H&G It Yourself: Dreamy bedroom make-overs for every budget

Everyone wants the same thing from their bedroom: a place to relax and recharge – but how you get there is far from a one-size-fits-all solution

By Piet Smedy | October 10, 2026 | Category interiors/bedroom

Just in time for winter, we unpack the biggest bedroom trends for every style.

Soft landing

Maximalism in the bedroom Might seem counter-intuitive, but this look leans into the spirit of collecting rather than clutter. build a More-is-More interior through selective layering – art, colour, pattern (even plants) – that remains personal and playful. here, in stylist Wim van Zyl’s eclectic bedroom in Cape Town, many of the pieces have been gathered over years and styled to dramatic effect.

Blue Crush

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Equal parts serene, optimistic and transporting, shades of blue (particularly on the lighter, airier side of the spectrum) have been major on every colour expert’s radar this year – from Pantone’s ‘Very Peri’ to Dulux’s ‘Bright skies. In this Steyn City penthouse, designer Stephen Falcke balances soft, powdery eau de nil with touches of white, plush upholstery and graphic patterning to strike a balance between modern glamour and timeless elegance.

Running low

French oak and Western red cedar were used throughout the Cape Town home of architect Jan-Heyn Vorster, which he shares with his partner, as seen here in the guest bedroom where the timber headboard echoes the serene interior palette

In this Clifton apartment, interior architect and studio BHD founder Bryce Henderson used a fluted timber headboard to echo the pleats of the curtaining behind the bed

A velvet green headboard Makes for a high-comfort contrast in the otherwise pared-back bedroom by designer Crystal Sinclair

When it comes to headboards, homemakers are faced with one of two options: go big or go low (sure, there is the third in-between size but that is boring). While there is certainly much to be said for taking the oversized route – the sheer architectural drama of it, the opportunity for print and pattern – there is something more intriguing, perhaps even sultry, about a low-slung headboard. Sticking to the Scandi brand of minimalist, timber centric pieces work, of course, but why not opt for a rounded, upholstered piece that introduces organic shape and stacks up the tactile factor?

All fun and games

Dusty pinks and army greens in this Banda property designed nursery and play den make for a playful yet stylish space

Busy doesn’t have to mean cluttered; in this room toys are neatly displayed on open shelves and stored close at hand

Osborne & little floral wallpaper in the vibrant, crystal Sinclair-designed nursery of actress Betsy Wolfe

Despite their carefree outward appearance, children’s rooms are a study in practicality with hardworking design doing double time as both functional and fun. storage is your ally in the fight against a clutter of books and toys, so make sure there is plenty of shelving, cupboard space and general pack-away places. decorating should ramp up the texture – think high comfort cushions and rugs – as well as being playfully patterned and colourful – wallpaper is an easy solution while bunting adds whimsy. The pièce de resistance: a pitched linen canopy; it makes for a charming reading nook or quiet spot to nap between play times.

Post mates

Image: Supplied

Though there is an undeniable aura of romance that a four-poster bed brings, the real, practical benefit to having one is the cocooning space it creates within your bedroom – especially if you have a larger room (one with a seating area, perhaps, like here in this Salome Gunter designed space, or an open-plan studio) – that adds another dimension of privacy.

Credits

Images: Supplied