8 Exceptional Bedrooms With Seating
Designers, including one found on Houzz, share how adding seating options can create a relaxing private sanctuary
When looking for a quiet, relaxing space to retreat to in a home, many people head straight for the bedroom. That’s why having a comfortable place to sit can elevate a bedroom into a private sanctuary even when sleep isn’t the goal. Seating at the end of a bed can provide a place to sit and dress, relax, watch TV and read, as well as help fill visual space in a long layout. Here, designers share the details in eight stylish bedrooms that feature a variety of seating options.
2. Moody Movement
Designers: Andrea Fripp and Paulina Cervantes of Dual Concept Design
Location: Chicago
Size: 270 square feet (25 square meters)
Homeowner’s request. “Our client is a busy mother of two young children who have their days filled with numerous activities,” says designer Paulina Cervantes, whose client found her through Houzz. “She wanted to transform her dated and mundane primary bedroom into a serene and luxurious space where she can disconnect and recharge at the end of her busy days. We knew we could achieve this by incorporating luxurious wall coverings and fabrics throughout the space. One of her requests was to integrate touches of her Chinese heritage in the design, which you can see in the custom paneled wall with a shimmering bamboo pattern wallcovering.”
Seating setup. “Two custom ottomans, upholstered in a deep green luster fabric with a contrasting taupe cord, were placed at the foot of the bed,” says designer Andrea Fripp. “Because our client has ample storage in her walk-in closets, there was no need for the typical storage bench. Instead, she wanted lightweight furniture pieces that could easily be moved throughout the space for additional seating.”
Other special features. “This primary bedroom is furnished with a custom silk area rug, king-size bed in a dark velvet with nailheads, dark wood nightstands, fluted glass table lamps and a brass-with-swirled-glass chandelier,” Cervantes says. “The bay window is dressed in glamorous drapery featuring a jacquard fabric with alluring details. All walls are wrapped in a luxurious deep green linen wallcovering, but what we feel makes this room truly special is the custom paneled wall with the contrasting shimmering bamboo pattern.”
Designer tip. “The use of wallcoverings always brings an additional layer of luxury to a primary bedroom,” Fripp says. “If the space and budget allow, adding custom paneling also helps to visually anchor the furniture.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The swirled glass chandelier was quite challenging to install,” Cervantes says. “It had different sphere sizes that needed to be placed strategically in order for all pieces to fall into place. Although it took several attempts, this light fixture was perfect for the space, and it was so worth it.”
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Designers: Andrea Fripp and Paulina Cervantes of Dual Concept Design
Location: Chicago
Size: 270 square feet (25 square meters)
Homeowner’s request. “Our client is a busy mother of two young children who have their days filled with numerous activities,” says designer Paulina Cervantes, whose client found her through Houzz. “She wanted to transform her dated and mundane primary bedroom into a serene and luxurious space where she can disconnect and recharge at the end of her busy days. We knew we could achieve this by incorporating luxurious wall coverings and fabrics throughout the space. One of her requests was to integrate touches of her Chinese heritage in the design, which you can see in the custom paneled wall with a shimmering bamboo pattern wallcovering.”
Seating setup. “Two custom ottomans, upholstered in a deep green luster fabric with a contrasting taupe cord, were placed at the foot of the bed,” says designer Andrea Fripp. “Because our client has ample storage in her walk-in closets, there was no need for the typical storage bench. Instead, she wanted lightweight furniture pieces that could easily be moved throughout the space for additional seating.”
Other special features. “This primary bedroom is furnished with a custom silk area rug, king-size bed in a dark velvet with nailheads, dark wood nightstands, fluted glass table lamps and a brass-with-swirled-glass chandelier,” Cervantes says. “The bay window is dressed in glamorous drapery featuring a jacquard fabric with alluring details. All walls are wrapped in a luxurious deep green linen wallcovering, but what we feel makes this room truly special is the custom paneled wall with the contrasting shimmering bamboo pattern.”
