You may have reached a point where you’ve grown tired of your current surroundings, your tastes or trends have changed, or perhaps your friends joke about the lava lamps and beaded curtains still adorning your private sanctuary. Regardless of your budget or decorating skills, there are some things you can do that will give new life to your bedroom.

Home stagers and designers are skilled at transforming rooms that are more inviting because they know how to get the most out of arranging their client’s heirlooms, cherished treasures, and furniture. Finding new ways to display objects or finding new purposes for pieces are just a few tricks of the trade.

You can do the same and here are 5 ideas to help you get started:

1 De-clutter – The best thing you can do for yourself is to periodically go through your room to remove unneeded or unwanted objects. If you haven’t used, read, or worn something for at least a year, get rid of it, find a new use for it, or give it to charity. Having some sense of order has a psychological affect on how we feel about ourselves. If the task seems too daunting, tackle only small areas at a time and eventually you will have a de-cluttered space. If your time is limited or you really need help in this department, find an organizational professional to help you with this task.

2 Decorative Accessories – Arranging accessories is a true art. Visit your favorite stores to study their displays and take note of how they use color, variety, and texture to create an interesting arrangement. To set up a table display, start with the tallest or largest object first. Add medium and smaller sized pieces. The trick is to arrange objects that will lead the eye from the larger items to the medium and smaller items and then to the table surface. Overlap pieces or set lamps on top of objects to give more height and depth to the arrangement. This creates a visually interesting display. If there is a wall display behind the table, have the larger or more vertical pieces tie into those items. Using similar shapes and hues creates unity. Be careful not to use too many accessories, as the affect can be overwhelming.
3 Color – Replace pillows, artwork, lampshades, and accessories in a different or fun color to freshen up your overall color scheme. Use colors that make YOU happy. We all know that color can affect mood so pay attention to your body’s response to different colors. There’s a reason you are drawn to certain colors so why not use them in one of the most important rooms in the house? Find items around your home to use or seek out decorative accents that will enhance the look. Color can come from many sources including lighting, which can affect colors in the room in unexpected ways. Use an interesting chandelier or candles for ambiance.

4 Update Your Current Bedding – Bedding today is all about layering. Add a quilted coverlet and shams. This adds texture and some volume to your bedding, making it cozy and inviting. Change or add decorative pillows or shams in new colors for interest. If you own a really fabulous pillow, purchase bed linens that will showcase it. I found a really fabulous pillow in red, but didn’t want to do my entire room in red. I found that the red pillow served two purposes. It gave the room my personality and it always made me happy to look to at. There are so many choices and textures in decorative pillows today. Pillows with beading or unusual fabrics can make a difference. Throws come in all sorts of fabrics – wools, cashmere, fleece, and fur and are great for a special decorative touch.

5 The Unexpected – You can really crank up the “Wow” in your room by adding the unexpected. Use serving tables, trunks, or old suitcases to function as bedside tables. Using something that can also be used for storage is an added bonus. Display your collectibles from travels or find unusual objects to display. I once visited a friend who found a large wasp nest (no longer occupied, of course) and hung it from ceiling. Instead of hanging art or prints on the wall, mount a kimono or wearable art piece. Angle your bed and place a stunning folding screen behind it. Screens can be painted or covered with fabric and are another great source for adding or changing color in your room. An unusually tall headboard can help bring more focus to the bed as the focal point of the room. It’s also a great way to embrace a room with high ceilings. Add fragrance with scented candles, flowers, or herbal fragrances (lavender encourages relaxation). Flower arrangements in unusual containers can add a fun element to the room.

Finding just the right accessories, furniture, or bedding takes time. Enjoy the hunt. Use what you have, purchase only the things that you truly love, and decorate in colors that make you happy.

Your bedroom is your sanctuary so you want it to be delightful and inviting. Here are 10 great ideas to inspire you to create the bedroom of your dreams.

1. Using Accents In Your Bedroom – The most delightful accent is to make generous use of decorative pillows. Pile your bed high with them using a variety of sizes and styles, colors and patterns. Layered pillows give a lush feel to any bedroom. Candles serve a dual purpose as an accent item. They can add a splash of color and they can give a wonderful mood altering scent. The scent of your bedroom really is quite important, so the judicious use of potpourri can be the perfect finishing touch.

2. A Lovely Idea For A Little Girl’s Room – Bring wonder and enchantment to your little girl’s room by using specialty lighting. A small decorative chandelier is quite affordable. Your little princess will be filled with joy as she gazes into the sparkling light.

3. An Interesting Use Of Neutrals – Decorate your bedroom with neutrals and you can constantly achieve a fresh look. There are many items within a bedroom that you can adapt with each season. Change your comforter, pillows and pictures to easily achieve new looks and color schemes on a regular basis.

