10 Winning Ways to Style the Wall Behind Your Bed
Bring your bed into focus with these clever sleep space styling tricks
The easiest way to give your bedroom a dose of design is to make your bed the main event. In its simplest form, this could entail a piece of overhead art and a stash of perfectly plumped cushions, but if you’re looking for even more impact, consider going large with one of the following fabulous ideas.
2. Curl up under a canopy
Less space-sapping than a full four-poster but just as dramatic, a canopy could be the answer to your ‘blah’ bedroom woes. There are various ways to construct this type of feature, but it’s basically a frame with a pelmet and curtains, similar to those you’d use on a window.
Try this stately style in a bedroom that lacks character or if you want to create a strong focal point.
Less space-sapping than a full four-poster but just as dramatic, a canopy could be the answer to your ‘blah’ bedroom woes. There are various ways to construct this type of feature, but it’s basically a frame with a pelmet and curtains, similar to those you’d use on a window.
Try this stately style in a bedroom that lacks character or if you want to create a strong focal point.
3. Get creative
If rustic style is right up your alley, this shingle-inspired DIY design could be for you. Usually reserved for exterior spaces, textured timber walls impart a calming, earthy quality indoors.
Be wary of using similar techniques willy-nilly – this wooden wonder is best kept to walls where you won’t accidentally scuff yourself.
If rustic style is right up your alley, this shingle-inspired DIY design could be for you. Usually reserved for exterior spaces, textured timber walls impart a calming, earthy quality indoors.
Be wary of using similar techniques willy-nilly – this wooden wonder is best kept to walls where you won’t accidentally scuff yourself.
4. Put up a picture shelf
Give your room a gallery of inspiring art by installing a behind-bed ledge. Whether you choose to incorporate a lip on a part-panelled wall (as seen here) or stick to a simple shelf, this technique will ensure an ever-changing display of your favourite pieces.
Putting your treasures on show
Give your room a gallery of inspiring art by installing a behind-bed ledge. Whether you choose to incorporate a lip on a part-panelled wall (as seen here) or stick to a simple shelf, this technique will ensure an ever-changing display of your favourite pieces.
Putting your treasures on show
5. Find a factory fixture
Save space on your bedside table and add a cool industrial edge with surface-mounted wall lights. These black beauties are big on impact but low on effort, thanks to their external wiring. Factory-inspired designs mesh particularly well with mid-century-style furniture, such as these drawer units.
Save space on your bedside table and add a cool industrial edge with surface-mounted wall lights. These black beauties are big on impact but low on effort, thanks to their external wiring. Factory-inspired designs mesh particularly well with mid-century-style furniture, such as these drawer units.
6. Relax and reflect
Mirrors work wonders when positioned above the centre of your bed or behind a bedside table. Wall-mounted designs with an interesting shape look purposeful and will reflect light from the opposite windows. Pair with a clear glass lamp to avoid adding unnecessary bulk to your bedside.
Mirrors work wonders when positioned above the centre of your bed or behind a bedside table. Wall-mounted designs with an interesting shape look purposeful and will reflect light from the opposite windows. Pair with a clear glass lamp to avoid adding unnecessary bulk to your bedside.
7. Improve your attic
In a loft extension, it’s crucial to create clever storage to compensate for the loss of attic space. You may also want to add personality to the blank new room you’ve created. This canny behind-bed wall has both issues covered, thanks to its slick inset shelves with mellow LED lighting.
Making the most of an attic space
In a loft extension, it’s crucial to create clever storage to compensate for the loss of attic space. You may also want to add personality to the blank new room you’ve created. This canny behind-bed wall has both issues covered, thanks to its slick inset shelves with mellow LED lighting.
Making the most of an attic space
8. Be crafty
Embellish your child’s sleep space with delicate homemade decor. This naturalistic hanging birdhouse fits with the bedroom’s gorgeous garden theme. You can buy paintable wooden birdhouses quite cheep, so this DIY touch is a frugal must-try.
Embellish your child’s sleep space with delicate homemade decor. This naturalistic hanging birdhouse fits with the bedroom’s gorgeous garden theme. You can buy paintable wooden birdhouses quite cheep, so this DIY touch is a frugal must-try.
9. Jazz up your unframed bed
Don’t worry if you haven’t got a bedhead or bed frame, use picturesque panelling to turn your wall into a feature instead. Installing pre-made MDF sheets behind your bed will create architectural interest, as well as providing a little ledge on which to display your favourite trinkets.
This period-style panelling is painted in a soft, pebble grey for a muted, modern twist.
Browse more grey-toned bedrooms
Don’t worry if you haven’t got a bedhead or bed frame, use picturesque panelling to turn your wall into a feature instead. Installing pre-made MDF sheets behind your bed will create architectural interest, as well as providing a little ledge on which to display your favourite trinkets.
This period-style panelling is painted in a soft, pebble grey for a muted, modern twist.
Browse more grey-toned bedrooms
10. Shape slender storage
When space is at a real premium, wardrobes must be wangled out of every possible alcove. These cunning cabinets may be shallow, but this makes them ideal for shoe storage.
When space is at a real premium, wardrobes must be wangled out of every possible alcove. These cunning cabinets may be shallow, but this makes them ideal for shoe storage.
The panels between the outer doors even have handy integrated angled lighting to avoid the need for bedside lamps.
TELL US
What does the wall behind your bed look like – or how would you like it to look? Share your photos and thoughts in the Comments below.
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Read more bedroom design stories
TELL US
What does the wall behind your bed look like – or how would you like it to look? Share your photos and thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more bedroom design stories
Let your bed become a piece of art in itself by adding an oversized bedhead. This floral fancy introduces a vibrant chartreuse and pink complementary colour scheme that’s picked up in the curtains, chair and cushions.
When choosing a textile for your bedhead, bear in mind that buttoning an upholstered bedhead can distort the pattern on printed fabrics. This material, Breathe Velvet Wild Flower by Jessica Zoob, works well due to its large pattern repeat and small-scale detail.