Bed in front of windows (too tall)

11 years ago

We've been slowly turning our master bedroom from mid-century modern to a little more luxe traditional-modern.

The short story: I bought a new bed (partially damaging it while moving up the stairs, so no returning it or moving again - it'll only leave this room via chainsaw).

Design dilemma: The bed covers up the windows way more than anticipated. Now, the golden oak blinds look like fussy eyebrows. How do I fix this, or at least mitigate? The current blinds are custom wood (a splurge at $450), and match the rest of the house, so they have to stay as well.

I've looked at Houzz's ideabook for beds in front of windows, but I've messed up most of the tips ("airy" metal bed; short headboard, etc.). I can't do the wall-to-wall curtains because of the slope of the ceiling. Is there a budget-friendly fix?

(Extra credit dilemma: thick low-maintenance rug ideas under $300? The floor is warped and broken in places so a thin rug is out and husband has said "no" to flotaki/shag.)

We will eventually replace the rug, mcm dresser, and the horrible ceiling fan as well, but that will take money and time.

Featured Answer

Gisele Bordeleau

11 years ago

http://houzz.com/photos/4173316

Use your bed and headboard has room divider. Pull your bed enough to have a little sitting area in front of the window.
Or your bed facing the window and have the sitting area in front of the headboard.

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Comments (61)

User
11 years ago
Beautiful bed, but agree it seems awkward bc it is too tall for the window. Too bad you can't find another wall to place the bed against. I know your wood blinds are expensive and you probably hate to cover them but they are mostly covered now anyway, so I think I would camouflage the window by adding fabric behind the bed and take it all the way to the top of the ceiling.
jessicatok
Original Author
11 years ago
I think the comments are right - I think some sort of elongated drapery might help with the room and bed height.

However, as you can see, there's not a lot of space between the ceiling and window molding, so I'm not sure exactly where to hang a drapery rod:

1. attached to the window frame
2. Halfway between window and ceiling, or
3. At ceiling (which restricts the width)?

Or is the valence the answer? I had balloon valences as a kid, so they freak me out.
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studio10001
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
If it really bothers you, try a bed canopy. That said, I think it looks best treated as you have it - simply outlining the headboard - due to your foreshortened walls. Additional treatments will exacerbate the look of low ceilings. head https://www.houzz.com/photos/breakers-project-contemporary-bedroom-atlanta-phvw-vp~327770
lefty47
11 years ago
HI -- Paint the window frame around the window the same color as the walls . Then have bottom up blinds . Pull the bed out a little further from the window too.
User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I think you can do something very simple, some simple linen or cotton panels-maybe a simple design in the fabric. Hang above the frame of the window and inch below ceiling and an inch to 2 inches on each side of frame. It will greatly soften the lines in your room. My bedroom is an extension of attic and has ceiling lines similar to yours. I hung sheer panels and it really help soften the hard lines. Actually, I think white linen would be really pretty. Also white linen with a touch of black or red would also be pretty behind your bed.
jessicatok thanked User
studio10001
11 years ago
Good on you,b!
jospad
11 years ago
Did you intend for your set up to look like a face?
MaryLou Mackie
11 years ago
Karen Dumont has made great suggestions.
I would suggest painting the window trim the same colour as the wall and using drapery to cover the blinds. I would suggest something not too sheer. You want the fabric to appear a part of the bed treatment. You can open the drapes when you want light, but can close for maximum decorating impact. I would consider a textured fabric, hung from a rod that extends only across the tallest area of the window - I would suggest they go to the floor but not puddle. Same as wall colour would be ideal so the drapery fabric doesn't take away from the headboard but simply softens the impact.
Just some thoughts for your great room. Enjoy.
Shelly Gebert
11 years ago
I like Bordeleau's suggestion of turning the bed 180 in the current spot and use the headboard as a room divider. I would also add shears from the ceiling next to the headboard on both sides and drape away from the bed to the side walls. This would allow for better light throughout the room and make the room into two functional spaces.
Shelly Gebert
11 years ago
http://houzz.com/photos/1617566
Kind of like this except imagine the foot of this bed is your headboard so you are partitioning the room.
sheena
11 years ago
It depends on the look you want. If you want a modern look you could purchase a rod that hangs from your ceiling. If you want more traditional, hang the rod 2 inches from the ceiling go with a grommet hung curtain and have the width of the curtain rod hit the ceiling at the points where your ceiling curvs down so basically you will have the curtains coming down flowing on both sides of your bed. The wall with the 2 pics will still show on both sides of the bed.
jessicatok thanked sheena
Isa
11 years ago
I would turn the bed 180 degrees and push it away from the window. or just push it away from the window and create a intimate reading area between the windows and the headboard. try doing this first as will be easier and take pictures. see how the room feels. the great advantage is you will let more light into the room.
jessicatok
Original Author
11 years ago
Everyone - thank you for the great ideas and help! The Houzz community is so talented and quick to respond. I'm grateful.

