2025 will be the year when the bedroom gets its personality from art first – and everything else follows. At Artiley, we see how a well-chosen painting sets the tone for color, feeling and materials in the room. When we build environments in our studio, we always start with the work: the mood of the motif, how the colors are built up and what rhythm the composition has. Then we choose textiles that extend the feeling in a thoughtful way. The result is not only beautiful – it is calm, cohesive and functional.
Start with the board – let the color lead the textiles
Choose a main piece that guides the palette. A simple trick we often use is the 60–30–10 principle, but here the percentages are based on the painting. Let 60% of the textiles (duvet cover, curtains) pick up the calmest background tone of the piece, 30% (blanket, pillows) pick up a midtone, and 10% (an accent pillow, piping) reflect the strongest color accent. This way, the room feels colorful – without competing with the art.
Are you unsure about which shades are dominating right now? We have compiled an updated overview in Color Trends in Art: Which Shades Are Dominating Right Now? . When the trend color comes via the canvas, and not the other way around, it is easy to change textiles after the season without losing the overall look.
A concrete example: a misty blue coastal motif with sooty gray tones provides a perfect base for natural-colored linen on the bed and a blue-melted wool blanket that captures the depths of the ocean. A single copper pillow (taken from the sun reflection in the painting) is enough as an accent. The room suddenly feels curated, not sloppy.
Size and placement determine the fabrics
The size of the painting determines the weight of your fabrics. A rule of thumb from our styling: over a headboard, the work should be about two-thirds of the width of the headboard, and the bottom edge should be 12–18 cm above the highest point of the pillows. This proportion allows curtains and bedspreads to be soft and airy without the room losing focus.
If you have a powerful motif with deep, smoky tones, heavier fabrics work great – think velvet, brushed cotton or coarse linen. Our La Fumée Royale motif is a clear example: its dark amber, tobacco brown depths and subtle sheen support dark green velvet cushions and a cognac-coloured throw, while off-white linen curtains balance the whole.
Placement also affects patterns in textiles. If the painting sits lower above the bed, keep the bedspread more plain and with only discreet quilted squares. If the work hangs higher, you can opt for subtle stripes that repeat lines from the motif's composition.
Material and structure that reflects the motif
In our hangings, we work with tactile reflection: the textiles should feel like the brushstrokes of the painting. Is the painting soft and hazy? Choose enzyme-washed linen and brushed cotton that diffuse the light. Does the work have sharp contrasts and graphic fields? Let a denser satin weave or a tight twill reproduce the sharpness, preferably in muted tones from the painting.
A tip we often use to deepen the room is to give a secondary cushion a micro-pattern that picks up on the rhythm of the painting’s structure – small breaks, but within the same palette. The effect is subtle but makes a big difference to the overall feel.
Light and frame selection for depth and calm
The right light allows the textiles to collaborate with the art. Warm 2700 K enhances skin tones and bronze details in many motifs, while 3000 K can suit cooler blues. Avoid glare: a matte frame in oak or walnut eats up distracting reflections and connects nicely with natural-toned fabrics. We have good experience with narrow frame strips when using airy linen curtains – it feels tailored, not heavy.
The 2025 total: long-term, personal and quiet luxury
This year’s biggest bedroom trend is quiet luxury: fewer but better choices, and art as a guiding light. A larger statement painting provides more peace than many small ones. We often see how a bedroom with two small prints becomes harmonious when they are replaced by a larger piece; switching to a simpler, stone-washed bedspread and two accent pillows in the painting’s second darkest tone ties everything together. The textiles can be restrained – the personality is in the painting.
Also consider durability: choose timeless textiles that you can rotate seasonally while the painting remains in place. This way, you invest in art that will carry the room year after year, and you can update the feel with little effort. Whether you’re drawn to misty blue minimalism or smoky, luxurious shades like in La Fumée Royale , let the piece define the colors, texture, and gloss level – not the other way around.
Want to see how different palettes work in art right now? Don't miss our in-depth article: Color trends in art: What shades are dominating right now? . There we break down which shades are easiest to carry through textiles when the painting chooses the path.
In short: start with the painting, let it set the palette, proportion and texture, and let the textiles play the supporting role. That’s the key to a bedroom that feels calm, personal and beautiful – in 2025 and beyond.