Alright, confession time—I’ve spent way too many hours scrolling through Serena and Lily’s website like it’s my job. Something about their bedrooms just hits different. They manage to look expensive and relaxed at the same time, which honestly feels like witchcraft.
If you’re here, you’re probably tired of your bedroom looking like a college dorm room or a furniture showroom with zero personality. Been there. The good news? Serena and Lily’s aesthetic is totally achievable without selling a kidney.
So let’s get into it. Here are 20 bedroom ideas that’ll make you want to screenshot everything and start shopping immediately (you’ve been warned).
The Organic Modern Headboard
Let’s start with the focal point—your headboard. Because let’s face it, a bed without a headboard is just a mattress with commitment issues.
Serena and Lily’s use of natural headboards is fantastic. We’re talking about carved wood that appears to have come from a Balinese resort, chunky rattan, and woven seagrass. The bed made of driftwood? A kiss from the chef. Without making a lot of effort, these headboards add warmth and texture.
The best part? They work with literally any bedding situation. All white? Perfect. Patterned? Still works. Chaotic mix because you haven’t done laundry? Somehow still looks intentional.
Layered Linen Bedding Goals
Here’s something nobody tells you about designer bedrooms—the bedding is doing most of the heavy lifting.
Serena and Lily’s signature move is layering different textures of linen in complementary neutrals. Start with crisp white sheets (non-negotiable), add a lightweight linen blanket in cream or sand, then top it with a textured quilt or coverlet. Throw in some Euro shams and a few decorative pillows, and suddenly your bed looks like it belongs in a magazine.
Pro tip: Don’t match everything perfectly. Slightly different shades of white and cream create depth. Matchy-matchy is for high school dance dates, not bedrooms.
The Coastal Color Palette Done Right
Can we talk about color for a second? Serena and Lily proves you don’t need a rainbow to make a statement.
They stick to natural wood tones, soft blues, whites, and creams in their bedrooms. They occasionally add dusty coral or sage green, but it’s always subtle. The outcome? rooms that are pricey, unified, and serene.
Here’s the formula:
- Base: White or cream walls
- Accent: Soft blue in textiles
- Warmth: Natural wood furniture
- Pop: Maybe some greenery or a muted coral throw
Copy this formula and you’re 90% there. I’m not even kidding.
Rattan Pendant Lights That Steal the Show
Lighting can make or break a bedroom, and Serena and Lily knows this.
Swap your boring builder-grade ceiling fixture for a rattan pendant or chandelier. These lights create instant ambiance and add that organic, beachy vibe without being too literal about it. Hang them low over your nightstands or flanking the bed for maximum impact.
The shadows they cast at night? Pure magic. It’s like having a permanent golden hour in your bedroom 🙂
Texture on Texture on Texture
If your bedroom feels flat, you’re probably missing texture. This is where Serena and Lily really flexes.
Mix different materials aggressively: nubby linen, smooth cotton, chunky knit throws, woven jute rugs, carved wood, polished ceramic, matte brass hardware. Every surface should have a different texture story to tell.
IMO, this is what separates “nice bedroom” from “wow, can I move in?” The eye needs variety, and texture delivers without adding visual clutter.
The Upholstered Bed Frame
Sometimes you just need to go full luxury. Enter the upholstered bed.
Serena and Lily does upholstered beds in natural linen or performance fabrics that look elegant but can handle real life. These beds feel like sleeping in a cloud, provide a comfortable backrest for reading, and instantly elevate your room’s sophistication level.
Choose neutral tones so your bedding can do the talking. The bed frame should be the supporting actor, not the diva stealing every scene.
Strategic Rug Placement
Ever wondered why some bedrooms just feel more put-together? It’s probably the rug.
Put a softer vintage-style rug on top of a jute or sisal rug. The “I want texture but also want to feel something soft on my feet” conundrum is resolved and dimension is created. Serena and Lily adore this multilayered style, and to be honest, it works flawlessly.
Make sure your rug extends at least two feet beyond each side of your bed. Too-small rugs make everything look cheap, no matter how expensive they actually were.
Whitewashed Wood Furniture
Dark, heavy furniture is having a moment… in someone else’s bedroom. Not here.
Serena and Lily champions light, whitewashed, or natural wood pieces that keep spaces feeling airy. A whitewashed dresser, weathered wood nightstands, or a light oak bench—these pieces add warmth without weight.
This furniture style also ages beautifully. Little dings and scratches? That’s just character building, baby.
The Art of the Gallery Wall
Blank walls above your bed are a missed opportunity for personality.
Create a gallery wall with a mix of framed prints, mirrors, and maybe some woven art pieces. Serena and Lily keeps gallery walls casual—no perfect symmetry needed. Mix frame styles but stick to a cohesive color palette (whites, natural wood, brass).
When standing, hang everything at eye level, and don’t be scared to lean some pieces rather than hang them all. Sometimes it looks better to say “I might rearrange this later” than “I measured with a laser level.”
Sheer Curtains for Days
Heavy drapes? We don’t know her.
Floor-to-ceiling sheer linen curtains in white or cream are the Serena and Lily signature. They diffuse light beautifully, make your ceilings look taller, and add softness without blocking views. Mount your curtain rod as close to the ceiling as possible and let those panels pool slightly on the floor.
This one change—I swear—will transform your entire room. It’s the easiest impact-to-effort ratio you’ll find.
Built-In Storage That Doesn’t Look Built-In
If you’ve got space, built-in shelving painted the same color as your walls creates seamless storage that feels architectural.