Sheenabel, 2lacoop, Karen, sunnydrew, and mackiema - thank you for the thoughtful ideas on the placement and type of drapery; and Karen, especially for finding those pictures - they were inspirational. It may take me awhile, but I'll try to follow up with some pictures on this thread later.

Karemore55 - I'll keep an eye out for nice rugs... it's such a huge design element; usually I thrift and estate sale most things, but I might have to save a little and just find the "right" one.

Jospad - after we put up the bed and stepped back to look at it, I said to my husband, "It (the setup) looks like an upset Lego man with a mustache." After he was done laughing, he replied that now he would never "unsee" that. Totally unintentional and definitely why I sought help on this thread :-)

Again, a deep thank you to everyone!
-Jessica
kathleen MK
11 years ago
any chance of angling the bed from a corner or placing against side walls? if there is space behind it you can put a towel bar on the back of the headboard to hang extra blankets or out of season things.
ellenincali
11 years ago
I have found some decent rugs on Overstock for under $300. I'd also check other discount sites, like Dot & Bo, Wayfair, and Lamps Plus Open Box. If you have a HomeGoods store near you, those can be great, too.
Irene Morresey
11 years ago
Some ideas, I like your room
tatd
11 years ago
I'm a bit late to this thread but what a dilemma! Bed is so beautiful but you have to move it imo b/c this window looks like your only natural light source into the space.
Options as I see them:
1) Pull the bed forward and angle it toward the right wall. You may have to sacrifice a beautiful night stand. But try to get as much clearance from the window. A portion may still block it but shouldn't be as bad.
2) Switch bed with seating area (if you have space) as another poster mentioned. But angle it beside the stairs on that side.
3) You mentioned chain saw... Lol... Hack the legs off the headboard and let it sit flat on the floor. Move up the hardware and reattach the rails. Then you can place it on either of your side walls below the slope.
Some angled beds below:
http://houzz.com/photos/15256164
http://houzz.com/photos/11799988
http://houzz.com/photos/520188
Irene Morresey
11 years ago
The bed wouldn't fit on an angle like in pics, seems a shame to cover those windows
tatd
11 years ago
Shelly and Board's 180 degree suggestion is awesome by the way but will you have enough room to walk on the sides? If so that could very well be your perfect solution. Good luck with this.

Another inspiration pic to look at.
http://houzz.com/photos/5108126
jessicatok
Original Author
11 years ago
I promised to follow up...

Although it took me a month or so, we're still working out the curtains --- I've got $300 of drapery thrown about the room.

I'm currently working with a brown cotton-linen grommet panel in front and a patterned "sheer." I'm between the "gold dots" and the mud cloth pattern.

Revising the post, however, I'm thinking that I will go get a cream linen.

We've also changed the furniture on the other side to a transitional leather (yay, Craigslist), so the room is looking much more pulled together.
sfoody53
11 years ago
Take a look at this link showing a bed enclosed within a built-in surround. Could do this inexpensively with IKEA products. http://houzz.com/photos/112453
User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Looks amazing, Jessica! I think the brown compliments your bedding and adds drama to the room.
Another Thyme
11 years ago
Solid wood...I would get out a power saw and cut it down to size if it were mine. You have the potential for a fabulous room there if the bed wasn't so huge.
Judy Mishkin
11 years ago
i'd take another thyme's chainsaw and cut it down just enough to fit on a side wall, hmmmm
bungalowmo
11 years ago
I'm with Another Time. Remove headboard....carry downstairs to back yard, cut about 2.5 feet off, route out a channel to match sides, paint & distress or whatever, carry back upstairs....see the light!

