Redesigning a bedroom is an investment in both comfort and atmosphere. Whether you’re planning a full renovation or updating a few key pieces, making the right decisions early on is essential to creating a cohesive, timeless space.
At Esmé, we often see the same challenge arise. One that can complicate the entire design process.
The Most Common Mistake When Redoing a Bedroom
Choosing paint first.
Wall colour feels like a simple place to start, but it can quickly limit your options. Upholstered elements such as a bespoke headboard, curtains, or cushions are far more complex in tone and texture—and significantly more costly to change later.
Fabric is often where emotion enters the design process. It’s what people fall in love with. If the wall colour has already been chosen and doesn’t work harmoniously with your preferred fabric, achieving a balanced bedroom design becomes unnecessarily difficult.
Why Fabric Should Lead the Design
When planning a bedroom, start with the elements that define the space.
Fabrics for custom headboards, upholstered furniture, and soft furnishings should come first. These pieces introduce texture, depth, and personality, and they tend to anchor the overall design. From there, consider wood finishes, metal details, and other materials that support the scheme.
We recommend gathering samples and creating a moodboard with your chosen fabrics, finishes, and key furniture pieces. Once these elements are aligned, selecting the right wall paint or wallpaper becomes a far more intuitive and confident decision.
Planning a Custom Headboard? Start Before You Renovate
If a custom-made headboard is part of your bedroom vision, it should be considered early in the renovation process, not as an afterthought.
At Esmé, we encourage clients to visit us before finalising their bedroom plans. By selecting fabric samples in advance and including them in your moodboard, you create a clear design direction from the beginning. This approach helps prevent costly mistakes, simplifies decision-making, and ensures the final result feels intentional and refined.
Design choices can feel overwhelming, but starting with fabric brings clarity. It allows you to better understand what you’re looking for and helps you create a bedroom that feels calm, cohesive, and beautifully considered. Browse our page for inspiration, explore our catalogue or take a deep dive in the world of fabric through our beloved fabric designers.
When you crush on a fabric, request a sample to make sure you are in love before deciding and use the sample for your moodboard.
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