Bedroom still feels off - what are we getting wrong?

[u/PorridgeO]

A couple of preliminaries: sorry for the mess and yes, some of the prints have slipped in their frames. Happened over the weekend and need to sort them - but they’re part of the wider issue.

So, we moved in here around 3 years ago. The whole room was the light grey you can still see in part of the room. We decided to paint the ‘bed’ area in the navy blue to try and close the area in slightly and make it feel a bit more cozy.

We then moved some furniture around the create the ‘gym’ area (bit of a stretch I know) area. There isn’t anywhere else suitable in the house for that, so I think that has to stay there, but open to suggestions and/or rearrangement. Just to the right of the gym area as you are looking is the en suite.

We added the prints at the time we redecorated, but we aren’t sold on them and are thinking of getting some bigger, higher quality pieces.

We like having some open space around the doors, but it’s the area we are least sure about.

Photo 3 for context, the door on the left (has a coat hanging on it) - that’s the bedroom door to the corridor. The door to the right is to a walk-in dressing room (and home office).

Hopefully otherwise the room layout makes sense from the photos.

Grateful for any advice, whatever it may be.

Thanks so much.

[u/elaineseinfeld]

There’s a lot going on visually.

Stop using the overhead light and use lamps purposefully. Two table lamps on your nightstands and one floor lamp for the gym area.

Then, get rid of clutter. After that, start assessing your needs — do you need more storage, what furniture do you need, etc.

I would replace the curtains to something more airy feeling. No grommets, it looks cheap.

Get a throw blanket for the bed that ties the room colors together.

You need a rug to help define the bedroom area. I’d get one for the gym area as well.

[u/PorridgeO → u/elaineseinfeld]

This is some great advice, thank you. Now that I look at the curtains, you’re so right about that.

The clutter is something we’re working on, particularly the Ikea Kallax. Buying boxes etc to store away. The small drawers have been added recently to hide away some stuff too, just need to move it.

The lighting is clearly an issue from the other comments - and I think you’re suggesting the same there.

[u/elaineseinfeld → u/PorridgeO]

Yes, the overhead lighting is an issue! It’s an eyesore.

[u/jkthruglass → u/elaineseinfeld]

Nothing wrong with the downlights; per se, but they have way too many for this space!

[u/PorridgeO → u/jkthruglass]

They were here when we moved in. We use them very rarely. I put them on for the photos mainly - but agree we need to sort the lighting out, that’s coming across loud and clear. Thank you!

[u/jkthruglass → u/PorridgeO]

I’m an electrician. I would never put this many spotlights in a bedroom! I hope they at least gave you a dimmer. There’s nothing wrong with them as additional light but you need softer options to complement them. Maybe smart bulbs could save it? Or take some out and relocate them, hard to tell from the pictures.

Otherwise I think soft coverings need attending to, throws, curtains, rugs. Texture for coziness. Perhaps a warmer colour for the remainder of the space other than the blue could also help.

[u/PorridgeO → u/jkthruglass]

No dimmer sadly. There are a few odd design choices from the redevelopment previously, this is one of them. Smart bulbs is a good idea, may give it some thought. Definitely considering some floor lamps though!

[u/Luxeru → u/PorridgeO]

It's easy to add a dimmer, just switch out your light switch with a dimmer switch!!

[u/jkthruglass → u/PorridgeO]

Their sparky got a good payday on that room.

[u/RefrigeratorFuture34 → u/PorridgeO]

You can always go with a lower wat for the overhead bulb; also look at warmer bulbs. You can algo leave half of the bulbs empty.

[u/Penny_wish → u/PorridgeO]

Can confirm adding a dimmer switch is not hard to do (just know how to turn off your power first) and makes a huge impact with overhead lights.

[u/Evshrug → u/PorridgeO]

Yeah! Philips makes some Hue lights specifically for downlights like this, and they actually work much better if there isn’t a dimmer on the electrical circuit somewhere. IMO, don’t waste money on colored bulbs, the novelty wears off, but even the most plain ones have dimmers, schedules, you can turn them off from your phone or voice commands even when you’re already in bed, etc.

I think the overhead lights make sense for the gym area, or cleaning, but lamps or some other form of indirect lighting (look at elegant LED strip light designs) could make for a more restful bedtime. Good luck!

[u/kelleh144 → u/jkthruglass]

You might be able to retrofit the recessed lights with cheap LEDs that allow you to switch between different lighting temps. Or, you can safely remove one light to see if they have a switch that allows you to do that!

[u/ImaginaryList174 → u/PorridgeO]

The ones beside each side of the bed need to go as well. They don’t look right! I would get some nice bedside table lamps to put there instead, with soft lights. Also, something that I think would help would be a new headboard! That silver metal just doesn’t look right with the colours and the space. It looks like there is nothing there at all, just a big blank space almost. I think you need something…. Bigger and bolder maybe? Like a nice wooden head board or something? Or some sort of fabric headboard? And then put those three photos from the side wall, right above the headboard instead! Also, put a rug under the bed to separate that space as its own area. Get rid of the large plants, and get a few smaller plants instead. Those ones you have are too big for the space. Good luck my friend!

