Blank canvas grey bedroom, what would you do with it?
We’ve recently renovated and played it very safe in our bedroom which has pale grey walls, wardrobes and carpets. I’m no good at decor and had run out of steam after months of building!
I‘m looking for curtains, bed, bedsides and rug with different tones and textures to make it more interesting. I’m a bit scared of large chunks of pattern though especially for the curtains. I also need to get new wall lampshades, these ones are not right for the lights (slightly regret choosing these wall lights, too hotel-y, but can’t justify replacing them really).
Photos are below, any ideas would be great! Thank you PS please excuse the temporary curtains and the chairdrobe 😳
Comments (51)
minipie
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Blank canvas bedroom
Comments (2)It is important to think about the actual space you are decorating the room looks relatively cosy so warm colours (reds, oranges etc) will bring it in more yes it will make it cosy but may start to make it feel too compact !!! Cooler colours will help to push the room out but predominantly they can look cold and are used a lot in bathrooms to help maximise the space I suggest something like amonite by farrow and ball...See MoreWith a blank canvas, how would you lay out your open plan living area?
Comments (18)I had a similar design quandary - hunt for OnePlan on Houzz. She has a sliding scale of design charges, and we paid for a couple of hours design work. She came up with several designs for us, and we were able to make some changes which she incorporated into the final sketch. We're currently getting quotes for the actual build....See MoreMain bedroom - blank canvas
Comments (18)What a lovely room! If you do go neutral, then any colour can be added as a highlight, and all blues go very well with that greige coloured wardrobes. I’ve done my bedroom quite Country twee with Sharpes wardrobes in stone, walls in Dulux Egyptian Cotton and a brushed brass bed. I chose white bedroom furniture from The Cotswold Company. I’ve used pink highlights to tie in with the Laura Ashley curtains. I’m not saying you should do the same, just that mixing furniture can look really good. Good luck with whatever you choose....See MoreGarden blank canvas what to do?
Comments (9)Hi Tiago Silva I would think of ways of breaking the space looking down the garden with planting - currently you look straight down it with nothing of interest and to break up what you are seeing. It would be great when you have the hot tub etc at the bottom for it to be partly hidden by planting and foliage. Create what I call 'transparent height' - planting that blocks your view quite a bit, but still has gaps through it where you can see exciting and tantalizing hints of things further down the garden. Stories, journeys and a bit of mystery all make for a great garden and it would also create the 'two' garden areas/rooms feel that Emily suggests. Don't be afraid of wide (0.5 - 1.0m+) curving beds - most people run small thin beds down the side which look boring and don't have enough space for the plants to grow properly. Having larger beds also means there are loads of low maintenance shrubs you can plant that you can leave just to grow, instead of having to cut them back all the time to keep them to their space. Take a look at this Houzz story - it really demonstrates what I mean as regards the design, although you would use more low maintenance shrubs. https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/garden-tour-clever-curves-bring-beauty-to-a-modest-outdoor-space-stsetivw-vs~84375480...See More
Sonia
4 years agoWhat a lovely room. Beautifully decorated and just waiting for those finishing touches. I love the grey and I think plain curtains in an elegant silk or faux silk would look amazing. I would choose a colour similar to your decor, so like your door colour or wall colour. I’m a fan of white bedding, then you can add some cushions and a throw either in a similar colour to the curtains, or navy or a truffle shade would be nice. I also think blush pink would look lovely with the grey, but I know pink isn’t for everyone! I think your inspo pics are great and a good place to start.
minipie thanked Soniaminipie
4 years agominipie
4 years agoThanks Colourhappy - I’ve been trying to find olive gold but it brings up quite a variety... Did you mean something like this colour?
minipie
4 years agominipie
4 years agominnie101
4 years agominipie those rooms are beautiful! Did you actually want to add colour or stick to "neutrals"? I quite just like the green grey paint with green gold and navy as in the first pic.
