How to Decorate Your Au Pair Bedroom

Hey Au Pairs,

How are you? How is your pandemic going? Remember, if you need support, you can find us in the APOP Open Forum - only open to au pairs.

Last week, we answered the question HOW DO I DECORATE MY BEDROOM over on the YouTube channel. We’d been asked this question a lottt so reached out to Desenio to collaborate with them and help answer it.

They sent me some beautiful prints which I was able to use to redecorate my bedroom. Although au pair bedrooms come in all shapes and sizes (unless you’re really lucky) they’re going to be pretty small!

I created a YouTube video with a BEFORE and AFTER of my tiny bedroom in London. Check it out below and please leave your tips for me in the comments.

In this blog post, I wanted to add a few more ideas for how you can make your bedroom loooovely and ensure it feels like home as soon as you move in!

(In this post, there are a few AFFILIATE LINKS. APOP makes money through collaborations and affiliate links. They really help us keep this very small business afloat! Thanks for your understanding. <333)

1. Turn Your Bed into a Safe Haven

Let’s face it, during your year as an au pair, you’re going to spending a lot of time in bed. You can think you’re going to be out whiling away the hundreds of hours you have free as an au pair in museums and cafes.

But, really, we guarantee that there will be months where you barely leave your bedroom. It’s actually a glorious thing.

So, make sure you buy a really comfy pillow, comforter, and cushions so that you wake up feeling well rested and happy. There is nothing worse than a thin blanket that leaves you feeling cold.

We recommend buying this stuff once you’ve seen what you will be provided with. You don’t want to rock up at your host family’s house only to find that they provide you with cosy bedding.

2. Invest in Some Plants

If you have a brown thumb, then maybe you should consider some fake plants. But, if you think you have the time and dedication to learn how to look after your plant babies, invest in the real thing.

We recommend choosing a few cacti (as they are pretty hard to kill) and, if everything goes smoothly, invest in a Monstera or Swiss Cheese Plant. They’re so pretty and easy to look after.

3. Come Up With a Tidying System

When you have a small bedroom, there is nothing that makes it look EVEN smaller than it already is than cluttering it up with clothes thrown across the room! Yep, we’re super guilty of this…

This may require you to invest in some hanging rails or a small set of shelves, but once you have a system in place, it’ll be much easier to keep your bedroom looking tidy and clutter-free.

Your host family will be happy and so will you!

4. Get Some Mood Lighting

Are you a fan of fairy lights or do you prefer grown-up lamps? Whatever your preference, make sure you focus on the lighting in your bedroom.

An overhead light simply is not as pretty as filling your room with mood lighting. It’ll help you feel relaxed and calm.

I opted for some very cute fairy lights in my most recent bedroom makeover! I honestly wish I’d done this when I was an au pair as it makes the space feel so ethereal and nest-like.

5. Opt for Some Cute Bunting

Are you struggling to make your place look cute? Buy ALL of the buntings. Or, make your own along with your host kids. This is such a nice way to add a personal touch to your bedroom and a fun afternoon activity to do indoors with your house-bound host kids.

Consider asking your host parents if they’ll invest in some materials for this activity and find an instructional guide to follow so that you get it right the first time.

6. Bring Posters, Pictures, and Paintings!

Finally, yet most importantly, we recommend bringing pictures. Make sure you print out lots of pics of your family, friends, pets, and hometown. These will help whenever you’re feeling homesick.

Adorning your walls with posters and paintings is the best way to brighten up a room. I absolutely love Desenio, as I’ve mentioned, and chose a seaside poster in an oak frame that is the pride of place in my bedroom.

What are your top tips for making your bedroom feel like HOME? Let us know over on the YouTube video. Stay safe everyone <3