Article taken off ivillage.com
20 Steals and Splurges for Your Master Bedroom
Forget Florals
Avoid frilly and try a duvet in a solid color, or go for a more unisex pattern such as stripes.
Inspired by design great Dorothy Draper, this one has thick horizontal stripes in a bright shade.
Splurge: Draper Stripe Duvet, $280 at Dwellstudio.com
For a fun spin on stripes, go with a zigzag pattern. This one from Urban Outfitters comes in a few cool colors. With the right accents in the rest of the room, chances are you’ll both be into yellow or aqua.
Steal: Zigzag duvet cover, from $69 at Urbanoutfitters.com
Opt for Soft Lighting
To light up a room, it's important to rely on multiple sources such as lamps and installed lighting. For the bedroom, bedside lamps can create a soft glow when you're reading at night and really brighten a room when you're trying on multiple outfits in the morning. With a smoky blue crackle glaze, an off-white linen drum shade and a cool shape, two of these lamps from Crate & Barrel could work wonders on your nightstands.
Splurge: Merie Table Lamp, $199 at Crateandbarrel.com
For a similar look at a fraction of the price, pick up two of these ceramic jug lamps from Walmart. With a natural white finish and white shade, they'd make a statement without overpowering the other details in the room.
Steal: Grandrich Ceramic Jelly Jug Design, $14.98 at Walmart.com
Find the Right Nightstand
There are lots of feminine nightstands out there with thin legs and pretty knobs, but to keep a bedroom from becoming too girly, consider cubes. More modern than a traditional nightstand and a few inches shorter, this lacquer cube from Jonathan Adler comes in a bunch of fun colors and would work well with an oversized lamp. For a clean look, stick with white or chocolate. Or have some fun with lime, red, orange or blue.
Splurge: Jonathan Adler Lacquer Cubes, from $150 at Jonathanadler.com
Ikea’s lack table gets a lot of attention and for good reason. It’s under $10 (yep, you read that right) and works wonders as a nightstand or side table. Best of all, it now comes in a few high gloss colors. Red is the obvious sexy choice, while gray is soft, but sophisticated.
Steal: Ikea Lack Side Table, $7.99 at Ikea.com
Try a Patterned Rug
A bedroom rug should feel soft and cozy underfoot and this Souk rug from West Elm definitely does the trick. The company’s interpretation of a traditional Moroccan Berber, it’s crafted from high quality New Zealand wool and won’t shed.
Splurge: West Elm rug, from $199 at Westelm.com
If you want something colorful, consider Garnet Hill’s Bogart Flat-Weave Wool Rug. For a bit of pop, try coral, teal blue or yellow. For a more subdued feel, go with ivory, light blue, gray, cocoa or sage.
Steal: Garnet Hill wool rug, from $54 at Garnethill.com
Go Basic With Your Bedding
Basic white sheets are great for layering color on your bed and around your room. Serena & Lily’s Bark Gobi Embroidered Sheet Set is a sophisticated spin on a classic. Adorned with an ancient Buddhist motif that represents the endless knot of wisdom, these sheets will feel like heaven.
Splurge: Serena & Lily embroidered sheet set, from $145 at Serenaandlily.com
Gray can get a bad rap, but when designing a room that needs to suit two styles, it’s a good shade to rely on since it pairs well with brighter hues like yellow and darker ones such as navy blue. To tone down a sunny duvet or a dark blue room, try a set of these ash grey sheets from CB2.
Steal: CB2 Percale Organic Ash Grey Sheet Set, from $39.95 at Cb2.com
Choose Dark Dressers
Room & Board’s Hudson dressers suit most tastes thanks to clean, minimal style and delicate lines. Made from solid maple with a charcoal stain, they have a stainless steel base and come in six sizes.
Splurge: Room & Board Hudson dresser, from $999 at Roomandboard.com
This minimalist six-drawer dresser from Target might not have hardware, but it's full of space. Available in an espresso finish, it would work well in both modern and traditional bedrooms.
Steal: Room Essentials dresser, $154.99 at Target.com
Revisit the Vanity
Need somewhere to put on makeup and blow dry your hair but don’t want your bedroom to resemble a salon? Luckily, there are all sorts of vanities that’ll do the trick. Simple and sleek, this narrow-leg option from West Elm is both stylish and functional
Splurge: West Elm Narrow-Leg Vanity, $349 at Westelm.com
Even smaller, this vanity can double as a desk in a small bedroom and would look great painted a fun color. It also comes with a bench.
Steal: Vanity Set, $128.99, Target.com
Hit the Nail on the Bed
The bed is the focal point of the bedroom and a smart place to start in terms of design. A mattress and box spring will do the trick, but a headboard can really dress up the room and make it more mature. If you love the nailhead look, try this Target version. It comes in gender-neutral colors such as brown, khaki, or black. To really spice things up, order it in bright red.
Steal: Tudor Headboard, from $249.99 at Target.com
If you love the look of a headboard but don't want to spend big bucks, try this vinyl decal. Designed to mimic a romantic headboard, it can instantly dress up your space (and won't damage your walls!)
Steal: Olivia Headboard Wall Decal, $39.99 at Urbanoutfitters.com
Open Up Your Space with a Mirror
To brighten up a dark space or make a small bedroom feel bigger, try a full-length mirror. Cheaper than art, a large mirror can work well as a dramatic statement piece and make it easier to get ready in the morning. This sleek mirror has a simple, clean design.
Splurge: CB2 Infinity Floor Mirror, $399 at Cb2.com
This cheaper alternative from Ikea has a frame that comes in three colors. If your bedroom already has a lot of artwork, try white for a softer look. If your space is more minimalist, the orange can add a bright burst of color.
Steal: Ikea Mongstad Mirror, $129 at Ikea.com
Try Simple Shades
Floor length curtains can make a room feel romantic but if you want to keep things more casual, consider roman shades. Available in lots of different colors and fun fabrics, they can provide privacy and dress up your windows at the same time.
If you want a very specific color or a unique pattern, check out DwellStudio's roman shade designs at The Shade Store. With everything from ikat to polka dots, they have plenty of styles, but be prepared to spend big bucks.
Splurge: DwellStudio Roman Shades for The Shade Store, from $144 at Theshadestore.com
For a minimalist shade in either ivory or gray, West Elm's cordless shades are clean and simple. Try pairing them with linen panels for a more layered look.
Steal: Solid Roman Shade, from $103 at Westelm.com
