Never Get Rid of These 15 Bedroom Essentials

Cozy bedroom interior with knitted blanket and cushions, candles, and other warm and inviting decor.

Your bedroom is often regarded as a blank canvas as far as furniture and accessories are concerned. Obviously, you will need a bed in place, but many feel they can organize according to their own tastes.

That method is fine, up to a point, but there are certain essentials that every bedroom should have. If you move into a new room without these items, you’ll likely be adding them in a short space of time. If you’re in the mood to redecorate, these things are essential.

Each of these items is central to either the look or the purpose of a bedroom, but they are all considered essential by experts, and should never be thrown away.

Curtains

Sheer curtains in a neutral colored living room
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Not only do curtains block out light, but they can also absorb noise up to a certain level. Both options are important so never get rid of these items unless you want a disturbed sleep. Thick curtains can also maintain warmth during the colder months.

If you’re the type of person who needs the room to be completely dark at night, blackout curtains are your best buy. Unlike certain other essential items, curtains can also be decorative as well as functional.

Mattress

Woman using vacuum cleaner to vacuum mattress in a bedroom.
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A mattress forms part of your bed, but it’s worth listing it as a separate entry. It is the crucial element to a good night’s sleep, and it’s vital to purchase one that suits your individual needs.

A soft mattress may seem more comfortable, but the lack of support can be an issue if you suffer from back or joint pain. Your choice of mattress can also depend on whether you sleep on your side, your back, or on your stomach. Do some research and speak to an honest retailer before making this essential purchase.

Headboard

Front-side view of a cream color bedroom set, with focus on the headboard and side table lighting.
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Your bed is in place, with a comfortable mattress that suits your individual needs. The next step is one that many neglect. Some consumers feel that a headboard isn’t an essential item, but when you consider the benefits it provides, you’d be right to disagree.

If you read in bed, or like to sit up while taking your morning coffee, the headboard offers comfort and support. They also stop pillows from disappearing while you sleep, and that small act keeps you from being disturbed.

Calming Houseplants

Different tropical houseplants like Philodendron or Chinese Evergreen in basket flower pots on wooden tables.
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There are houseplants that can help you sleep while providing some natural beauty along the way. Many will absorb harmful toxins during the night while releasing oxygen. They literally purify the air in your space, while others, such as lavender, have a calming scent.

You want to make your bedroom as restful as possible, and plants that help you sleep have that dual purpose that makes them an essential inclusion.

Mirrors

Bright and spacious bedroom with a white wall, an eco-wooden mirror and flower pots. Cozy bright rustic style bedroom, boho style bedroom.
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A mirror is another item of furniture that can carry a dual purpose. It’s always useful to check your appearance before you leave the house, even if you don’t particularly want to look at yourself when you first wake up in the morning.

Mirrors also help to make a room look bigger, but they can also create a cozy space. It all depends on where they are placed in your bedroom.

Lighting

Minimal, modern warm-tone bedroom lighting against a 3-dimensional textured wall behind a headboard.
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It’s important to consider the overall lighting in your bedroom. Many of us like to read for an hour or so before we go to sleep and that’s fine. In these cases, a dimmable bedside lamp is your best friend.

Too much lighting can leave you overstimulated and sleep will be harder to achieve. For this reason, lamps are better than your main overhead light, and it’s best to read a physical book rather than scroll through your phone.

Electrical Sockets

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Once you have sockets in place, you’re unlikely to remove them. This round-up is about essentials you shouldn’t get rid of, but we just want to emphasize their importance.

Electrical points are a must for the lighting you have installed, and you ideally want a double socket on either side of the bed. An additional electrical point, in another part of the room, is a good idea if you want to charge your phone at night. Keeping its socket away from the bed helps to avoid temptation and night scrolling.

Photos and Paintings

Cozy bohemian-style bedroom complete with tapestries, a variety of textiles, books, hanging art work, wooden furniture and pillows.
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OK, so these aren’t essential items and there is no functionality attached to bedroom wall art. You will, however, want to cheer up the look of your room, and it would look pretty drab without them.

Family photos are better in places where you entertain guests, and there are better options for the bedroom. Anything calming such as a painting of the sea, botanical prints, or photos of beauty spots could be a great choice.

Dresser

Close up shot of open drawers with neatly folded women's clothes inside.
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Aside from your bed and mattress, the dresser may be the most important item of bedroom furniture. That’s why you should take extra care when choosing the right piece.

Many make the mistake of buying style above functionality. Of course, your dresser should be pleasing to the eye, but you also need plenty of space for all your items of clothing. Take your time, and consider a number of different dressers before making this essential purchase.

Laundry Basket

Wicker basket with dirty laundry on floor in front of washing machine.
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If you don’t have a laundry basket the instant you move into your bedroom, you’ll soon regret it. There’s nothing to spoil the look of any room more than a bunch of worn clothes that are heading for the wash.

A pile of laundry on top of any surface won’t cut it, as it will still ruin the appearance. Keep it out of sight but be sure to remember to wash, dry, and iron regularly. Don’t let out of sight be out of mind.

Nightstands

Bed with beautiful silky linens in stylish room interior. A white nightstand with plant and basket sit beside the bed in front of similarly-styled floating shelves. Natural light peers through the blinds in the window beside the shelves.
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If you fail to place one of these in your bedroom, you’ll quickly realize it’s one of the most essential items of all. A nightstand is extremely useful for lamps, alarm clocks, and others that we’ve mentioned on this list. Your morning coffee also needs a place to rest.

Once you’ve got into bed, you don’t want to have to get out unnecessarily, and that’s the point of a nightstand. Switch off your light, set your alarm, and drift off into peaceful sleep.

Armchair

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A bedroom sounds like an odd place for an armchair, but it can take on different roles. If you want to read during the day, a bedroom makes for a useful sanctuary when you need it. You could also use a chair to store soft toys in a child’s bedroom to keep the space tidy.

Choose an armchair that matches the decor of the room, and you have another attractive and functional item.

Additional Storage

A wooden platform bed with drawers open on the side, showing pillows within the drawers.
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The bedroom is the worst place to have clutter. The design should provide a calming atmosphere to give you the best possible chance of a great night’s sleep.

Spare books, laptops, or any other non-essential items can spoil the look and leave you feeling tense. Additional storage provided by drawers and cupboards can maintain a calm feeling while blending in with your chosen decor.

Rug

Interior of cozy bedroom with houseplants and vintage red rug underneath the bed. Wicker, bamboo and wooden furniture is scattered about the room.
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In the colder months, your bedroom is a haven in terms of warmth. Pay attention to your floor coverings as they can either enhance the warm vibes, or they could make things feel cooler than you’d like.

Rugs on either side of the bed are considered by many as an essential inclusion. It’s a nice feeling to get up and place your bare feet onto a warm covering, and it may offer a boost to your morning routine.

Throws and Coverings

Soft neutral throw blankets with fringe in a pile.
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Maintaining the theme of warmth, a throw or covering can boost your bed’s temperature at night. Attractive designs can also add to the cozy appearance of the room during the colder months.

As long as you have that additional storage, you can put the coverings away across the summer. While not essential all year round, you’ll be grateful for these items during the depths of winter.

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