5 Bedroom Trends Designers Are Quietly Retiring (and You Should, Too)

Matching Furniture Sets

If you haven’t already retired your matching bedroom furniture set, you might want to think about phasing it out in favor of items that feel more personal and unique, notes designer Kerrie Kelly. “Homeowners are embracing pieces that feel collected over time, mixing styles, finishes, and textures to create a layered and more sophisticated story,” says the CEO and creative director of Kerrie Kelly Studio.

Replacing your furniture doesn’t have to be super costly, though. Consider using Facebook Marketplace to list the individual pieces of your bedroom furniture set. Then take those funds to buy replacements that will bring variety into your setup. You could also keep the bed and move the matching dresser, nightstands, and mirrors to other rooms — and bring new-to-you swaps into your sleep space. It’s all about how you mix your pieces together and style them. 

Accent Walls

It might be time to paint or wallpaper over that bedroom accent wall you were so excited about a few years ago. “An accent wall now feels like a half-hearted gesture,” Kelly says.

You can still go bold if that’s the bedroom look you’re after — just commit to all four walls so the overall design feels deliberate. As Kelly explains, you can take so many different, interesting paths when it comes to your bedroom walls. “Designers are leaning into full-room color drenching or textured wall treatments — limewash, wallpaper, paneling — that create a more immersive and intentional design moment,” Kelly notes. 

Terri Brien, the founder of Terri Brien Interiors, agrees with Kelly’s take. “Bedrooms should feel restful and cohesive, and this trend often ends up feeling forced,” she says. The good news is that there’s an easy fix here. Just start fresh and commit to a full color or type of wall treatment.

Elaborate Bedding

Another bedroom trend Brien is tired of seeing is elaborate bedding (think: beds piled with throw pillows galore, for starters). “What once read as luxury now feels more fussy than functional,” the designer says. 

A bed can be well-styled while still being relatively minimal. “Opt for simpler layers that have tons of texture, including no more than three throw pillows,” she advises, explaining that this tactic will result in a bedroom that “looks refined and current while staying approachable and livable.” You’ll also thank yourself when it comes time to make your bed in the morning, adds designer Marlaina Teich, who agrees that less is now more when it comes to accent pillows. “Simplifying with just a few well-chosen, nicely-sized pillows will keep the bed comfortable and effortlessly stylish,” says Teich. 

All-White Bedding

Speaking of bedding, designer Ellie Stein says all-white linens aren’t the way to go — at least not if you’re looking to build a cozy, cocoon-like bedroom. “I will never let a crisp white sheet go, but layering a bed with warmer neutrals, textures, patterns, and colors has taken a huge first place over a white duvet cover, white coverlet, and matching white shams,” says the founder of Stein Studio Interior Design.

If white hotel bedding is what you love, that’s OK! Just introduce a little bit of dimension and color with a bright throw at the end of your bed. You can also try a coordinating colorful accent pillow. 

DIY Headboards

The DIY headboard you constructed a few years ago might look a little “amateur hour” now, according to designer Hannah Griffiths, the founder of Studio Palindrome. “Those projects had their moment when people were home during the pandemic, but bedrooms are shifting toward pieces with story and substance,” she says. 

As you shop for a replacement, keep your eyes peeled for a vintage bed; Griffiths notes that these are popular now for the character and the craftsmanship they convey.