Bedroom Essentials For Renters

Splurge or Save: Bedroom Essentials For Renters

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I’ve spent about $2,600 on our bedroom over the years. Not on renovations – just on furniture, storage, and creating a space that feels calm instead of chaotic.

Some purchases transformed the room. Others were functional wins that cost almost nothing.

This is my bedroom breakdown – what I splurged on, what I saved on, and the one thing I wish I’d done differently.

Total invested: ~$2,600

Best purchase: White boucle chair (reading nook)

Biggest regret: Not painting the headboard wall

SPLURGE: What’s Worth the Money

White Boucle Curved Chair – $250 (JYSK)

This is my favourite thing in our bedroom. I wanted a reading nook – a corner where I could sit with a book, away from the chaos of the rest of the house. The boucle chair made it real.

Why I chose it:

• Curved back (invites you to curl up)
• White boucle fabric (soft, textured, coastal vibe)
• Perfect scale (fits the corner without overwhelming)
• Comes in brown too (I chose white)

Why it’s worth it:

It’s not just a chair. It’s my retreat. Morning coffee. Evening wind-down. The spot where I actually read instead of scrolling my phone.

Still love it? Absolutely. Best $250 I’ve spent in the bedroom.

IKEA Malm Dressers (2) – $458 Total

We bought two IKEA Malm dressers – $229 each. They double as our TV stand.

Why I chose them:

• Clean lines (timeless, not trendy)
• Storage (drawers for clothes)
• Multi-functional (TV sits on top)
• Affordable (compared to $600+ dressers elsewhere)

Why they’re worth it: They’ve lasted years. They hold everything. And they look intentional, not like cheap rental furniture.

Still using them? Yes. No plans to replace.

Bed Frame – $200 (Amazon)

Simple, solid, functional. Nothing fancy.

Why I chose it:

• Budget-friendly
• Supportive (no squeaking, no wobbling)
• Neutral (works with any style)

Still happy? Yes. It’s just a frame – it does its job.

Mattress – ~$1,000 (Groupon, King Foam)

We bought a king-size foam mattress from Groupon years ago. It came rolled up in a long box and took 48 hours to expand to full size.

Why I splurged:

Good sleep matters. A cheap mattress means bad sleep, which means bad days.

Worth it? Yes. We’ve had it for years, and it’s still comfortable.

Would I buy it again? Probably. I don’t remember the brand, but foam mattresses work well for us.

IKEA Alex 5-Drawer Unit – $149

This sits under my long vanity/desk and holds all my skincare, makeup, and personal products.

Why I chose it:

• Fits perfectly under the desk
• Drawers (hidden storage, not visible clutter)
• Affordable

Why it’s worth it:

Everything has a place. No more products scattered across the counter.

Dark Wood Wallpaper (Reading Nook) – $80 (3 Rolls, Peel-and-Stick)

I wanted the reading nook to feel separate from the rest of the bedroom – cozier, darker, more intimate.

What I did: Applied dark wood-panelled peel-and-stick wallpaper with 3D texture behind the boucle chair.

Why it’s worth it: It creates a visual boundary. The nook feels like its own little retreat, not just a corner of the bedroom.

Still love it? Yes. It’s one of my favourite details.

Linen and Rattan Lamp (Reading Nook) – $60

Battery-operated dimmer lamp with linen shade and rattan base with braided rope detail.

Why I chose it:

• No hardwiring (rental-friendly)
• Dimmer (adjust brightness for reading)
• Warm textures (linen + rattan + rope)

Why it’s worth it: It completes the reading nook. Soft light, no cords, perfect for evening wind-down.

SAVE: What’s Not Worth Big Money

DIY Headboard Velvet Panels – $200

We had a tufted headboard that we got tired of. Instead of buying a new one, we transformed it.

What we did:

• Covered it with velvet panels
• Added wood border trim

Total cost: ~$200 (fabric + wood + supplies)

Why save here: A custom headboard from a furniture store would’ve cost $500-1,000. We got the look we wanted for $200.

Still love it? Yes. It completely changed the vibe of the room.

Bedding – $70 (Bed Bath & Beyond, Grey Tones)

Simple, neutral, grey-toned bedding.

Why save here: Bedding gets washed constantly. It fades. It wears out. I don’t want to spend $300 on a duvet cover I’ll replace in a few years.

Strategy: Buy affordable neutral bedding. Replace when it fades.

Curtains – $110 Total

Walmart trellis print: $40 for 2 panels (have 4 = $80 total)

Giant Tiger white blackouts: $10 each (have 3 = $30 total)

Why save here:

Curtains are layered (trellis for style, blackouts for function). They work. They didn’t need to be expensive.

Still using them? Yes. Years later, still hanging.

3-Tiered Makeup Holder – $30 (Amazon)

Sits on my dresser and holds daily skincare, creams, and perfumes.

Why save here: It’s functional, not decorative. As long as it holds my products and looks tidy, it doesn’t need to cost $100.

Under-Bed and Closet Storage – $0-25

Under-bed: Suitcases, shoe boxes, seasonal items (bed is high enough to slide them under)

Closet top shelf: Purses, bags, extra clothes

Over-door hooks: $10-15 (hats, scarves, belts)

Why save here: Use what you have. Suitcases and shoe boxes are free storage. Over-door hooks are cheap and removable.

