Bedroom ideas for women – 9 ways to create the ultimate luxury retreat

These bedroom ideas for women will help you create the ultimate retreat, using everything from statement color schemes to luxurious bedlinen

Bedroom ideas for women
(Image credit: Future)

Bedroom ideas for women have come a long way over the last few years and, really, anything goes as long as you love it. However, it can be hard to know where to begin if you truly want to create a room from scratch. We've tapped a host of design experts to share their top tips on creating bedroom ideas for woman that's at once luxurious yet warm and inviting.

Bedroom ideas for women – add style, elegance and sophistication to your sleep space

Below, we have gathered bedroom ideas that will work for women – but, men, don't let us stop you indulging in them too. These beautiful designs also double up as bedroom ideas for men.

1. Choose rich red shades for a cozy feminine feel 

red bedroom with red painted panelling, pink upper wall, pink linen bedding, red bedside, wall light

(Image credit: Paint & Paper Library)

Thinking carefully about your bedroom color ideas is vital to getting the room's scheme right, as color has the power to change the mood in your bedroom ideas for women.

'You can't beat shades of red and blush teamed together, they're warming and cocoon like which makes them ideal for a calming yet stylish small bedroom ideas,' says Jennifer Ebert, digital editor, Homes & Gardens. 'Add in tactile elements like linen bedlinen and a patterned vintage rug and the space will be cozy sanctuary with a touch of drama.'

2. Pick ruffles and frills 

blue and white bedroom with pale blue bedding, blue woodwork on window and door

(Image credit: The White Company)

'A beautiful blend of linen and hemp means this pretty bedding is wonderfully soft and breathable – ideal for warmer weather,' says Chrissie Rucker OBE and founder of The White Company. 'I love its modern vintage frill, which just add softness to any room. In a soft blue and white stripe, or gorgeous pure white, it mixes and matches beautifully, too. Environmentally kind, both hemp and linen are recognized as being among of the world’s most sustainable plants.'

3. Bring the outside in with fresh green and off-whites

white/cream bedroom with green headboard, cream wallpapered walls, artwork, double windows drapes

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

'This white bedroom idea is fortunate to have an abundance of natural light, and when designing it we wanted to complement the view and bring elements of the outside in to create a restful and inviting bedroom,' says Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove

'The green velvet headboard, which we designed in collaboration with Ensemblier, is a focal point for the space and references the verdant nature outside, whilst the gallery of pressed flora and fauna adds a lovely organic and decorative form to the space. The neutral walls lend a subtle warmth to the space that brings the scheme together with its soft green undertones.'

4. Create a calming reading nook with muted tones and leaf motifs

bedroom with pink wallpaper, grey woodwork, upholstered armchair, small chest, lamp, stripe carpet

(Image credit: Dado)

'For a calming sleep inducing feminine space, pair delicate motifs such as leaf prints and botanical wallpaper designs in gentle muted tones such as plaster pinks, warm greys or deep olive greens with natural fibres such as linen and jute to create a restorative, restful interior that’s charming and pretty too,' says Kate French, creative director at Dado

A reading nook in a bedroom should be intimate, so creating one won’t involve the sacrifice of large amounts of space. What is crucial, though, is seating to spend time on, and colors and textures that are appealing for a woman.

5. Combine beautiful textures for an elegant scheme 

bedroom with beamed ceiling, stone floor, leather headboard, designer modern chair, white silk bedding, white walls

(Image credit: Gingerlily)

'Women's bedrooms don’t need to be pink or floral to be feminine, mixing luxurious textures such as silk and cashmere in a refined muted color palette delivers an elegant and feminine scheme,' says Deborah Fiddy, managing director and co-founder at Gingerlily. 'Bedrooms are such personal spaces, that for me it’s all about creating a sanctuary that ensures you are comfortable and rested for the day ahead. I’m a firm believer that wellness and self-care should start with paying attention to your sleep health, from creating a relaxed sanctuary style interior, to your bedding and your bedtime ritual. 

'To ensure a design scheme doesn’t feel too pared back, I love to include a statement rug, which whilst creating design impact in a bedroom isn’t visible once you're in bed, so doesn’t detract from the calming soporific feel a bedroom should embody.'

6. Go for a luxe side table – or two

neutral bedroom scheme with upholstered headboard, dark wooden floor, Venetian glass side tables

(Image credit: OKA)

‘There are certain pieces of bedroom furniture that are essential in a bedroom, and the bedside table is very much a necessary luxury,' says Sue Jones, co-founder and creative director at OKA. 'You don’t have to go for a traditional storage piece, though; our set of Versailles nested side tables is perfect as it provides a top shelf for your books and a table lamp, while storing less aesthetically pleasing personal items on the shelf below. 

'If you have a smaller bedroom, the open area underneath can make all the difference by creating the illusion of a larger space. The mirror glass doesn’t hurt, either.'

7. Pick a stylish wall light that complements the space

green bedroom with painted tongue & groove, white walls, white wall light, artwork, small shelf, wooden floors, green abstract blanket

(Image credit: Interior Fox)

'Elevate your current décor by choosing bedroom lighting ideas that fit seamlessly into your scheme,' say Jen and Mar, co-founders of Interior Fox. 'A delicate shade that compliments the wall color will add a subtle yet striking look. 

'If you have chosen hardware in a specific metal introduce this into your light, metallic fittings are a great way of adding a modern yet elegant twist to a traditional shade.'

 

8. Design your bedroom around organic silhouettes

white bedroom with boucle chair and footstool, fireplace, modern art, antique rug, wooden floor, view outside

(Image credit: Ursino Interiors/Raquel Langworthy)

'We love designing modern bedroom ideas that lean into soft, romantic and light textures that create an ethereal and serene sense, allowing the space to serve as an escape at the end of the day,' says Maureen Ursino, principal designer at Ursino Interiors.

This bedroom was designed around organic silhouettes upholstered in linen and boucle grounded by a soft vintage wool rug with shades of coral and pink.'

9. Mix patterns for a casual country house look

attic bedroom with canopy, iron bed, coir carpet, upholstered chair, side table, rug, beam, pinks

(Image credit: VSP Interiors)

'In this attic bedroom we tried to make create a cozy environment without being overly fussy,' says Henriette von Stockhausen, creative director at VSP Interiors. 'A Robert Kime small scale wallpaper and Jean Monro print are teamed with candy stripe fabric on an antique chair and beautiful vintage Kantha quilt from Nushka to give a relaxed feel.'

How can I make my bedroom look beautiful?

The simplest way to make a bedroom look beautiful is with a well-considered bedroom color scheme. There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to designing a bedroom. The primary consideration when deciding on the best bedroom colors for your space will be the available light coming in and secondly how you respond to it.

Introducing a statement bed and beautiful headboard ideas are another great way to add beauty and style to your bedroom. Choose a statement bed and position it so that it’s the first thing to grab your attention as you enter the room. Opt for a design that will immediately define the style of the rest of the space. 

Add a headboard or hand a piece of striking art above the bed to draw the eye. To make the headboard a real feature, go for something super-sized.

Sophie Warren-Smith
Contributing Editor

Sophie has been an interior stylist and journalist for over 20 years and has worked for many of the main interior magazines during that time, both in-house and as a freelancer. On the side, as well as being the News Editor for indie magazine, 91, she trained to be a florist in 2019 and launched The Prettiest Posy where she curates beautiful flowers for modern weddings and events. For H&G, she writes features about interior design – and is known for having an eye for a beautiful room.