Moody Master Bedroom
I love a bright and airy space as much as the next person, but every once in a while a space is just screaming “MAKE ME MOODY!!!” There is a fine line between making a space moody and making it a cave - and it can seem like a tight rope act to try to get it right. Here is an initial concept board for a master bedroom project that I am currently working on and I wanted to share it with all of you. Keep reading for a breakdown of the choices and I’ve included a shopping links for anyone that wants to recreate this space in your home!
Paint Color
Paint color can make or break a project, but the good news is this is actually the aspect that has the most bang for your buck in terms of impact - and honestly is one of the easiest DIY projects around. Dark paints have gotten a bad rep as making spaces feel smaller but dark colors tend to recede - making walls appear further away. (Overcrowding your space with too many furnishings/stuff or with furnishings at the wrong scale is more likely to make your room feel small than a dark paint color.) For this project, Sherwin-William’s Indigo Batik is the paint color I selected. Its a deep gray blue with some green undertones that still feels warm and cozy.
Bed/Bedding
Your bed and bedding should create a focal point in your bedroom since it’s the primary piece of furniture in the room. For this project, I went with an upholstered bed to add some lightness to the space. Now, if you have a cat who likes to use your bed or other furniture as a scratching post (bad kitty!), I would not recommend an upholstered bed/headboard. Even if you get it in a performance fabric, it will not hold up to kitty claws.
The bedding is the European Flax Linen Styled Bedding Set from West Elm and is just the perfect combination of textures and billowy softness that invites you to come crawl in and fall asleep. You can buy the individual pieces separately (so if you already have sheets you love, maybe just grab the duvet cover, pillow shams, and throws) but for most people its easier to visualize the whole thing put together. Bedding is somewhere I suggest that you spend a little more money as quality bedding can have SUCH a dramatic impact on your sleep - which in turn has a direct impact on mental wellbeing and overall health. I am loving linen bedding right now for multiple reasons including that it just has such a great texture. Its also a natural material and has a cool hand but also insulates well. This works well for my husband (always hot) and I (always cold) because he appreciates the coolness of the sheets and I love the insulating qualities. Now, if you’re someone that HAS to have crisp sheets that look freshly ironed/steamed, linen is not the way to go as it wrinkles easily and while I think adds to its texture/charm, it will drive you crazy.
Window Treatments
Window treatments are often overlooked in a design (honestly, when I first started at RMCAD, I would get in ‘trouble’ for forgetting them haha), but without them a design does not look complete. A designer tip is to layer your window treatments - this can be blinds with drapes or double drapes - or for one client who hated drapes we did roller shades with roman blinds. In this project we are layering the existing white roman shades with these pretty blue drapes from West Elm which are light enough to brighten up the dark blue paint, but also add some texture and just enough color.
Night Stand
I selected leggy night stands to keep the space feeling more open/airy. If you can see under furniture, it helps keep it from feeling too heavy, especially in a small space. It is also helpful in this case as it will help balance the paint color. Drawers on a nightstand are so practical that I almost never recommend something without them - they give you an easy place to store essentials nearby without having to pile up things on the surface. I’ve found that stuff/clutter collects more stuff - if you can clear off the surface of a table top of “stuff” it is less likely to gather more stuff there. The gold accents of the hardware and legs will pop nicely against the blue and works well with the gold hues in the rug.
Chair
I think every bedroom needs a spot to sit that’s not the bed… a chair, bench at the end of the bed, sofa (I dream of the day I have a bedroom large enough to have a sofa). This bedroom is a little tight on space, so a bench at the foot of the bed wasn’t feasible. Instead I selected a mid-century modern styled armchair which will sit in the corner and provide a space to take shoes on/off or read a book. This one comes in a variety of upholstery options which is always a bonus - I always recommend choosing a performance fabric for something you’re sitting on, especially if you have children or pets. Its just a better investment because the furniture will look better for longer.
Light Fixtures
Next, the light fixtures - the “jewelry” of the design. I love picking fun light fixtures for a space, but you also need to make sure they coordinate with your other selections - you don’t want an ultra modern chandelier if you’re going for a farmhouse feel. Also, you need more than one overhead light in a space - lighting looks best and has the biggest impact when it is layered and mixed.
For the overhead light, I selected this rustic, airy chandelier with a linen shade which complements the bedding and softens the light. Make sure when selecting a light fixture that it will fit in the space. Look for a blog post coming soon on some general guidelines for this (I’ll link it here once I have it up!)
I selected some swing arm sconces in black and gold for either side of the bed which will double as task and accent lighting. They also tie together the finish of the chandelier and the nightstand hardware and provide a little bit of a sculptural element. I love sconces instead of bedside table lamps because they don’t take up space on the nightstand (and won’t be knocked over in the middle of the night… not that I have ever done that or anything).
Rug
A rug is a great way to tie everything together and bring some warmth and color to a space. This rug is power loomed polypropylene with a cotton backing, which makes it highly durable at a very reasonable price. The size of the rug should be dependent on the size of your bed and room, but you want to try to have the bed on the rug with three feet on either side to make the space feel grounded. In this project, there are hardwood floors, so the rug will help warm up the space and keep feet from getting a cool shock in the morning when getting up. Rugs can be used with most wall to wall carpeting as well - the trick is to pick something in a different texture/pile height. This rug combines the blue, ivory and gold tones from the other selections in a very impactful abstract pattern that will feel modern in the space.
Accessories
Artwork is something that is highly personal and should speak to you (and it doesn’t have to ‘match’ the rest of the room). In this case, the design pulls colors from this piece into the rest of the room. It is a calming watercolor scene that is just a little dreamlike and invokes nature and the calming feelings that come with that.
I also strongly believe that every space should have some greenery, so we’ve suggested this succulent trio. Succulents are easy to take care of especially if you forget to water your plants regularly (me) and can survive being a little neglected. They are also slow growers, so you don’t need to worry about replanting as frequently as some other plants.
Hopefully this jumpstarted some ideas for you in your own space! I’d love to know your thoughts! Also, if you’re sitting there thinking - man, I wish she would do this for one of my spaces… well guess what? I can! Head on over to “My Services” page and check out my e-design packages. You will get a design board with shopping list created specifically for your space and a ‘how to’ list included so you can put it together in your room!
Brittany