What I Regret

Not Painting the Headboard Wall

We painted three accent walls in our rental – jade green in the hallway, powder room, and kitchen entrance. Our landlord approved them. They’ve been up for eight years, and we still love them.

But we didn’t paint the headboard wall in our bedroom. I wish we had. An accent wall behind the bed would’ve added depth and made the DIY headboard pop even more. We already had landlord approval for painting. We just… didn’t do it.

Why I didn’t: Honestly? I didn’t think of it at the time. By the time I realized I wanted it, the bedroom felt “done,” and I didn’t want to move everything to paint.

Would I do it now? Maybe. But moving the bed, dressers, and headboard feels like a big project. So it stays on the “someday” list.

Lesson: If you’re thinking about an accent wall, do it before you finish decorating. It’s way harder to paint once everything’s in place.

What I’d Do Differently

If I were starting over with my bedroom today, here’s what I’d change:

Paint the headboard wall.

An accent wall would’ve completed the room. Do it before moving furniture in.

Skip the Groupon mattress guessing game.

Next time, I’d test mattresses in-store or buy from a brand with good reviews. The Groupon mattress worked out, but it was a gamble.

Invest in blackout curtains from the start. We added them later. Should’ve layered them from day one for better sleep.

Keep the reading nook priority. The boucle chair, wallpaper, and lamp transformed the bedroom. Personal retreats matter.

DUPES: High vs Low

Dupe #1: Boucle Chairs

High: West Elm Cozy Swivel Chair – $799

Low: JYSK boucle curved chair – $250

Difference: Brand, swivel function

Function: Both provide cozy seating, and both are boucle

Savings: $549. Worth the dupe? YES. The JYSK chair is beautiful and comfortable for $250.

Dupe #2: IKEA Malm Dressers

High: West Elm Mid-Century Dressers – $599-799 each

Low: IKEA Malm – $229 each

Difference: Brand, materials (solid wood vs veneer)

Function: Both store clothes, both look clean and modern

Savings: $370-570 per dresser. Worth the dupe? YES. IKEA Malm is a classic for a reason.

Dupe #3: Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

High: Tempaper or designer wallpaper – $50-80 per roll

Low: Amazon peel-and-stick – $25-30 per roll

Difference: Brand, sometimes texture quality

Function: Both are removable, and both create accent walls

Savings: $25-50 per roll. Worth the dupe? YES. Read reviews, but many Amazon options are high-quality.

Dupe #4: Linen Lamps

High: West Elm linen table lamp – $149

Low: Amazon linen/rattan lamp – $60

Difference: Brand, build quality

Function: Both provide light, and both have natural textures

Savings: $89. Worth the dupe? YES. Mine has lasted years and looks great.

Bedroom Budget Breakdown

SPLURGES:

• Boucle chair: $250 ✅ (BEST PURCHASE)
• Malm dressers (2): $458 ✅
• Bed frame: $200 ✅
• Mattress: $1,000 ✅
• Alex drawer unit: $149 ✅
• Dark wood wallpaper: $80 ✅
• Linen/rattan lamp: $60 ✅

SAVES:

• DIY headboard panels: $200 ✅
• Bedding: $70 ✅
• Curtains: $110 ✅
• Makeup holder: $30 ✅
• Storage: $0-25 ✅

TOTAL INVESTED: ~$2,600

BEST INVESTMENT: Boucle chair ($250)

BIGGEST REGRET: Not painting the headboard wall

Key Takeaways: Bedroom Splurge or Save

SPLURGE ON:

• A retreat piece (boucle chair – worth every penny)
• Quality mattress (good sleep = good life)
• Multi-functional furniture (dressers that do double duty)
• Personal touches (wallpaper, lighting that creates a mood)

SAVE ON:

• Bedding (wears out, replace guilt-free)
• Curtains (affordable layers work great)
• DIY projects (headboard transformation for $200)
• Hidden storage (use what you have)

DUPE IT:

• Boucle chairs (JYSK vs West Elm)
• Dressers (IKEA vs designer)
• Wallpaper (Amazon vs Tempaper)
• Lamps (Amazon vs West Elm)

AVOID:

• Skipping accent walls (harder to paint later)
• Cheap mattresses (invest in sleep)

Ready to Upgrade Your Kitchen?

Ready to Transform Your Bedroom? Use this framework to create a bedroom that feels like a retreat, not just a place to sleep.

Next Steps:

• 1. Identify your retreat piece (chair? reading nook? cozy corner?)
• 2. Invest in sleep quality (mattress, blackout curtains)
• 3. Add personal touches (wallpaper, lighting, DIY headboard)
• 4. Save on temporary items (bedding, decor)

Want the complete framework? → Back to Splurge or Save Hub

Browse more room guides:

• → Living Room: Splurge or Save
• → Bedroom: Splurge or Save
• → Bathroom: Splurge or Save
• → Entryway: Splurge or Save
• → Kids Rooms: Splurge or Save

Questions about bedroom purchases? Drop them in the comments! Ready to transform your rental? Join other renters → Subscribe to the newsletter in the sidebar