Bedroom in need of a refresh? Then, it’s time to roll up your sleeves, reach for your paintbrush or play with pretty patterned wallpaper to inject some personality back into your design.

If bold is your ambition, the decorating opportunities are truly endless. Why not drench all five walls in the same adventurous shade, choose a daring wallpaper, or go for the most maximalist scheme imaginable? You’ll have a bedroom that packs a punch if you do.

Sounds just like your style? I’ve asked six experts to share how they’ve used rich shades, strong patterns and bold furnishings to create these striking bedroom designs…

1. Characterful sanctuary

“The indigo walls and the tangerine bedsides and curtains in this project create the perfect amount of tension. We also chose a small printed patterned wallpaper, so that it wouldn’t be too distracting,” says Rebecca Hughes, creative director at Rebecca Hughes Interiors. “Often, when thinking about colour in bedrooms, one can assume it might not be peaceful or provide a sanctuary that is so often needed. However, if you select colours that work together and have the same value in terms of boldness and intensity, then they can complement each other perfectly.”

2. Bold bedroom design

“While bold, flame colours like red and orange can sometimes feel too demanding for a bedroom, they can also create a dramatic, incredibly warm aesthetic – particularly shown here in this design. Stripes are achingly in right now, but for every zeitgeist moment, there is also a genuine longevity to the stripe, and ways it can change the dynamics in a room,” explains Patrick O’Donnell, brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball.

“Tented Stripe wallpaper in bold Copenhagen Roof is used across every wall in this bedroom to add another level of comfort and luxury, particularly with the use of high gloss on the woodwork. “Dark colours can be an excellent choice for a bedroom, especially if you are looking to create a cosy scheme. No room should take itself too seriously, and a bold bedroom will deliver smiles by the bucketload,” he says.

3. Mood-boosting bedroom

Anouska Lancaster, founder of Noushka Design, loved designing this guest bedroom in Penally House. “It’s one of the smallest spaces in the property. So, I wanted to go extra bold and colourful, to give it real wow factor. I believe rooms of this size need their own identity, as they tend to have fewer focal points – such as fireplaces or original features – so I use colour to create impact,” she says.

“Colour and pattern bring warmth and joy to any room, which can change your mood instantly. This powerful effect is why I will always choose a colourful scheme over a neutral one.”

4. Maximalist design

“Our brief was to create a vibrant and maximalist colour scheme for this Kensington townhouse, using nature-inspired and joyful shades. For the compact guest bedroom located under the staircase, we used Cole & Son’s Seville wallpaper as a rich and playful backdrop for our bright yellow bed,” says Pia Pelkonen, creative director at Pia Design.

“When using colour in the bedroom, there are a few things to consider – firstly, what goes behind the bed? A feature headboard or wallpaper, or a bright piece of artwork? Secondly, what is the view across from the bed like – is there a nice seating area, piece of art or window to look at? And finally, don’t forget the ‘fifth wall’: the ceiling. Bedrooms are a great opportunity to have fun here, painting it a colour other than white.”

5. Cosy bedroom

“Colours can have a huge impact on how we feel, so from the moment you wake up, what you see can play a huge part on your mood,” explains Tash Bradley, director of interior design and colour psychologist at Lick. “We never see colour in isolation, so think about all the colours you have in your room – from your walls to your soft furnishings. When it comes to choosing a colour: are you a morning person or do you like to hibernate and sleep in? If you are a morning person, go for light refreshing shades. However, if you want to cocoon yourself, then choose dark tones and paint the ceiling.”

6. Moody scheme

“Choosing a bold wallpaper is a great place to start if you want to bring colour into a bedroom. Like in this project: by using this decorative, iconic William Morris design and choosing to wrap the wallpaper around the whole room, it really brings the space alive,” says Fiona Duke, creative director at Fiona Duke Interiors.

“To embrace the strong pattern, we painted the ceiling and top part of the wall in a dark grey to complement its tones and to stand up to the drama of the print, which then pulls the whole concept together,” she adds.

Ready to go bold? I know I am!

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