Designer tip. “The use of wallcoverings always brings an additional layer of luxury to a primary bedroom,” Fripp says. “If the space and budget allow, adding custom paneling also helps to visually anchor the furniture.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The swirled glass chandelier was quite challenging to install,” Cervantes says. “It had different sphere sizes that needed to be placed strategically in order for all pieces to fall into place. Although it took several attempts, this light fixture was perfect for the space, and it was so worth it.”
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3. Laid-Back Lounge
Designer: Talli Roberts-Early of Allard + Roberts Interior Design
General contractor: M.S. Hammett Construction
Location: Lake Lure, North Carolina
Homeowners’ request. “This guest suite was only accessible by walking through another bedroom,” designer Talli Roberts-Early says. “Our design team replanned the lower level to create a hallway to access this space and completely renovated it with new flooring, paint, lighting, window treatments, a newly renovated en suite bathroom and all new furniture and decor.”
Seating setup. “While this room has space for a chair with an ottoman for the mother and their young baby, it also needed additional seating at the foot of the bed,” Roberts-Early says. “This bench has a tray that slides, allowing seating at the foot of the bed for dressing and undressing, putting on shoes or watching the TV across the room. It also serves as a place to pack and unpack suitcases since this is a vacation home where guests are often entertained.”
Other special features. “The flooring is a natural-finish engineered white oak in wide planks, while the walls are intentionally neutral in tone as a backdrop for the pattern and color in the modern wool area rug,” Roberts-Early says. “Other features are intentionally neutral so as not to distract from the views of the lake beyond the French doors.”
Designer tip. “We often keep the background colors neutral and add color in ways that can be changed over time,” Roberts-Early says. “The homeowners fell in love with the warm palette in the area rug, and it set the color tones for the space. Bedding, art and pillows can easily be changed to focus on another color in the rug without major expense for a changeup in this room.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The original headboard was a fabric panel but we didn’t realize the fabric had no hard backing to it,” Roberts-Early says. “The homeowners couldn’t recline to watch TV from bed without that necessary support. So we reselected a bed and swapped out the old one. This is an example of how designers should stand behind their work when something doesn’t go as planned.”
Designer: Talli Roberts-Early of Allard + Roberts Interior Design
General contractor: M.S. Hammett Construction
Location: Lake Lure, North Carolina
Homeowners’ request. “This guest suite was only accessible by walking through another bedroom,” designer Talli Roberts-Early says. “Our design team replanned the lower level to create a hallway to access this space and completely renovated it with new flooring, paint, lighting, window treatments, a newly renovated en suite bathroom and all new furniture and decor.”
Seating setup. “While this room has space for a chair with an ottoman for the mother and their young baby, it also needed additional seating at the foot of the bed,” Roberts-Early says. “This bench has a tray that slides, allowing seating at the foot of the bed for dressing and undressing, putting on shoes or watching the TV across the room. It also serves as a place to pack and unpack suitcases since this is a vacation home where guests are often entertained.”
Other special features. “The flooring is a natural-finish engineered white oak in wide planks, while the walls are intentionally neutral in tone as a backdrop for the pattern and color in the modern wool area rug,” Roberts-Early says. “Other features are intentionally neutral so as not to distract from the views of the lake beyond the French doors.”
Designer tip. “We often keep the background colors neutral and add color in ways that can be changed over time,” Roberts-Early says. “The homeowners fell in love with the warm palette in the area rug, and it set the color tones for the space. Bedding, art and pillows can easily be changed to focus on another color in the rug without major expense for a changeup in this room.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The original headboard was a fabric panel but we didn’t realize the fabric had no hard backing to it,” Roberts-Early says. “The homeowners couldn’t recline to watch TV from bed without that necessary support. So we reselected a bed and swapped out the old one. This is an example of how designers should stand behind their work when something doesn’t go as planned.”
4. Roomy Relaxation
Designer: Patricia Calasich of KasaMia Interiors
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Size: 310 square feet (29 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Our client wanted a multifunctional space where she could have her home office to work during the day, a seating area to read in the evenings and have space to relax after a long day that could also accommodate their three kids for bedtime stories,” says designer Patricia Calasich, who uses Houzz Pro business software.
