Looking for above bed decor ideas? These 8 ideas will help you figure out how to decorate that tricky space!
The wall space above your bed can be a little tricky to decorate. Your ceiling and headboard heights limit how large of a decor piece you can use, you might be worried about not hanging anything too heavy in case it falls (or is that just me 🤪), and ideally you want something that coordinates well with your bedding and the rest of your room.
If you’ve been stuck on what to do with that blank space, we’re going to tackle it together! Today I’m sharing eight inspiring ideas to help you knock out this bedroom decorating dilemma! (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
1. Hang a Round Mirror
Mirrors work well for above bed decor and I especially like round mirrors in this spot since they soften the space. There are a lot of beautiful round mirror options to choose from including mirrors with a metal finish like {this petal design mirror} that I hung above the guest bed in our previous home:
Guest Room Sources: Mirror over Bed | Upholstered Wingback Bed (fabric is Zuma White) | Quilt (natural color) | White and beige check duvet (similar) | White Bedside Lamps (similar) | Round Wood Beaded Tray | Clock
It’s also a great spot for bringing in some texture by using a mirror with rope or rattan such as {this oversized rattan mirror}:
or {this decorative rattan mirror} above the bed in the guest room in our current home:
Sources: Queen beadboard bed (weathered white) | Blue & white quilted shams (similar) | Blue tasseled edge pillow covers | Navy embroidered lumbar pillow cover ( with {this} pillow insert)
The best size round mirror for over your bed is going to vary depending upon the height of your headboard & ceilings and what size bed it’s hanging over. The round mirrors in our current and previous guest rooms (which are hung over queen beds) are 32″ in diameter which I think is a nice size. Other similarly sized mirrors that would be pretty over a bed are {this round ball mirror}, {this gorgeous white scalloped mirror}, and {this round woven mirror}.
See {this post} on round mirrors for more of my favorite round mirrors and ideas for using them throughout your home.
2. Arrange a Grouping of Decorative Plates
If you’ve seen my dining room, you know that I love a good plate wall and I think a plate arrangement over the bed can be a real statement maker! You can choose to arrange the plates symmetrically or asymmetrically and go with colorful plates that tie into the colors in your room or keep it simple with only white plates like in this beautiful bedroom designed by Emily of Timeless Paper:
See my post on how to hang plates on the wall {here} for details on the hangers I used to securely hang mine.
3. Add Texture WithBaskets
Hanging a single large basket such as this {this sunny wall basket} is a simple but beautiful above bed decor idea:
Pottery Barn
Another option is to hang a grouping of smaller baskets above the bed like Summer of Simple Stylings did so beautifully in her bedroom – love this!
See more of Summer’s serene master bedroom on Simple Stylings {here}. Check out {this Etsy shop} for a huge selection of wall baskets including some gorgeous colorful options.
4. Hang a Ledge Shelf
Hanging a ledge shelf above your bed gives you a place to layer framed photos or artwork (be sure to secure any leaning pictures to the wall!) and other items that are meaningful to you. Ledges make it easy to swap things out seasonally or whenever you’re ready for a change. I love this ledge shelf (found {here}) in the Seadrift finish:
Also check out {this Etsy shop} that makes custom floating shelves in all sorts of beautiful finishes:
I used their pickled white floating shelves in the bathroom in our previous home and am going to be using their “nature” finished shelves for the bookcases in our family room. Get all the details in my post on our bathroom floating shelves.
Want to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
5. Hang Framed or Canvas Art
That awkward space above the bed is a great place to hang art! There are a variety of art arrangements that would work including everything from a single piece of art to a multi-piece art gallery wall. Sizes that I think work well over a queen bed include two 20″ x 30″ or 24″ x 30″ framed prints such as {this art print} and {this art print} in matte brass frames:
Room Sources: Blue grasscloth wallpaper | Gold quatrefoil pendant | Blue fringed pillow covers | Leather weave bench | Acrylic lamp | Blue & white planter |
or one 40″ x 30″ framed print such as {this framed canvas surf scene} :
I recently hung framed and matted art prints over the twin beds in my girls’ room where I found a single framed 24″ x 30″ print worked well:
Sources: Framed art print (left) | Framed art print (right) | Gray damask peel & stick wallpaper | Curved wood beds | White chest | Rattan lamp | White quilts | Tassel duvet covers | Globe light fan
You have a little more freedom with sizing over a king bed but my personal preference is for a single long landscape print, which is what I plan to put over the bed in our primary bedroom. I haven’t landed on the exact art piece I’m using yet but I’m loving a lot of the options from Juniper Print Shop {here}. Other favorite sources for art are Minted, Artfully Walls, Lindsay Brackeen’s Etsy shop, and Meren Devine’s Etsy shop.
