Recreate These Chic NYC Bedrooms on a Budget
For a city that never sleeps, New Yorkers take their bedrooms seriously. Step inside the homes of four inspiring creatives and borrow their best ideas.
A bedroom refresh can be anything from a full overhaul – built-ins, new furniture, fresh paint – to something as simple as switching out your sheets and cushions. Homeowners often have more freedom (and bigger budgets) than renters, but we’ve toured dozens of Makers’ homes over the years, and they’ve shown that great style doesn’t depend on major renovations.
Five of the dreamiest boudoirs from these home tours (unsurprisingly) belong to New York City locals: the impossibly chic Serena Goh, Molly Ford, Brigette Muller, and Mélanie Masarin.
Wherever you’re at in your styling journey, small changes can make a big impact. “Budget” looks different for everyone, but the principles these women use can make any bedroom feel considered without relying on luxury items. And with Bedding Bundles currently 35% off for Black Friday, it’s an ideal time to invest in 100% French flax linen or organic cotton to kick-start your refresh.
Take a peek inside the gorgeous bedrooms of four of The Big Apple’s most stylish creatives, and learn what makes their spaces work.
Serena Goh’s tranquil sanctuary in Bed-Stuy
To Serena, a home is a refuge away from the chaos of the outside world, and no room requires more calm than the bedroom. To channel her elevated style, go heavy on texture, and light on pattern. Linen bedding, a large rug, burl wood surfaces, limewashed walls, ceramics, and muslin throws add dimension while never overwhelming the space.
Sticking mainly to earth tones will also evoke the feeling of being grounded in nature, even if you lean towards modern interiors or live in a busy area. Greens and browns work nicely as accents, and when it comes to the bed, a deep grounding tone (like Serena’s Forest Duvet) paired with light neutrals (e.g. Crème sheets), offer a sense of balance.
Serena also subscribes to the 80/20 rule: 80% thrifted or vintage items, and 20% new. This can be a big part of a budget styling strategy, as second-hand doesn’t have to meet fancy antiques – there’s a world of beautiful furniture in charity shops and on Facebook Marketplace.
The number one (and cheapest) way to transform your bedroom in line with Serena’s methods is to make the bed part of your daily ritual. Always make sure it’s fully made, soothing, and uncluttered so it feels like a retreat the second you walk in.
Molly Ford’s soft, creative Brooklyn haven
As a renter, florist Molly Ford has injected personality into her walk-up brownstone in Bed-Stuy through homewares and furniture. The vibe here is gentle, lived-in, and warm – a space that supports both work and rest.
One of the most heavenly aspects of Molly’s apartment is the coffee-inspired colour scheme. Cotton sheets in Espresso and Vanilla, mid-century dark-wood furniture, and framed artworks that lean into this palette – nothing too high contrast. When in doubt, cream walls and cohesive timber furniture is your shortcut to chic.
To mirror the early morning sunlight, open windows to allow soft natural light. And if that’s not available to you, warm bulbs, table lamps, and candles instead of harsh overheads will make your bedroom always-welcoming.
Some are adamant that the bedroom is for sleeping only, a reasonable preference. But if you enjoy spending time in your room (especially if you’re in a share-house), create a small “ritual” corner. A comfy chair or window perch with a throw and cushion where you have coffee, journal, or read.
Unsurprisingly, one of the main ways that Molly brings her bedroom to life is with flowers and greenery. Even one bunch, or a few stems in small vases instantly make the room come alive.
Brigette Muller’s romantic old-world rental
You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve just walked into a French château when entering Brigette’s bedchamber. Old-world and romantic with classic touches is the feeling here – all achieved with renter-friendly moves.
If your landlord will allow it, all-white walls and floors open up the space and provide a simple base for more ornate flourishes. If you can’t redo the floors, light vintage rugs will fake that airy foundation.
Layer in one hero textile, an element that draws the eye and sets the tone. For Brigette, that’s an antique-style tapestry above the bed, but it could be a painting, mirror, or chandelier. To really embrace grandeur, a vintage four-poster bed instantly adds a sense of regality. Hang sheer curtains to soften the bed area and make it feel like a “sleeping nook”, or billowy curtains on the windows will bring the drama.
Go hard on gold and vintage – gilded frames, second-hand mirrors, a brass lamp, ornate candlesticks – all from flea markets, eBay, Marketplace, thrift stores.
Lastly, keep bedding simple but luxe. Neutral linen styled with extra pillows and a throw so the bed looks romantic and rumpled rather than minimal.
Melanie Masarin’s cool-girl loft
While we haven’t yet had the chance to sit down with Melanie for a full Makers tour yet, she welcomed us into the bedroom of her gorgeous loft-style apartment when we launched our Organic Cotton collection. The mood of her space is understated, unfussy, and grown-up – calm without being at all sterile.
To approach recreating a bedroom with Melanie’s style principles in mind, limit the palette to a few tones you really love and add just a handful of meaningful objects rather than dozens of homewares and collectibles. This will help you rein it in if you’re ever tempted to buy too many “things”, even if you love them.
Melanie also avoids strict symmetry, instead mixing objects so it feels relaxed and unstaged. She uses soft lighting and tactile bedding, opting for warm bulbs in her lamps and organic cotton sheets on her bed so that everything feels natural and real. She currently has a Vanilla, Crisp White & Berry Bedding Bundle on her bed, an indulgent trio that looks (and sounds) good enough to eat.
A rule she recommends is adding one joyful detail. To her this is a handmade wall vase, but it could be anything – an artwork that has a story, or a bedside object you interact with daily.
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