I am definitely someone that prefers to improve and layer and add-to a room over time, never really proclaiming a room "done." This weekend we circled back to Greta's room to add two inexpensive elements that made such a fun difference and it only took about 20 minutes total!
Before:
Now:
The two things we did?
First, we hung non-white curtains. Don't get me wrong, white curtains are breezy and soft and have a place, but lately I've been noticing a trend toward more colorful drapes and I'm digging it. We really wanted to add some warmth and color to Greta's room since her walls are black and white and her bed is gray, so I went with these beige blush curtains.
They are such a beautiful shade and added so much to her space. We used this curtain rod and hung them about an inch from the ceiling and extended to rod 10-12" beyond the sides of the window. Hanging curtains high and wide will always help the room and window feel larger. (Psst, linked all the sources at the bottom of the post for you!)
We have some shades coming for this window which will add another layer.
The second easy thing is swapping out the pillowcases for something patterned and even more fun--mix patterns! Purchasing a pair of pillowcases (they almost always come in a set of 2) is a lot more inexpensive than springing for a whole sheet set and is an easy way to inject a little bit of playful pattern and color.
In Greta's room, I paired this small yellow patterned one with this blue striped one on each bed. It's something small but in person it really pops and is one of those things that can help a room feel more layered.
So there you have it--two easy ways to add a little interest to a bedroom. Although the colorful curtain can absolutely translate to any room in the house!
Sources:
Wallpaper
Area Rug
Beds
Duvet Cover
Art
Curtains in "blush beige" (these are similar and available in the same color!)
Curtain Rod
Curtain Clips
Nightstand (discontinued)
Lamp
Tan Quilt
Coral Block Print Lumbar Pillow
Striped Pillowcase
Dotted Pillowcase
Light Fixture
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I love how the curtains hang. Would you elaborate on how you used the clips. I have curtain panels with a tab behind but I’d like to hang them using rings so I can pull the curtain open easily. My rings have clothes pins and I’m not sure how to attach it and create the look you have here.
Did you link the beda?
I thought I would have chosen white curtains because I personally like a tight pallet, but I love this look. Great job.
You pull it off every. single. time. Just always making spaces better and better. When you said in your IG stories that you were going to hang these curtains, I was like "Noooo!" And then you did it, and it looks freakin' awesome. It's just what the space needed. That's what you do -- it's like, I didn't even know the room needed these but now the room is SO MUCH BETTER. Bravo. It looks awesome.
Did someone forget their baking bowl under the bed in picture 3?
Oops! Greta has a history of randomly getting sick. She likes to keep a bowl by her bed.
Sorry for the random late comment... I’m having a rough day and this gave me a little lightbulb moment. I have a 10 year old who is a random nighttime puker and I have felt so stumped by it! It’s kind of amazing to realize there are beautiful people in beautiful houses who still have kids who randomly get sick at night. Celebs... they’re just like us! Hahaha ;) But seriously never thought to leave a bowl under the bed so I don’t have to clean it up off the floor at 2 am every time. lol genius
Do you think you could use these bedframes in a guestroom, or too childish?
I think the light gray feels young, but they have other colors that would be so beautiful!
Wow the curtains made a huge difference. Tied everything together with a soft pop of color. Will you still recommend curtains for a small bedroom approx 140 Sq ft? Is there an all season fabric that you would recommend? I think i’ve seen velvet a curtains a few times in your make overs.
Peaceful and pretty!!! How do you determine what size overhead light to use? I've seen various formulas, and you linked to a 13.25" with 2 lightbulbs. How do you determine what size and how much light you need? Now I want to redo my daughter's room... and figure out a way to get rid of some of her stuff!!!
The gorgeous curtains make a HUGE difference! I love them!
Any suggestions for blackout shades (not curtains) that maintain style - we have really nice thick blackout curtains in our 1 year old's room but we need an extra layer of darkness!
