Don’t Call It A Master Bedroom: 60 Amazing Primary Bedroom Ideas
Today, the master bedroom is known as the primary bedroom. Real estate agents in Houston, Texas first changed the name in the wake of the George Floyd riots. Around the same time, in the summer of 2020, US singer John Legend tweeted his disdain over the name “master bedroom.” And although the bedroom is undergoing a name change, new bedroom designs continue to emerge.
When considering a primary bedroom makeover, before you begin, do some research. If you’re having problems getting started, we can help. Here, we’ll show you primary bedroom ideas and designs. Don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here to jump start your bedroom makeover.
As the term “master bedroom” is all but behind us, the primary bedroom has a new name but serves the same purpose. The room is still the largest one in a house.
The living space includes more than basic amenities. It’s understood to be a room for adults, which is why it offers more space than other household rooms.
Primary Bedroom Ideas For 2022
We’ve curated a thorough selection of primary bedroom concepts for your convenience. Each design was handpicked by our team of experts. The selection includes a range of bedroom layouts in a variety of environments.
Primary Bedroom With Seating Area
Stunning Seating Area
Low Ceiling Primary Room
Aside from the basics, a primary bedroom can include a desk or vanity.
Primary Room Design Ideas
Embrace the term primary room and focus on the designs. When planning your primary room, you’ll need to have a working understanding of the furniture pieces. Take your time when deciding on where to place your primary room furniture.
Bed Placement
The bed is the main furniture decor item in a primary room. Figuring out the best way to make it fit is the biggest obstacle. You want the headboard on the wall opposite to the bedroom’s entrance, even if that means it would be in front of a window. Also, avoid setting your bed up in a diagonal position as that would take up unnecessary space.
Bedroom Nightstands
Once you’ve decided on a bed and where it will go, choose a nightstand. Think of the size you want and what you will use them for, and their height. Nightstands sit at the height of the mattress so you can comfortably reach them but you can go with a different approach for stylistic reasons. Nightstands are a popular way to add color and visual interest to a primary room.
Primary Bedroom Ceiling
Since the bedroom is the place where you will be looking at the ceiling, then make it look interesting. You can choose exposed beams for a rustic or casual look. For wood, use planks or an eye-catching trim. Paint the ceiling with an exciting color. In this case, the walls should remain neutral.
Primary Bedroom Furniture Ideas
Primary Bedroom Dimensions And Bed Size
The overall size of a bedroom and the size of the bed are closely linked together so you might want to get an idea of what the average dimensions for a room such as yours are before you start diving deep into its interior design.
Since the bed takes priority, there’s not much room for other furniture pieces in a small bedroom. As the size of the room increases so do your design options.
Twin And Single Beds
As a general idea, most building codes require a minimum floor area of 70 sq ft and a ceiling height of 7 ft for a room to be considered habitable. In theory, you could have rooms that are smaller than this and actually feel comfortable but you won’t be able to list them as bedrooms.
There’s enough space in a small bedroom for a single bed, a wardrobe and a desk but you might need to find some clever storage solutions if you want to utilize the space as best as possible.
Two Twin Beds
If you want the bedroom to accommodate two single or twin beds it should measure at least 9ft x 9ft. Although this would make the room habitable, it wouldn’t leave a lot of space for other furniture pieces like the wardrobe or desk. Even a small increase in size can make a big difference in this case.
Also, if you want a bunk bed then you need to pay special attention to the height of the ceiling. The minimum ceiling height for bunk beds in between 8ft and 9ft.
Double Bedroom Size
Most typical bedrooms have double beds and in this case the minimum room size is 9ft x 9ft 6’’. Such a room doesn’t look particularly spacious since the bed takes up the majority of the floor area.
If you’re going for the minimum size requirement you’ll probably need to find a clever way to add a wardrobe. Consider mounting cabinetry over the bed and opting for built-in nightstands.
Queen Bedroom Size
The minimum room size for a queen bed is 9ft 6’’ x 10ft which is pretty close to what a double bed requires. Again, it would be difficult to fit a wardrobe in such a space but if the room is just slightly bigger than everything changes.
