Jackie Kennedy's Powder Blue Dressing Room is So Romantic

(Image credit: Future / Bettmann / Contributor via GettyImages)

Style icon, Jackie Kennedy, has always been an endless source of inspiration for our wardrobes, but this throwback to her White House dressing room proves that her sense of style extended to interior decor, too. Nostalgic and so pretty, this vintage-style dressing room combines powder blue with pleats, ruffles, and draping fabrics in the most romantic way, and it's making us completely rethink our own bedroom styling.

We often think of romantic bedroom ideas featuring frills and ruffles as looking dated or twee, but if you stick to a simple color palette and keep the look light, rather than overdone, it can tap into a sense of nostalgia without looking old-fashioned.

Kathryn Nelson, principal designer at Kathryn Nelson Design in Dallas, explains: 'As nostalgia cycles back into the bedroom, we’re seeing a softer, more romantic language take hold through powdery hues such as soft blues and greyed lavenders, airy drapery, skirted tables, and delicate prints that feel collected over time rather than themed. This style has never truly gone out of fashion; however, more clients of all ages are gravitating toward this traditional, romantic aesthetic.'

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Shop Powder Blue Bedroom Decor Inspired by Jackie Kennedy

Ditsy print

Loveshackfancy Rose Duvet Cover

A delicate print doesn't have to look chintzy. The pale blue and white color of this duvet cover remind me of vintage tea sets, while the ruffle trim lends a romantic twist to design.

Statement piece

Bedford Stand Alone Chaise

Mirroring the romantic curves of Jackie Kennedy's dressing room chaise longue, this modern version is so chic and will be sure to make a statement in a bedroom or vintage-style living room.

Textural trim

Ruffle-Trimmed Cotton Cushion Cover

An easy and affordable way to try Jackie Kennedy's dressing room look is with accessories such as throw cushions. This one in a pretty blue hue features a soft ruffle trim detail.

Decorative piece

Canvas Room Divider

Add a sense of decadence to a bedroom by sectioning off a dressing area with a room divider like Jacki Kennedy's. This one has a reversable design with pale blue on one side and white on the other.

Useful piece

Ottilie Storage Ottoman

A stylish ottoman like this one doesn't only look good, but can be the perfect place to store spare bed sheets and towels, as well as providing a spot to sit to take your shoes on and off.

Unique design

Box Pleat Lampshade

Designed by Cielle Home, this pretty lampshade taps into the pleated lampshade trend and would look just as perfect in Jackie Kennedy's dressing room as in a modern-day bedroom.

While Jackie Kennedy's White House dressing room features high windows that can take the visual impact of heavily draped curtains, you can get the look with more subtle details, such as a simple pale blue pelmet or a delicate ruffle trim.

But keep ruffles to a minimum to avoid it becoming overly flouncy. Stick to a handful of pieces with ruffles or frills, such as cushion trims, bed valances or lampshades (we love the modern interpretation of this box pleat lampshade from Lulu & Georgia) in a limited color palette to tie the look together.

Equally, avoid the combination of prints and ruffles, unless they follow that same color palette – such as the blue and white in the Loveshackfancy Rose Duvet Cover from Pottery Barn.

Kathryn Nelson adds 'Pretty, vintage-style bedrooms are defined by layered textiles, gentle color contrast, and a sense of craftsmanship. Today, the look feels most successful when those elements are thoughtfully edited with clean-lined upholstery, vintage casegoods, tailored bedding with custom shams, contemporary lighting, and a calm, livable palette that honors the past while feeling fresh and relevant.'

Another clever way to tone down the whole look is to incorporate a neutral, such as white, which, in Jackie Kennedy's dressing room, keeps everything feeling fresh and bright.

Add in some statement or vintage furniture, such as a chaise longue, ottoman, or room divider in vintage silhouettes or hand-painted designs, to emphasise the elegant boudoir aesthetic.

While you may think pretty, feminine bedrooms, filled with frills, pastel hues, and prints aren't for you, there are plenty of ways to take the vintage elements from Jackie Kennedy's White House dressing room and give them a more contemporary spin that still feels elegant. It's certainly given us pause for thought when it comes to dreamy bedroom decor ideas.

Katrina is Head of Living at Homes & Gardens, covering hosting and entertaining, seasonal styling ideas, sleep and wellbeing, along with a highly experienced team of writers and reviewers. With more than 15 years' experience in lifestyle content, Katrina was previously an editor at luxury lifestyle platform, Muddy Stilettos, has been a features writer at Sainsbury's magazine and has also written for a wealth of other food and lifestyle titles including Ideal Home, Waitrose Food, John Lewis' Edition and The Home Page. Katrina is passionate about heritage style and lives in a 100-year old cottage in rural Hertfordshire, where she enjoys finding creative ways to live and host stylishly.