7 Tips for Creating a Dreamy Updated Master Bedroom Retreat

2 Materials
$2000
2 Weeks
Easy
Are you ready for a bedroom refresh? Here are 7 master bedroom ideas with tips to help you create a dreamy updated retreat.
Did you ever finish decorating a room and know in your heart it’s not right?


But you spent all this money and put in a lot of effort so you try to ignore the voice inside. Maybe you focus on the lovely aspects, which are inevitably there and look past the imperfections.


But you still know.


It’s not right.


Do you dare change it?  Again?
Such was the case with my master bedroom, a room I spend a lot of time in.  I wanted it to be right.  I wanted it to be a place I go to for recharging.


And reflection. And inspiration.


You can see the before shot above from when we first moved in. I removed the draped, lighted the walls, changed the carpet and moved my furniture in.


But every time I photographed the room, I knew I hadn’t gotten it quite right. I tried the  breakfast nook at the foot of the bed. And I love that focal point, but the rest of the room just wasn’t working.


And then one day I was just updating the bedding to freshen up for summer. And bam! There it was.  


It was working. And everything flowed from there.
And now join me as I share 7 master bedroom ideas for creating a dreamy updated retreat:


1. White linens – This is what started it all. I had gorgeous French bedding from D. Porthault in a pretty floral pattern that I loved.  But it just wasn’t working for the room.  Either the dark furniture and wall paint had to go or the pattern did.  I lightened up the bedding and went all white to welcome summer, but the difference it made was transformative. It has a softness that I just love.  I am a white dish and towel girl, so this is not surprising. But I do love the spa effect it offers. And it led the way for all of the other changes.


2. Gilded mirror and sconces – Next on my list was to move the vibrant paintings that were above the bed to a side wall and replace them with an ornate gilt mirror. I had already replaced the dark headboard which you can read about in  THIS POST, and the relationship between the gilt pieces and the white linens is the essence of this room. Everything else services this relationship. I added the pair of sconces that had been in my parents’ home.
3. Seasonal flowers – There’s not a post I do where flowers are not on the list of styling elements.  The colors and blooms change with the season, but the concept does not. I include flowers in my grocery budget and perceive them as the easiest way to add seasonal flavor to a room. In this room I used mid-tone pinks and they became the key accent color for the room.


4. Painted furniture – This piece has actually been here for a few years, but this corner serves to illustrate how lovely soft paint colors play off the white linens and gilded details.
5. Crystal chandeliers or lamps – Another key change in this space was replacing the more traditional lamps with these crystal ones. I knew I wanted crystal in the room and there was no place for a chandelier, so the lamps became an important style element to play off the white and gold. They reflect the summer light that streams into the room and the light play off the wall is utterly magical.
6. Feminine French accessories – Once the updated larger pieces were in place, I moved on to styling with accessories.  From vintage silver and gilt pieces to design books, vintage china and a ruffled throw, the deliberate placement of gorgeous older pieces helps ground the newer items and keeps them from looking “canned”. Antiques are present in all my rooms and they’re what make a space individually unique.
7. Gilded French bench – This room was complete a few months ago, minus the bench. And I knew it simply wasn’t ready to reveal. Because despite the fact that it’s just one little piece, it’s the crowning touch really. It gives finish to the bed and works perfectly with the modern French look of the rest of the room. But more notably, it’s also the staging ground for the seasonal decor. A front a center space to display summer florals and a lightweight throw, in fall it will host a chunky knit, russet blooms and perhaps a pumpkin or two.
As always, I know I’m not done. There are still parts I’d love to change (I’m looking at you dark wood!) and refinements I’m already thinking about. But what a pleasure it is to come home to this room and feel it’s a place I can relax and refresh. After all, that’s what creating a home is all about, isn’t it?


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Lory @ Designthusiasm
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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