Refreshing your bedroom doesn’t have to mean ripping up carpet or repainting every wall. Sometimes the quickest, most satisfying upgrades come from swapping out the right soft furnishings. 

With a few well-chosen changes, you can shift the whole atmosphere of the room from tired and flat to calm, inviting and properly put-together. Here’s how to make an impact without a full bedroom makeover.

Start With Your Curtains

Your curtains take up a huge chunk of visual space. If they’re old, thin, the wrong length or just a bit sad, they drag the whole room down. Upgrading to beautiful, well-fitting made-to-measure curtains is probably the biggest “wow” factor you can get without redecorating.

You don’t have to go bold, either; even a soft neutral linen or a calm muted tone can transform the space. When curtains actually fit (no pooling puddles, no awkward half-mast hems), the whole room immediately looks more considered. If you’re only splurging on one thing, this is the one to pick.

Layer Your Cushions

Never underestimate how quickly cushions can change the look of a bedroom. They add colour, shape, softness and texture, and they instantly make the bed feel more inviting.

A quick trick: mix two different textures and at least two different sizes.

For example:

• One smooth cotton cushion
• One soft bouclé or velvet cushion
• A rectangular lumbar cushion to anchor the arrangement

It looks effortless but intentional, and you don’t end up with ten identical cushions that make the bed feel like a showroom instead of somewhere you actually sleep.

Add a Throw for Warmth and Dimension

A well-chosen throw can take a bedroom from flat to layered in about three seconds. Go for something with texture (wool, waffle weave, chunky knit), or even a lightweight quilt. It adds depth, encourages cosier vibes, and ties the bed into the rest of the room.

If your curtains are neutral, let the throw bring in a touch of colour. If your curtains have more personality, a soft-toned throw helps balance everything.

Choose a Calm Colour Palette

A bedroom refresh should feel restful, not glaring. Pick two main colours and one soft accent, then let your curtains, cushions, and throws fall into those tones. This creates visual harmony without looking matchy-matchy.

Some fail-safe calm combinations:

• Soft grey, muted blue, warm white
• Taupe, sage, ivory
• Warm beige, blush, charcoal
• Stone, deep olive, cream

The goal is achieving a gentle contrast, not a colour explosion where people don’t know where to look.

Texture Matters More Than People Think

When you’re keeping the palette calm, texture is what stops everything looking bland. Linen curtains, velvet cushions, cotton bedding and a textured throw create a balanced, layered look without loud colours. If your bedroom feels flat, it’s usually a texture problem, not a colour problem.

Refresh Without Redecorating

One of the joys of soft furnishings is that they allow you to refresh the room without committing to major changes. If your wall colour is staying put, simply choose curtains and cushions that complement it rather than fight it. Dusty pink walls? Go for taupe and cream soft furnishings. Soft green walls? Warm neutrals and natural textures are your friends.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying cushions that have nothing to do with your curtains.
• Using too many tiny cushions (they never look intentional).
• Ignoring the curtain drop. Too short makes the whole room feel off.
• Mixing undertones (cool grey + warm beige = visual chaos).

Small changes in soft furnishings can completely refresh your bedroom without any major décor work. Start with well-fitting made-to-measure curtains, add layered cushions, throw in a textured blanket and choose a calm palette that feels restful rather than busy. 

For a polished, elevated finish that actually suits your space, buy your made-to-measure curtains and cushions from The Sewing House and enjoy a bedroom that finally feels like the retreat it’s meant to be.