As the evenings draw in, there's nowhere we'd rather be than tucked up in bed. This is the time of year when moody bedrooms really come into their own, with rich colors, lamps dotted around the room and plenty of cozy soft furnishings.

For a little inspiration, we asked Kate, our stylist at Piglet in Bed, how she’d create the look at home. From color drenching to doubling up on lamps, here are her tips for creating a room you'll never want to leave.

1. Embrace the Nooks & Corners

"Low ceilings and awkward corners can actually work in your favor in a moody bedroom," says Kate. "Let the bed anchor the room and build everything else outward from there."

That means heavy curtains layered with café blinds, a little nook carved out for an armchair and good lighting, and soft furnishings piled on soft furnishings until every hard edge disappears.

"A smaller room doesn't have to feel cramped," Kate adds. "With the right layers, it just feels snug."

Playbook Tip: Anchor the room with the bed, then layer soft furnishings around it.

2. Go Top to Toe with Color Drenching

Walls, woodwork, ceiling: one color, top to toe. "Rather than making a small room feel smaller, a fully drenched space removes the visual ‘edges’ created by contrasting trim, so the room feels enveloping, not boxed in," says Kate.

She's also a fan of being brave with pattern. "Wallpaper can completely transform an attic bedroom, adding warmth and personality to what could otherwise feel like a tricky space," Kate says. "Large-scale florals, stripes or checks work particularly well for that cozy, cocooned feel."

Then finish from the floor up. "Choose a carpet that takes its cue from the walls, so the room feels wrapped from every side."

Playbook Tip: Drench the walls, woodwork and ceiling in one color to create a cocooning feel. 

3. Keep It Moody, But Bright

"The biggest myth about moody bedrooms is that they have to feel dark or heavy," says Kate. "The trick is balancing depth of color with things that bounce light back into the room."

Her go-tos are mustard accents, patterned wallpaper and deep beige, which still feels moody but reflects far more light than a true dark tone.

"Layer these against your deeper, color-drenched walls and the room feels rich and atmospheric at night, but still soft and liveable by day," Kate explains.

Playbook Tip: Lift dark-colored walls with brighter accents like mustard or deep beige hues. 

4. Double Up on Lighting

"Lighting makes the biggest difference to how cozy a room feels," says Kate. "Never rely on a single source."

Start with a lamp on each bedside table, then add a floor lamp away from the bed, ideally behind an armchair or beside a dresser, for a second pool of light. Wall lights fill the gap in between, and an oversized pendant finishes the scheme. "A deep rattan shade diffuses the light beautifully," says Kate.

"Together, these layers mean the room can go from bright and practical in the morning to soft and atmospheric by evening."

Playbook Tip: Layer bedside, floor, wall and ceiling lights so the room shifts from morning to night.

5. Soften the Bed & Windows

"The headboard is the biggest style statement in the room," says Kate. "Don't be afraid to go big and plush." A full-width headboard makes the bed the anchor of the room, while velvet is an easy way to add softness and depth of color.

For real drama, Kate loves a four-poster. "It draws the eye up and gives even a modest room a sense of grandeur," she says.

At the window, pair café curtains for daytime privacy with heavy, full-length curtains to keep the warmth in. "Let them pool slightly on the floor for a finished, luxurious look," says Kate.

Playbook Tip: Make the headboard your statement piece, then soften the window with layered, floor-length curtains.