Help! Small bedroom needs painting and headboard advice

Question

This is the wall with my new platform bed that my hubby built. We are trying to decide if we should have a head board or no head board. It is a queen size for reference. One small window bed is centered. The room is too small to move to the side of window :-(
Last , is the painting to do! Now I am not so sure that I like the color,it is bright. But look at the old color- it was so out of date and dingie.
I really want a warm cozy feeling, the bed is queen size for size reference.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

My opinion is not to use a headboard but rather some colorful pillows. The color looks to be fine and is very neutral so when you want to change out bed coverings it will blend nicely.

Paige · Answer

If you were to move the bed to the left then yes I think you should have a head board but it you keep it where it is then I think no head board but you should paint the wall behind your bed a different color then the rest of the room! As an accent wall and it will take away from the no head board. I am a fan of white wood work, doors and a little darker walls for the bedroom! I painted mine a grey with teal accents! I love it...I feel very cozy in my bedroom and I like the darker color..makes my room feel a little dark for sleeping. I have white furniture. ....Good luck. :) Would love to see the 'After' pics!

Debbie · Answer

One option is to get an extra wide curtain that would make it appear your bed is centered. I personally like neutral color walls with color in the accessories. Curtains and throw pillows could be made from colorful sheets. Non sewers can use fabric glue and iron on tape to make the curtains, etc. I love your coverlet. That made me think of another idea. One could hang a pretty quilt, coverlet centered over the bed, covering the window. I have hung quilts as art pieces and gotten so many compliments. Also, I recently bought a beautiful piece of fabric that i will staple gun to a wooden frame to use as art piece. Forgive my rambling but that's how my mind works. haha Good luck.

K. Cantrell · Answer

I say put the bed on the door wall and go for a tall headboard to bring the eye up. Update those lamps with color. You don't always have to have the bed facing the door. The window are throwing everything off. If you do keep be where is, opt for a whole wall of curtains as you headboard and camouflage the odd placement of the windows!

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Since your hubby built the bed I would have him make the headbord- measuring so the headboard falls just under the windowsill. I would simply go to the fabric store and get some fake leather or embossed faux suede and use the cheap bed mattress pad as the stuffing. Just stretch and staple the fabric on the back. 
I see you cannot move the bed so I would look for a picture or artwork about the size of the window above the bed to balance. I would find nice curtains that match but not necessarily are the same length since the bed is in the way. Or I would find a way to build the headboard leaving just enough room for the curtain to slide behind it. 
Then I would somehow tack the cord into the corner of the wall so it is not dangling. Since I see your patchwork bedspread which has a lot of blue I would go with a medium blue or teal that are in the stripes. Red is not suggested a good idea for a bedroom and blue can be a very soothing and relaxing color in the bedroom. The headboard I would make black so that if you change out your bed coverings the black is a classic. Your nightstands need some help which I am suggestings no electronics near the bed and either have a lamp on each nightstand or stick with the hanging lamps on each side. If you go with the hanging lamps, then use the night stands for your alarm clock, nice vase, book, etc. Do not clutter with a bunch of stuff. I would even look for another nightstand like the one on the right side with doors and drawers to hide stuff. If you must have the tv in the bedroom, I would mount it on the wall. Check Ikea for tv mounts for the wall as I have found them to sometimes have the best prices). 
A bedroom needs to be a simple and relaxing place for you and your hubby to unwind. 
I hope some of these suggestions work. Work with the window and what you have and you can achieve a beautiful space

Julie · Answer

my idea would be to not put a headboard but add curtains across the whole wall.You could hang a few pictures off the rod. if you have an extra curtain panel make pillows to match.

Scarlet Paolicchi · Answer

I think a short DIY headboard is in order so you can have the dressed up look without the bumping against the window frame. Something like this http://familyfocusblog.com/headboard-diy-project/ but just modify with a rectangular shape and lower height.

MN Mom · Answer

How about having Handy Hubby build a frame identical  to your window and deep enough for installing a window treatment. Hang this new 'window' equal distance from the side wall. Now it appears as if you have double windows. Freshen up the miniblind by replacing it with an in expensive matchstick blind or custom roman shade (lots of tutorials on how-to using a mini blind) Then hang a curtain panel on either side of your new focal point wall. I would also consider matching night stands to unify the room. You could almost skip a headboard in favor of lots of toss pillows. A king size or body pillow can double duty as the pillow version of a headboard and anchor the others.

Country Design Home · Answer

For me, its all about the symmetry. As Barbara S said, have hubby build a frame but I would add a mirror (for reflected light) next to the existing window, paint the frames the same color and hang drapes around both. Even add the mini blinds so they appear to be a matching double window. You could add a low headboard to anchor the entire wall.

Jill edelman · Answer

How about Angle the bed out of the corner the corner that is between the Windows add an interesting headboard and hang a light fixture above.

Jill edelman · Answer

Something like this

Charmelle West Watkins · Answer

I was going to suggest Barbara S's idea. But with a twist...years ago on Christopher Lowell show, he added rope lights behind 'glass' on the faux window to add lite and complete the illusion. center the bed, eliminating a nightstand if needed. Paint remaining furniture all the same color. Good luck!

Jill edelman · Answer

How about try it and only put curtains on outside of Windows???