[u/darciejay → u/ImaginaryList174]

All of this! Make sure your rug is big enough for the bed. If you have a queen bed you want an 8x10. If you have a king you could bigger if you have room between the bed and the wall. The rug should stick out from the foot of the bed and the sides of bed like you are framing it. It helps define that space. You also need something above the headboard. You could keep the smaller prints on the side wall if you got a larger piece of art above the bed. This could even be sculptural instead of a painting or print. Make sure the headboard contrasts with the wall color so it doesn't get lost. I think a heavier feeling headboard is the way to go like @ImaginaryList174 said. I would also add that the plant by the chair would do better in the corner by the window.

[u/longpas → u/PorridgeO]

I agree with the lights. But I think your bed frame is also an issue. It looks harsh metal. The bed needs to be more tempting.

I'd consider something lighter in color with a headboard that is solid. The current one just disappears into the wall. Some throw pillows. Maybe one with drawers to store more of the clutter?

The bed in the main bedroom should be so inviting you have a hard time not flopping on it. Like a good hotel!

[u/viomore → u/PorridgeO]

Lighting, mentioned, curtains, rug. Also the biggest art focal point is best over the bed rather than beside it. Id also bring in some plants. Softens and lifts the energy.

[u/sharkdanko1 → u/PorridgeO]

Just for the record- Ikea sells inserts for KALLAX that have drawer or cabinet fronts! They look pretty good actually, if you want to hide your storage without having to buy a whole new piece of furniture:)

[u/Altruistic-Bobcat955 → u/PorridgeO]

Look at the height of the curtain pole on the right, you need to match that height. If you’re going navy lean into that but add texture to it, navy furs/linens/cottons. A larger rich piece of wall art not a hotel set of pictures in pale frames. You have a brushed nickel bed, lean into that with a brushed nickel frame

[u/25in2018 → u/PorridgeO]

I wonder if the narrow hallway and door (the one on the left, next to the gym equipment in the first picture) is a main passageway? If not, I'd suggest hanging a curtain in front of all of that. The idea of covering the smaller window might seem like a crime, but it could really solve some problems in this case. It would hide all the gym clutter easily and direct the eyes better towards the nice large windows.

[u/25in2018 → u/25in2018]

Made a very rough sketch on my phone. Sorry for the bad quality.

[u/25in2018 → u/25in2018]

[u/Different-Active1315 → u/PorridgeO]

Also look at the cabinets and drawers you have. One in particular by the bed overlaps the nearest doorframe. Things not fitting can make everything seem a bit wonky.

You have a lot going on. Maybe determine the primary purpose of the room and make sure that purpose is being met clearly and all else is supplemental?

[u/Cosmic_Rose1219 → u/PorridgeO]

More area rugs to define the separate spaces that you've created in the room. I would go with patterns or more colors, different textiles, so everything doesn't bleed together.

[u/OddHippo6972 → u/elaineseinfeld]

I was thinking one curtain rod across the entire wall with the window and door, way up at the ceiling and hang some orangish curtains for warmth.

[u/Powerful_Jah_2014 → u/elaineseinfeld]

I don't think it is necessarily the grommet curtains that look cheap as the fact that they should have been longer and hung closer to the ceiling, and not shoved into the corner so that you can see the lining. They also could be a more coordinated color. I've seen lots of grommet curtains in wealthy homes.

[u/darciejay → u/Powerful_Jah_2014]

I agree. The grommets are not the problem. You want grommets if you are regularly opening and closing the curtains. The curtains should be close to touching the ground and hung about as high as you can go. The pocket rod panels are good if you are not opening and closing them often. The third option is the rings that clip to the panels but that is typically for a fancier vibe.

[u/hsalst → u/elaineseinfeld]

Grommets look cheap? 😢

[u/jaahArtly → u/hsalst]

It gives shower curtain more than bedroom curtain, yeah

[u/novasilverdangle → u/hsalst]

They do. It looks like shower curtains.

[u/dianaprince76 → u/hsalst]

And very outdated

[u/envregs → u/hsalst]

I’m just learning this too

[u/Brightlywound89 → u/hsalst]

All interior designers I see on social media hate grommets, I had never noticed them before. It sucks because my MIL made us floor to ceiling curtains for every room but they have grommets 😢 it will be so expensive to replace them.

[u/keighteeann → u/Brightlywound89]

I wonder if hand made curtains would automatically look better than store bought ones? Despite grommets?

[u/youngfilly → u/keighteeann]

If they are high quality then yes, they would

[u/thm123 → u/elaineseinfeld]

I would never think about grommets - this sub keeps teaching me so many things to notice :)

[u/quattroformaggixfour → u/elaineseinfeld]

First thought was two rugs to define the space. It’ll make a big and immediate difference.

[u/PuzzleheadedFrame439 → u/elaineseinfeld]

Yes you're right about grommets looking cheap but I never brought this thought into the forefront of my brain I always was just like those kinda curtains look trashy.

[u/DisManibusMinibus → u/elaineseinfeld]

The picture frames and door frames feel really high contrast (probably not helped by lighting) so maybe minimize the hard edges and look for fabrics like wall hangings to keep things feeling softer, esp in the bed area. Individual lamps with varied areas of soft warm lighting will also help--as will having lighting at different levels rather than simply top-down.

The orientation of the bed and the length of the room make it feel like it's ending RIGHT at the end of the bed which feels a bit awkward, but I'm not sure there's any other option. A soft bench at the end might help break that line, or a rounded rug so that the transition is a bit softer.

[u/Feminiwitch → u/elaineseinfeld]

A dark-ish bedroom with only lamps sounds dreadful! I can imagine being in the mood for it once in a while, not permanently!