Bedrooms should feel calm, inviting, and spacious. The bed is always the focal point, and how it's styled makes an enormous difference to the final image.
Camera height
Set your camera at approximately 15cm above the top of the mattress — usually around 70-80cm. This creates an intimate, inviting perspective without looking down at the bed.
The hero shot
The main bedroom shot should show:
- The full bed with styled bedding
- Bedside tables (ideally matching, with lamps)
- The window (for natural light)
- Enough floor to show the room's size
Shoot from the foot of the bed or from a corner, applying the two-wall rule. If the room has a feature wall (wallpaper, panelling, colour), make sure it's prominent in the composition.
Bed styling
The bed makes or breaks a bedroom photograph:
- Use fresh, crease-free bedding (white or neutral colours photograph best)
- Layer the bedding: fitted sheet, flat sheet folded back, duvet, throw at the foot
- Arrange pillows symmetrically — 2-4 sleeping pillows plus 2 decorative cushions
- A folded throw across the foot of the bed adds texture and colour
- Ensure the bed is centred on the headboard and the headboard is centred on the wall
What to remove
- Clothes from chairs, floors, and door handles
- Items from bedside tables (leave only a lamp and perhaps a book or plant)
- Laundry baskets
- Excess furniture that makes the room feel cramped
- Personal photographs (privacy and to help buyers imagine themselves in the space)
Children's bedrooms
Keep them tidy but don't strip them of personality entirely. A few well-placed toys or books show that the room is functional and lived-in. Remove clutter from the floor and make the bed neatly.
Lighting bedrooms
Bedrooms benefit from soft, warm lighting. Open curtains fully to let in natural light, and turn on bedside lamps — they create pools of warm light that make the room feel cosy and inviting. If the main ceiling light is harsh (a bare bulb or bright white LED), consider turning it off and relying on natural light plus bedside lamps instead.
For bedrooms with limited natural light, bounce a flash off the ceiling to create soft, even illumination. Avoid direct flash — it creates harsh shadows on the bed and makes the room feel clinical rather than inviting.
Multiple bedroom strategy
In a property with three or more bedrooms, not every room needs the same level of attention:
- Master bedroom: 2-3 shots — the hero wide shot, a detail of the bed styling, and possibly a shot showing the en-suite entrance or window view
- Second bedroom: 1-2 shots — a wide shot showing the room's size and a detail if there's a feature worth highlighting
- Third bedroom / box room: 1 shot — a clean wide shot that shows the room can comfortably fit a bed and furniture
- Guest rooms and spare rooms: If they're styled, treat them like the second bedroom. If they're used as storage, one honest shot is sufficient.
Dealing with awkward bedroom layouts
L-shaped bedrooms, rooms with sloped ceilings (loft conversions), and bedrooms with multiple doors can be tricky to compose. In these cases, prioritise showing the bed and the room's best feature. Multiple shots from different angles may be needed to convey the full layout. A floor plan alongside your photographs helps buyers understand unusual room shapes.
Key Takeaways
- Set camera at 15cm above mattress height for an inviting perspective
- Fresh, crease-free bedding is essential — white or neutral colours work best
- Layer bedding with pillows, cushions, and a throw for a styled look
- Remove personal items but keep children's rooms showing some personality
- The bed is always the focal point — invest time in styling it properly
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