Inspirations

Good in Bed: 8 Tips for a Better Bedroom, from Designer Pernille Lind

We first became fans of Pernille Lind back in 2017, when we covered the opening of Hotel Sanders, an intimate Copenhagen property she designed with her Lind + Almond co-founder Richy Almond. Of all the warm Scandinavian furnishings the duo used to transform three late-1800s houses into a cozy hotel, one stood out in particular: the custom European oak and rattan bed with a rounded headboard and tapered legs. This bed was (and remains) so beloved that the London-based design duo started selling it on their website. And Pernille has been on our radar ever since.

Now, Pernille also has a solo design practice, Pernille Lind Studio, where she infuses (primarily) residential projects with her Danish and Thai roots and a strong mid-century modern foundation. Our favorite part of her work, though, is her ability to create bedrooms with that elusive hotel vibe. Again and again, she manages to replicate the feel of checking into a boutique guest room—and we found out how she does it.

Here, Pernille’s eight tips for building a better bedroom:

Photography by Joachim Wichmann, except where noted.

1. Keep to a muted palette.

for a soothing bedroom, pernille opts for muted tones like the beiges and dusty 12
Above: For a soothing bedroom, Pernille opts for muted tones like the beiges and dusty blues in this Danish beach house project. “I wouldn’t do high contrast, as you’re waking up and going to bed,” she says. “I wouldn’t want to have really white or really dark walls. I like anything that is that dusk or sunset toned. You could go with pastels or neutrals…whatever suits you. It’s all about winding down or easing into the day.”

Her two favorite bedroom paint colors? Bath Stone by Little Greene, a light, dusty yellow, and Slipper Satin by Farrow & Ball, a pale off-white that she chose for her own bedroom.

2. You can’t go wrong with a headboard.

pernille is a believer in statement headboards: “headboards are her 13
Above: Pernille is a believer in statement headboards: “Headboards are here to stay,” she says. “I’m always looking for one that’s in proportion with the height of the room and the size of the space. For example, the Sanders headboard was great for a hotel because you want that ‘wow’ factor, regardless of how small the rooms are. But for this beach house, I redesigned it to be smaller, lowering the headboard and slimming down the frame slightly to give it that understated design detail that mid-modern furniture would have. “