5 designers share how often you should redecorate your bedroom

8 min read

Last Modified 6 December 2024 First Added 15 November 2024

“How often should I redecorate my home?” is a question that crosses many homeowners’ minds after a certain amount of time. 

A lot can go into redecorating a room; whether that’s repainting the walls and ceiling, laying down carpets, investing in a new bed or taking on tricky DIY projects. And it’s an activity that can take up a lot of time, effort and, of course, money. 

So, what is the lifespan of a bedroom redecoration? In this blog, we speak to five interior design experts on when and how we should redecorate our master suites. Plus, we round up their best tips and tricks on giving your bedroom the makeover that it deserves…

How often should you redecorate your bedroom?

The interior designers all agreed that you should think about decorating bedrooms every three to four years as trends are always changing and your room could look outdated sooner than you think. Let’s explore this further…

Trends are always changing

“People like to redecorate their bedrooms every three to four years as their tastes change and evolve. So, a good mattress and bed can see you through one or two decorating cycles.”

Liza Evans, Interior Designer, named one of the 20 Best Interior Designers in Britain by the Daily Telegraph

As this interior design expert points out, design trends tend to go through cycles, just like fashion. Naturally, what was on-trend eight years ago is unlikely to still be the epitome of style today. The good news is that design trends have a fair bit of longevity in them. With this in mind, consider redecorating your bedroom every three to four years to avoid your bedroom looking outdated.

Interested in which trends are cycling back around? We explore this phenomenon in our blog series on bedrooms through the decades.

Navy blue ottoman bed with chevron design, styled in a light blue bedroom

Updating is important

“As an interior designer, I believe updating your home through the years is important, especially your bedroom as it’s a principal room. […] The key things are to re-paint your walls every 12-24 months. You would be surprised what a couple of new coats of paint can do to refresh and revitalise any room!”

Celia Sawyer, Interior design expert on Channel 4’s Four Rooms and host of BBC One’s Your Home in Their Hands

As Celia advises, it’s a nice idea to switch up your bedroom decor every few years. Even if it’s just through a fresh lick of paint or some new accessories to introduce an accent colour, it can make a world of difference to your overall aesthetic.

Colourful paint swatches for bedroom decorating

You don’t have to change it all

“Eight years is a long time to live with a design. My advice would be to keep your furniture and flooring neutral, then redecorating your bedroom shouldn’t cost the earth.”

Pippa Jameson, ITV1 TV Designer and London-based Interior Stylist

Picking just one area of your bedroom to update makes redecorating manageable. As Pippa suggests, working with a neutral base is one of the most effortless ways to regularly switch up your bedroom design. 

This doesn’t mean you need to have a totally bland colour scheme, either! Introduce colour through accents by adding bright bedding or a colourful rug. Even potted plants, vases and ornaments can inject some style and colour into your bedroom – and these small items are super easy to update. 

Check out our guide on how to use neutral colours in the bedroom.

Light grey sleigh bed with matching bedside, styled in a light neutral room.

Top design tips on redecorating your current bedroom

Our five interior designers share their expertise on how to easily give your bedroom a makeover to last the next 3-4 years…

De-stress with a decent mattress

“The bedroom should be a place of rest and comfort and not a vision of frustration. If, when lying in bed, you have to look at tired and dated decor you will automatically feel stressed. That said, I believe comfort should come before design. I cannot stress enough the importance of investing in a decent mattress.”

Pippa Jameson, ITV1 TV Designer and London-based Interior Stylist

Just as Pippa says, a good quality mattress can make all the difference in your bedroom. Investing in a new mattress could be the vital update that your master suite needs.

What is the recommended lifespan of a mattress?

Having the right mattress support is so important for a good night’s sleep. We recommend replacing your mattress every eight years to ensure you’re getting the right amount of comfort and support. This is why all our mattresses come with a ‘delivered on’ date, so you know when it’s time for a new one. Clever, right?