Walk in closets with sliding doors are a safe practical option. The most efficient layout would be to have the wardrobe and possible a desk too positioned on the wall opposite to the wall.
King Bedroom Size
King beds are the biggest so you need a larger bedroom size to accommodate them. The minimum size requirement, in this case, is 9 ft 6’’ x 11 ft 6’’ but typically a 12ft x 12 ft is considered the standard bedroom size.
This gives you enough room for the bed, a couple of nightstands and a wall of wardrobes. Of course, sliding doors are your best option since there’s not a lot of room to spare.
Primary Bedroom Layout Ideas
One of the first things you do when designing or remodeling a bedroom is choosing a layout. This will determine how the room will be organized and how the furniture and decorations will be arranged. Base your decision on the size of the room, your needs and personal preferences. Here’s a few ideas that you might like to try:
Spacious Bedroom With Seating Area
This is a nice idea for a master bedroom. If the room is big enough you could have a king size bed be the centerpiece and place a small sitting area in front of it. This is a nice way to fill the room without cluttering it. The layout works for large floor plans. The sitting area doesn’t need to take up a lot of room. A couple of comfortable chairs and a small table are enough.
Primary Bedroom With Multiple Openings
If you have a bedroom that has more than one access point or has access to a balcony, a terrace or to the backyard, coming up with a suitable layout can be quite tricky. If there’s a beautiful view that you want to highlight, make that the focal point of the room.
The bed can be facing the view or, in case the placement of the doors prevents that, you could set up a small sitting area that takes advantage of it.
Flexible Bedroom Design
Sometimes flexibility and versatility are important when designing a particular space. For example, the kids’ bedroom would need to be flexible enough to accommodate potential guests for sleepovers and to leave some room for the kids to play and hang out in.
Similarly, a guest bedroom should be versatile enough to accommodate multiple types of persons and groups. Consider bunk beds and extensible beds. You can have a regular double bed and a bunk bed on top to create an extra sleeping space.
Small But Stylish
What a bedroom lacks in square footage you can make for through design. Don’t let the small size of a bedroom bring you down. You can make a small space look wonderful by putting an emphasis on the ambiance and aesthetic.
A good idea would be to keep the design simple and to use light colors. Also, try to maximize the amount of natural light that enters the room. Another trick is to use mirrors as decorations and to keep furnishings to a minimum.
Extra Bedroom Space
It’s very important for the layout of a bedroom to take consideration the way in which one moves through the space and the paths that they take. For example, if you have a bedroom that’s adjacent to a balcony or is open to another space, try to keep a clear and open walkway between these spaces. Don’t put furniture in the way and keep this area unobstructed.
Showcase The Focal Points
If there’s a particular feature that you want to show off, then make it a focal point. For instance, if your bedroom has a fireplace this means you can design the layout around this detail.
The bed would bed to face the fireplace for a full effect and you should try to keep this part of the room simple and without other elements that might distract from the actual focal point.
Plan Ahead For Surprises
Not all bedrooms have a straightforward layout. For instance, some can have the entry placed at an odd angle, in the corner or in a less than optimal spot. Also, the room might have an unusual shape. You need to account for these elements when choosing the layout of the bedroom.
Position the furniture in such a way to create a nice flow through the room and take advantage of the odd features rather than considering them a disadvantage.
Child Bedroom Design
A child’s bedroom is small. This can make it challenging to pick a layout that works with all the furniture pieces and accessories that the room needs and that also looks good. Try to find ways to make this room special while also keeping the design simple.
Primary Bedroom Lighting
The bedroom is perhaps the best space where you can choose to layer the lighting. That’s because this a room that you use mostly after dark so you want the lighting to be soft and soothing but that should also look bright and cheerful in the mornings when you wake up. Here’s a few elements to keep in mind when choosing the lighting for your bedroom:
Ambient Lighting
This includes both natural and artificial lighting. Make sure your bedroom can be properly lit both during the day and at night. Large windows and skylights can give you sufficient lighting during the day and ceilings lights, chandeliers and pendant lamps can do the same thing after dark.
Task Lighting
Ambient lighting is not enough for activities that requires more focus. If you like to read in bed or if you put your makeup on in the bedroom you’re going to need some task lighting. You can take care of these needs with features such as table lamps, low-hanging pendant lamps, sconces or floor lamps.