Another option is to hang multiple art prints or photos as a gallery wall over the bed like they did in this space using {these black wood frames} and {these acrylic frames}:
6. Use Removable Wall Decals
Whether you go with initials or a more intricate design, removable wall decals are a great choice for above bed decor in a kid’s room since it eliminates the worry of having something fall off the wall and onto your kiddo when things get a little rowdy :). You could use something simple like a large monogram:
or make it fun with a large rainbow wall deal like {this one}:
or anything else that your child loves (I think {these dolphin decals} are darling):
The options for decals are literally endless! You can see more decals from this cute Etsy shop {here} and find other shops that will make a custom decal of any words or design that you’d like by browsing {here}.
7. Hang a Juju Hat
If you love decor with a more organic feel, a feathery juju hat might be just the thing! I absolutely love how it looks above the bed in CC & Mike’s beautiful bedroom:
You can see more pics of this space along with other ways they’ve used juju hats as home decor over on CC & Mike {here}.
8. Hang Anything Uniquely You!
There are so many unique options for over the bed decor that you can use to show your personality or interests! It could be something you collect, family memories, or gear related to a favorite sport. If you love boating, hang a pair of oars over the bed like in this beautiful bedroom:
Serena & Lily
or if you have a love of tennis, hang a pair of crossed tennis rackets over your bed. Do you love shopping flea markets? There are a lot of vintage finds that could look fabulous hung over a bed. The more personal and unique the idea, the better!
So have you figured out what you’re going to hang above your own bed now?!
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and thanks as always for stopping by!
Caroline says
This all looks beautiful, but PLEASE PLEASE do not hang anything heavy or anything with glass over or at the head of your bed! Accidents and earthquakes do happen.
Anonymous says
Where can I find that gorgeous green and white bed you posted on Pinterest?
Cheryl says
Kris,
Where did you get that adorable light fixture above the bed in that first picture? It kind of looks like a flower. It’s the picture with a question mark above the bed. Please let me know. Thanks!
Cheryl
Jennifer says
Kriss
I believe you let us know before –
Where is a good place to get a
magnolia wreath … one that might last awhile ?
I live in Southern California as well, and thinking that might be a nice touch for the Holidays above my bed ….
As I usually just decorate the downstairs and leave the upstairs alone.
Thank you. Hope you are feeling better very soon, we had Covid in July.
Fondly,
Jennifer
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Jean!
Sandra says
Loving the ideas in this post! And so timely as we are embarking on a journey of redecorating a new-to-us home and getting the guest room company-ready is high on the list. I’m leaning towards the ledge shelf (ha ha, see what I did there?) or the gallery art wall. But you’ve got me thinking of making a more personal stamp on the above bed space. That could be really fun!
Kris Jarrett says
Ha – love it! Glad it gave you some needed inspiration Sandra! Good luck!
Andrea says
I just love all your ideas – wish you would come and do my house
FL Girl says
My struggle is that our king size headboard has a mid-size arch- any suggestions? There’s approximately 4ft from top of arch in bed frame to ceiling .
Kris Jarrett says
I’ve seen a long, horizontal piece of art work well in that situation. Also for some tall arched headboards, sometimes I don’t feel like there needs to be anything above them. My daughter’s room has a tall, arched headboard and we left the space above it blank!
Jessie says
I would use multiple round objects to help with that challenge.
Karen says
Kris,
There are some wonderful ideas here. Unfortunately, with us living in Southern California experts have urged us to not put anything above our beds that could crash down on us in an earthquake. I’ve lived here all my life and even with some of the minor earthquakes I’ve experienced, nothing has ever fallen off the wall. Ha. I currently have a boxwood wreath above our bed, I figure it wouldn’t hurt if it fell on our heads! 🙂
xo,
Karen
Sue says
You beat me to it Karen. I live in Northern California and the thought of putting something over my bed scares me!
Kris Jarrett says
Your solution of the boxwood wreath is perfect Karen!
Caroline A says
We have things above our bed but they are very securely fastened to the wall. Like drywall anchored, it is also a big fear of mine. My husband secures it then we fill in the holes. Usually framed art drilled right through the frame and then plugged with wood filler or patch and painted. Love the boxwood idea!