Seating setup. “We decided to incorporate a bench by the end of the bed and a wide and deep settee on the side of the room to have enough seating space to comfortably accommodate the whole family during bedtime stories,” Calasich says. “We wanted to create an elevated design that felt inviting for the kids and parents.”
Other special features. Neutral color palette with black, beige, camel, gray and warm whites. “We selected a subtle chevron-patterned area rug that frames the bed and adds the perfect contrast and texture to the dark wood floor,” Calasich says.
Designer tip. “While designing a primary bedroom or any kind of room, the key is to select the area rug first,” Calasich says. “By doing so you now have a palette of colors as a base that you can use when selecting the upholstery for your bed, bench, accent chairs and other seating elements. You can then build up in contrast or go lighter depending on the design goals you have for the space.”
7 Tips for Designing Your Bedroom
Designer: Patricia Calasich of KasaMia Interiors
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Size: 310 square feet (29 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Our client wanted a multifunctional space where she could have her home office to work during the day, a seating area to read in the evenings and have space to relax after a long day that could also accommodate their three kids for bedtime stories,” says designer Patricia Calasich, who uses Houzz Pro business software.
Seating setup. “We decided to incorporate a bench by the end of the bed and a wide and deep settee on the side of the room to have enough seating space to comfortably accommodate the whole family during bedtime stories,” Calasich says. “We wanted to create an elevated design that felt inviting for the kids and parents.”
Other special features. Neutral color palette with black, beige, camel, gray and warm whites. “We selected a subtle chevron-patterned area rug that frames the bed and adds the perfect contrast and texture to the dark wood floor,” Calasich says.
Designer tip. “While designing a primary bedroom or any kind of room, the key is to select the area rug first,” Calasich says. “By doing so you now have a palette of colors as a base that you can use when selecting the upholstery for your bed, bench, accent chairs and other seating elements. You can then build up in contrast or go lighter depending on the design goals you have for the space.”
7 Tips for Designing Your Bedroom
5. Excellent Extension
Designer: Alex Thies of Adelyn Charles Interiors
Location: Naples, Florida
Size: 419 square feet (39 square meters); 15½ by 27 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We were looking to create a soft, warm and inviting bedroom focused on layering textures and natural elements for a crisp, elevated coastal feel,” designer Alex Thies says. “With sliding doors leading directly to their private pool and boat dock, we wanted this room to feel elegant but also be a natural extension of the outdoors. So we chose to use materials that would be accommodating to the concept of indoor-outdoor living.”
Seating setup. “In such a large room, we wanted to warm it up and make it feel cozy and full of soft textures,” Thies says. “The sofa at the foot of the bed fills the space between the bed and a TV across the way and is the perfect height to align with our mattress so that it does not block the view either from the bed to the TV or from the room entry to the beautiful view outside the sliders. The sofa serves multiple functions, from the perfect spot to sit and put shoes on to an ultracomfortable bed for this couple’s pet dog. Made from a neutral performance fabric, it blends nicely with our upholstered headboard and is constructed for easy cleaning and to be as low-maintenance as possible.”
Two cane chairs are positioned near the sliding glass door, nodding to the outdoors and keeping sightlines open.
Other special features. “We love the use of European white oak floors that are mirrored on the ceiling by custom white oak beams to bring in some natural warmth accompanied by the various textures of the woven light fixture, textural bamboo wall art and woven abaca fronts on the credenza below the TV,” Thies says. “These elements, layered with the soft linen textures of bedding and drapery and pops of greenery both indoors and out, make this an incredibly inviting and serene primary suite.”
Designer tip. “It’s all about the layers,” Thies says. “From the pillows to the duvet and throws, we used lots of soft, yummy fabrics to give this beautiful space that ultracozy feel.”
Designer: Alex Thies of Adelyn Charles Interiors
Location: Naples, Florida
Size: 419 square feet (39 square meters); 15½ by 27 feet
Homeowners’ request. “We were looking to create a soft, warm and inviting bedroom focused on layering textures and natural elements for a crisp, elevated coastal feel,” designer Alex Thies says. “With sliding doors leading directly to their private pool and boat dock, we wanted this room to feel elegant but also be a natural extension of the outdoors. So we chose to use materials that would be accommodating to the concept of indoor-outdoor living.”
