Primary Bedroom Makeover

Cozying up at home is not an unusual occurrence right now. Pandemic living, for many, means abundant time in our homes with our nearest and dearest. So, if you are anything like me, perhaps this has inspired you to find ways to make your home a little more cozy. If you are finding this too, I’d love to share a couple of books I have thoroughly enjoyed and perhaps you may as well. Check out Parachute founder, Ariel Kaye’s book How to Make a House A Home and Natalie Walton’s book This Is Home.

One of the places that I think is often overlooked is the primary bedroom or master bedroom. While we often focus on the areas we spend the most time - the great room/living room, kitchen etc. our very own rooms are not always front and center. For the first time in our marriage, my hubby and I decided our bedroom needed a little (or a lot) of love given to it to make it a cozy space to rest and rejuvenate. We actually ended up moving shortly after we did some updates and so, though we brought our furnishings with us, we are now in a different space that isn’t quite the same. (We are currently living in my grandparent’s old house for a year or so while we build our home. I cannot quite express my excitement to design our new home! I’ll share more on that journey as we go!) Even though this space for us is temporary, I still want our room to feel like an oasis full of cozy and a place our minds know to rest. So, regardless of if your space is temporary, permanent, large or small and if your budget for enhancing this space is abundant or modest, I believe that there are some great tricks to help make this special space a place you never want to leave. (Perhaps you should skip reading this post if you need encouragement getting out of bed, because this wont help! Haha!)

Get Inspired

Blogs, books, magazines, the internet…inspiration is abundant if you look . Start collecting imagery that resonates with you and conveys the way you want to feel in your room. Select inspiration that feels unique to your personal style, not just what is trendy right now. Fall in love with images that you could see yourself stepping into. Once you have a handful of images that you have collected, notice the things in each of them that are similar. Are you drawn to the soft colors, the natural materials used, the shapes of the furniture? Keep those things top of mind as you create your own design. Next, create a color palette that feels good to you. The mind and body need to rest in your room and so choosing tones that are soft and calming are a good idea. If you are like me, I like to put together imagery, colors and words in one place in the form of a vision board. This can easily be done on paper with magazine clippings, paint cards and handwritten words or if you’d like to use the computer to do it all in one place, it is easily done in Pages. Next, get to work!

Clear The Clutter

To get started, create a blank slate. Remove everything from the room to eliminate any distractions. Sort your items into piles for keeping and donating. Decide how much you are wanting to invest in this project by purchasing new items and how much you’d like to repurpose what you already have. Determine what you will keep based on the items that fall in line with the aesthetic and feeling you have identified. Be very selective when it comes to determining something goes in the keep pile. If you feel unsure about an item, as you consider it, look at the vision board and ask yourself if it will help achieve what you have designed. If it is an absolute yes, keep it. If not, put it in the donate bin or the garbage. And remember, simplifying your bedroom helps your mind relax. Clean surfaces and edited displays limit visual stimulation and create a peaceful atmosphere. Blank space between objects gives the eye a break, allows for special pieces to stand out and the mind to feel at ease.

Good Paint

Adding a fresh coat of paint to your bedroom can be one of the most remarkable differences you make. In general, selecting a color that is cool, neutral or a muted tone gives a feeling of calm. But above all, select a color that makes you feel the sense of zen you are looking for. Here’s a round up of Elle Decor’s Best Bedroom Paint Colors That Designers Swear By.

Furniture Positioning

Position your furniture in your room in a way that when you walk in, you know what the purpose of the room is for. For the bedroom, the purpose is sleep and relaxation, so positioning your bed in a way that it is the focal point makes sense. Once your bed is in place, build out from there. Nightstands compliment the bed and have a purpose of holding your essentials. Be thoughtful as you decide what goes on or in each of them. What do you like to keep nearby? A book? Lip balm? A water bottle? A vessel to hold jewelry? Beyond the bed and nightstands, the dresser is often the next largest item in the room. Think about your flow as you wake up and move about, getting ready for the day. Think about a practical location for your dresser that allows the space you need for the flow you would like. The dresser is another focal point and choosing a piece with great character can be really impactful. I love selecting furniture pieces that compliment each other without being overly matching. Once your main items are in place, add in any items that would act as embellishments - think accent chairs, a vanity, desk, shelving etc.

