The bed is the focal point of any bedroom. However, the space located above the bed and on the walls that sit above the bed is often ignored and ended up with random art prints that may have been on sale at the art store. The blank area above the bed is valuable real estate for the bedroom that can be used to add decoration that draws the eye to the bed.
Getting the decor for the area above the bed correct will make the entire bedroom feel finished. Conversely, getting the decor for the area above the bed incorrect will make the bed appear as if it is floating in an empty showroom. The secret to succesfully decorating the area above the bed is to focus on the area above the headboard.
With an understanding of how to decorate the area above the headboard, an individual will find themself face to face with the number of different ways to decorate the area above the bed. There are eight ideas for decorating the area above the bed that work in real homes. Each of these ideas has its own personality and practical use in a bedroom.
Eight Creative Ways To Decorate Above Your Headboard
1. Tall Vertical Mirrors
One idea for decorating the area above the bed is to place tall vertical mirrors in the area. Using tall vertical mirrors in the area above the bed will create the illusion of higher ceilings in the bedroom. In addition, the tall vertical mirrors will reflect the light in the bedroom.
Using a single mirror may work for some bedrooms. However, two narrow mirrors with a few inches between them may work better then one mirror stretching the entire width of the bed. This idea will help individuals who live in homes with 8-foot ceilings.
Using mirrors will allow individuals to avoid the issue of feeling like there bedroom has too low ceilings. Additionally, the mirrors should be placed at least six inches from the top of the tallest pillow in the bed. Another idea is to create a gallery wall above the bed.
2. Gallery Walls
Gallery walls may be common in many individuals’ bedrooms. However, the key to creating a sophisticated gallery wall is to focus all the art of the gallery wall within a single color family or feature. For example, all the pictures in the gallery wall may have the same frames, but they can be of varying sizes.
Additionally, the art should be allowed to climb over the bed to a higher point in the room above the bed to allow it to look as if it was created with intention. There should be breathing room around each picture in the collection of art for the entire gallery wall to look cohesive. A bedroom with a gallery wall above the bed can contain art of family stories, botanical art, or line drawings.
However, the gallery wall will not demand the individual’s attention to maintain it. Adding an oversized hanging to the bed using woven fibers or macramé can add a unique texture to the room. Painted walls dont offer the texture that macramé will.
3. Oversized Hangings
Using one large hanging to cover two-thirds of the width of the bed will allow the individual to create a unique architectural element in their bedroom. This architectural element will absorb sound in the bedroom and will also act as a way of softening the harsh light that comes into the bedroom in the mornings. Macrame is an excellent idea for individuals who want to add texture to their minimalist bedrooms.
Additionally, the natural fibers of the macramé will develop character in the bedroom over time rather than begin to look dated after a few years. Adding one dramatic piece of oversized art to the area above the bed will draw attention to the bed and create a sense of interest in the bedroom. The oversized art should be at least two-thirds of the width of the mattress.
4. Oversized Art
The oversized art may be surprising to many individuals when they first see the recommendations for decorating the area above the bed. However, the oversized art will work because of its boldness. Abstract landscapes, abstract portraits, and abstract geometric art work wonders in this area of the bedroom.
However, oversized art should be allowed to breathe in the room. Therefore, no other art should be on the same wall in the bedroom. Any lamps by the bed should also be low enough to avoid glaring at the art above the bed.
Placing floating shelves above the bed allows individuals to add decoration to the room. Using floating shelves allows individuals to rotate books, plants, or sculptures in the bedroom. If the color of the floating shelves is the same as the walls, the shelves will disappear into the walls.
5. Floating Shelves
This idea is an excellent decorative idea for readers who want to have their novels on the shelves within reach when they are reading. Additionally, if individuals are collectors of different artifacts, items, or sculptures, the floating shelves will allow these individuals to change the vignette in their bedroom to reflect their current interests. Floating shelves should not be overstuffed with additional items.
However, two or three items on each shelf will look good above the bed. However, if there are too many items on the shelf, the shelves will look like they have been cluttered by the individual’s bedroom. Another idea is to place a canopy above the bed.
6. Canopies
The canopy can be hung in a half-tester style to the walls above the bed. A canopy adds a sense of romance as well as architectural interest to the bed. Using linen or cotton for the canopy will allow the light to filter into the bed.
Additionally, using these fabrics for the canopy will allow the individual to softly absorb the sound in the bedroom. However, heavy fabrics like velvet will make the bedroom totally dark. The fabric canopy idea works well in bedrooms with high ceilings.
Additionally, this decoration idea works well in individuals’ rentals because it will not permanently change the decor of the bedroom. Additionally, the individual can take the linen or cotton fabric down twice a year to be washed. Taking it down to be washed will allow individuals to instantly change the look of the bed.
Using lighting above the bed will transform the entire area and serve as art for the bedroom. Additionally, the lighting will allow individuals to add ambient light to the bedroom. Using a thin LED strip of lighting above the bed will allow the art to appear to float in the bedroom in the night.
7. Lighting
Additionally, if individuals would like something more personalized in their bedroom, a neon light with a custom phrase or abstract shape can add color without adding more art to the bedroom. Using lighting above the bed works well in moddern or industrial bedroom decor. The lighting can also serve as a night light for those who are uncomfortable with darkness in their bedroom.
Using wallpaper or a large mural on the entire wall behind the headboard will change the look of the entire bedroom. The geometric patterns on the wallpaper may be subdued during the day. However, when the bedroom is lit from below the bed into the area behind the headboard, the geometric patterns will become dramatic.
8. Wallpaper or Murals
Additionally, the nature scenes on the wallpaper will be of interest to the individual in the bedroom. However, they will not make the individual’s bedroom with high ceilings or small rooms feel smaller. Using wallpaper or a large mural will only need to be applied to the wall behind the bed in the bedroom.
This idea is a commitment to a specific look in the bedroom. Therefore, the individual should pick a wallpaper or mural pattern that they genuiney love. Using wallpaper will transform a bedroom from one that appears to have been assembled into a bedroom that is designed with intention.
Each of the eight ideas can be used in the decoration of the area above the bed. However, the most important criteria for any of these ideas is the idea that they must respect the scale and size of the bed. Each of these ideas should help to fill a specific need in the bedroom that the rest of the room decorations do not have.
The bed is where individuals begin and end every day. By giving the area above the bed some consideration, individuals can transform their bedroom into a space that reflects who they are and where they want to be. This type of bedroom will be one that individuals will look forward to returning to at the end of the day.
