Every room in our house seems to evolve slowly over time, but bedrooms are especially guilty of that quiet, ongoing makeover. We’ve chronicled earlier versions of our spaces before, and now it feels like time to document the latest chapter: updates to our current bedroom.
Bench / rug / plant / floor lamp / chair / pillow / garden stool / chandelier / art (top, bottom)
When we bought the house the room was almost entirely the same off‑white color — walls, ceiling, trim and even the carpet all matched. Since then it’s undergone several significant changes: we installed hardwood floors, tried a dramatic dark blue paint, added a framed gallery wall, and eventually settled on a greige paint that felt right for the space.
This most recent phase focuses on two main updates: a new light fixture and a different bed. First up was the light. We had previously installed a brass-and-glass fixture that was charming, but it felt undersized for the scale of the room. Instead of rushing to swap it for the first larger fixture we found, we chose to wait until the right one turned up.
During a holiday sale we spotted a capiz chandelier at a price that felt like a true find, so we bought it. The scale and finish were perfect for the space: larger than the old fixture, with a chrome finish that plays off the floor lamp and nightstand hardware. We try to mix metals thoughtfully, repeating finishes a few times in a room so everything feels deliberate — for example, the dark curtain rods echo the black frames on our gallery wall and the hardware on the dresser.
Curtains / rug / bench / plant / garden stool / chair / chandelier / dresser / nightstands
The chandelier arrived well packaged: each capiz strand wrapped and taped to prevent breakage. Unwrapping and assembling every strand took time and patience. There are three bulbs hidden inside the fixture, so it also greatly improved the room’s functional lighting compared to the single bulb we had before.
The other big change was swapping beds with our guest room. Our previous platform bed used slats to support the mattress; after reading about mattress support options, we decided to try a frame-and-boxspring setup. The new bed immediately felt more substantial — the skirt grounds the bed in a way the leggy platform never did. We plan to add a light tan linen skirt soon so the bed and our homemade upholstered headboard read as one cohesive unit.
We rehung the fabric headboard we made previously using a simple cleat system. I cut two 2×4 boards at a slight angle: one mounted securely to the wall into studs, angled so the headboard board could slip onto it. The matching board attached to the back of the headboard slips down onto the wall-mounted cleat for a strong, hidden hold. This method works well for heavy, deep headboards; if your piece is thinner there are commercial metal cleats that save the cutting step.
With the new chandelier and bed in place, the room feels more balanced, layered, and comfortable. The gallery wall could use a few updated photos — the kids keep changing, after all — but it’s a small, ongoing task in a room that’s always a work in progress.
Of course Burger, our chihuahua, quickly gave the new arrangement his official approval by nesting into one of the pillows halfway through the photo shoot. He’s the real decorator in this house.
Similar white pillows / yellow pillows / duvet / lamps / frames / nightstands / curtain rods
We don’t think the evolution is finished — for example, the TV on that wall has gone largely unused since our son was born, so it will likely come down soon. Whether the wall becomes an art display, a climbing wall idea, or something else entirely remains to be decided (and will no doubt involve a friendly debate).
P.S. If you’re curious about paint colors, furniture, or accessories in this room, we keep a running list of what’s in our house and the finishes we used on our shop page and house tour. Note: some items we mention may be seasonal or go in and out of stock. This post contains affiliate links.