Creating a bedroom that restores and recharges
Big Ass Fans has partnered with style icon Emilee Hembrow to explore new ways of creating a cool, calm and connected home. Through thoughtful design choices, Emilee demonstrates how every room can contribute to a greater sense of wellbeing, helping families feel more comfortable, connected and at ease in their everyday lives.
For Emilee, a mother of five and successful entrepreneur, designing a home begins with a simple question: How do you want to feel when you’re at home? Beyond aesthetics, every room should serve a purpose and contribute to the overall atmosphere. Creating a sense of calm can encourage stronger connections, healthier routines and a more balanced lifestyle.
Yet connection is not only about the people we live with. A thoughtfully designed home should also provide opportunities to reconnect with ourselves. Whether it’s a quiet corner to read, a space to reflect, or simply somewhere to unwind at the end of a busy day, our homes should offer moments of restoration. In many ways, this is the essence of a sanctuary: a space that supports rest, comfort and wellbeing.
Download Emilee Hembrow’s free guide… Cool, Calm, Connected guide for expert insights into designing spaces that feel as good as they look.
More than a place to sleep
For many people, including Emilee, the bedroom is where a home should feel most restorative and personal. Dedicated entirely to rest and recovery, it’s the one space designed to support both physical comfort and mental wellbeing.
As Emilee explains, “With five kids and a full life happening at home, it’s the one room that has to work harder than anywhere else to create that sense of quiet. It doesn’t happen by accident. It has to be designed for it.”
- Edit with intention
A calming bedroom begins with what’s left out. Rather than filling a space with furniture and decorative pieces, focus on creating room to breathe. Limiting visual clutter can help the bedroom feel more spacious, peaceful and conducive to rest.
For Emilee, simplicity is key.
“I keep the bedroom quite minimal. Not sparse, but carefully edited. Every piece earns its place, lighting shifts from bright to warm depending on the time of day, and nothing is in there just to fill space.”
Consider choosing a restrained colour palette, incorporating natural materials and keeping storage solutions discreet to maintain a sense of order.
- Create layers of comfort
The most inviting bedrooms engage the senses. Soft bedding, tactile textiles and warm lighting help create an environment that feels welcoming from the moment you step inside.
Instead of relying on a single overhead light, layer the room with bedside lamps, wall sconces or dimmable lighting to support different activities throughout the day. Bright light may be practical in the morning, but softer lighting signals to the body that it’s time to unwind.
- Prioritise airflow and temperature
One of the most overlooked aspects of bedroom design is comfort throughout the night. Even the most beautifully styled space can fall short if it feels stuffy, noisy or too warm.
“Noise is a big one for me, and that’s where smart, quiet design elements become everything. I love design that just works in the background, like a ceiling fan that runs silently through the night or lighting you can control without getting out of bed.”
Good airflow can help a room feel fresher and more comfortable year-round, while quieter design solutions support uninterrupted rest. The best features are often the ones that work seamlessly in the background, enhancing comfort without demanding attention.
- Design for recovery, not just sleep
A bedroom sanctuary should do more than provide a place to sleep. It should offer a genuine retreat from the pace of daily life. Whether that’s a comfortable reading chair, blackout curtains, smart lighting controls or quiet airflow solutions, every design choice should contribute to a greater sense of ease.
As Emilee puts it, “These aren’t luxuries. They’re the details that make the difference between a room you sleep in and a room you actually recover in.”
A premium breeze of comfort
Ceiling fans might not be the first feature that comes to mind when designing a dream bedroom, but they can play a significant role in overall comfort. Today’s premium designs combine performance with aesthetics, helping create a comfortable environment while complementing the overall design of the space.
Brands such as Big Ass Fans are redefining expectations, offering powerful yet whisper-quiet performance in beautifully considered designs. Whether paired with a contemporary minimalist aesthetic or a relaxed coastal retreat, a well-designed ceiling fan can become an integral part of a bedroom sanctuary, working quietly in the background to support better comfort, better rest and a more enjoyable everyday experience.
Find the perfect fan for your bedroom sanctuary