Help me decorate: my bedroom

Have your say and give a girl a hand in narrowing down these design ideas

After a bit of a decorating break, we are back at it. Plans had been to sort out the spare bedroom, but you know what, it was actually time to be a bit ‘selfish’ about this home makeover malarky. Yes, sure, it’s all for us because, well, it’s our home. But is there any other room aside from your bedroom that is truly, really all about you? I think not.

I’ve heard about many renovators doing large remodels who prioritise their bedroom so they have a sanctuary to retreat to away from the dust and building chaos. A great idea. Or, as is the case here, to retreat away at the end of a day of busy – i.e chasing around a toddler, working and everything else in between. I’m writing this after a morning spent at a party with 30 sugar-fuelled smalls running around which gives you the idea. And probably helps explain the reasoning behind my vision.

To sum up the vibe I want to create in my new-look bedroom: Chill. With a capital C. I’ve become a real fan of the warm neutrals that have been growing in popularity over the last year or two. Just don’t call them beige, it’s ‘quiet luxury’, don’t you know?

I like the idea of a pared-back colour as a base to a warm and cosy scheme that’s layered with sumptuous textures. I want to keep the palette minimal and create something between a boutique hotel and one of those sleep rooms you come across at a spa. Maybe it’s a sign I need to make a reservation?

Alas, desk bound and with no retreat booking in sight, it’s time to carve out that Zen under my own roof. I have lots of bedroom design ideas flying around my mind. And what better way to narrow them down that with a bit of crowd-sourced opinion? I’d love to know what you think.

Help me decorate my bedroom

To start, here’s a sample of my Pinterest pins to give an idea of where my mind is. Warm neutrals, calm feel, layered bedding, some plants and limited accessorising.

Imagery: Pinterest

Full disclosure, I’ve had paint samples on the walls for months (they’ve become part of the décor they’ve been there so long) so I know what the colour will be: Mountain Hideaway by Valspar. It’s a darker shade than first envisaged but it’s got a lovely warm undertone that will be super cosy once on all four walls. I did try others including pampas-hued colours and ones of the jute variety, but thought they were too pale and a bit ‘meh’.

My first quandary is whether to paint the walls and the doors in the colour. You see, the room is pretty boxy, has two windows and four – yes four – internal doors. One from the landing, one to the ensuite and two that open outwards from a fitted wardrobe. If you’re thinking that’s only really two doors, I should add that the wardrobe ones are the same size and style as the internal doors so take up a fair amount of space. I can only assume that it’s a developer thing from when the house was newly built some twenty-odd years ago. I’d love to replace them eventually with a more space-efficient sliding/pocket or bi-fold design. Should I paint the wardrobe doors in the same colour as the walls, including the frame?

With the painting sorted (if only it was that quick to do), let’s talk lighting. I should say, we already have a bed – the oak Quilda from La Redoute so this will be central to the new scheme. I want matching bedside lights and some bedside tables, ideally with some storage. This is where my ‘hotel vibes’ thinking comes in. There’s something nice about coordinated lighting that can be controlled from either side, I think. I’ve narrowed it down to two options. Which style do you like?

Setto wall lamp, La Redoute; Aska table lamp, Lights&Lamps.

If I’ve learned anything about lighting in my years working in interiors, it’s the L word. Layers. So with a tick next to the bedside lamps (hopefully), attention turns to the big light, which if you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know I believe is an essential in a room for practical reasons alone (see my living room for more on that).

The question: match the big light to the bedside lamps or make a statement on its own?

Libby shade, John Lewis; Ruolan raffia shade, Dunelm.

Bedding then.

I’m a linen bedding person. It’s meant to look crumpled so no ironing required – BIG win, it feels lovely, is temperature controlling and available in lots of lovely colours. But that’s where my question comes in. I did initially think a neutral shade would work, keeping everything very tonal. But I’m now concerned it might turn into something that ends up being *whisper it* a bit boring. So am I to go for bedding that introduces that pop of contrast? Or keep it classic and add colour through cushions and throws?

Girona bedding, Dusk; Botanical Green linen duvet, Piglet In Bed; Conker linen bedding, Secret Linen Store.

A bedroom needs a mirror too. A full length one. We had to (very messily) remove a mirror that had been haphazardly glued (yes, glued) to the wall in the corner. The mirrored panels actually covered both sides of the corner, behind the entrance door, which was totally impractical. I had to either wedge close to the wall to get a good outfit view or piece together two sides of my reflection.

I’ve narrowed down my search to these two…

Venus mirror, Daals; Wavy mirror, Etsy.

And just for fun. I’d love to know your thoughts here too…

I’ll share what becomes of the bedroom soon enough. For now, thank you for your collaboration in the decorating process. Really, what I’m most curious about is how many of you watch TV in bed. Go on, be honest.

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