Our Favorite Real-Life Bedrooms

Like an artist's canvas waiting to be painted, the white walls in this bedroom extended an invitation to play with color. Pale green-and-lavender bed linens and orange geometric accent pillows answer the call. Metallic footstools and a seashell chandelier add formal touches that are balanced by textural bamboo blinds.

Why We Love It: A mix of natural textures -- glass, metal, wood, and shell -- imbues this bedroom with a soothing, organic quality.

Crisp white walls and trim and hotel-chic bedding serve as striking counterpoints to this bedroom's chocolate-brown wall. A geometric pattern ties the two main colors together, while yellow photo mats and throw pillows introduce a playful splash of color. Two X benches round out the foot of the bed, adding a modern punctuation point and portable seating to the room.

Why We Love It: Painting a single wall a dark color creates the illusion of depth in this small bedroom, and it provides a drama-worthy backdrop for the pattern-rich headboard.

Hung in grid fashion above a low-profile headboard, framed black-and-white photography prints put a modern spin on this bedroom. A trio of accent pillows and a subtle geometric design on the white quilt echo the mood.

Why We Love It: Painted a creamy shade of white, salvaged pine boards introduce instant age to this bedroom, providing a comforting juxtaposition to the modern bedding and artwork.

Framed by two long mirrors, unique lamps, and contemporary side tables, this modern bedroom gains a formal air from its disciplined symmetry.

Why We Love It: The vast window is dressed in reversible blinds that can close from the top down or the bottom up. This allows light into the room while maintaining privacy.

A white four-poster reaches for the stars in this bedroom, bringing the lofty ceiling height down to comfortable proportions. Although the bed frame is simple in style, it pops against a detailed Art Deco-inspired wallpaper pattern. Underfoot, a zebra-print rug adds modern zing. Silk curtains add sophisticated shimmer at the windows.

Why We Love It: Soft, smoky, and sophisticated, gray is fast becoming the neutral of choice for top designers. It's not hard to see why in this bedroom -- gray works as a beautiful vehicle for delivering dramatic patterns in subtle fashion, and it plays well with other hues.

Recalling the crest of a wave, the shapely headboard in this bedroom helps linens in dusty blue and beige to soar. A sea motif carried out in some of the accent pillows gives life to the subtle sun and surf theme.

Why We Love It: Colors softened with gray are easy to live with. The muted hues used in this bedroom mix well together, setting a calm mood that makes you want to linger.

Keeping with the character of a warehouse-turned-condo, this bedroom is simple and sophisticated. A modern four-poster becomes architecture, while tactile bedding and contemporary artwork take the hard edge off.

Why We Love It: The worn patina of the brick walls and wood floors tells of the building's history while contrasting beautifully with the contemporary furnishings.

Walls in white beaded board and navy wallpaper present a stunning backdrop for a handsome bedroom inspired by the beach. Shell accessories and simple artwork above the bed reinforce the theme, as does the natural, sand-color rug underfoot.

Why We Love It: Decorating around a theme can be a dangerous exercise; it's easy to go too far. This room achieves a coastal feel with a well-chosen palette and restrained accessories -- and without a lighthouse lamp in sight!

Small windows in this bedroom are cleverly disguised with floor-length draperies. The white panels accentuate the crown molding while blending with the window trim, so the eye sweeps from ceiling to floor without stopping. A four-poster helps the eye to travel upward.

Why We Love It: A mix of warm and cool colors produces eye-pleasing yin-and-yang results in this bedroom -- and just enough drama to stand up to the grand ceiling.

Perfect design lives where comfort intersects with style. This sumptuous bed is dressed with layer upon layer of beautiful bedding, each softer and loftier than the last. It's hard to imagine tossing and turning in this luxurious retreat.

Why We Love It: The bed offers an assortment of indulgent textures: the nubby linen of the headboard, the smooth silk of embroidered pillows, the dimpled matelasse of the duvet cover, and the bristly hand of the mohair love seat. Pattern and color are always important in decorating, but interesting textures can make a good room great.

Architectural relics, such as this dramatic old bar mirror, make great impromptu headboards. The oversize scale of the piece works in this master bedroom because the mirror reflects so much light, giving the appearance of spaciousness. White matelasse linens add interesting texture while allowing the mirror to shine.

Why We Love It: Displaying architectural salvage is a great way to go green while making a unique style statement. Plus, nothing puts a room at ease faster than a gentle patina.

This multilevel master bedroom is stately and refined. The light gray walls beautifully complement the yellow floral textiles, and the towering windows add plenty of light and drama.

