I’m back with another decorating dilemma, this time with Christine with Decorum DIYer. She has a master bedroom that has her all frazzled, trying to figure out just what to do with it. It’s around 13 x 13.5’, so not a big room. You can also see those long and skinny windows are a bit of a challenge too. Christine and her hubby are not into “light and airy” and like moody, deep tone colors.
So, let’s see what we can do to help Christine with her decorating dilemma. I must admit, I’m not coming up with a lot off the top of my head, but Christine has already made a moodboard herself in Olioboard, so I’ll share that here as well. She has a great start already to getting the feel she wants, I think.
Here are those problem windows. In a room this small, it’s hard not to have the bed in front of the windows.
Both main walls have a row of windows. It’s really hard to make these windows appear bigger than they are due to how long and skinny they are. Ideas for Christine?
I think this is a door to the closet and the bathroom. She has an orange tone in the bathroom.
Ceiling fan must stay, but maybe a new style?
Christine’s own moodboard. I really like the colors she has and if she can bring this vibe into her room, she’ll have a warm and cozy space. Here’s what she said about the room:
- The furniture must stay for now, but I am open to painting furniture pieces. The night stands have been replaced with faux bamboo chests (which I love) and they must stay and I am really don’t want to paint them. I sort of dig the original, vintage finish.
- My husband is attached to the current wall color, but I am open to changing it, as long as the room stays in autumnal hues. We are not into ‘light and airy’. We gravitate to darker, moodier spaces with tons of worldly influence, particularly Asian inspired (this includes Japan, China, Indonesia, India, etc… – as in the entire continent of Asia).
- We want to paint the trim and doors and would like to add architectural elements to the ceiling and possibly paint it darker than the walls. The bathroom is currently orange, but we are open to changing that as well, but the tile is there to stay for a long time.
- The room is small for a master bedroom, roughly 13′ x 13.5′.
- As the home is a 1960’s rancher, the windows are wide and squat for privacy, but not my favorite.
- One wall is a bank of by-pass doors which function as both closet doors and the master bathroom’s door. I dislike the limiting access that by-pass doors present and dislike even more that my master bathroom’s privacy is dependent upon the closet door usage. Although the by-pass doors are space-saving, they are not attractive, nor ideal in terms of usage.
- Ceiling fan must stay (even if it is a different style), but needs to be more attractive.
- Master bedroom and master bathroom must relate. The room is a boring box, with no interesting detail, nor style.
Ok, let’s help Christine with her decorating dilemma. Feel free to chime in the comments with some ideas for her. I don’t have any great brainstorms right now, but I know all of you love to tackle this too.
http://thelittlebrownhouse.us/2012/02/12/sometimes-plan-b-is-better/ This is very attractive and similar to what I was referring to with the drapery on the entire wall behind the bed.
Janet, it is so funny that you mentioned the wall-to-wall drapery solution, because THAT is exactly what I did this past weekend (as I was painting the trim, I might add). I, too, have grommet-top panels, but the depth (at least six inches) was really hogging up some valuable headboard/nightstand/room space, so I did something unconventional to solve my problem. I’m hoping to share soon. Thank you so much!
I see someone suggested a wall of drapes or fabric in lieu of the sliding closet/bathroom doors. I was going to suggest the same as well with the exception of removing the left door panel and keeping the right for privacy by allowing it to slide behind the fabric to open/close.
Exactly, Rebecca. That was what I was thinking! In lieu of getting rid of all of it (my long-term plan). The only problem is that the track is set up so that the bathroom door slides in front of the middle panel. It would take a lot of reconfiguration and cutting of the tracks to make that work. Also, I would need to figure a way to provide a support for any/all curtain rod (even if it was supported from above – underside of closet molding on top). Great suggestion, though!
First thanks for not having light and airy. I would suggest using a wall of fabric behind the bed with the spread/shams etc in a matching pattern. The other windows could be bamboo shades. I like painting the fan but most blades are reversible so the other side might be plain. Find a light fixture in a more opal/beige color which would give the room a candle light look when it was on. I think I would put doors on the closet and bath but paint the doors the color of the walls. I would agree with the others about painting the bathroom maybe a semi-gloss the same color as the bedroom. Good luck and post pictures, please.