Seating setup. “In such a large room, we wanted to warm it up and make it feel cozy and full of soft textures,” Thies says. “The sofa at the foot of the bed fills the space between the bed and a TV across the way and is the perfect height to align with our mattress so that it does not block the view either from the bed to the TV or from the room entry to the beautiful view outside the sliders. The sofa serves multiple functions, from the perfect spot to sit and put shoes on to an ultracomfortable bed for this couple’s pet dog. Made from a neutral performance fabric, it blends nicely with our upholstered headboard and is constructed for easy cleaning and to be as low-maintenance as possible.”
Two cane chairs are positioned near the sliding glass door, nodding to the outdoors and keeping sightlines open.
Other special features. “We love the use of European white oak floors that are mirrored on the ceiling by custom white oak beams to bring in some natural warmth accompanied by the various textures of the woven light fixture, textural bamboo wall art and woven abaca fronts on the credenza below the TV,” Thies says. “These elements, layered with the soft linen textures of bedding and drapery and pops of greenery both indoors and out, make this an incredibly inviting and serene primary suite.”
Designer tip. “It’s all about the layers,” Thies says. “From the pillows to the duvet and throws, we used lots of soft, yummy fabrics to give this beautiful space that ultracozy feel.”
6. Enthralling Edginess
Designer: Laetitia Laurent of Laure Nell Interiors
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters); 20 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “They wanted a room that felt comfortable yet edgy,” designer Laetitia Laurent says.
Seating setup. Two leather channel-tufted armchairs. “They wanted to be able to sit on the chairs to watch TV or get ready in the morning,” Laurent says.
Other special features. A leather headboard coordinates with the chairs. “We applied a wallpaper by Momentum to give the headboard wall more interest and texture,” Laurent says.
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to layer and add drama,” Laurent says. “Also, the sconces here were applied to the wall with hanging tassels that free up space on the nightstands.”
Designer: Laetitia Laurent of Laure Nell Interiors
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters); 20 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “They wanted a room that felt comfortable yet edgy,” designer Laetitia Laurent says.
Seating setup. Two leather channel-tufted armchairs. “They wanted to be able to sit on the chairs to watch TV or get ready in the morning,” Laurent says.
Other special features. A leather headboard coordinates with the chairs. “We applied a wallpaper by Momentum to give the headboard wall more interest and texture,” Laurent says.
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to layer and add drama,” Laurent says. “Also, the sconces here were applied to the wall with hanging tassels that free up space on the nightstands.”
7. Cool Contrast
Designer: Jessica White of Trove Homes
Location: Fairway, Kansas
Size: 247 square feet (23 square meters); 14½ by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction home in an established neighborhood, the owners wanted to “maintain a timeless charm, inside and out, so the home didn’t look out of place,” designer Jessica White says.
Seating setup. “Spatially, the walkway felt cavernous, so we thought adding the custom vintage velvet bench at the end of the bed helped fill out the space better,” White says. “Also, aesthetically, the juxtaposition of light and dark colors helped pull in the palettes of the various mediums in the space.”
A corner lounge chair offers another seating option.
Other special features. “The custom round coffered ceiling added a refined element to the space that was well worth the upgrade,” White says. “The wall and trim color is White Heron by Benjamin Moore.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to layer high-contrast and low-contrast materials,” White says. “It allows you to be able to mix different styles in a way that feels intentional and inviting.”
Chandelier: Tux nine-light in black, Maxim Lighting International
Designer: Jessica White of Trove Homes
Location: Fairway, Kansas
Size: 247 square feet (23 square meters); 14½ by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. For this new-construction home in an established neighborhood, the owners wanted to “maintain a timeless charm, inside and out, so the home didn’t look out of place,” designer Jessica White says.
Seating setup. “Spatially, the walkway felt cavernous, so we thought adding the custom vintage velvet bench at the end of the bed helped fill out the space better,” White says. “Also, aesthetically, the juxtaposition of light and dark colors helped pull in the palettes of the various mediums in the space.”
A corner lounge chair offers another seating option.