4. A Fun Idea In Place Of A Picture – Personalizing your decor is what will make your bedroom unique. Instead of a picture, gather small momentos around a theme and display them in a shadow box. (A shadow box is simply a picture frame with depth.) As a theme, you could use items from all those music lessons you took as a child, or maybe keepsakes from the first dates with your husband – like ticket stubs and the cupie doll he won for you. You will feel the warmth of memories every time you see it.

5. Making The Most Of Your Bedroom Space – To create more space, your first consideration is color. Use cool light colors – whites, blues and greens to make the walls apparently recede. Another trick to help your space look larger is to paint the moldings to match the walls. Be very aware of the scale of your furniture. A small bedroom is simply not the place for a king-sized bed. Keep things clutter free and you’ll make the most of your livable space.

6. Pull Together A Theme – For a different look, try to replicate a favorite Hawaiian or tropical vacation you’ve enjoyed. Start with a bamboo headboard and plan on an island color scheme with bold prints. You can use plenty of plants to recreate the lush outdoors. Stick with natural fabrics and add a quality potpourri to remind you of your heaven on earth. A final touch would be naturally woven wood blinds. You will amaze yourself with the atmosphere you can create.

7. Using Bedding To Help Design – There are amazing colors and prints available for bedding. A decorating trick is to use your bedding to dictate your color scheme. Go for the most plush comforters and highest thread count sheets. You want your bedroom to be so inviting and desirable to you, that it beckons you every evening.

8. Contemporary Bedroom Design Ideas – To accomplish the popular contemporary design, try neutrals with nice accent colors, such as a muted navy. The idea is to stay crisp and clean. Florals don’t belong in this look. Go for a minimum of clutter and you’ll be well on your way.

9. Guest Bedroom Essentials – Part of offering great hospitality is to make your guest bedroom feel completely welcoming. On the night stand, have a spate of new magazines along with a water glass and a decorative bowl filled with candy. Your guests may be more cold-natured than you, so include an extra blanket on the bed. Finally, use high quality pillows and sheets to let them know that their comfort is paramount.

10. Creating A Romantic Bedroom – There is nothing as delightful as a bedroom that invites romance. Have soft lighting available and think plush – with lots of pillows and fabrics to give tactile pleasures. An excellent sound system with speakers discreetly tucked around the room will envelope you with mood-setting music. Use colors on the softer side which appeal to you personally. Try soft pinks or light greens – whichever color pleases you. The idea is surround yourself with luxury to create the perfect romantic retreat.

There are lots of very simple tricks that you can do to add life to your environment. Here are my favorite ten:

1. Art – Have you ever walked into a room that has no art or pictures on the walls whatsoever, and noticed a feeling of emptiness? Framed posters, prints, photographs, and paintings give a room depth and dimension. They also add color, style, and underscore the mood or theme of a room.

2. Add interesting furnishings – but try also to stay true to your style. Beige walls and beige sofas are great, but they don’t really do much to brighten up a room. Add some “Oomph” to the room with eye catching furnishings like a brightly colored armchair, an eye catching area rug, or in the case of a bedroom, try using a lively comforter set for effect.

3. Use toss pillows and throws to your advantage – Toss pillows and throws can liven up even the stuffiest of rooms. Add them in colors that complement your setting. For instance, red accessories stand out in just about any setting, and it’s a great color for both toss pillows and throws. Use with caution though, as too much red can take away from what you’re actually trying to show off.

4. Themes – Themes can give your decorating ideas a centre and a reason to include personality. Go nuts with theme ideas! If your room lacks a centre, come up with a theme and use great accessories (like toss cushions, throws and lamps) to finish the look.

5. One of a kind pieces – Anything unique will automatically add pop to your living space. Learn more about where to find great, unique pieces that add personality to your home.

6. Texture – Avoid too much texture in any room at all costs. Use instead, a mixture of different textures, some smooth, some shiny, some matte, some rough, as well as colors that accent each other.

7. Area Rugs – The right area rug can anchor any furniture arrangement. Find one that fits into your environment.

8. Great Lighting – Adding a mix of awesome lighting types to any room will provide numerous lighting options.

9. Plants and Flowers – Fresh plants and flowers add life to a room. Keep your plants healthy, dusted, and watered if necessary. Take unsightly plants outdoors to improve. Use artificial plants in rooms with low light and on high surfaces.

10. Find accessories that you love – There are lots of great deals at various online shopping sites, some that search out the most unique items and best deals for you. So in addition to finding the items that you love, you’ll also be getting great deals from the comfort of your own home!