Accent Lighting
This is different than task lighting through the fact that it’s not meant to assist you with a particular activity but rather to draw attention to a particular design element like a piece of art, an accent wall and so on. You can use accent lighting to draw attention to the ceiling, walls, or a decoration.
Brightness Adapters
As mentioned before, different types of lights have different purposes and that requires different brightness levels. This is important because it can influence the overall balance of the décor. Ambient lights or accent lighting that’s too bright and powerful can make the room feel uncomfortable. Also, task lighting that’s insufficiently bright is not really useful.
Light Dimmers
Dimmers can help to make the bedroom feel more comfortable and relaxing. In fact, this is the perfect room for them. Dimmers also give you more flexibility because they allow you to adjust the brightness based on your needs or the type of ambiance that you want to create.
This can also meant that a single lighting fixture can become multi-functional and that can reduce the clutter in the room.
Cool Owner’s Suite Ideas
Lighting Options
You won’t be spending the majority of your time in your master bedroom during the day. Artificial lighting will take priority. As you already know, chandeliers add glamor to a room. However, consider other options like sconces, table lamps, cove lighting, or candles for a touch of romance.
Also, pay special attention to task lighting. As a reminder, your light needs to be warm and subtle, and powerful enough to cover the entire room.
Sitting Areas
It’s not uncommon for a master bedroom to have a sitting area. It doesn’t need to be big. A small table and chair would be sufficient. The setup can serve as a quiet area for you to read or work.
You’ll find this in the corner of the room. You can be creative and decorate with a hanging chair or bookshelf.
Warm Vs Cool Colors
Another detail to consider is the light color. We’re referring to the distinction between warm and cool lights, specifically blue and white lights versus yellow lights.
Blue and white lights are not ideal for the bedroom because they don’t induce sleep and the promote alertness. Warmer lights, on the other hand, are ideal for such spaces because they’re more relaxing.
It’s not just the color of the light that affects your mood. It’s also the overall color scheme of the bedroom. Warm colors such as red, orange, yellow, brown or tan make room feel more intimate, inviting and cozy.
They’re great for large master bedrooms. For smaller bedrooms, consider cool colors like blue, green, purple or gray. They can make a small space appear larger. You’ll need to be extra careful when using them because they can also make your room feel dark and cold. Cool colors are best when paired with rooms that are sunny and and have plenty of light.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ
Is The Term Master Bedroom Offensive?
The Houston Association of Realtors implemented the name change from master bedroom to primary bedroom. The group of real estate agents felt the term “master bedroom” was a manifestation of systemic racism.
After the New York Times agreed, real estate agents across the country followed suit. Another name option that builders have started using is “owner’s suite.”
How Do You Decide Who Should Get The Master Bedroom?
It’s doubtful a 12-year-old could convince his or her parents that they deserve the primary bedroom. Maybe if they were the ones buying the house, but when has that ever happened? The primary bedroom goes to the person who is paying for the house. Just like it is with everything else in life, money reigns supreme.
What Is A Sequestered Primary Bedroom?
A sequestered master bedroom is a room that’s at one end of the house with the remaining bedrooms on the other end.
Can You Soundproof A Room That Is Already Built?
If you’re building your primary bedroom or converting an existing room, you can soundproof the space easily. During construction, spray soundproofing materials on the inside of the drywall.
Spray damp-blown over the walls as you’re building them. If your room is already built, and you want to soundproof it, be prepared to spend between $1,000 and $3,000. Major expense factors include materials, room size, and surfaces.
What Is The Best Paint Color For A Primary Bedroom?
Shades of blue, blue-gray, blue-green and soft gray are popular bedroom colors. Blue offers a soothing and relaxing feeling, which is why it is a popular bedroom color.
Master Bedroom Conclusion
As the term primary bedroom changes its name to primary bedroom, new designs remain on an independent path. When remodeling or planning makeover, you want to create enough visual interest to keep you stimulated.
The square footage of a primary bedroom, including the walk in closet, leaves room for DIY bedroom ideas. It’s your house, so do whatever you feel like.