I tried various shades of bronze, bronze green, olive etc on your back wall but each time I photoshopped it changed the colour 😂
so my only thought so far was a kit kemp style headboard, as I thought it would work well between the wardrobes. Not sure what you think? It's from Button and Sprung and there looks to be a few fabrics which would work.
i may be wrong but I'm not sure linen copes that well with the sun either? I actually like washed linen curtains and if if you look at images of Imperfect Interiors (think one of your inspiration pics was one of Beth's), she often seems to use them. If it's not great, I think (!) I had some faux silks from James Hare which were good
Carolina
4 years agoHa, thanks Minnie :-)
Anyway... I'm all for ton-sur-ton and not a lot of colour in a bedroom, so this is probably what I would do: subtle pattern in curtains, faux silk roman blinds, cute Westelm bedding, some lovely art and a one or two 'different' pieces, like this Chinese night stand (although I'm not sure you have space for nightstands?). Could be an antique chest of drawers or mirror too. Something that makes you smile when you see it. Oh, and I can't really see your wall lights, but since you're not that keen, I've picked different, bronze ones. You know... because I could :-D
http://www.westelm.co.uk/candlewick-duvet-cover-shams-stone-gray-b2946
minipie thanked Carolinaminipie
4 years agominipie
4 years agominnie101
4 years agoi will have a look again tomorrow but do agree the room lends itself to formal (and with the ensuite). I was just wondering what you thought of this room (with a couple more modern accessories). It has a formal/elegant look but has lots of texture and a relaxed feel. Would this sort of thing appeal with some tweaks?
minipie thanked minnie101minipie
4 years ago
shelleyuk
4 years agoCarolina
4 years agominnie101
4 years agoI did mention Imperfect Interiors, in fact if this is what you had in mind for the headboard (by natural mat) she has similar in her own house (2nd pic!). They've got a number of fabrics but thought the french grey may work. I also like the mid century lights in both? Just thinking as they're such an elegant shape they'd work really well with the room? Maybe for a floor lamp if you're not allowed to change the others!
is this what you mean by an irregular patterned beni ourain?? It's all I can find so far! First 2 are Urbanra and the others by Woven, they've got some nice rugs including abstracts with tassels.
As you mentioned leather, I thought a woven leather bed end stool could work? I love this off white one by Souk Collections but struggling to find it ATM!
i will have a proper look again later. Btw, are the chair and bench staying and what's the distance between the wardrobes and the size of the mattress?
i forgot to say if you do looked at washed linen curtains I had a lot of samples from Ada and Ina which were good.
minipie thanked minnie101minipie
4 years agominnie101
4 years agoIt's a tricky one with the bed. You mentioned panelling before, what if you were to do that and then build out little box frames for bedsides so effectively you'd have floating cubes although they'd be rectangles?! I hope that makes sense as not sure I would be able to find a picture 😂
Ok, I will see if I can find some similar rugs, that 3rd one was a bit stark! Here's a link to a tan bench.
https://myvintagehome.co.uk/product/leather-woven-bench-in-tan/
I've also just thought a dark parquet bench could work (picking up the bathroom tiles). Annoyingly I came across one a couple of days ago but now can't find it..
I've also seen this one,may, not sure if you like?
ive also added this cushion (house doctor art cushion) as thought you may like it as you liked the abstract art. I would just pile the bed with a hannelin/crinkle cotton throw and then add linen cushions(H&M) etc
I think the mid century lights would be fab and really set the style, could you not re-use the others elsewhere? They may need to be moved anyway as may not work with the headboard height?
I like your chair but would probably use the bench elsewhere. I'd wait until you've got curtains but maybe an antique tall boy could work between the windows?
minipie thanked minnie101minipie
4 years ago
PROAbstract House
4 years agoLove your scheme and the fitted wardrobes! It's great to have such good storage in your bedroom. Have you considered an original painting above your bed? Here is one from our collection at AbstractHouse.com with gold and pale pinks if you want that pop of colour. It's full of texture and would work well in your elegant, beautiful space.