Why We Love It: With its multilevel floor of deeply colored wood, this master suite has a flair for the dramatic.

A single landscape painting elegantly bridges the gap between a pair of twin beds in this guest room. Swing-arm lamps attached to the wall above the headboards provide functional, individualized reading light for each bed while freeing up the bedside table for nighttime essentials and decorative accents.

Why We Love It: There's nothing kidlike about a purple color scheme threaded with hints of gold. It just goes to show the power of a little razzle-dazzle.

The geometry and proportion of this bedroom's furnishings spring straight from Asian design, but the rustic wood surfaces and faux-suede bed give off a cool cowboy vibe.

Why We Love It: The most inspired spaces usually meld multiple style sources. Whatever its pedigree, this bedroom works because of perfectly scaled symmetry and organic textures. Even with white walls, the coppery palette of the draperies and bedding lends comfort and warmth.

With an upholstered headboard and side rails, there's no need to fuss with a bed skirt. The streamlined look provides the perfect foundation for a mix of textured linens in this bedroom. A long and lean piece of neat art echoes the straight lines of the bed.

Why We Love It: As private sanctuaries, bedrooms are terrific places to let loose with color. This duvet's playful pattern and bold turquoise hue feel as fresh as a summer breeze.

Thanks to a carved white bed frame, fluffy white linens, a flowing white headdress, and shades cinched with flirty bows, lying down in this bedroom is like snuggling into a cloud. Left to sparkle in the sun, bare floorboards reinforce the floating effect

What We Love: Turning this bed on an angle, rather than pushing it against a wall allows natural light from both sets of windows to flood the space.

The monochromatic window treatments, headboard, and walls offer a serene backdrop to the simple white linens and accessories in this restful retreat.

Why We Love It: Monochromatic color schemes are unified and soothing, a perfect choice for bedrooms. The only pattern is found on subtly striped pillows that are showcased against white bedding.

Vapor-blue walls create a soothing atmosphere in this discreetly feminine master suite. Eclectic furnishings, both vintage and modern, transform the room into a personal haven.

Why We Love It: The dark floors are mirrored by an unexpected and impressive wood ceiling that makes the room more intimate while increasing the chandelier's wow factor.

A plush tufted headboard, lavender walls, and a dainty chandelier give this room a girly vibe. A nearly random mix of patterns and styles comes together with bohemian charm.

Why We Love It: The unexpected color scheme is surprisingly stylish and chic, infusing the room with a spirit of individuality.

When the shell of a room offers this much drama, furnishings can take a supporting role. This simple bed is beautifully sheltered within a soaring dormer, while well-chosen lamps and accessories stretch into the vertical space.

Why We Love It: The simplicity of the wall color, bedding, and accessories allows for the architecture of the room to shine.

An unlikely duo, red and pink mingle in the accent pillows in this bedroom, and a blue trellis-pattern wallpaper makes an interesting backdrop for the pink-striped headboard.

Why We Love It: Mixing red, white, blue, and pink? Sometimes the reward is worth the risk! Take a chance with color and you might just create a unique space you'll love.

With a generously proportioned sleigh bed and high bombe chests, this bedroom becomes a well-appointed gentleman's retreat. A classic rug and vintage photographs add to the masculine appeal. But lush linens and fresh flowers make the room attractive to everyone.

Why We Love It: With just a couple well-chosen pieces of large furniture, this small room makes a big style statement.

Cool blue and lavender are natural color choices for a restful bedroom, but by themselves pastels can turn downright chilly. Plenty of brown and white accents keep this room snugly warm.

Why We Love It:Traditional furniture is classic and familiar but it can be stodgy without a nod toward modern style. This bedding is definitely trendy, but its brown color and geometric patterns relate to the bed's paneled headboard.

With mix-and-match (well, mostly mix) flea market treasures, this room exudes a level of sophistication well beyond its pedigree. Simple walls showcase the worn finishes of the vintage furniture and make each item stand out as special.

Why We Love It: Forget shabby, this is flea market style pulled off with sophistication and restraint.

Sophisticated furniture and a neutral palette give this room an undertone of opulence, while the angled bed and large-scale accents add a bit of drama.

Why We Love It: The mix-and-match approach to furnishings and accessories creates a timeless room with a few pleasant surprises.

The large poster bed is the attention-grabber in this pale master suite. The easiest way to create drama in a smaller room is to choose one beautiful overscale piece of furniture and let it take charge.

Why We Love It: A nearly neutral palette reinforces the bed's dominance and creates a tranquil mood. The intriguing wall color (a grayish taupe with a lavender twinge) is very sophisticated, especially with the counterpoint provided by the russet blanket.