Done....
Judy Mishkin
11 years ago
lol bungalow....go big or go home....
hayleydaniels
11 years ago
Your room is lovely, but for your own safety, you need to get the headboard cut down like mo says so you can use the window as a fire escape. I say this as the wife of a career firefighter--don't block your means of egress!
jessicatok
Original Author
11 years ago
lol, though we love using the Bosch and Dremel, no changing this bed, it's Century Furniture, i.e., $2k that I'll never get back.

As for fire, our means of egress are the matching set of windows on the other side of the room (the bright thing in the attached picture), or in the closet (with the fire ladder).

I had a sideways bed in our last apartment and a nice permanent bruise on my shins from barking it every morning. Never again!

Karen - thanks again, your help has been really appreciated.
sandradclark
11 years ago
Okay. I think I have the solution: Ikea has meshy net curtains for $3.99 a pair. They only come in white. When you hang them on a skinny rod at the very top of the ceiling & extend them as far on either side of the bed as possible. Buy several pairs, hang them very full. Pull the bed out a couple of inches. They will capture the light from the window & multiply it several times to surround you in light. You can cut these for the length you need. No need to hem. At $3.99 try it & what's to lose if it does not work. You will be pleasantly surprised. They will capture all the light from your side table lights as well & multiply it.
everdebz
11 years ago
Haven't read all, but would this help with placement? covering 2 feet....
Hunting Lodge - Oxford, Maryland · More Info
Jan Litchard
11 years ago
Big no,noon the bed in front of windows. Unless u like it dark in your room I'd put the bed on the left wall, everything else looks pretty good. Put shades up to pull if u do want dark. They have beautiful bamboo shades or u can get cloth decorative ones. Shutters in white would look good & can shut for privacy or darkness.
Jan Litchard
11 years ago
I think I'd change those side bed tables tho. In dark like your dresser.
Jan Litchard
11 years ago
I'd change the wall& ceiling color to something lighter too. White, lite gold,a blue color.
sandradclark
11 years ago
I would like to see you edit some of the items in the room. I love the way you have the bedside tables & prints & lamps set up though, so do not change that area.
fogfog
11 years ago
I like where you are going. Room feels cozy, romantic and unfussy. Can you trim down that headboard at it's base? Nice job
PRO
JudyG Designs
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Drape the window. Use a rod which is wider than the window, so that, if you need the night air, you can stack back the drapes.
jessicatok
Original Author
11 years ago
Done! Thanks for everyone's help!
User
11 years ago
Absolutely gorgeous, Jessica! You room looks both inviting and peaceful. You couldn't have done a better job softening the ceiling lines and camouflaging the window behind the bed. You have created the perfect retreat! Enjoy it, now.
jessicatok thanked User
2lacoop
11 years ago
Beautiful, Jessica! Calm and inviting. Just need a nice cup of cocoa and a good book.
kmore23
11 years ago
It looks perfect!
sfoody53
11 years ago
That looks great!
decoenthusiaste
11 years ago
I knew you'd figure out the bed arrangement, but what has bothered me since the "get-go" is all the clutter lining the walls and surfaces. Minimize that so the bed can be admired without distraction.
PRO
Canterbury Custom Homes LLC
11 years ago
It looks great!! Good job. The curtains look great behind the bed.
sheena
11 years ago
such a great job I love this look so much!
Thank you for sending this pic update.
jessicatok thanked sheena
abbyjean
11 years ago
BEAUTIFUL! What a great master bedroom/retreat!
jascheitler
11 years ago
I love how it looks now! We have the same issue with the window and headboard. I am going to take inspiration from what you did. Just curious what your wall color is? It looks very cozy! We will be reprinting our room as well. Thanks!
Cathy
11 years ago
This is so pretty!
Laura
8 years ago
I don't think it looks as bad as you think. For a cheap fix, you could try focusing on the lighting. Remove any fan/lighting fixture from the ceiling (put in recessed, if need be). Move the bed away from the window a bit, then place a hidden light to shine up, towards the top of the window/, so that it illuminates the space above window...drawing the eye up.
decoenthusiaste
8 years ago
Laura - this is from 2015. Please watch dates on dilemmas and try to help those currently posting.