Interested in learning more about your mattress? Check out our full blog here.

A fully adjustable Sleepmotion platform bed, dressed in a simple white room with botanical elements.

So whether you’re looking for a pocket spring mattress, memory foam, gel, or a hybrid, there are so many mattresses on the market to suit different needs. Check out our mattress hub today for inspiration. Your best sleep yet could be just one click away…

Give your bed a makeover

One of life’s simplest pleasures is a bed with plump pillows, a light and fluffy duvet and fresh sheets to dive into at the end of the day, right? If you feel that your bed is lacking a little lustre, then refreshing your bedding is the easiest way to elevate your whole space.

grey bed with large cushions in a bedroom with an apex roof and skylight

Credit: @no5hillside

How often do we replace our bed items?

We asked the nation how often they replace standard bed items – and the results may shock you. According to our 2024 Sleep Survey, people have been enjoying their current beds for almost a decade at a time. But other bedding items get switched up much more often. The results are in… 

Bed frame average lifespan: 8.1 years

Mattress average lifespan: 6.1 years 

Pillow’s average lifespan: 3.38 years

Duvet average lifespan: 3.97 years

Work with the seasons

“Change your bedding design to blend with the season; you don’t have to buy new but just rotate. You can choose designs that work with your colour scheme, but in the summer, you want a white, clean, fresh-looking set whilst in the winter you can change to warm, rich and bold tones.”

Andrea Morgan, Certified Rightmove Blog Contributor

We love Andrea Morgan’s tip about switching up your bedsheets in line with the seasons. It’s a super simple way to switch up your bedscaping without getting bored – or having to spend a fortune on repainting the walls! 

If you need a hand with choosing your colour schemes, we have plenty of palette guides; from sunshine yellow bedroom design tips which work great in spring, to how to decorate your bedroom for Christmas when it comes to the festive season.

Main Bedroom featuring Margot bed in Christmas decor with tree and festive decorations - no garland

Invest in bedroom furniture 

“Having somewhere to sit in your bedroom prevents excessive wear and tear to your bed. Invest in a lovely chaise longue or stylish corner chair. Choose a fabric which complements the other colours in your room – or select something bold and make this item a focus point. By doing this you’re not only adding some style to your bedroom but a useful, practical item too.”

Celia Sawyer, Interior design expert on Channel 4’s Four Rooms and host of BBC One’s Your Home in Their Hands

Adding a cosy armchair is a wonderful addition to any bedroom and offers an opportunity to redesign just one corner of your room. Armchairs can be styled, just like your bed. Try picking out a statement cushion and a throw that matches your bed – after all, coordination is key. Just look at how we’ve dressed our olive green Gallway Chair with a cool, geometric patterned cushion. 

Gallway Single-Seater Chair in olive green

Clever storage solutions 

“I always like an end-of-bed stool to sit on or to put the duvet on when it’s too hot or extra blankets for the night ahead. I think any clutter is very bad for the soul anywhere in the bedroom, not just under the bed. Vacuum pack storage is also ideal for under-bed storage.”

Carolyn Parker, Interior Designer

If, like Carolyn, you hate clutter, why not invest in an ottoman bed the next time you’re due an update? Available in a range of stylish designs, ottomans are the ideal storage solution for keeping all of your spare bedding, extra blankets or even clothing, tidied away. 

Or, if you don’t want to buy a brand-new bed just yet, consider a blanket box instead. These handy little storage boxes look great at the end of your bed, can double as a stool, and offer bags of space for tidying away the clutter. Out of sight, out of mind!

Grey soft touch blanket box with buttoned details sat at the foot of a bed

Updating your bedroom decor every few years can be as simple as switching up your bed linens, adding some coloured accessories or incorporating new textures and patterns. This regular refresh not only helps to keep your space functional and comfy but continues to make your bedroom a place you love to retreat to at the end of the day.