Mediterranean Bedroom Decor

Mixing warm, earthy tones with cool blues and greens gives your bedroom a Mediterranean look.

When choosing a look for your bedroom, creating the right mood is essential. A relaxed, comfortable design should be your goal for the room where you spend most of your time sleeping. However, just because your decor is causal and calm doesn't mean that it can't be striking as well. Using a Mediterranean decorating scheme for your bedroom is the ideal way to marry the two concepts and make you feel like you're on a fabulous European vacation every time you wake up. If you don't know where to start, look for pictures of the Mediterranean coast for inspiration.

Mix Warm and Cool

Inspired by the coastal areas of Spain, Italy and Greece, Mediterranean décor makes use of colors that evoke both the earth and sea. As a result, your bedroom should be a blend of both warm and cool tones. Look for earthy shades of tan, red, orange, yellow and terra cotta for a warm punch of color. However, be sure to include blue and green accents for a cool, calming effect that is ideal for a bedroom.

Add Texture to Walls

Another trademark of Mediterranean décor is textured walls. They provide a natural, rustic look, which adds visual interest to a room. There are many techniques for adding texture to your bedroom walls, but the easiest method is using a textured paint. These paints mimic the look of stucco or Venetian plaster, but are much easier to apply. You can opt for pre-tinted paint or have a custom shade blended to suit your color palette exactly. Go with a creamy yellow or soft terracotta to give your bedroom a warm, inviting feel.

Use Metal Accents

Mediterranean décor is all about natural materials and interesting textures. As a result, metal is often incorporated into room design for a handcrafted look. You can add metal accents to your bedroom in a variety of ways. A wrought iron bed frame can make a dramatic statement and provide a highly decorative element for the space. If you prefer a subtle approach, add wrought iron nightstands beside your bed or an iron plant stand to the corner of the room. You can also find wrought iron light fixtures. Wall-mounted sconces add an authentic touch, but you can also opt for a table lamp with a wrought iron base.

Incorporate Tile

Another common element in Mediterranean décor is tiled surfaces. It can be a challenge to incorporate tile in a bedroom setting, but there are a few ways. A nightstand with a tiled top is a subtle option. You may also add a mirror with a tiled frame to your wall. For a truly eye-catching look, however, consider creating a tile headboard for your bed. Find a piece of wood that fits behind your bed and use backsplash tile and colored grout to create your headboard. Glass tile is an attractive option because it reflects the light. For a soft look, use blue and green tile to build a mosaic pattern. Mount the tiled wood to the wall behind your bed for a unique, handcrafted headboard.

References

• Furniture & Design Ideas: Mediterranean Bedroom; June 2009.
• Lowe's Creative Ideas: Mediterranean Bedroom
• All Tiled Up: Bedroom Tile
• Lowe's: Wallpaper and Wall Textures