6 Questions To Ask Yourself When Redesigning Your Bedroom Space

Start with the goal in mind. This is the principle you should go with when redesigning your bedroom. Before you shop, before you meet with your designer, you should have a clear idea of what you want first. It will save you both time and money if you have a prepared plan of action. Consider the different aspects of interior design so you can have a better grasp of the bigger picture. If you’re planning to do a complete room makeover, chances are you’re transitioning into another phase of your life. It may be that you’re changing your lifestyle or building a family—whatever it is, it’s apparently important enough that you resort to redecorating your personal space to accommodate it.

To create a new design that will serve you best, you need to look inside yourself for inspiration. Redesigning a bedroom is a personal, often intimate, undertaking. You can’t do a good job with it unless you let your dreams, desires, and preferences manifest throughout the process. Even when you’re seeking the help of a designer, your input is still crucial. The designer may suggest a few bedroom design ideas, but ultimately, it’s your call what gets approved or not.

To help you make the early stages easier, here are some questions to ask when redesigning your bedroom. Make sure to consider every one of them so you can have a more holistic approach to giving your bedroom a facelift.

• Why do I want to redesign the bedroom in the first place?

This is a basic question that you should be able to answer without any hesitation or misgiving. Surely, there is a compelling reason why you’re giddy with excitement about redesigning your bedroom. That one reason is the foundation of this whole project. Around it should rotate every major decision you will make about design and even finances.

You redesign because something doesn’t work anymore. Maybe your bedroom looks old and tired now, or maybe it’s too cluttered from all the mess you’ve piled up over the years. One thing is for sure—you need to make some changes and tweak a few things in order to make life more vibrant.

If you’re preparing for a milestone—having your first baby, for example—you should consider some bedroom design ideas that will nurture your relationship with your loved one. Get rid of the bad vibes in the room that only take up space. Remember why you’re doing a design overhaul in the first place and zero in on that.

• What aspects of the room do I want to keep?

Unless it’s literally a dung hole, your bedroom doesn’t need to be stripped down to the bones. Although a lot of things probably need to go, there surely are a few worth keeping. Since it’s a bedroom, the mattress definitely stays—that is, if it’s still in tiptop shape. Otherwise, throw it away and get a new one. Make a list of things that you can’t do without. Whatever doesn’t cut the list should go unless it has an aesthetic value.

Singling out the things in your bedroom that you value the most shouldn’t be so hard. After all, your original plan is to get rid of most of it. Pick only those that you really love.

You’re not only limited to furniture and appliances here. When deciding on what stays and what goes, consider the colors and the small designs, too. Which of those would you love to see in the new design? Let your taste speak for you.

• What new themes do I want to adopt?

Is there a specific design you’ve seen before that struck you so much and you now want it to be the main theme of your redesigned bedroom? Maybe it’s the color combination or the coherence of the design—whatever it is, make sure to create a snapshot of it so you can use it as inspiration.

Your designer can give you a lot of tips in designing your bedroom, but here’s one you should definitely take: keep an idea book. It can be a scrapbook full of pictures and cutouts of all the pretty things you want your bedroom to have. A piece of cloth from an old shirt whose color you love can be your main basis for the room’s color theme.

If you don’t have a clear picture of what you want yet, you can search for bedroom space design ideas to give you a clue of what works and what doesn’t. Just don’t limit yourself to one design. Experiment and explore. It’ll surprise you how your tastes can change in a snap when you see a style better than yours.

• What activities will I have in my bedroom?

Sleeping is a given. That’s what your foam mattress is for. Apart from a place of respite, what other role will your bedroom play? Will it also be your reading nook? If that’s the case, then maybe you should consider shopping for an extra table and a floor lamp.

How else are you going to use this room? Will it be the place where you exercise? In that case, you should tell your designer about your plans so your exercise equipment can be incorporated in the design without it being the focal point. It’s important to outline the special activities you’re going to use the bedroom for so that its new design can match your lifestyle. Remember, the room should adapt to your comfort and schedule, and not the other way around.

• How long do I want this redesign project to last?

The when is as important as the what. When do you expect this project to end? Is your timeline flexible or is it fixed? Do you have a place to sleep while the bedroom redesign is taking place? These are just some of the most practical questions you shouldn’t forget when redesigning your bedroom. If you’re not comfortable spending the night in the living room while your bedroom is undergoing a makeover, then make sure to wrap up the redesign process early. But if you can accommodate a longer time frame, well and good. Decide whether you can accomplish the project at once or in phases.

• What is my budget?

The financial aspect of the project is one of the most important factors you need to keep in mind. Still, it shouldn’t be the first or the second thing you consider because it can box you. While it’s true that you need to work within the budget, you should have the liberty to explore what designs fit your bedroom best. Do a reality check along the way, but on the onset you should let your imagination run free.

Let poetry meet practicality by setting out a contingency fund. The number one rule in budgeting is to overestimate. There will always be unforeseen costs that may leave you paralyzed if you don’t anticipate them. Put aside a sum of money that you will only use for emergencies. Still, on the whole, you should allot around 10% of your entire house’s value for your master bedroom renovation.

When the early stages of planning, dreaming, and imagining are over, be strictly realistic about your budget. Remove everything from your wish list that doesn’t fit anywhere in your financial strategy. Stick to the basics.

Whether you’ll be working on a small redesign project or a big one, you can save yourself some precious time and money if you ask the right questions from the start. If you can answer and address these questions early, you will without a doubt create a redesigned bedroom space that will enrich your life.