Bedroom furniture essentials include bed frames, wardrobes, chests of drawers, dressing tables, and freestanding mirrors. 

If you are lucky, you may have built-in wardrobes and drawers for a streamlined look, while everyone else has freestanding items that take up floor space.

Which furniture pieces you add to your bedroom depends on what you can fit and what you need from them. For example, getting ready for work in your bedroom requires a dressing table and mirror, while others don't need such a space.

Here's what you need to know:

Bed frames

All eyes are naturally drawn to the bed, so it can be a showstopper to set the scene for your interior design or modest to let other things do the talking. 

Choose an upholstered bed frame with a winged headboard or a sleigh bed in sumptuous velvet or linen for ultimate indulgence. Their plush, statement-making silhouettes exude old-world glamour and class.

If you prefer a more streamlined aesthetic, a simple upholstered or slatted bed frame works beautifully in modern or minimalist spaces.

Ottoman beds are another storage masterpiece. They use the whole mattress underside as storage space, which can be compartmentalised with dividers and boxes, giving you a place for all your seasonal clothes and bedding. 

Nightstands

Your nightstands or bedside tables are the bed's best-supporting actors, so they must be just as thoughtfully considered. 

Matched pairs in wood tones or lacquered finishes deliver seamless symmetry. But don't be afraid to mix things up by combining a vintage rattan piece and an angular modern nightstand for an eclectic twist.

These bedside besties should provide ample surface space for lamps and books and curate a sculptural display of accessories. Built-in drawers or shelving units earn bonus points for stowing away remotes, chargers, and other clutter gremlins.

Chest drawers

Chest drawers are brilliant because they can be bought in wide and tall configurations to suit any bedroom, and the top can be used as a standing dressing table. 

Dovetail drawers are a sign of quality craftsmanship with wooden runners. However, there's much to say about modern flat-pack furniture with rail runners—these are cheaper and easier to manoeuvre through doorways.

Dressing tables 

Every bedroom needs a trusty dresser to serve as the wardrobe's sidekick, with ample drawers for housing everything from underwear to off-season knitwear. 

Dressing tables are a luxury in small bedrooms, but they also serve the practical purpose of providing a comfortable place to get ready. 

Look for a dressing table narrower than 30cm to take up as little floor space as possible, and if it just won't fit, use the top of your drawer chest instead.

Wardrobes

A well-appointed wardrobe is your bedroom's not-so-secret storage weapon. Freestanding armoires provide stylish garment housing without limiting your layout. If built-ins are an option, configure them with a sensible mix of double-hung sections, shelving units, and drawers to conquer every stowing need.

Hardwood furniture has a lovely warmth, while durable, cheaper laminates or lacquered finishes can save you money, although they will lack the natural variation of wood grain.  

And remember—optimal wardrobe organisation deserves boutique-worthy extras like velvet-lined drawers, pull-out racks, and speciality inserts for accessories.

Mirrors 

Ornate, floor-length dress mirrors on swivel bases are a great addition to your bedroom, allowing you to reflect light and creating the illusion of space in your bedroom.

Mount matching vertical mirrors on either side of your bed for instant dimension. You can even create your boutique-inspired bullseye by flanking your vanity or dresser mirror with a duo of smaller accent mirrors.

And don't overlook backlighting for bonus ambience - colour-changeable LED strips are great for giving your mirror an extra pop of character.