Interiors Trend Watch: Monastic Bedrooms

Monastic interiors sound quite stark… How do you make the look feel warm and inviting in a bedroom?

Bedrooms are obviously one of the most personal parts of a client’s brief, and the design can really affect how people sleep and function in their most private space. I think being a monk is about being able to retreat from worldly considerations and focus on what is core to yourself. I like to think of a bedroom as the inner core of a house, so if the materials are very pared back, I go for warmth and texture to evoke a cosy feeling – even when the room isn’t busy with objects and furniture, and has a very restrained colour or material palette. 

What are the easiest ways to introduce a monastic feel without doing a full redesign?

Reduce the quantity of objects to start, but with less objects you need to shift your thinking to focus on the quality of the space. A more dramatic approach to lighting evokes a certain drama. Creating a sensory experience is the goal, where you can focus on rest and eliminate distractions.

What’s the key for getting this look right?

It's all about putting your own spin on it – to make your environment fit how you want to live – and committing to it. I think it’s about paring back to the essential parts of what you’re about.