A Master Bedroom Retreat, Before & After

Oh my heavens. This project. This. This is why I love my job.

It was a pretty, sunny day in early May when I first met with this unbelievably sweet client. We toured her beautiful home, and then she showed me the project. The master bedroom. She expressed that she wanted it to be lighter and brighter, and have the feel of a nice hotel. A retreat. Ummm, yes. I loved what she said and the feel she was wanting. I was excited to get started!

Here’s how it looked “before,”  just as you enter the room. It wasn’t giving us that “retreat” feeling just yet.

Aaaaand, “after.” The walls were painted Valspar “Coconut Milk,” which instantly achieved our goal of “lighter and brighter.” We changed out the light fixture (you can find the fixture here), added some window treatments, and then…the fun stuff!

Here’s another “before” shot of the bed…It was a beautiful bed, but the size of the bed, along with wider nightstands, wouldn’t fit on the wall. The tall footboard also blocked the view of the fireplace from the bed. Not ideal. Hey, if you’re lucky enough to have a FIREPLACE in your room, you might as well see it! 😉

And the same view, “after.” Guys. Pictures don’t even do it justice. So fresh and yes, that upscale “hotel” feel we were going for! By choosing smaller end tables, we were able to fit everything on this wall…and the new upholstered bed? STOP. So gorgeous (find it here). Oh but wait. This rug. It’s EVERYTHING! It really brightened up the dark hardwood floor, added a soft luxurious feel underfoot, and reinforces the posh theme, all while delivering a HIT of amazing pattern. Can you tell I have a thing for area rugs? This one is from Rugs USA, and you can find it here.

This little area to the right of the fireplace (before) used to hold the other end table, since there wasn’t another place for it. We were thinking this would be a great spot for a chair…wanna see?

Love this little spot! And at night, it’s the perfect place to toss the pillows from the bed. The client sent me a picture of their cat enjoying this new chair…I’m just glad the whole family is happy. 😉

Here’s a “before” of the room, looking back toward the entrance. Get a good look at that dreamy sofa…It was just waiting for the perfect pillows!

Ahhhh. That’s more like it.

Ok, here’s the last “before” pic…the dresser and mirror stayed in exactly the same spot…but here’s how they look now:

A few simple accessories on the dresser really did the trick. Decorated. But not over the top.

And there you have it. A bedroom-turned-retreat. And a super fun project.

Are you ready for an update in your master bedroom? Take a look at these 3 areas.

1. The walls. How’s the paint color working for you? Too dark? Too light? You were trying for grey and got purple? Bite the bullet. Block out a weekend and paint. You’ll be so happy you did! (Or better yet, HIRE someone to do it!)

2. The corners. What in the world is in the corner? A dusty old ficus tree? That sewing machine you’ll never use? A mountain of laundry? Do yourself a favor. Don’t let your bedroom be the cast-off zone for every piece of furniture that doesn’t have a home. Block out 30 minutes, fold the laundry, and take anything not necessary to the garage. Let those corners be free! You’ll be amazed at the difference.

3. The nightstands. Clear those bad boys off and treat yourself to some new lamps. Wander down the aisle at Target…they have some great options. Or TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, or Marshalls…always a great spot to find lighting at a bargain price! Along with your lamps, your nightstand could also hold a cherished photo or a little succulent…but keep it simple. We’re going for “retreat”, not “hoarders gone wild.” 😉

Soooo? What do you think? I bet you can tackle those 3 little things…and I can’t wait to hear about it!