements to consider, as well as those that marry form and function. Here is our guide to creating your ideal Hamptons bedroom.
First, the furniture
Begin with the style of furniture you want for your bedroom. If you are yearning for a luxurious retreat, choose a buttoned headboard, upholstered in velvet with a scalloped design. For a relaxed coastal atmosphere, a rattan or a linen bedhead both make excellent choices. Then you bring in a pair of bedsides, don’t feel that these have to match your bedhead or even your bedframe. Incorporate an oak or a white wood for a traditional look, or a rattan piece in tobacco or black for a tropical retreat. Consider how much storage you require, whether you like open shelves to store your nightly reading or drawers to hide away your personal items. Style with a beautiful table lamp, a vintage clock and some fresh flowers.
Chests of drawers can be a great feature while also being practical, they offer an opportunity for gorgeous styling. Hang an inspiring piece of art above and layer with your jewellery box, a tray of your favourite fragrances and vignettes that make you smile. If you have the space, an occasional chair can be a worthy addition. Paired with a tall floor lamp for ambient lighting, a ceramic stool that acts as a side table, while being space conscious, and some of your favourite cushions to relax into.
Now make it pretty!
When you have chosen your main furniture pieces, then the layering can begin. A simple quilt in a white or neutral tone is a great base for your bed linens. Ensure your duvet is plush and fresh for a luxurious look. Add textures onto the bed with a velvet or satin coverlet, folded at the bottom half of the bed for another layer.
Position your usual bed pillows and large European cushions, in a satin or a silk cover for the ultimate feeling of comfort against your skin. Patterned cushions are fun to play with in a variety of sizes. A trio of 50cm x 50cm cushions are a great next step after the European pillows, and a long lumbar cushion in front of them all plays with heights and lengths. I’m sure most husbands would disagree, but the more cushions on my beds, the better!
A Hamptons bedroom doesn’t quite feel complete without an end-of-bed bench. If space allows, this bench is so helpful for dressing down at the end of a big day, or as convenient spot to sit and put on your shoes each morning.
A dainty pendant in the centre of your room would bring your eye up and provide a lovely ambience in the fading sunlight. A touch of crystal for the more traditional homes would elevate a bedroom, a coastal retreat may find rattan or beaded designs more to their liking.
Finally, but really to be installed first, a gorgeous wallpaper that ties in the colour palette of your bedroom is essential. If you have other wall layers like wainscoting or panelling, wallpaper from a half height works just as well. At the Hamptons Farm Estate, we were delighted to create a custom wallpaper of soft sage tones and cool blues in a divine peacock pattern, that evokes a calming environment.
This article originally appeared in Hamptons Living #1