9 Bedroom Choices Guaranteed to Divide Opinion
How many of these sleep space design dilemmas have you and your partner had to resolve?
When it comes to designing and decorating a bedroom for two, there will undoubtedly be issues that have to be compromised on. Check out these common niggles and find tips on how to overcome them.
2. Lots of light or plenty of privacy?
It’s lovely to have sunlight flooding into your bedroom in the morning – unless you want some privacy (or a lie-in). If one of you is keener to preserve their modesty than the other, it could be difficult to agree on window treatments. If you’re hoping to go for curtains with sheers underneath, but your partner wants to retain the view, you might have a squabble on your hands.
What’s the answer? In order to let light in while retaining privacy, it’s worth considering shutters. The slats can be opened and shut easily, and while you can see out, the view from outside is obscured. Better still, opt for double-hung shutters (where they are divided into top and bottom panels), as here. The top section can be opened and the bottom section kept closed for privacy.
It’s lovely to have sunlight flooding into your bedroom in the morning – unless you want some privacy (or a lie-in). If one of you is keener to preserve their modesty than the other, it could be difficult to agree on window treatments. If you’re hoping to go for curtains with sheers underneath, but your partner wants to retain the view, you might have a squabble on your hands.
What’s the answer? In order to let light in while retaining privacy, it’s worth considering shutters. The slats can be opened and shut easily, and while you can see out, the view from outside is obscured. Better still, opt for double-hung shutters (where they are divided into top and bottom panels), as here. The top section can be opened and the bottom section kept closed for privacy.
3. Pattern or plain?
Often people have different ideas about what makes a perfect sleep space. Perhaps you like a minimal scheme with no jarring patterns to keep you awake, while your partner prefers bold, vibrant designs to get them going in the morning. Having opposing ideas on your decorating scheme can present a big problem, so how do you get round a sticking point like this?
What’s the answer? By being clever with your design, you should be able to find a compromise that works for both of you. Choose an overall scheme of plain neutrals to keep the minimalist happy, then add bright patterned cushions, throws and possibly even a headboard to satisfy the colour fan.
Often people have different ideas about what makes a perfect sleep space. Perhaps you like a minimal scheme with no jarring patterns to keep you awake, while your partner prefers bold, vibrant designs to get them going in the morning. Having opposing ideas on your decorating scheme can present a big problem, so how do you get round a sticking point like this?
What’s the answer? By being clever with your design, you should be able to find a compromise that works for both of you. Choose an overall scheme of plain neutrals to keep the minimalist happy, then add bright patterned cushions, throws and possibly even a headboard to satisfy the colour fan.
4. Television in bed
For lots of people, watching TV in bed is a no-no, while to others it’s the best way to relax at the end of a busy day. Many experts would agree with the naysayers, and believe TV watching before bed interrupts sleep patterns. However, everyone is different, so if one of you is still adamant they’d like a screen in the bedroom, it might be time to find a compromise.
What’s the answer? If you’re not keen on the idea of a large screen taking over your sleep space, try to make it as discreet as possible. In this calm bedroom, the television is tucked into a shelving unit to make it as unobtrusive as possible. You could also lay down some ground rules about when the TV is watched in bed, perhaps even allocating certain evenings as screen-free.
Other smart ways to store and display your TV
For lots of people, watching TV in bed is a no-no, while to others it’s the best way to relax at the end of a busy day. Many experts would agree with the naysayers, and believe TV watching before bed interrupts sleep patterns. However, everyone is different, so if one of you is still adamant they’d like a screen in the bedroom, it might be time to find a compromise.
What’s the answer? If you’re not keen on the idea of a large screen taking over your sleep space, try to make it as discreet as possible. In this calm bedroom, the television is tucked into a shelving unit to make it as unobtrusive as possible. You could also lay down some ground rules about when the TV is watched in bed, perhaps even allocating certain evenings as screen-free.
Other smart ways to store and display your TV
5. A desk in the sleep zone
Working from home is great, but when space is tight your desk must often encroach on other areas. If your partner needs some room to work, you might resent having to share your bed space with an ugly desk and swivel chair.
What’s the answer? If you do have to fit a desk into your shared bedroom, it may sound obvious, but choose one that looks good in the space. Go for a design that matches the rest of your scheme, and ensure there’s plenty of storage to keep the desk surface uncluttered. The elegant, mid-century desk here looks beautiful in this bedroom and could even be mistaken for a dressing table.
Discover the dos and don’ts of planning a small bedroom
Working from home is great, but when space is tight your desk must often encroach on other areas. If your partner needs some room to work, you might resent having to share your bed space with an ugly desk and swivel chair.
