Categories: LivingInteriors

Bedroom inspiration from gorgeous Irish homes


by Megan Burns
08th Jan 2025

A well-designed bedroom can be the perfect retreat after a long day – here are the ideas we’re stealing from these stylish Irish homes.

Keep it simple

If you want your sleeping space to feel calm and serene, stick to a tight palette, as the owners of this home outside Belfast have done. Here, light neutral tones are visually relaxing, complemented by plenty of natural light and organic materials.

The best way to achieve this is to make sure your space has plenty of storage, so everything can be put away out of sight, creating an uncluttered room that you’ll look forward to spending time in.

Photograph: Al Higgins

Even in this Dublin home, above, where space is more at a premium, the owners have made use of alcoves to keep things neat, while still displaying personal items.

Don’t be afraid of colour

This Cork home designed by Róisín Lafferty beautifully mixes jewel tones and different textures in the main bedroom, creating a luxurious, opulent mood. The burl walls of the dressing room and bathroom meet the smooth purple stone of a purpose-built vanity unit, as well as green tiles and vivid orange upholstery.

Photograph: Ruth Maria Murphy

Inject personality

You can paint a bedroom in a light colour to maximise the feeling of brightness, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a sense of your own personality. In this Wicklow home, the owners added an abundance of plants, as well as interesting finds, art and books, so the space feels truly their own.

Texture is just as important as colour

The colour palette in this Belfast home is restrained, but the room still feels warm and welcoming thanks to the use of different textures. Velvet and linen provide contrast on the bed, whilst the use of large wall hangings adds a softness to the space.

Add character with panelling

Photograph: Barbara Corsico

This Galway home designed by Róisín Lafferty nods to the building’s history while adding a sense of structure to the room with carefully designed panelling. It’s painted in a soft blue to add a sense of calm, while the pared-back bed nods to a more contemporary style.

Photograph: Al HIggins

A similar technique was used in this Dublin home, however the panelling takes a more modern form. Adding character to what was a somewhat featureless room, it shows how this technique can also work in a smaller space.

These homes originally appeared in IMAGE Interiors. Have you thought about becoming a subscriber? Find out more, and sign up here, or pick up the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue, on shelves now.