Try framing the bed with either a fabric canopy or curtains—see the latter in the peaceful room above by Buchanan. “We wanted to soften the geometry of a perfectly symmetrical master bedroom and bring in a sense of calm and sensuality, so we added curtains on an oversized curved curtain pole—when drawn, they almost create a room within a room, and when open, they still offer a cocoooned and private world within the main space,” the duo explain. Bringing a sense of calm and coziness, it wasn’t a simple installation, but the effort was worth the squeeze.

A fabric canopy is a little simpler to execute, but no less impactful. Tori Murphy created her bestselling line of striped canopies as a way to bring texture and warmth to the bedroom. “A simple trick to recreate a similar effect is to hang a curtain rail behind your bed—above the headboard if you have one—and drape your chosen fabric from it. It looks incredibly striking but is also deceptively easy,” she says. Even a plain cotton or linen can bring a sense of serenity to your space.

And if you’re in the market for something more opulent, maybe a four poster bed will fit the bill. Having designed the Berdoulat Gable Four Poster to look a little more “dressed down” than traditional four poster options, Williams struck a balance between the “sumptuousness of the silky walnut, with a degree of grandeur in its form, and a plain, simple, humble feel—as such, the bed will work in both a grand room and simpler, smaller space.”

What not to do

The resounding advice from every expert? “Don’t overcomplicate it. Too many decorative elements can make a bed fussy and too staged,” says Monkhouse.

Williams agrees: “I am not a fan of overly dressed beds where one must deconstruct and remove piles of cushions to gain entry,” he says, recommending the use of blankets, quilts, and cushions that are actually there to be used, rather than purely for show.