Behind the Design of Our Primary Bedroom

There’s something about a Primary Bedroom that can so easily get pushed to the bottom of the design list. We focus on the rooms our families gather in, the spaces our children use and the areas guests see first—and before we know it, the room where we begin and end every day is the one we’ve invested in the least.

I’m a big believer that your Primary Bedroom deserves just as much thought as the rest of your home.

For years, Tyson and I loved our bedroom light, bright and airy. But as we began thinking about this next chapter of our home, we were ready for something different. We wanted a space that felt warmer, moodier and more layered—a calm, spa-like sanctuary where we could close down the day and start the next one.

The transformation wasn’t about filling the room with more. It was about choosing the right layers—color, texture, comfortable furnishings, beautiful bedding, lighting and meaningful details—and creating a room that feels just as good to live in as it does to look at.

Set the Mood With Color

One of the first decisions we made was also the one that completely changed the feeling of the room: color drenching.

Tyson was the one who really wanted to go darker, and I loved the idea of leaning into something moodier than what we had before. We chose Quarry Stone (SW 9603) by Sherwin-Williams, a beautiful brown-taupe that has enough depth to make the room feel warm and inviting without becoming too heavy.

The color also has a little personal history behind it. It was inspired by my grandparents’ bedroom at our family ranch, where we go every summer. They have a similar color in their bedroom and living room, and I’ve always loved the feeling it creates. They were color drenching before it was even a thing—always ahead of their time!

We carried Quarry Stone throughout the room from floor to ceiling, and that continuity immediately made the bedroom feel more enveloping. It gave us the warm, moody backdrop we wanted while also creating a beautiful foundation for all of the texture + layers we brought in afterward.

DESIGN TIP: LET COLOR CHANGE THE FEELING OF A ROOM
You don’t always need to completely change a room’s footprint to make it feel new. Paint can shift the entire mood of a space, and carrying one color throughout the room can create a more immersive, intentional feeling.

Create Places to Land

Our Primary Bedroom has a beautiful amount of space, including a bay window that gave us the perfect opportunity to create another little moment within the room.

We added a settee from our House Sprucing custom upholstery line, and it has become one of our family’s favorite pieces in the entire house. It brings in beautiful texture, gives us another place to layer in a throw blanket and, most importantly, we actually use it.

At the end of the bed, we added custom upholstered bouclé ottomans from Rowe Furniture. I love the texture bouclé brings into a bedroom, but I love these pieces just as much for how functional they are. They’re where slippers and robes land at the beginning and end of the day, and where our kids come bouncing in to sit and talk with us.

Those everyday moments are always something I think about when designing a room. Beautiful furniture should never feel too precious to actually live with.

DESIGN TIP: GIVE YOUR BEDROOM MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE
If you have the space, think beyond the bed and nightstands. A settee, bench, pair of ottomans or comfortable chair can create another place to sit, connect or simply land at the end of the day.

Layer the Bed

If there’s one place to really lean into comfort, it’s your bed.

For this room, we collaborated with Lev Tex Home to create the cozy, layered feeling we wanted. We started with great sheets and a down comforter, then added a quilt, blankets, comfortable down pillows and Euro pillows before finishing everything with decorative pillows + throws from House Sprucing.

I love mixing layers from different collections rather than making everything perfectly match. It gives the bed more dimension and makes the room feel collected and personal.

And if you’re looking for a relatively simple way to refresh your bedroom without redesigning the entire space, bedding is such a great place to start.

DESIGN TIP: BUILD YOUR BED IN LAYERS
Think beyond sheets + a comforter. Layer different weights, textures and pillow sizes to create a bed that feels inviting, comfortable and thoughtfully finished.

Don’t Skip the Rug

Even in a bedroom, I almost always love adding a rug.

Some people choose to leave them out, especially when there’s already carpeting underneath, but to me, a rug adds another important design layer. It introduces pattern and interest, softens the room and gives you something comfortable underfoot when you get out of bed in the morning.

For our bedroom, we chose a patterned rug available through House Sprucing. I love the way it plays against the bedding and brings another layer of personality into the space without competing with everything around it.

It’s a good reminder that rugs aren’t only about filling floor space—they can help connect the entire palette of a room.

DESIGN TIP: USE A RUG TO CONNECT THE ROOM
Look for a rug that pulls from the colors and tones already happening throughout your space. It can be the layer that makes your furniture, textiles + accessories suddenly feel connected.

Set the Mood With Lighting

Lighting is especially important in a bedroom because the way you use the space changes throughout the day.

We don’t want super-bright overhead lighting when we’re trying to wind down at night. Instead, I love creating softer pools of light throughout a bedroom that make the space feel cozy and calm.

Our bedside lamps from Flow Decor bring in that softer layer of lighting while also adding another beautiful design detail to the room. We also incorporated a chandelier from Maxim Lighting overhead to complete the space.

Think about lighting as more than something functional. The right combination of fixtures can completely change how a room feels at the beginning and end of the day.

DESIGN TIP: LAYER YOUR LIGHTING, TOO
Rather than relying on one overhead fixture, incorporate lamps and other softer light sources throughout your bedroom. Having options allows you to change the mood depending on the time of day.

Make the Final Layers Personal

Once the larger pieces are in place, I love adding the smaller details that make a room feel lived in and personal.

On our bed, we styled a House Sprucing decorative tray with books, a plant and decorative beads. Around the room, we layered in vintage books, small frames and positive words that mean something to us. The artwork, also available through House Sprucing, brings in a quiet nature-inspired moment that felt fitting for the serene feeling we wanted throughout the room.

These details don’t need to be complicated. They’re simply the finishing layers that make a beautifully designed room feel like your room.

And there’s something about making your bed in the morning, styling those final details and walking back into a clean, edited bedroom at the end of the day that just feels good.

DESIGN TIP: STYLE WITH INTENTION
You don’t need to fill every surface. Choose a few pieces that are beautiful, useful or meaningful to you and give them room to breathe.

Design a Room That Feels Like Both of You

One of my favorite parts of designing our home is that Tyson and I talk through what we each want from a space.

The darker color in this room was his idea. He wanted something moodier, so I listened to that and leaned into it. I brought in more color through the bedding and textiles, and together we chose pieces we were both excited about.

When a room is shared, it shouldn’t feel like one person’s preferences won and the other person simply agreed. The goal is to find the overlap and create something that feels personal to both of you.

That’s also something we help our clients navigate every day at House Sprucing. Sometimes you know you want your home to feel different, but figuring out how to bring two different perspectives, practical needs and design preferences together is the hardest part.

Our job is to help you find that connection and turn it into a home that feels personal, beautiful + designed for the way you actually live.

Invest in the Space That Restores You

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from our Primary Bedroom, it’s this: don’t always save your bedroom for last.

You deserve to have a space that feels calm when you walk into it. A space with comfortable bedding, beautiful lighting, furniture you genuinely use and details that make you happy. A place where you can start the day feeling grounded and come back at night to settle in.

Whether you’re ready for a full bedroom remodel or simply want help refreshing your space with new furnishings, textiles + finishing layers, our House Sprucing design team would love to help.

We offer virtual + in-person interior design services, and nearly all of the furnishings + accessories you see throughout our Primary Bedroom can be sourced through House Sprucing.

Click here to inquire about design services!