Christine, please forgive me if I am repeating ideas that others have already expressed but I haven’t had a chance to read the comments yet. I love these decorating dilemmas and couldn’t wait to add my two cents. The first thing that I would do is install a separate door for the bathroom. I can’t get a feel for the entire layout so I don’t know what works but there has to be a way to have more privacy in the bath. I couldn’t live with that. Next, either paint the doors in the ecru color (I don’t think you can add any trim or molding because they won’t slide) or replace them with sliding Shoji screens that would cover only the closet. I love the idea of the ecru trim and the orange colored walls. My only hesitation is that the wall color may not be soothing enough for a bedroom, but if you think you can live with that, go for it. Forget curtains (they will weigh down the room) and cover the windows in bamboo blinds. I’m pretty sure you can get them in the length you need. Bamboo blinds are easy to install, are relatively inexpensive, and if hung at ceiling level, will give the illusion of taller windows. Ironically, when I did a search for bamboo shades I saw a Smith & Noble picture with orange walls, white trim around a window, bamboo shades and a bamboo covered chest. It looked fabulous. I know you want to get rid of wood tones but I would not paint the bed. I would, however cut off the posts. Radical – yes, but it will give a more open appearance to the room. I would think about covering the headboard in pre-woven cane too (look Layla Grace’s Isabella bed on Olioboard). I would ditch the lamps and use sconces for reading in bed, again to open up the space. I’m not sure what your floors are but I would take out any carpeting, if you have it, and install hardwood floors. If you absolutely need a rug, I would make that the one investment for the room. The overhead light fixtures you picked out are great but can you use those with the fan? I love having a fan over my bed but I think they are less intrusive if only a fan and not a light, too. If you have to have a light there, I suggest you look for one where the light is flush with the fan. Lowes has some that are fairly reasonable. I’ve always thought that Minka Aire’s Gyro fan would be a cool addition but it may be too bulky for your space and it’s not cheap. Lastly, I would talk to someone before installing crown molding. I’m afraid it will make the ceiling look lower but someone with more expertise should be able to give you good advice. Hope this helps. Good luck.
You could put plantation shutters on the windows in a dark wood tone and paint the walls a darkish color that would integrate with the windows. Center the bed under one of the windows and the the shutter would appear to be a “headboard” with perhaps some horizontal wood boards mounted on the wall to fill the space between the bed and the window.
I have a similar window over my bed. To make it appear larger try using (stationary) extra wide curtain panels hung on either side of the window covering the entire wall and hang them from the top of the wall, use a wooden roman shade as well over the windows for privacy. I don’t have a picture available of mine but here is an example, I used a pole going across the entire window though.. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/2-easy-organizing-techniques-60690
I love your mood board! I too enjoy darker and warmer colors. Good luck looks like you are off to a great start!
I’d paint the ceiling fan blades and the metal parts if they want. and add color in with Batik fabrics (almost any quilting store has that), it will help with her Asian look. Have organic pcs in there, cottons, linens, wood, metal, etc.
karan
Christine, what about framing out your asian screen to fit over the window and using it as a tall headboard, removing your bed and using a bedframe instead. You could attach the bedframe to the wall using l-brackets. Your second window would provide enough light and you like cozy. Hang a shelf maybe 18 or 20″ square on either side of the bed for nightstands and hang your moroccan star lights from the ceiling over the shelves. This would keep space on the floor empty giving the illusion of a bigger room. You could even tuck a fabric ottoman under one of the shelves and pull it out when you need to put on your shoes or just as a small extra seat. The top of the shelf/nightstands would be free for clock, candles, books, etc. Enjoy the process and make the room YOU!
Enjoy the process. Take it slow and easy.
I was surprised to see this, because this is almost EXACTLY what we have in our room. Ours is a couple of feet bigger, and the window that isn’t behind the bed is a sliding glass door. I don’t like to put furniture in front of windows, but had no choice. We chose to put a deep cornice that we built and upholstered at the ceiling level over the bed and covered the back with a soft teal fabric that goes all the way to the floor. (Well, almost. I cheated a little because I didn’t want the dust mop to be deterred in its task! But it’s behind the bed, so that’s okay.) We love it and have had a lot of compliments. Will be happy to send a pic if you’d like to see it. I’m new to your site and love it.
I’m sure you have thought so much about this and some great ideas! Hope you still enjoy reading more, here’s my thoughts!
I like crown molding..(same color) as trim around the windows and the ceiling fan(w/o a light) same color—cream. Ceiling paint a couple shades lighter than wall color.
For the windows I think drapes with a light to medium color/print with a weave texture. Have 2 separate rods hung high and encompassing most of the wall with maybe several feet between them and then above the high windows, I’m thinking a phrase painted/stenciled like you’ve done before. That’s all I have. Can’t wait to see your pictures!
Here’s a free and easy fix for the ceiling fan. Flip the blades over so that only wood is showing. We did this to update ours.
The first thing I would do is to get rid of the 4 poster bed. As least get rid of the 4 posters. The bed takes up more than its share of space, and the posters just make it visually all that much larger. Removing the posters would improve the balance of the bed in the room.