Remedies for So-So Bedroom Decor

Remedies for So-So Bedroom Decor

Here are the fixes for your bedroom decorating woes. From boring bedroom decor to misused space, these unattractive Befores received much-needed makeovers that transformed each space into a must-see After. See the cures for their design maladies and pick up a remedy or two for your bedroom.

The Problem: A sea of white where the only pops of color are dated balloon valances in an even more dated print.

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• After: Personality Panache

  The Remedies: Defining a personality and adding color and pattern, as well as a bit of the unexpected.

  Patterned wallpaper in a creamy shade adds dimension and texture to the walls, yet it maintains a neutral starting point for the rest of the room. A distressed headboard serves as the room's vintage-style touchstone and tees off other choices, such as the flea market side table and the antique-inspired lamp. Bedding in teals and pinks adds color to the room, and a zebra-print ottoman keeps the look from becoming cliche.

• After: Pretty in Pink

  The Remedies: Color, pattern, texture, and a bit of glam.

  
  

  A deep, dusty taupe wall color adds feelings of warmth and intimacy. Even though the wall color is neutral, it has more depth than its blah predecessor but is still a soothing backdrop. A new duvet in shades of pink and a pillow outfitted in mod, oversize houndstooth incorporate tangerine accents to add bold color to the room. Silk-taffeta drapery panels replace boring bifold closet doors and add a shot of color and glamorous sheen to the bedroom. Ceramic plates and framed artwork fill blank walls. Each piece complements the room's other colorful accents.

• After: Complete Retreat

  The Remedies: A vision, starting with a color palette.

  Approaching a room with a distinct color palette in mind can inform so many decisions when decorating a bedroom. A palette of blues and yellows helped guide decisions for bedding, a rug, and other fabrics in this finished bedroom. The blue stripes in the area rug reflect the blue in the bedding and floral curtains, while the yellow in the curtains matches the hue on the headboard. A few statement pieces, such as the strong graphic print on the headboard and the glam crystal chandelier, inject personality. Smart space planning also does this room a favor: A round table serves as a nightstand for the bed and as an end table for the chair, which tucks into a corner of the small room.

• After: Modern Update

  The Remedies: Using color and pattern judiciously, updating the style, and reworking functionality.

  In a large room, floor-to-ceiling color on the walls may have been too much. Here, white wainscoting and Kelly green grasscloth wallpaper strike a balance between blah and color overload. Jewel tones and rich wood finishes sophisticate the bedroom, as does the modern art and sparing use of pattern. The awkward sitting area became a home office with the addition of a desk. Raising the ceiling helps the room feel more airy and grand.

• After: Bold Infusion

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