Other special features. “The custom round coffered ceiling added a refined element to the space that was well worth the upgrade,” White says. “The wall and trim color is White Heron by Benjamin Moore.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to layer high-contrast and low-contrast materials,” White says. “It allows you to be able to mix different styles in a way that feels intentional and inviting.”
Chandelier: Tux nine-light in black, Maxim Lighting International
8. Playful Pattern
Designer: Jennifer Pacca Interiors
Location: Teaneck, New Jersey
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted to draw inspiration from their frequent travels to South Africa,” designer Jennifer Pacca says. “This primary bedroom needed to serve as a place of solitude and relaxation.”
Seating setup. “The chairs and ottomans serve as a cozy spot to kick your feet up and read a book or watch TV,” Pacca says.
Other special features. Wall-to-wall upholstered headboard. Bold fabrics and prints with pops of red and gold.
Designer tip. “Mount draperies much higher than the windows to accentuate and add height to the bedroom,” Pacca says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “Incorporating the existing outlets into the wall-to-wall upholstered headboard was a challenge,” Pacca says. “These had to thoughtfully be moved ever so slightly as to be perfectly positioned behind the nightstands, and the wall needed to be templated prior to fabrication.”
Nightstands: Kendrick, Ambella Home Collection; custom headboard: Iri Upholstery; wallpaper: Scalamandre; chairs: Bernhardt Furniture
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Designer: Jennifer Pacca Interiors
Location: Teaneck, New Jersey
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted to draw inspiration from their frequent travels to South Africa,” designer Jennifer Pacca says. “This primary bedroom needed to serve as a place of solitude and relaxation.”
Seating setup. “The chairs and ottomans serve as a cozy spot to kick your feet up and read a book or watch TV,” Pacca says.
Other special features. Wall-to-wall upholstered headboard. Bold fabrics and prints with pops of red and gold.
Designer tip. “Mount draperies much higher than the windows to accentuate and add height to the bedroom,” Pacca says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “Incorporating the existing outlets into the wall-to-wall upholstered headboard was a challenge,” Pacca says. “These had to thoughtfully be moved ever so slightly as to be perfectly positioned behind the nightstands, and the wall needed to be templated prior to fabrication.”
Nightstands: Kendrick, Ambella Home Collection; custom headboard: Iri Upholstery; wallpaper: Scalamandre; chairs: Bernhardt Furniture
More on Houzz
Read more stories about bedroom design
Browse bedroom photos
Find a pro near you
Shop for bedroom products
Designer: Shoshanna Shapiro of Sho & Co.
Location: Darnestown, Maryland
Size: 380 square feet (35 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Light and bright with calming colors layered in,” designer Shoshanna Shapiro says. “They had not purchased new bedroom furnishings in quite some time and their heavy mahogany matching furniture set was making the space feel dark and dated. They wanted a new, modern feel to the room with layers of texture to provide warmth and comfort.”
Seating setup. “The couple wanted separate seats and not a bench or sofa,” Shapiro says. “The soft caramel-colored velvet just invites you to sit and relax. The chairs provide them each a place to sit, read or watch TV in a relaxed setting when they are not wanting to lay in bed. The chairs also fill the long room nicely and help balance the space.”
Other special features. Light ash wood bed with performance linen. “The roomy nightstands allow for ample storage and the layered window treatments provide complete light control, but the chairs are the star of the space,” Shapiro says. “And we kept the wall-to-wall carpeting and layered a colorful rug for more interest and to break up the extensive feel of the wall-to-wall carpeting.”
Designer tip. “Break up a large amount of empty space and utilize it in a way that provides another element of functionality,” Shapiro says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The most challenging part of this project was the decision to invest in high-quality window treatments,” Shapiro says. “The homeowner had not purchased window treatments in some time and was a bit thrown by the high investment. They trusted me and moved forward and they are so happy they did. The treatments are absolutely beautiful and the functionality they provide makes them very happy they decided to move forward with the investment.”
Nightstands: Bradley, Essentials for Living; bed: The Thompson Bed, Maiden Home; rug: Loloi Rugs; window treatments: Rebecca Munster Designs; wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
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