What’s the answer? If you do have to fit a desk into your shared bedroom, it may sound obvious, but choose one that looks good in the space. Go for a design that matches the rest of your scheme, and ensure there’s plenty of storage to keep the desk surface uncluttered. The elegant, mid-century desk here looks beautiful in this bedroom and could even be mistaken for a dressing table.
Discover the dos and don’ts of planning a small bedroom
6. The thickness of the bedding
If you like to cuddle up with a hot-water bottle, while your partner likes to sprawl out with just a sheet for cover, bed linen could become an issue. We all experience temperature differently at night, and where one person gets cold in bed, the other is boiling hot.
What’s the answer? Avoid duvet battles by including a variety of linens on your bed. Layer your sleep area with a duvet, thin blankets and snuggly throws to provide plenty of options during the night. One of you can wrap up in the duvet, while the other can keep cool with a thin blanket.
If you like to cuddle up with a hot-water bottle, while your partner likes to sprawl out with just a sheet for cover, bed linen could become an issue. We all experience temperature differently at night, and where one person gets cold in bed, the other is boiling hot.
What’s the answer? Avoid duvet battles by including a variety of linens on your bed. Layer your sleep area with a duvet, thin blankets and snuggly throws to provide plenty of options during the night. One of you can wrap up in the duvet, while the other can keep cool with a thin blanket.
7. The choice of art
Just because you live together doesn’t mean you have the same taste in art. There’s a high possibility that you’ll find it difficult to choose the perfect prints or paintings for your shared sleep space.
What’s the answer? This is a tricky one, but try to keep everyone happy by displaying a selection of artworks as a gallery wall. The bedroom here has incorporated a variety of prints and photos, but to keep the look calm and cohesive the owners have gone for similar black frames and positioned them in a neat grid.
Just because you live together doesn’t mean you have the same taste in art. There’s a high possibility that you’ll find it difficult to choose the perfect prints or paintings for your shared sleep space.
What’s the answer? This is a tricky one, but try to keep everyone happy by displaying a selection of artworks as a gallery wall. The bedroom here has incorporated a variety of prints and photos, but to keep the look calm and cohesive the owners have gone for similar black frames and positioned them in a neat grid.
8. Wardrobe wars
Finding your partner’s clothes are taking over your closet area? It’s a common, and maybe unavoidable, dilemma when you share a wardrobe, as it’s often hard to stick to your allocated hanging zone.
What’s the answer? If it’s at all possible, the best solution is to opt for two closets rather than just one. If you both have a cupboard to call your own, you’ll avoid any disagreements about whose space is whose. These white ones are large enough for plenty of clothes, but the light colour helps them to blend into the space. If having two wardrobes won’t work in your space, adding a slimline wardrobe divider to your existing closet could do the job.
Finding your partner’s clothes are taking over your closet area? It’s a common, and maybe unavoidable, dilemma when you share a wardrobe, as it’s often hard to stick to your allocated hanging zone.
What’s the answer? If it’s at all possible, the best solution is to opt for two closets rather than just one. If you both have a cupboard to call your own, you’ll avoid any disagreements about whose space is whose. These white ones are large enough for plenty of clothes, but the light colour helps them to blend into the space. If having two wardrobes won’t work in your space, adding a slimline wardrobe divider to your existing closet could do the job.
9. Carpet or hard floor?
Where some people might think carpet is the perfect soft option for a bedroom floor, others prefer wooden floorboards.
What’s the answer? If you’d love a warm carpet when your partner is a stickler for a hard floor, consider a huge rug instead. The large floor covering here is big enough to cover the whole of the area around the bed, while allowing the attractive floorboards to show elsewhere.
Have you and your partner had a difference of opinion while designing the bedroom? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
Where some people might think carpet is the perfect soft option for a bedroom floor, others prefer wooden floorboards.
What’s the answer? If you’d love a warm carpet when your partner is a stickler for a hard floor, consider a huge rug instead. The large floor covering here is big enough to cover the whole of the area around the bed, while allowing the attractive floorboards to show elsewhere.
Have you and your partner had a difference of opinion while designing the bedroom? Share your experiences in the Comments section.
The bed is possibly the most important purchase you’ll make for your bedroom, so you need to get it right. But what if you want to go for a space-saving double, while your partner has their heart set on a super king size?
What’s the answer? The key when choosing your bed is to go for the biggest one you can afford that fits in the space. After all, you don’t want to spend sleepless nights squashed into a corner of the bed or even waking up on the floor. Measure the room and work out which other pieces of furniture you need, and consider compromising on the bedside table by going for small shelves either side or even a low ‘wall’ complete with ledge behind, as pictured here.
Find out how to fit a bedside shelf into even the tiniest bedroom