13 period bedrooms with a contemporary twist

A modern take on the quintessential country house style is a look that's bold, colourful and packed with playful details. Here, the oversized statement headboard draws on a traditional Victorian silhouette. Combined with an elegant boho-style floral motif and the layering of plains, patterns and stripes reimagined in contemporary shades, the result is a characterful period bedroom that wouldn't feel out of place in a boutique country house hotel.

Pictured: Joules Thornton Bed Frame in Festival Floral, DFS

In rustic bedrooms – the kind commonly found in country cottages – charm is easy to add. Simply take a mix-and-match approach to decor and furniture.

Use antique and vintage furniture, or upcycle your tired furniture to give them a new lease of life. Avoid an overly curated look and instead combine pieces that sit within a similar colour palette, without being rigid in your approach.

Pictured: Vintage Reclaimed Bench, The Interiors Yard

Add luxurious lighting to your bedroom to draw the eye upwards and make the most of high, airy ceiling space. A chandelier is one eye-catching option, but an oversized pendant light would also be an attention-grabbing choice.

Pictured: Quiet Moments 1563, Benjamin Moore

Think about how you can use period features, such as your bedroom fireplace, as a visual focal point. A fireplace can be used to house candles or lanterns, while the mantelpiece is ideal for displaying photographs and small ornaments or accessories.

Pictured: Lavender Mist 2070-60, Benjamin Moore

You can create a wonderful contrast in your bedroom by combining period features, such as wood panelling, with contemporary decor and furniture. This could be achieved through soft furnishings in vivid, non-traditional shades, or by contrasting rustic materials like wood with fixtures and fittings that have clean, sculptural silhouettes and are made from materials such as metal.

Use contemporary wallpaper designs to bridge the gap between time periods. Intricately patterned designs are sure to complement a period property. Think florals, botanical prints and anything connected to the natural world.

Pictured: Florin Bed, Furniture And Choice

Part of the beauty of any period property is its little quirks – often unusual room layouts.

Instead of seeing these as a pain, approach them as an opportunity to create a truly unique space. Alcoves, sloping ceilings, chimney breasts and wonky walls can all be worked with, rather than against.

You'll need a little ingenuity and an open mind in regard to bespoke fixtures and furniture, but there is plenty to be done.

Pictured: Portland Fabric Collection, ILIV

Large, open bedrooms can feel sparse and cold. To mitigate this and to create a much more inviting space, layer textures – but you don't have to limit this to soft furnishings. Instead, choose furniture that uses texture within its own design. For example, a rattan bedframe, a velvet ottoman or a woven bench.

Pictured: Autumn/Winter 2023 Bedroom, Nkuku

Period properties with high ceilings have the potential to be beautiful, light-filled spaces. Instead of obscuring windows with heavy curtains, consider lighter fabrics that are easier to draw back. Restoring shutters is also a wonderful way to stay true to the character of your home.

Pictured: Yellow Brick Road 349, Benjamin Moore

Bring heritage features, shapes and prints bang up to date through unexpected colour and pattern. This period bedroom combines blues, pinks and creams for a refined look, alongside a balanced approach to pattern mixing to create a space that feels eclectic, yet curated.

Pictured: Kasbah Collection, ILIV

Period bedrooms offer the ideal place to add special details. Vintage and secondhand furnishings are perfect here, from eclectic table lamps to vintage bedside tables. You could also consider fringed or scalloped detailing on soft furnishings.

Pictured: Red Candy Cane Stripe Bed Linen Bundle, French Bedroom