I also noticed you included a gallery wall as part of the schemes you liked. This feels like it would fit perfectly in between the two windows.
I hope this helps! But please let me know if you have any questions at all. Good luck and can't wait to see what you do with the space!minipie thanked Abstract Houseminipie
4 years ago
PRODESIGNER TOUCHES LTD
4 years agoHi there,
I agree with @colourhappy, you need to add some differentiation in colour or texture to the walls behind the bed. You can opt for a textured wallpaper in a similar tone, like the image below.
Many people are scared of wallpaper, but it really does make all the difference and finishes off the room. The amount of clients that come to us after decorating and say that their room just doesn't feel finished - that is because there isn't any wallpaper. It makes the room feel warmer, also you will be surprised to know that it doesn't mark as much as paint.
A striking headboard really helps to make a feature of the bed, in our scheme below, we have used two different fabrics in this headboard design to give depth to the scheme.
A bed cover really finishes off the room. However you try to dress a bed with just duvets and throws it just doesn't look as polished.
Please do not be afraid of pattern in your fabrics. We have used a lovely floral design in the blinds and cushions, which breaks up the neural tones of the room and provides interest to the scheme.
minipie thanked DESIGNER TOUCHES LTDminnie101
4 years agoWe did fingers crossed but went down the chemical spray route.. not great but other option was heat treatment for 3k. We ended up having to buy a chest freezer for the garage too as most of my husband's clothes are hand wash or dry clean... A very long weekend with clearing all cupboards, wardrobes, moving furniture etc I don't ever want to repeat! I really hope yours go.
I agree re linen bed. Do you think your husband would agree to a bedspread? Ignore the colour in the last pic but something like that? I used to have a velvet bedspread, which was not cheap, and one of my windows also faces south and it completely faded in quite a short time. I also had a velvet bed end stool (which didn't fade, maybe due to the height). If your husband wont go for the leather stool, I thought this one was nice (it comes in a few colours). I know it's not your style but could always add texture for accessories? Again, ignore colours but I think I'd just go for plain linen curtains in a triple pleat or something? Just a thought, what about a round rug under the chair Instead?
i didn't realise that both the lights in the "bed" pictures were from pooky! (I'm quite tempted to buy the floor lamp myself as they're all on sale 😂). I've added the table lamp in the 2nd pic but what do you think of the complementary wall lights?
it's hard to get images but Cox and Cox have a number of cushions that I think you'd really like. May be worth a look?
PS if you happen to like the art I added, sadly I don't know who it's by as I love it!
- minipie thanked minnie101
minipie
4 years agominipie
4 years agoCarolina
4 years agominipie
4 years agominipie
4 years agominnie101
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoPooky do a few nice lights. I love that bed by Love Your Home, they make some beautiful things, but do you think it looks better floated in the room as they've done? I'm guessing the headboard may be deeper than the wardrobes?
it could be worth looking on somewhere like vinterior for original oils, also a good place for a tall boy.
West Elm also do this tufted bench which works with the style or the super expensive one by Benchmark (can only get an image in the black leather).
Do you have any thoughts re paint colour (if you are) or curtains?
minipie thanked minnie101minipie
4 years agominnie101
4 years ago😂 it would be very difficult to reach the shelves! I can understand your reluctance to do more work too after all you've done.
😂 not keen in capitals!
I really like the door colour, I suppose it also depends on the bed colour, they had a number of colours but not loads although they may do bespoke if they do a bespoke size.
Does he like the leather bench?! I'm really struggling to find benches for some reason. Maybe a storage ottoman is another idea? This is from Swoon and comes in a few colours.
vinterior is a great website, definitely worth a look. i haven't specifically looked for your room but Design Vintage is another good website for texture (sounds an odd thing to say but you know what I mean!)
minipie thanked minnie101
Carolina