Style these shelves with books, baskets, and carefully curated décor. Serena and Lily keeps it light—no clutter, just beautiful objects earning their spot. Think ceramic vases, stacks of linen-bound books, and small potted plants.
The key is negative space. Empty shelf space isn’t wasted space; it’s breathing room.
The Casual Canopy Situation
Canopy beds used to scream “fancy hotel” or “medieval castle.” Not anymore.
Modern canopies—especially those simple four-poster designs in natural wood or white—add architectural interest without the drama. You can leave them bare for a minimalist look or add sheer fabric panels for something romantic.
FYI, a canopy also makes your ceiling height matter less. Even in rooms with standard 8-foot ceilings, the vertical lines create the illusion of more space.
Window Seat Dreaming
Got a window? Turn it into a moment.
A built-in window seat with cushions and throw pillows transforms dead space into your new favorite reading spot. Serena and Lily nails this with simple upholstered benches topped with striped or solid cushions and a pile of pillows.
Functional beauty is achieved by adding some storage underneath for extra blankets or off-season clothing. It looks fantastic even if you never sit there.
Bedside Table Styling 101
Your nightstands deserve better than a lamp and your phone charger graveyard.
Here’s the Serena and Lily nightstand formula:
- One beautiful lamp with a linen shade
- A small plant or fresh flowers
- A pretty tray or dish for jewelry
- One or two books (that you’re actually reading)
That’s it. Don’t overcomplicate it. Less really is more when you’re staring at it from your pillow every night.
Weathered Wood Beams
If you really want to commit to the coastal luxe vibe, exposed beams change everything.
Whitewashed or natural wood beams add architectural interest and that “expensive beach house” feeling. Even faux beams work if real ones aren’t in your budget or structural cards.
This is definitely a bigger project, but the impact is undeniable. Your bedroom will never look basic again.
| Element | Material | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Beams | Whitewashed wood | Coastal elegance |
| Walls | Soft white | Clean base |
| Furniture | Natural wood | Warmth |
| Textiles | Organic linen | Relaxed luxury |
The Monochromatic Magic Trick
Sometimes the boldest choice is keeping everything in the same color family.
An all-white or all-cream bedroom with varying textures is peak Serena and Lily. Different shades and materials create depth without visual chaos. White walls, cream bedding, ivory curtains, natural jute rug—it all works together like a symphony.
This approach also makes small bedrooms feel bigger and chaotic lives feel calmer. Win-win :/
Brass and Gold Accents
Hardware matters more than you think.
Swap your basic silver drawer pulls for brass or gold ones. Add brass picture frames, a gold-rimmed mirror, or vintage brass sconces. These warm metallic touches add subtle luxury without screaming “I’m trying too hard.”
These accents are used sparingly by Serena and Lily, just enough to catch the light and improve the overall atmosphere. Consider adding jewelry to your space.
The Power of Plants
Every Serena and Lily bedroom has greenery. Every. Single. One.
Add plants at different heights—a fiddle leaf fig in the corner, a potted fern on your dresser, succulents on your nightstand. They add life (literally), improve air quality, and connect your indoor space to nature.
Not able to sustain plants? There are now realistic faux options that don’t resemble depressing plastic. Everybody has strengths, so don’t pass judgment.
Oversized Mirrors
Mirrors aren’t just functional—they’re design powerhouses.
Lean a huge mirror against the wall opposite your window to bounce light around. Or hang a collection of different-sized mirrors in varying frames for an eclectic gallery wall effect. Serena and Lily loves mirrors in natural wood frames or rattan that tie back to other organic elements in the room.
The bigger, the better. Go bold or go home.
Minimalist Nightstand Lamps
Your bedside lighting shouldn’t look like it’s trying to light a football stadium.
Serena and Lily uses simple ceramic or natural linen-based lamps with warm-toned bulbs. Nothing too trendy or statement-making—just clean, beautiful lamps that do their job without demanding attention.
The shade should be linen or a natural fabric that diffuses light softly. You want ambiance, not interrogation room vibes.
The Final Touch: Perfectly Imperfect Styling
Here’s the secret sauce—Serena and Lily bedrooms look effortlessly beautiful because they’re styled to look unstudied.
That throw blanket? It’s artfully tossed, not perfectly folded. Those pillows? Casually arranged, not military-precision stacked. The goal is “I woke up like this” energy, not “I spent three hours staging this.”
This takes practice, honestly. Sometimes you need to mess things up a little to make them look natural. Fluff those pillows wrong on purpose. Let that throw drape unevenly. Perfection is boring anyway.
Making It Your Own
Look, you don’t need to replicate a Serena and Lily catalog to nail this aesthetic. The point is understanding their design principles—natural materials, neutral palettes, layered textures, and that breezy coastal vibe.
Start with one idea that speaks to you. Maybe it’s finally hanging those sheer curtains or swapping your nightstand styling. Small intentional changes create big impacts over time.
Your bedroom should feel like your personal retreat, not a showroom floor. So take these ideas, adapt them to your space and budget, and create something that makes you actually excited to be in your bedroom.
And what if, in the process, you produce something beautiful? Put a pin on it. Distribute it. Motivate someone else. Finding beauty, sharing it, and creating a homey atmosphere are the main goals of this entire design process.
Now stop reading and start creating. Your dream bedroom isn’t going to design itself. (But maybe browse Pinterest for another five minutes first. I get it.)