I've been mulling over doing a bedroom makeover lately. Maybe it's the winter doldrums at work here but it's time for a change. Yes, it seems like just yesterday I did a whole "brown and pink makeover" in my bedroom but in fact, it has been a few years. Time flies. If you're getting bored with the look of a room, it's probably been far too long since it's been redone.
Luckily, bedrooms can be fairly easy to update. You can do a quick change with new linens and curtains or go all out with fresh paint as well. In my case, I can't put off painting much longer. Though I hate the idea of it, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do the work. I still prefer to paint when I can open a window so I've got a few months to plan before the work actually begins. Planning is the fun part and it does give you the illusion that changes are being made (even if you're not yet prepared to actually make them).
Before you paint
Now is a great time in the process to research colour schemes, linens and accessories you'll want in your new room. I'd start with the linens and choose the paint colours once the linen choice has been made. It's easier to match a paint colour to the linens rather than the other way around.
There are tons of options in the linen arena. If you're not sure what style or colour palette you want, try doing some online window-shopping to see what catches your fancy. Make note of the wall colour in any photos you come across when online shopping for linens. This may help you when the time comes to shop for paint colours.
Many sets come with a plethora of decorative cushions and shams that aren't very useful and usually end up on the floor, so spend your decorating budget on items you'll actually use. Better to spend a little more on a quality bedspread and bed skirt than a quilt set with a lot of cushions that will just be in the way. Look for quilts that have a reversible pattern. This will give you a little more versatility, which will keep the decor interesting.
When shopping for sheets, look for open stock sales and purchase extra flat sheets that can be used to make co-ordinating window coverings, a bed skirt, a duvet cover and even extra pillowcases. Flat sheets already have finished edges and hems so they make quick work of a window covering simply by threading the rod through the face hem. Use enough fabric width so the window treatment is full and elegant. Let the curtains pool on the floor a bit if you don't want to hem them. Put small weights in the bottom hem so they hang properly. If you do have to hem the curtains you can use a no-sew product like hemming tape. All you need is a hot iron to secure the hem. Making a bed skirt is just as easy. Cut the sheet in lengths required and at a useable depth, and simply tuck the cut end between the mattress and box spring, exposing the already finished sheet ends. The fabric will stay put unless you're using something slippery like satin. You can even create box pleats by simply folding the length of fabric to create a pleat before you tuck it in between the mattress and box spring.
If there is any fabric left after these projects, you can use it to cover decorative containers, recover the seat of a vanity chair or make your own decorative cushion covers. You may even find that the pattern of your sheets is so lovely that you could frame a section of it over a stretcher frame to create your own artwork.
A dated headboard can be brought into the present by covering it in fabric as well. Use a co-ordinating sheet to create a new headboard or to cover your existing headboard in your new decor. When I last redid my bedroom in pink and brown, I bought two matching duvet covers. One duvet was used on the bed. I took the second duvet apart and used the decorative top for curtains and the less decorative but cozy fleece bottom layer to cover the headboard. Easy and affordable.
Paint
Once you've chosen your linens you can proceed to shop for a co-ordinating paint colour for the walls. Let the linen colours be your guide. Be wary of the lighting conditions in the room as well. You may very well like the look of a dark wall colour in a decor photo but if you have poor lighting in the bedroom you could be creating a cave-like atmosphere. Pay attention as well to the woodwork in your bedroom. Dark window trim and baseboards might look better with a lighter wall colour. If your trim is already white you can be bold and go with rich wall colour. You'll note in our feature photograph, courtesy CIL Paints, the rich wall colour works because most of the other elements in the room are light. White headboard, bedding, trim and a light carpet colour help balance the rich wall colours. The effect is stunning if you can pull it off. As an aside: grey carpeting can be a hard colour to co-ordinate with but this purple/navy combo is a great choice.
Well... time to get started. Let's plan together for an update for spring. Keep me posted!
connieoliver@shaw.ca