I love the curtain choice! Especially the manner in which they are hung. I'd love to recreate this look in my master bedroom. Did you use a cafe curtain rod since the rings only accommodate a 3/4 inch diameter?
Yes I did.
I'm really moved by your sentence "I am definitely someone that prefers to improve and layer and add-to a room over time, never really proclaiming a room done.” We are renovating our house and as we finish rooms, I've been struggling with not being able to mass-decorate each room and it's so hard. I'm so glad that I have permission to sit and think about each room and not rush to get them all "done'!
wow I love this room .. I love the layering you did...
I am wondering if you considered adding that wall paper to the ceiling as well? i think it'll look beautiful and add a surprise element to the room
We have plans to plank the ceiling in the future. It's only 8' tall and I think wallpaper would make it feel closed in.
This looks amazing! Did you replace the window and window trim? Or were you able to paint it? We’re currently looking at a lot of houses with dated woodwork and I’m wondering if we can paint it or we should plan on replacing.
I just painted it!!
I love the vintage art prints!! I’m going to order now from your source. I like how you juxtaposed the vintage pieces with the clean simple frames. Could you point me to where the frames are from? Thanks!
We made them! Check out this post.
My daughter's room is super similar EXCEPT she also has a second window on that left wall, next to the bed.
Would you still do curtains if there are TWO windows in the room that are not symmetrical??
You could definitely still do curtains.
Love the curtains! Did I notice in the insta post that you changed out the light fixture too? Curious what prompted that change too.
We did that last year (check out this post). These ceilings are only 8' tall and the previous light fixture hung down about 18"--too low for our tall family.
This room is just the sweetest.
OMG So much better! I get where you were going with that lamp but I just love the brighter lampshade now and the rug and curtains really pull it all together!
I find it hard to do cottage-feminine design without going shabby-chic, but you did it effortlessly! Seriously stunning!
Looks great! I really love the way it brings out the little bits of pink in the art!
I thought it was going to be the curtains and the rug!
Is the rug new too? I don't see it in the before picture.
It's not in the before but it's been down for a few weeks! It's been moving around our house for a couple months and think it's so great here!
Wow!! I would have never thought you needed them but they look so beautiful/soft and finish off the room and make is look cozy! Great choice!
I love this cozy bedroom. It really is the epitome of “cottage” to me. I’m jealous of Greta.
Hi Julia! This looks so pretty! I've always wondered — why does she have two beds? And do the girls give input on colour choices like this beige?
Every weekend, Greta and Faye have a sleepover in Greta's room and when they have cousin sleepovers, it's always in here, too. It has been the BEST decision to put two beds in here. We use them all the time.
Love the curtains! They would be the perfect color for my daughter's room. I'm not seeing the same color in the Amazon link, though, unless it's the pink? It looks a lot pinker in the Amazon picture... Can you clarify? Thank you!
Looks like they already sold out in the "blush beige" color we got, but I found others in the same color here!
It’s beautiful! Am I imagining this or are the walls in the house plaster? I swear I remember you saying that one time but now I think I may have dreamed it! Ha!
They are plaster in some areas and drywall in another.
Are you planning to paint the baseboard to match the gray trim?
I'm dying to paint the baseboard!!! We are actually replacing it to match the rest of the house and I'll make a decision on what color then. I'm leaning toward white.
Good to know, I’ve been wondering! The room looks so great! I hope Greta is loving it.
Hi! Love this! Is the color of these curtains in the link actually “pink” or are they sold out in this color? Hard to tell because they look a little different in the link. Thanks!
Looks like they are sold out already there! But I found the same color here!
Looks great! Love the curtain addition. And I always love mix and matching bedding. Such a fun switch up! The lamp change is note worthy too! The shorter lamp addss more height to the room along with the curtains!
Yes! Once we switched the lamps in our room, I had to find a new place and I love them here!
Looks great!! I thought the second thing was going to be that you switched out the lamp on the nightstand!! haha!
Oh, well, that too.