Clear Surfaces

Your dresser, vanity, desk and any other horizontal surfaces in your room can easily become a base for clutter. Be weary of this and get rid of anything that doesn’t absolutely have to go on top of each space. Think of these spaces as the base of an art installation, with the pieces that you style on top of them being the art. Clean surfaces and edited displays limit visual stimulation and create a peaceful atmosphere. Keep in mind that blank space between objects gives the eye a break and allows for special pieces to stand out. In order to continue keeping things tidy, ensure that everything in your room has a home that it can easily be put back in rather than just plopped on top of a counter top.

Invest In Quality Bedding

I have a firm belief that investing in quality bedding can be an absolute game changer in getting a restful night sleep, maintaining good hygiene and making your bedroom feel like a true oasis. The difference between sleeping in sheets that are pure, high quality cotton or a gorgeous linen versus sleeping in polyester is like a whole new world and you’ll never go back. Trust me. We replaced our old bedding with fresh, new, gorgeous linens from Parachute and it was one of the best moves we’ve ever made. Parachute has all kinds of different options ranging from sateen to cloud cotton to linen and percale. Our bed is topped with linen or percale sheets, a percale duvet and a cloud cotton quilt. I never want to get out of it. This female owned company focuses on creating the highest quality textiles with sustainable and socially responsible practices and I cannot speak highly enough of them. Their desire to create approachable, luxurious bedding that is good for you, for humanity and the earth is admirable to say the least. Just hop on over to their instagram to find yourself all of the cozy inspiration you need. Aside from great sheets, remember that you should be purchasing a new mattress every 6-8 years and new pillows every 1-2 years to keep your body rested and healthy.

The Right Lighting

Choosing the right lighting is imperative to creating an atmosphere that soothes your soul. A statement chandelier or large pendant style light can be a perfect opportunity to bring character to your bedroom. Choose something that brings you joy the moment you open your eyes or as soon as you look in your bedroom door. Sconces or pendant lights on each side of the bed add the perfect soft reading light. Make sure the power switch is in a good location to reach as you close your book and close your eyes. Additional lamps popped around the room in any areas you feel like you might need some extra light or lamps on your nightstands can be another source of decor and illumination. Make sure to select soft white lights instead of the sterile blue tones that LED’s can often come in. Check out this great guide from Rejuvenation on how to select the right size lighting for your room.

Soft Draperies

Window draperies are kind of like the mascara of the room. If you need privacy, roller shades can be a great option and are a very cost effective way to achieve it. Topping them off with draperies will add a touch of softness to a harsh, geometric shaped window. They create a beautiful focal point and put a special finishing touch on the room. Sheers can be a really lovely way to add just a pop of softness without being overwhelming or feeling too heavy. Remember that when you hang your drapes, there are some important rules to follow and Alice Lane, one of my favorite designers, lays them out for us well here.

Meaningful Artwork and Greenery

When selecting artwork for your bedroom, and your home in general, choose pieces with meaning. Perhaps you have some special pieces you have collected from your travels, or a family heirloom. Maybe a local artist creates pieces that really inspire your soul or your wedding vows could be commissioned into a piece of art. Choose pieces that inspire you from the moment you wake up. When selecting art, the larger the better. Though it may seem counterintuitive, larger pieces actually make a room feel much larger than a bunch of small ones. Along with artwork to brighten up a space, there is something rejuvenating about having living plants in our homes. Not only do they help clean the air we breathe, the pop of green brings (literally) a touch of life to a stale corner. Use them to spruce up your bedroom!

A Good Alarm Clock

Most of us know that the effects associated with having our cell phones near us at all time are not great. Experts say that we should turn off all electronics 30 minutes prior to bedtime and that upon waking, they should not be the first thing we look at. A great way to help solve this problem is to get an alarm clock to wake up with - like the good ‘ol days! I loved the idea of the sunrise alarm clock and looked at a number of them. The Hatch Restore is a great option but has a high price tag. We ended up purchasing the Hemivision Alarm Clock and have been really satisfied with it. Waking up to the sounds of birds chirping and the sunrise is a great way to start the day in our own oasis.

Enhance The Senses

Like icing on the cake, fragrance has a huge impact on how we feel. A candle can add an extra glow along with a scent that calms our mood. Linen sprays can also add a fresh burst to your bedding. Choosing candles and sprays scented with natural ingredients help to avoid anything too overpowering or artificial. Anthropologie carries some of my favorite candles and here is a resource for the top 10 linen sprays.

Make It Your Own

Above all, remember to make your space your own. Design in a way that feels true to your heart and conveys the feeling that you would like to experience inside of it. Starting from the beginning of your design until the last piece is placed in your room, make sure each item resonates with you. After all, you are the most important part of it!