My bedroom is small, so I don't spend much time in it. All the same, I wanted it to express my personality, so I made sure it had lots of little touches to that effect.
Obviously, the main focus of a bedroom is the bed, especially in a smaller bedroom. My bedroom will barely contain anything other than the bed, so I put a lot of effort into making the bed nice. I bought ivory sheets, and I went through a couple of duvet covers before I finally found a dark green comforter (my favorite color). For your own room, consider your favorite colors: They should make you feel happy, yet conducive to rest. Your room should make you smile when you see it first thing in the morning and last thing at night. The comforter/bedspread in particular will determine the focus of the room, so base everything around that.
On the topic of the bed, I put Euro pillows and neckrolls on mine. I wouldn't bother with the pillows if I didn't read in bed, but I love having something to prop myself up against. They're also useful for propping my bad ankle on when it hurts me. Anyway, extra pillows aren't essential, but they are a pretty finishing touch to a bed. If you read in bed and take the time to make your bed in the morning—which is a matter of seconds, really—go ahead and invest in some decorative pillows. You can purchase them cheaply, and you'll feel like you're in luxury just because of a few extra pillows.
At the base of the bed, I have a dark reddish brown cedar trunk. It's not the same color as my bedposts, but it doesn't clash. Storage trunks are handy for extra blankets or items that won't fit in a closet, but they can be pricey. I was lucky enough to inherit mine. In a pinch, though, you could use several bins or a bench to the same effect, as long as they match the rest of the room.
In the corner of the room I have a foyer table, which I would use as a nightstand if I had room beside my bed. The foyer table holds a lamp and several decorative items, including a couple of pieces of driftwood, a box of seashells, a wooden turtle, an abstract art project, and a blue and white vase. The driftwood and shells I collected as a child when I lived in Clear Lake. The art project I made in middle school, and the turtle and vase were gifts from my dad. If I had room for the nightstand beside my bed, I'd keep my glasses and alarm clock on the table as well. As it is, I have a small wire shelf on the floor beside my bed which holds a pile of books with my alarm clock and phone balanced precariously on the top. This situation will have to change. My friend Richee keeps an old, upended suitcase next to his bed in lieu of a nightstand; if I can find a suitable suitcase, I may do the same. In other words, don't let convention or finances hamper you. Use what works, and be creative.
On my walls, I have a couple of paintings by my grandmother. She gave me the painting of the black cat (representing my then-pet cat, Three) for Christmas when I was five. Next to that is a wooden checkerboard with the checkers glued to it. I never play checkers, but I liked the nice board, so I saved it in this fashion. On the other side of the checkerboard hangs another of my grandmother's paintings, this one of a sailboat. The picture of the sailboat hangs over the table with the driftwood and seashells on it. In that same corner of the room, I keep the paddles for our canoe. The paddles are fully functional, but I like the look of them. I got the idea from a Laurel and Hardy film called A Chump at Oxford, in which Stan Laurel's character keeps his oars against the wall in his room. I like my decorative items to remind me of my favorite things—in this case, the ocean, films, and art.
Over my windows, which you cannot see in the photo, I have a bronze double curtain rod. On the smaller rod hang sheer ivory panels; on the larger rod hang heavier sailcloth drapes in a cream color. There are bronze tiebacks on the walls. Once again, I matched the window coverings to the rest of the room—not just the color, but the nautical theme of the sailcloth.
The theme of my bedroom is dark green and ivory with bronze accents, which in turn matches the theme of my bathroom. Dark green, of course, is my favorite color, while the ivory keeps the room from being too dark. My bedroom also has nautical accents to hint at my childhood in southeast Houston, where I was constantly around the ocean. I also have homemade art to further express myself. If you are not artistic, you can keep souvenirs or purchased knicknacks instead. The point is that your bedroom is functional, matches the decor of the rest of your house, and is still expressive of your personality and tastes.