Danielle · Answer

Why not embrace the dark? After all, it's a room to sleep in so you're pretty much probably there when it's dark outside anyway. Use heavy drapes, maybe in satin to give you some shimmer, and go right across the entire wall with them. If you want to simulate a headboard change the drapery color in the space where a headboard would be and embellish the drapes to make it stand out. Paint the doors and trim white (except for the closet doors, I'd paint them the wall color to make them blend, then go darker on the walls. See how great the floors in the photo look with that paint and it isn't very dark, but quite soothing. Paint the side tables and chest of drawers, mount the tv on the wall, spray your light fixtures white. Thrift up some artwork, use a great king size patterned sheet as a bedspread, this little room could be fab and I bet you could do it for under $150 if you shop wisely.

Kayo Frazier · Answer

Here's my 2 cents...My 1st thought was to give it a bohemian look the cool thing w/ that style is the range of color you can use...You can go bold, subtle, or something in between ...Not sure that is a style that would work for you, but it could be something to consider. The way your bedroom is set up, keep the bed tucked away from the bedroom door this will give you a little more privacy & the bed isn't the 1st thing you see when you open the door. You could set up a headboard however it should stay just below the window. Then you can add some throw pillows or bolsters of different sizes. I'd add your favorite light color to the walls & paint the trim & all the doors white. This will make the room seem bigger than it is. I would change the shades to something smaller as well. The nightstands do not have to be matchy-matchy, so I would go w/ something for each side that is taller & has 2-3 drawers to put things in them to help keep the room neat. If you can, put the hamper in the closet or laundry room so you can open up floor space. I'd change the color of the bureau of drawers to a bold color maybe w/ an Indian/Moroccan stencil? Hope this helps.

Linda Fraser · Answer

For the first thing I would get the tv off the chest of drawers and hang it on the wall to the right of the bed. They make the hangers that you can swing it out when you want to watch.
As for the walls you said you want something warm. I would go with a soft light brown. If you go too dark it will make the room feel even smaller. Since your lamps hang down from the ceiling I would do away with the night stand in the corner. I would then slide the bed over closer to the wall. I don't think a headboard would work but you could use a nice picture about half the width of your bed hung kind of low towards the bed. Whichever night stand you keep I would give it a makeover. Paint job etc. The last thing would be the window. Whatever colors you end up doing then I would pick a curtain that matches the lightest shade. I would go with a solid. I hope I helped in some small way. Good luck

Jill edelman · Answer

How about make it into a day bed ?? Push the side up the wall to the left put a bunch of pillows on the bed up against the wall hang some cool pics or frames on that wall. This way it gives more space in the room ?

MSKMGR · Answer

I agree with Danielle as stated above. Use fabric/curtains to cover the entire wall. You could then add just about any headboard. The headboard will prevent your pillows from falling behind the bed.

Deborah Conard · Answer

Can the bed turn a different way? Then you could have a headboard. I would change the lights to swinging arm ones, so that they can be out to the side when not needed. Curtains would warm up the room and a small rug, too.

CK · Answer

If this is the best location for your bed, you can still have a headboard. Since your hubby made the platform we know he's crafty :-) Just have him build a headboard custom sized so that it doesn't go any higher than the bottom of the window.

In our former home I had a bed under a window in a guest room. Didn't want to block the window so I used the footboard from our other bed as the headboard. The fact that a footboard is usually lower in height, made it work perfectly.

Who says a headboard has to be high? ;-) I wanted a headboard so the pillow wouldn't fall off the head end of the bed. The footboard's height worked perfectly.

Now as to the paint color.....Hard to tell on photos but if I was to make a recommendation, I'd say pull your favorite color from that throw on the end of your bed. Get that color in a lighter tint for the wall and ceiling too. Painting the ceiling the same color will actually help make your room look larger. There is a lot you can do with accessories too...but I'd be writing a book if I got into all the fun stuff I'd suggest for your room. LOL! ;-)

Sue H · Answer

I agree a head board is a yes it anchors a bed and better FungShui. I would take the boarder down as it dates the room. Paint the walls even woodwork, doors, Lots of wood in there now. I always paint the ceiling 2 shades lighter than the walls. darker clors makes it feel more cozy and rich. even a gray, or taupe. Lamps swing arm is good. Also the night stands do not have to match. Even a wall shelf that would appear smaller. Not sure how high the bed is but higher makes a statement. Large pic not little ones. A trunk or stool at the end of the bed to sit on and put shoes on and storage.Good luck.

Janice Koontz · Answer

Yes, a head board is necessary. You can hang an old shutter, with fresh paint, maybe most of the colors you have in the spread. I also think that a really light wall paint is in order. Why not take the yellow out of the spread and make the walls a really pale maize. I did that to a very small bedroom and it made the room look larger. But it must be very light. Do not use earth colors, green, brown, or sky colors, blue. You need a very happy color. Very light.

Kim |Exquisitely Unremarkable · Answer

I would definitely add simple headboard to give the bed some scale and make it look more finished.

Help! Small bedroom needs painting and headboard advice

Suggested Project Book

14 Pineapple Tastic Projects Perfect For Tropical Fun

Other

More

Help! Small bedroom needs painting and headboard advice

Suggested Project Book