Boudoir by Bri
How to Make Your Bedroom Sexy:
9 Tips From a Boudoir Photographer
st. Louis boudoir photographer
Disclaimer before we get started: This is a judgment-free zone. I promise!
As a boudoir photographer, I spend a lot of time talking with clients about locations for their sessions. Sometimes it’s their bedroom, a hotel or Airbnb, or sometimes a completely different location. (Most of my boudoir shoots actually take place at my home studio near downtown St. Louis, but, once in a while, a client wants her session to feel extra personal!)
Something I see a lot is a client being intrigued by the idea of doing her boudoir session in her own bedroom, but she tells me it’s just not possible because her bedroom is always messy or doesn’t look “nice enough.” So, I thought I’d make this month’s blog all about how to make your bedroom a little more romantic, inviting, and sexy.
But before anyone feels personally attacked: this is not that serious! I know bedrooms can go through phases of life just like the people sleeping in them. You might have a newborn baby and you’re operating on three hours of sleep. Your bedroom might be the place where your entire household’s laundry goes to die. You might not have much closet space, so you’re forced to fit a lot into your room. I get it!
Please take these suggestions as inspiration, not criticism.
1. Start With the Clutter. Clean is sexy.
Let's start with the least exciting advice: clean your bedroom. Your room will benefit tremendously from being clean and uncluttered. You’re bedroom is not going to feel like a retreat if it’s surrounded by piles of clothes, shopping bags, random packages, scattered shoes, things you meant to donate six months ago, paperwork, water cups, cords, etc. You don’t need a perfectly styled bedroom, but everything you own should have a home.
2. Stop Using Your Bedroom as a Catch-All Space.
This goes hand-in-hand with clutter, but I think it's worth mentioning separately because it can be a really hard habit to break. Your bedroom should feel like a place you actually want to spend time in, not a storage unit for the whole household. I know it’s tempting, especially because your bedroom probably isn’t seen by guests, but fight the urge! It might be time to create a “drop zone” by your front door, or reconsider how effectively you’re utilizing closet space throughout the entire house.
3. Don't Rely Solely on Overhead Lighting!
This might be one of my biggest bedroom recommendations! Do not underestimate the power of great lighting! Layer your lighting throughout the entire room. The rule of thumb is to have three different light sources, each at a different height. So, get some cute table lamps for your nightstands, add a floor lamp if you have the space, and consider some wall sconces (I have battery-powered lightbulbs in my bedroom sconces—no rewiring needed!). Lighting different areas around the room creates depth and makes things feel cozier. And make sure you’re opting for warm lighting so your bedroom doesn’t feel like a doctor’s office!
As a boudoir photographer, I'm obviously particularly fond of beautiful window light, but even if your bedroom doesn't have a gigantic, gorgeous window, you can absolutely still create an inviting atmosphere!
4. Add Layers and Texture, Pretty Please.
Texture is your friend! I would love for you to have a bedroom where you walk in and think, I want to get in that bed. If you want to feel luxurious, think beyond sheets and a comforter. Layer your bedding with a duvet, quilt, throw blanket, and pillows with different fabrics and textures. Don’t be afraid to mix colors and patterns, either! Mixing cotton, velvet, woven fabrics, flannel, etc. adds so much visual interest. Do the exact same thing throughout the room with curtains, rugs, pillows, upholstered furniture, and decorative accents. Mix, mix, mix!
5. Add a Real Area Rug. Yes, Even If You Have Carpet.
I love a good area rug in a bedroom, even if your bedroom is already carpeted. A large area rug really helps to define the bed as the focal point, and it adds to that texture and visual interest I was just harping on about in point four. But having no rug is better than having a rug that’s too small. A large rug that extends beyond the sides and foot of the bed is the goal!
6. Upgrade Your Curtains!
Your windows can make a hugeeee difference in how your bedroom feels. Upgrade your curtains to something with substance and visual impact. If everything in your bedroom is a solid color, get some curtains with a beautiful pattern. Make sure they reach the floor, and make sure they are hanging higher and wider than the actual window. That’ll make the windows look larger and your ceilings feel taller!
7. Ditch the Basic Rental Blinds.
Speaking of windows, if you’re still looking at those standard white vinyl blinds that came with your house or apartment, consider whether they’re actually contributing anything positive to the atmosphere. If you’re able to replace them, look into some beautiful roman shades (or woven shades). Your windows are part of the room’s design, too!
8. Update the Old Photos Without Getting Rid of the Memories.
Here's another thing I notice fairly often when I'm shooting in a client’s bedroom: they often have old photos on display from very early in the relationship. And I love that! Keep that picture! But all too often, that photo is sitting in a frame from 2008. So, instead of feeling romantic and nostalgic, the photo just looks dated. You don’t have to get rid of the sentimental photos, but consider updating the frame!
9. Make the Bedroom About the Two of You!
Okay, we might be getting controversial again. Consider removing family photos and pictures of your children from the bedroom. If you want your bedroom to feel romantic and intimate, it’d really help to keep all of the focus on your relationship. You and your partner need a space that belongs specifically to you, like a little sanctuary honoring your intimacy.
If removing those family photos feels wrong to you, keep them! I am not the bedroom police.
Thank You For Reading!
I hope we can still be friends after this blog. Publicly offering advice on such a deeply personal thing is scary! If you do make some of these changes and want to brag about it, send me photos!!! I love talking about interior design!
And if you clicked on this blog because upping or refreshing your intimacy level is something on your mind, a boudoir photography session might be just the thing. See all of my packages right here, and always feel welcome reaching out with questions!
Xoxo, Bri