5 Outdated Bedroom Design Trends We're Saying Goodbye To In 2024—And What’s Replacing Them

When it comes to treating your home to a new year’s refresh, your primary bedroom is likely low on the to-do list. But Dallas designer Lisa Henderson says that’s an attitude we should kick to the curb in 2024. "Gone are the days of putting off decorating your own bedroom," says Henderson. "There's no substitute for a primary bedroom when you need a place to unwind and relax at the end of the day. The rest of your house just can't offer the same level of privacy, calmness, quiet, or personal space, so push your primary bedroom to the top of your projects list this coming year.” Here are five more outdated bedroom design trends that Southern decorators say we should retire in 2024—and what we should try instead.

Recessed Lighting

Few things contribute to a space’s ambiance like lighting, and Maryland designer Laura Hodges is ready to give harsh overhead fixtures the boot. “I think it’s important to consider that when you lie down that light is directly in your eyes,” she cautions of recessed lighting. If you just can’t quit your old-faithful can lights, Hodges has some advice: “I would suggest locating them away from the bed area for ambient lighting and layering in sconces and lamps for eye-level light.”

Try Instead: Sconces and Task Lighting

Think smaller for your bedroom light sources. “Swing arm sconces and table lamps can give you layered, adjustable, and complementary lighting that can also be wired to a switch for easy access,” notes Hodges. 

Atlanta designer Laura Jenkins is also shrinking the size of her clients’ light fixtures. “For almost every bedroom we are designing, we are adding task reading lamps to each side of the bed,” she says. “Many times these replace the larger lamps to allow for more surface area on the bedside tables.”

Plain Jane Bedding

If you’ve always opted-in to all-white bedding sets, Jacksonville, Florida, designer Andrew Howard says it’s time to make a change. “Bedding is quickly becoming one of the most important elements in a room,” he says. “The days of plain Jane white bedding are over. A great outfit is never complete without great shoes and the same goes for a bedroom: A great bedroom without amazing bedding to go with it just falls flat and does not feel as thoughtful.” 

Try Instead: Layered Textiles and Textured Fabrics

Skip the one-stop-shop approach to bedding and focus on cultivating a character-filled mix. “It's no longer chic to buy in sets,” says Gainesville, Georgia, designer Maggie Griffin. “Creating a layered bed with textures and fabrics is much more fun!” 

That said, a beautifully dressed bed with personality doesn't require a mountain of throw pillows, notes Dallas designer Jean Liu: "We are in favor of focusing on the quality of the materials and dialing into the textile nature of the materials used."

Sprawling Spaces

When it comes to new construction or renovations, Greenville, South Carolina, designer Caroline Brackett is predicting that “huge, cavernous bedrooms are on their way out” in favor of smaller rooms “that house just the bedroom basics.” 

Try Instead: Smaller-Scale Rooms

If a renovation isn’t in the cards, find ways to make your existing space feel more intimate. One way to do this? “Create a sort of enclosed, four-poster-bed look by hanging sheer fabric panels from the ceiling around the perimeter of the bed,” suggests Brackett. This creates a restful focal point that also dials up the room’s cozy factor.

Accent Walls

It’s time to say goodbye to a half-in, half-out approach to decorating, say our designers. “Accent walls—whether they're painted, wallpapered, or have some other feature as a focal point—are out,” declares Kristin Marino of Austin-based KozyKasa.

Try Instead: An All-In Approach

Whether you’re painting or installing wallpaper, designers encourage a full-on commitment to it. Choose colors and materials that envelop the room. “We think we will be seeing more wallpaper in bedrooms,” says Brackett, who names suede, grasscloth, and silk as handsome contenders for her go-to 2024 wallpaper picks.

Muted Color Schemes

While decorators say there may be a move towards more neutral palettes overall in the new year, that’s not necessarily the case in sleep spaces, where the pendulum seems to be swinging in the other direction. “Calming neutrals, which used to be a key player in bedroom design for the past decade or so, are out in 2024,” says Marino.

Try Instead: Rich Tones and Colorful Patterns

“Color” needn’t be synonymous with “loud.” Says Marino: “People are learning that you can still create a relaxing space with color.”  Henderson agrees: “Color is more enveloping, interesting, and actually soothing." If you’re a commitment-phobe when it comes to color, try out the trend with crowd-pleasing, low-risk hues, like French blues and spring-y greens. For those who have long been comfortable with a jazzy palette, kick things up a notch and venture into bolder territory with pretty plums or raspberry reds.