You have all the right elements, just need some tweaking. Re-frame the prints in a chunkier darker frame. Hang three above the bed. Move the lamps closer to the bed rather than the wall. You need some throw pillows for a punch of color. 2 matching lumbar pillows placed against the white pillows should do it. Also a throw at the end of the bed should tie it all together.

Look for balance, the visual weight of the headboard and lamps is enough for that wall, the pictures are too dainty by comparison . Change the mats in the pictures to a dark color and group them on one of the side walls in a square to add weight and balance

If you want to use all four pictures, I would hang the bottom frames higher, so that where the top of the picture is now is where the bottom of the frame should line up and the top pictures should be hung higher with their outer frames edges lining up with the outer edge of the headboard, hope that makes sense!

I would lose the four pictures and maybe get some more modern lamps. Perhaps something an ornate mirror or a piece of modern art.

I know this in-partly because i'm obsessed with this idea/trend but why don't you stencil your wall. It is a relatively cheap method to bring some visual intrest to a wall especially if you treat it as an accent wall. You have a pretty color maybe you can go a shade lighter or darker. another thing (personal preference, sorry), but maybe you should try a sheer metalli paint when you stencil so your wall still appear one color but when light is reflected upon it will have a translucent jewel tone quality that judging buy your sheets/overall feel you have a very hotel luxe feel. I could be wrong but I'm sure anything you decide doing will be great!

http://www.thenester.com/2012/08/no-paint-diamond-wall.html
look at how this lady used tape to create a diamond design behind her bed...

I love the headboard! But it washes out with the neutral wall color, if you can't paint, then if you can afford to, add wall to wall draperies behind the bed in a rich dark brown or a stripe. Then simply add some luxurious pillows and fold the brown throw down at the foot of the bed.

I like the pictures over the headboard but try all four and put a book or books under the lower lamp to even the height.

Wallpaper with a big bold print or maybe paint horizontal stripes with a metallic paint. Throw in some accent pillows to add interest and compliment the accent wall.

When you hang pictures there is another way to hang them so they look more asymmetrical, you have them symmetrical, perfectly lined up , hang them by staggering them they would look alot better, as far as using nails since you rent and dont want to damge the wall, go to Home depot and by the command strips, they are easily removed by just pulling the tab. Did this with my Corel PSP software, hanging them unevenly is eye appealing and the way I hung them seems to almost take on the shape of the headboard.

If you'd consider removing the four pieces of art which are getting lost in similar colors, I would suggest adding one or two wire "curtain lines" from Ikea that you could attach in each wall. Then on the wire, you can clip loose vintage black and white photos or small images. You can buy anonymous snapshots at flea markets or garage sales, or maybe you have your own from your family! A constantly changing art gallery. The hanging system is called Dignitet and is less than $12 for one.

I love symmetry, you have all the elements for great design right there. There is nothing wrong with your headboad or the room color. The only concerns I see right now are the pictures are too low, (blocked by the lights) and there is a big empty space over the headboard. This all depends on your budget and your taste.

Low budget: Move the pictures up, above the lamps. Same position, just higher than the lamps. Buy a removeable vinyl wall art, "Sweet dreams", "Always Kiss me good Nite" you get the idea, for the space over the headboard. Great idea from previous posters.
If you don't like the vinyl wall letters, then place the pictures above the headboard. 3 in a row, or use all 4 like in Barbara's post. However you like.

Still low budget: Paint the end tables black. It will be gorgeous against the light blue walls. Very current and dramatic. They are different anyway, I think you'll love them black.

A bit of money: Reframe and re-mat the pictures to larger black frames, with larger white or ivory mats. I like the idea of a lumbar roll pillow in an accent color, or chocolate brown. You don't need any more throw pillows. I absolutely despise pillows on a bed, personally. We all know they have to be taken off and put somewhere at night.

You need larger scale bedside tables and lamps. Then add 3 prints, or giclees (a bit larger than you current ones) over the headboard.

What about painting the wall a darker green? and throw in some accent pillows. i also agree three pictures above the bed.

You could also add wallpaper if its in the budget. Heres one thats gold with a vertical pattern which will make the room seem big as well as given the head board a grander vibe.

