We did a bit more bedroom noodling — noodling, not canoodling. Anyway, when we last checked in we’d moved our Alaskan prints above the bed and surprised ourselves by getting a new rug:
After that post we got a ton of great questions in the comments. The main ones were:
- Have you considered larger bedside tables?
- Can the bed go on another wall?
- Will you repaint the walls, maybe in a darker color?
- What are your plans for the nook to the left of the bed?
- What about changing the pillows, painting the bed and tables, getting a longer bench, switching lamps, etc.?
Short answers: yes (but it’s complicated), no (for moving the bed), possibly later on repainting, we’re planning an armoire or built-in for the nook, and yes — all of those tweaks are still on the agenda, just not done yet.
To explain a bit more: larger nightstands have been considered, but the bedroom door swings into the current setup and would conflict with anything bigger on that side, as you can see from an old door-open photo we took earlier.
We don’t want to move the bed to the left because the chandelier would no longer be centered above it. We could put a larger table on that side, but we plan to add an armoire or built-in in the nook to the left of the bed and don’t want to crowd that area. Reversing the door to swing into the hall is an option, but it could block the hallway. A pocket door isn’t possible because of ductwork and electrical in that wall, though we’ve thought about a barn door on a track — it could rest next to the leaning mirror in the photos — but we’re considering using that style somewhere nearby and don’t want to overuse the look. We’ll share updates once we decide for sure.
The room’s floor plan is tricky: two off-center windows, a sink tucked into a nook with a mirror above it, another nook across from the door, and a chandelier centered on the ceiling. Everything aligns visually — the chandelier lines up with the mirror above the sink — so moving the bed throws off the balance. We’ve tried many configurations, but the current placement works best because it uses the only long, flat wall in the room.
In other positions the bed just didn’t feel centered under the chandelier or between the windows. In person the placement feels balanced — the chandelier reflecting in the mirror over the sink is a subtle effect that’s hard to capture in photos but lovely in real life. As for repainting in a darker color, we’re open to the idea, but the room doesn’t get a ton of light, the rug is fairly dark, and we plan to refinish the floors in a dark mocha someday. We’ll weigh all those factors before making a big change. Many items in the room — lamps, bench, pillows — are holdovers from our previous house and are temporary until we replace them with pieces that better fit the space and plan.
First on the fun list was playing with pillows and a few small accessories. The new pillow mix inspired a quick art swap because the floral shams felt a little busy with the older botanical prints.
Close up the combination looked great — the shams are from Pottery Barn, the blue bolster from Marshall’s, and the front accent pillow from HomeGoods. But from across the room the replacement artwork felt too small and squat compared with the tall vertical elements in the rest of the room: the bedroom door, the ceiling-height curtains, and the mirror above the sink.
The smaller art didn’t balance the room the way the larger Alaskan prints did. But the pillow idea — introducing different colors to break up all the blue — was a success.
We’re glad we tried it — three tiny nails later we learned what worked and what didn’t. That’s decorating: trial and error (and spackle for the holes).
The little prints were an Ikea clearance find — $2.99 for the set — so it was an inexpensive experiment and we’ll eventually find the right place for them. The frames were ones we already had, so it was a cheap try that didn’t work out as hoped.
We also picked up new lamps with an artichoke-like silhouette — a new shape for us after years of gourd lamps. They were a HomeGoods find at about $49 each, with oversized shades.
Our previous lamps came from our first house and are headed to other rooms or possibly a yard sale if we don’t find a spot for them. The new lamps look more substantial with wider shades and darker bases, which helps the nightstands appear wider and better balanced. The rounded, textured shape also echoes the chandelier, which was a happy accident rather than an intentional match.
The lamps’ putty color keeps them neutral enough not to compete with pillows or the rug, while their shape adds visual interest.
On my side table there’s a small journal called One Word A Day — a Mother’s Day gift — that’s turned into a place to jot down Clara’s funny little sentences. It’s an everyday reminder of the small, delightful moments.
Since the smaller art didn’t work, we returned to the Alaskan botanicals and switched pillows for a pop of yellow paired with a teal bolster to tie into the rug, plus a deeper navy and white pillow to ground the arrangement. The yellow ginkgo leaf shams were bought from a small shop in Old Town Alexandria and are made by Dermond Peterson.
Pillows are notoriously nomadic here, so they’ll probably change again the next time we post photos. Pillow swapping is right up there with watching TV and snacking as a favorite pastime.
We still have some major pieces to add, but those small swaps — a few warm yellow accents among all the blues — make the room feel more inviting. The darker tones in the smallest accent pillow, the botanical frames, and the lamp bases connect with the rug’s slate and navy tones without being too matchy.
The lamps might be our favorite recent change (the rug is still the biggest win).
We’re all about trial and error when it comes to decorating. No gambling or extreme sports here — just a few daring design moves.
Still on the to-do list are plenty of options:
- Replace the curtains (definitely)
- Possibly paint the bed a deep charcoal
- Find or build a longer bench for the foot of the bed
- Refinish or paint the cherry-colored side tables and dresser
- Add an armoire or built-in in the nook next to the bed
- Potentially repaint the walls down the road
- Consider painting the ceiling
- Possible removal of the bedposts (we like them in renderings, so undecided)
- Continue swapping pillows and bedding
- Bring in more art and furniture so the room feels fuller
- Stain the worn, yellowed floors a rich mocha
- Maybe install a barn door to allow for larger nightstands
- And a handful of other ideas that will reveal themselves over time
Some projects might happen this month; others could take years. But even small changes make a big difference. Dark wood floors (Photoshop dreams included) are definitely high on our list.
There’s still room to experiment — mockups, quick edits, and options galore. Maybe we’ll land here:
Or here:
Or here?
The Photoshop isn’t perfect, but experimenting is part of the fun. Have you ever hung something new only to decide you preferred the original? Made an easy lamp or pillow swap that changed a room? We’d love to hear about your small wins.