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'Choose calming colours': How to create a bedroom where you’ll always feel relaxed

With the average person spending approximately one third of their life asleep, having a peaceful spot to rest your head is quite significant, to say the least.

We all know the importance of having a comfortable mattress and pillow, but what other elements make for an ideal bedroom?

While it may be easy to get wrapped up in the design elements – especially if it’s your first home – there are many other factors to take into consideration when creating a calm (and functional) sleeping space.

According to Aoife Tobin, interior architect and designer at Style So Simple, the easiest way to achieve this is by dedicating the time to planning the space. Below, Aoife shared her top tips for achieving a hotel-worthy bedroom zone…

Your bed is likely to be the focal point in your room, and its position is highly important, says Aoife. “For your bed location, I usually suggest trying to keep it away from the same wall as the door and have it on the opposite wall if possible, but not so that when you open the door the bed is directly in front of the entrance. There’s an element of feng shui about this, but it’s also a much more comfortable setting.”

If you’re torn between choosing carpet or wood floors in the bedroom, Aoife has the ideal solution: “With couples, usually one person wants carpet and one person doesn’t. So a middle ground that I’ve found a lot of couples and families go with is choosing wood or a faux wood floor and then getting a really nice large area rug so it’s comfortable when you’re stepping out into it in the morning. There are great options there now for very large area rugs that are quite inexpensive.”

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Whether you prefer a firm mattress or something you can sink into each night, Aoife says taking time to find the right mattress to invest in will pay off in the long term. “For the bed, it’s not even the bed frame that you need to invest in, it’s the mattress. Whatever it is that you need for your personal comfort, the mattress is the one thing that I’d invest in.”

Another area to spend extra cash on, if possible, is bedding, says Aoife. “Bedding is something that I’d always put an extra bit of time into thinking about what I actually want and put that little bit of extra money into it. With bed linen, the higher the thread count, the better. I’d always recommend going with a simple white set and then you can add colour through your accent cushions and your throws.”

When viewing any room as a blank slate, Aoife recommends planning for clever hidden storage options. This is even more important in the bedroom, she says, as you don’t want to be surrounded by clutter as you’re trying to unwind.

“Storage beds are so handy for those larger items that you don’t need day-to-day, like duvet covers, bedsheets and towels…. It just saves so much on space.”

A hugely important factor when planning your new bedroom, says Aoife, is lighting. “It’s all about creating a cosy ambience. So let’s say your side table lamps or if you have wall lights above the side table, choose warm LED bulbs over white. They’re much more cosy.”

As for your main light, you might want to avoid putting it right in the middle of the room. “In a bedroom, the centre pendant should be centred to the bed, and positioned more towards the bottom of the bed.”

Colours play a huge part in any room, and this applies even more when it comes to your sleeping space, notes Aoife. “Keep colours calm and soothing, not colours that will cause a lot of stimulation.

She recommends avoiding reds, in particular, and opting for muted tones if possible. “A neutral palette is always lovely in a calmer space.”

When that’s all done and you’re settled into your new place, don’t blame us if you struggle to get out of bed in the mornings.

At Glenveagh Homes, our vision is that everyone should have the opportunity to access great-value, high-quality homes in flourishing communities across Ireland. We understand that buying a home is possibly the biggest decision you will ever make in your life – but we want to make it your easiest.

How to create a bedroom where you’ll always feel relaxed with designer Aoife Tobin

Make your House a Home – three tips on the perfect finishing touches with Scatter Box

Scatter Box

But you want to put your own stamp on it. It’s the finishing touches that can really set an interior apart from the rest. If you’re looking to inject a sense of luxury and sophistication in your home then check out these tips from Scatter Box and discover how adding home accessories can really bring a room together. 

From cushions and art to lighting, take a look at the top 3 most important home accessories and tips for arranging them in every room of your home.


So you’ve just purchased your dream home

The Hawthorns

In the Glenveagh showhouse in The Hawthorns in Tullamore, we added some stunning Scatter Box wall art in the living room and bedroom. The Georgia art in the living room really pull the colour story together and make a statement with a bold injection of colour. 

In the guest bedroom we added our Evelyn art, this piece features calming hues of navy and gold, that paired well with the soft furnishings. Scatter Box art adds a striking feature that complements the functionality and style of any room to achieve a bold yet seamless decorative approach. In your own home, you might choose to make a piece of furniture your statement piece, or it could be a large indoor plant, or a carefully chosen big piece of art. A statement piece helps to anchor the room and can give you a center point around which all your other décor choices can be based.



1. Think Statement Piece

Mix textures in every room. In the Glenveagh showhouse living room, we chose a selection of cushions including our geometric handmade in Ireland, Axel cushions, teamed with our metallic Juno cushions in sky and our large plain velvet Bellini cushions in sky blue. To finish the look we then added our Ziggy throw in navy, this mix of textures all worked together to create depth, interest, contrast, and personality. Cushions in different sizes like this are great, because not only do they liven up a neutral backdrop, they also team different shades of blue together beautifully. A ready-made colour scheme!”

2. Think Textiles

In the master bedroom, we wanted to inject some fun and show some personality so we paired a beautiful velvet pink headboard with our Honduras pink cushions and our Halo throw in taupe. 

The guest bedroom features a gorgeous deep green headboard that we paired with our handmade in Ireland Preen cushions and large plain velvet Bellini cushions in blue. Cushions really are that perfect home accessory to add texture, colour or pull a theme together in a room. For a smaller space, it’ll ground your furniture and make it look more pulled together


Luxury and lighting go hand in hand, with both lighting features and the light itself offering a chance to add opulence and style to any room. Lighting can really transform the feel of a space. You need to consider what you want to use the space for, and which parts of the room you want to highlight. If the room demands it, add a large ceiling light for your living and dining areas that will simultaneously double as a stylish statement piece. If your space is restricted, think chic decorative lighting like small table lamps instead, that will add a layer of stylish sophistication without having to sacrifice the functionality of a space.  The Glenveagh showhouse features luxurious ceiling shades and lamps that are not only functional but stylish . This lighting is an understated, minimalistic way to add texture and ambiance to your living space.

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