An interiors authority has unveiled the 'tacky' sleeping arrangements that might be transforming your bedroom from a cosy haven into a cheesy spectacle. Beds should function as personal sanctuaries for rest and relaxation. While some envision soft creamy linens and plush pillows, others opt for crushed velvet headboards and pop-out televisions.
Expert Warns Against Showy Bedroom Features
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Jordana Ashkenazi has disclosed the trends to steer clear of, acknowledging that certain features appear more ostentatious than practical. Over-the-top technology and experimental materials can render the space 'more like a nightclub' than a peaceful retreat.
'Bedroom design is shifting towards softer textures, layered materials and calming palettes,' the expert elaborated. 'The most stylish bedrooms feel relaxed and considered, not shiny, theatrical or trying too hard to impress.'
Top Bedroom Design Mistakes to Avoid
Read on to discover what to avoid – from 'overwhelming' colourful headboards to 'flashy' mirrored frames that detract from serenity.
Crushed Velvet Beds (Especially Grey)
'Crushed velvet beds never should have had their moment,' Jordana explained. 'The shiny fabric upholstery can instantly make a bedroom feel showy and dated rather than calm and elegant. A bedroom should look like a place to sleep, not a VIP booth in a nightclub.'
Overly Boudoir-Style Beds and Ornate French Headboards
The interiors expert also cautioned against beds designed to appear excessively sultry or theatrical. Jordana said: 'Think dramatic French-style headboards, heavy upholstery and exaggerated curves, which can easily start to feel gimmicky. We are not filming Beauty and the Beast in a French provincial town. Bedrooms should feel calm and comfortable, not like a theatrical stage set.'
LED-Lit Beds
Beds with coloured LED lighting underneath or integrated into the headboard tend to evoke more of a nightclub atmosphere than a bedroom, Jordana advised. 'If your bed lights up like a dancefloor, it is probably time to rethink the design,' she suggested.
Faux Leather Beds
Similar to other 'statement' fabrics, faux leather can 'feel harsh and cold in a bedroom'. 'Bedrooms should feel warm and tactile,' Jordana stated. 'Anything plasticky can instantly make the room look cheap and tacky.'
Shabby Chic-Style Beds
Distressed white wooden beds with heavy carving and artificial ageing once enjoyed popularity, but today they can feel overly themed. Jordana notes that bedrooms now tend to favour natural textures, softer palettes and simpler shapes rather than deliberately distressed furniture.
Chunky Sleigh Beds
'Those large sleigh beds that were popular years ago can completely dominate a room,' Jordana explained. 'Huge sleigh beds can swallow a bedroom whole and instantly make the space feel heavy and dated. Today's bedrooms tend to prefer lighter, more streamlined shapes that do not overpower the space.'
Shiny Feature Headboard Walls
According to the interiors professional, large upholstered wall panels covering the entire wall, glossy materials, mirrored finishes and shiny metallic details paired with oversized chandeliers 'can quickly push a bedroom into bling hotel suite territory'. Jordana elaborated: 'When the entire wall becomes a shiny headboard feature, the room can start to feel more like a flashy hotel room than a calm place to sleep. Bedrooms should feel peaceful and layered rather than reflective and overly dramatic.'
Overly Ornate Canopy Beds
While canopy beds can appear beautiful in the appropriate room, Jordana asserts 'they need space'. 'When people attempt to squeeze a large canopy bed into a smaller bedroom, the proportions quickly fall apart,' she added. 'If the room is not big enough for it, a canopy bed simply looks awkward and overwhelming rather than elegant.'
Beds with Built-In TVs or Tech Panels
Beds featuring built-in televisions or tech panels might seem luxurious initially, but they often end up feeling gimmicky. 'A bedroom should feel like a sanctuary to unwind in, not a tech showroom,' the expert continued. 'If technology is included, it needs to be designed carefully so it feels discreet rather than like the bed is part of an electronics display.'
Mirrored Bed Frames
Jordana said: 'Mirrored bed frames can look striking initially, but they often date quickly and can feel overly flashy. They can make a bedroom feel more like a nightclub lounge than a restful retreat.'
Retro-Style Beds with Thin, Spindly Legs
'Retro-inspired beds with very thin legs might look stylish in theory, but in reality they often feel flimsy and mass-produced,' Jordana admitted. 'Those spindly-legged beds can quickly end up looking a bit cheap and flat-pack.'
Heavily Tufted or Buttoned Headboards
Jordana indicated that deeply tufted headboards 'can quickly push a bedroom into overly theatrical territory, especially when the buttons are replaced with diamantes, crystals or different coloured studs'. 'When the headboard is covered in sparkle buttons or diamanté details, it is an absolute no-no. Oh my goodness, please make it stop,' she continued. 'A bit of texture can look beautiful, but heavily padded headboards packed with crystal or coloured buttons often tip into gaudy territory rather than feeling stylish.'
Patterned or Brightly Coloured Headboards
Regarding any bold patterns, bright fabrics or colourful velvet headboards – these can 'easily overwhelm a bedroom'. 'A bedroom should feel calm. The bed should not be competing with everything else in the room,' Jordana shared. 'If you want to introduce colour or pattern, it is far more effective to do it with cushions and throws rather than committing to a large statement headboard. The headboard should anchor the room, not steal the show.'
Metal Beds with Ornate Scrollwork
Traditional metal beds with numerous curling scroll details can rapidly feel dated unless styled meticulously, the expert advised. 'They can veer into vintage B&B territory rather than feeling fresh and modern.'
