We’d like to nominate our bedroom for the “Most Often Tweaked” award. Over time a few small additions and experiments spark new changes: we’ve removed the top bed rails, hung a ram over the bed, ditched the duvet, and shuffled around horse artwork. We believe in trial and error—who gets it right on the first try? If you do, share your secrets. This room is definitely one of our more eccentric spaces (not everyone’s cup of tea), but since it’s our private retreat we’re fine with that. If we love it, that’s all that matters—whether or not Mom or the neighbor understand our giant dandelion-like chandelier or Señor Ram (originally seen here doing yoga with Burger)…
My mom actually surprised me by saying she liked the whole room recently, which might mean it’s time for something even bolder. One big lesson we’ve embraced over the years is the freedom to make a house feel like yours instead of trying to please everyone. Do what you love so your home greets you with a hug every time you walk in.
This round of changes was inspired by our new nightstands, which were long overdue. For the past eight months we used side tables from our old living room that were about five inches too low—reaching down from the bed was awkward—and had no drawers, which meant clutter and temptations for a curious toddler.
Thanks to the $11 yard-sale nightstands we found in Delaware, we finally gained two much-appreciated features: extra height for easy access from bed and actual drawers. Glorious drawers.
That side of the room is still only about 10% done—our last bedroom took nearly four years to feel finished—so we still want a cabinet on the left wall to balance the door, a longer lighter bench at the foot of the bed, maybe a colorful throw, and some smaller objects flanking the ram.
First, a tangent: the yard-sale pieces smelled musty. They were mid-century originals, so an old smell wasn’t surprising. I tried wiping them with mild soap and water—no change. Then I wiped them down with undiluted vinegar, which worked wonders. I rubbed the inside and out with a rag soaked in vinegar; it smelled like salty potato chips briefly but then dried with no odor. The drawers went from hitting you with mustiness to smelling fresh. If your drawers smell, try vinegar. Not underwear—your drawers.
Back to the tweaks: here’s a wide shot of the unfinished side of the bedroom, complete with pillows arranged horizontally for fun. Then I flipped them vertical to change the vibe. Small shifts, big difference.
Ahh, now they’re veeeerticallll…
Besides the pillow flip, the new mid-century nightstands prompted us to remove the finials we’d added to Ed the bed and try a suggestion from a friend instead. Rather than a permanent change like paint, I used removable ribbon—something I already had in my gift closet. The greeny-gold ribbon ties in with the curtains, and I secured each piece at the seam with scotch tape, hidden toward the wall so it’s not visible from the room.
I wrapped the tape across the top of each post so the ribbon stays secure from the side and the top.
We also raised the artwork now that the side tables are higher—we waited to see where the tables would land so we didn’t make a bunch of unnecessary holes in the wall. We tested several positions and liked the final placement because it forms a triangle with the chandelier, with Sir Ram anchoring the base like the badass he is.
New lampshades from Target refreshed the bedside lighting—$19 each, slightly wider and cleaner-looking than the old ones. They reminded us of a shade we bought back in 2009 for a basement makeover; either they’re the same or very similar.
We finally put the Ikea duvet on the bed that we mentioned previously. Many readers recommended it and we can confirm it’s great: it seems to stay clean despite a baby and dog and feels like a cloud. We appreciate its calm look because it lets other elements—our Alaska berry prints, horse art, paint-chip piece, big mirror over the sink nook, and chandelier—take center stage. We’re still considering a colorful throw or a longer bench at the foot of the bed, and we’ve even toyed with the idea of adding color to the ceiling. The possibilities are endless.
I expect at least 50 more tweaks over the next few years as the room fills in—that’s exciting to me. For fun, I played with a Photoshop mock-up showing a bright throw, a soft plum bench, and a moody greeny-gold ceiling. It looks wild (and fake), but it’s fun to imagine.
We’ll probably change our minds many more times, but it’ll be fun to see where the room ends up. Any tweaks happening in your bedroom? Share them—keeping it clean, of course. My mom might be reading (and admiring Sir Ram).