Three master bedroom designs that will have you seriously inspired

Often only considered as an afterthought, proper lighting can completely change the ambience of your master bedroom.

In a lot of modern homes, the lighting scheme consists of not much more than recessed down lights, which are fine if you’re looking to light a large area, but don’t do much as mood lighting. While they definitely have their place in a bedroom, you should really consider adding other fixtures such as bedside lamps or wall sconces and even floor lamps to provide ambient lighting.

With today’s lighting technology, there is a wide array of LED lighting options that allow you to dim the lights and even to switch between warm and cool whites at the touch of a button. Stylistically, the sky’s the limit and there are any number of choices that will suit the look you’re hoping to achieve.

Winner of the Resene Colour Award in the 2023 HOME Interior of the Year Awards, this internationalist Queenstown interior by Australian design firm Arent&Pyke is a soulful expression of creativity and intimacy. Refreshingly bold colour schemes are used throughout; this interior triumphs due to its inherent joie de vivre and soulful approach to family life. It is a meticulously crafted space that takes the grandiosity of its context and compacts this into jewel-sized moments that will surely keep its inhabitants engaged, amused, and comfortable for years to come.

Choosing a colour scheme that’s right for your room will depend on a couple of factors. Generally speaking, if your room is on the smaller side, then choosing colours from the whites and neutrals palettes can help to create a sense of airiness and space. Lighter hues of blues and greens tend to impart a sense of relaxation for their association with the sky and nature.

For larger spaces, warming shades of oranges and reds can make a room feel more intimate. Similarly, darker shades overall can lend a luxurious feel, especially when teamed with metallic accents.

That said, there really are no hard and fast rules and darker shades can work equally well in smaller spaces. If you’re worried about going darker, consider a neutral base and incorporating other colours through accessories such as soft blankets, cushions or throw pillows and artworks.

Another great way of adding tactile warmth to your bedroom is through layers and texture. Elements such as throws, pillows and rugs can elevate the style of your bedroom and can be easily swapped out, allowing you to adapt to changing seasons and trends.

If it’s a sense of luxury you’re looking to create, then you’ll be wanting to incorporate one or more focal points within your master bedroom. An obvious choice as a focal point is your headboard. Go as large as your room and bed permit, and think comfort as well as style by choosing a fabric-lined option that will provide support while enjoying breakfast in bed or when reading. In the master bedroom pictured above, in an Auckland home designed by Studio John Irving architects with interiors by Kirsten Ford, a custom designed wall-to-wall headboard in aubergine velvet becomes a decadent focal point.