13 Period Bedrooms With A Contemporary Twist

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

The perfect blend of traditional character and on-trend design.

From bedroom fireplaces to dado rails, traditional features and intricate craftsmanship make period homes (especially bedrooms) feel full of character. However, ever-changing interior trends can mask their charm and often make your home feel dated. So, what's the solution?

Clever interior choices will ensure your period bedroom feels fresh and up-to-date, without sacrificing the architectural and stylistic details that make it unique. From highlighting period-specific features to using classic colour palettes, there are plenty of ways to elevate your bedroom.

Keep reading to discover 13 inspiring period bedroom ideas to make the most of your space, as well as how to get the look.

Lean into the grandeur of Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian townhouses by opting for a bed that is sumptuous in design. Rich, tactile materials such as velvet offers the perfect way to add a luxurious touch, especially in jewel tones. Pair your bed with inviting bedding and plump pillows.

Pictured: Colton Velvet Bed, Marks and Spencer

Don't be afraid to get creative when painting your bedroom. Tastefully modernise a period bedroom by using colour to create definition and contrast. Highlight wardrobes, skirting boards, coving and the like with a harmonious colour scheme. The ochre painted wardrobe against the dusky pink walls and the olive green chair is a delightful combination.

Pictured: Wall Paint in Piranesi Pink, Annie Sloan

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

This rustic bench is handcrafted from reclaimed boat wood, ensuring each piece is unique and with slight variations in size, shape, and colour.

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

With curves and elegance in abundance, and gold chain detailing, this chandelier features two scalloped tiers hung with white crystal glass swags. Illuminating from within, it'll create an ultra-glamorous look in a period bedroom.

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

This elegant glass vase is a classic design, making it a perfect fit in period homes. We love the elongated silhouette and subtle green tint.

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

We love this pretty wallpaper. It features a beautifully traditional, handwoven rustic floral design with a contemporary twist. It's perfect for adding some interest to your walls.

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

Taken from French designs of the mid 1900s, this aged brass wall light offers a stylish way to illuminate the area around your bed.

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

Handwoven from local Bangladeshi seagrass, known as Hogla, this sturdy storage basket has a richly textured finish. Place beside your bed for easy reach of throws and blankets.

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

Made from 100 per cent washed linen, this cushion is as soft as a cloud and as charming as can be. With its playful ruffled design and soft blush finish, it adds a charming touch to any bedroom.

The best ottoman beds for extra bedroom storage

13 best kids' beds for sweet dreams

10 ways to style your bed like a pro

New in: HB velvet and boucle beds

15 best headboards for bedroom bliss

17 stylish dressing tables to suit every interior

10 best day beds to shop right now

15 best freestanding wardrobes to shop right now

21 bedroom storage ideas to maximise space

17 chest of drawers to suit every style

8 beautiful colour ideas for a bedroom

11 Scandi bedroom ideas to try