I don't think the issue is the art or lamps, or even the symmetry. I think your color scheme is off here and you need to darken that back wall. It needs to be at least three shades darker than your headboard. If you cannot paint, you can always put fabric on the wall behind the bed.

They are renting so wallpaper probably isn't an option. Perhaps they could paint, but the scale is way off. Interiors by Patti LLC / Patti Drane

You've got a lot going on, graphically speaking. A lot of rectangular shapes which give hard edges. The round ball shapes on the lamps soften the look somewhat, but lamps with just one large, rounded base would fit the scale of everything better. Also, you've repeated the graphic of the headboard in the bedding, but it's a little bit overkill with the pillows repeating the pattern as well. I would cover the pillows in shams of a solid color (green or yellow would look great - but any color you like, really, except neutral). You could paint the wall behind to match the sham color. And the extra blanket on the bed you could switch out to match the wall and sham color. And I agree - put three of the pictures above the bed, and in bolder frames that contrast with the wall color. Black frames always work no matter the color scheme.

Definitely paint the wall, and move the pictures. The pics would be better horizontally above the bed.

I would put a K&K Design wall "kling"!!!! That is the perfect area! You can pick one out of the catalog.... or totally design one yourself... and you can personalize it too!! Add your favorite saying... or a simple "Alway, Kiss me Goodnight" saying or....you could put "Together is a wonderful place to Be" ... or there are so many more !! Check out the catalog at www.myk-kdesigns.com/carolpetroskey (yes, that is me!) and please let me know if you have any questions or need help with any ideas. When you are ready to move, you just peel it off the wall and you never knew it was there!! I think it's perfect for your area!! My email is nitecap5@hotmail.com or message me on facebook if I can help further!! Good luck in whatever you decide!!

The problem is that your super-dark brown throw has so much visual weight that it's throwing off the whole room. Looks like your walls are light blue or gray-- great colors. I'd take the dark brown off the bed and concentrate on the color of the lamps, finding something big and bold (like what's on the wall in this photo) to go over the bed. Take down those pictures. They're pretty, but too delicate for this room. When you look at the photo in this link, see how the dark side tables and the sunburst mirror work together; try to get your lamps working the same way with a bold wallhanging.

http://www.thenester.com/2012/08/no-paint-diamond-wall.html
look at how this lady used tape to create a diamond design behind her bed...

and... if you do a K&K Design... I would definately add "some" GOLD color in the print you choose to accent everything!!

One more thing... if you do a K&K design... I would put 2 pictures on one side of your bed, but I would not make them even... and maybe just one picture on the other side.. perhaps you can put the other one somewhere else in the room - on a different wall!

i would hang mirrors behind each lamp just above each nightable and change the prints.something bolder nice black frames

The biggest problem I see is that you lack a focal point. You need something for your eye to zero in on. Right now it's hard to figure out where to look first. That's why the 3 pictures work better than 4. Your eye goes straight to the middle one. But the scale of the pictures is a little puny, especially with only 3. If you don't want to re-frame them to bulk them up, I would suggest hanging all 4 in a horizontal line above the bed, but leave a large space in the middle and add something different and unexpected as a focal point. So it would look something like this - - + - - where the dashes represent your existing pictures and the plus sign is the new object. Whatever the new object is, it should be a larger scale (especially vertically) as the 4 pictures. Also one solid color accent pillow added right in the middle of those other 2 would do wonders. Whatever you do, create a focal point. And I agree with other comments to center those lamps on the tables. Hope this helps!

what about a WallTalk over the bed ...love the look and its easy and cheap
maybe something like this:

http://www.walltalksales.ca/You-say-Im-a-Dreamer-but-Im-not-the-only-one1125-x-17_p_671.html
http://www.walltalksales.ca/Everyday-holds-the-possibility-of-a-miracle_p_522.html

A couple of things stood out for me and have been touched on already, I agree with iamari that the lamps could benefit from having books under them to raise their height, which would look better visually and also throw the light a bit better if you are reading in bed. These are too low.

I also agree that the dark throw looks a bit heavy in this room. I can imagine if the white bedding would show, it would make a big difference. Is that the duvet peeping out? How about allowing more of the duvet to show.

One boudior pillow in the right print would really help to stop the eye going up and keep the focus on the bed. You should be able to find something depending on your budget almost anywhere. Here is some example all from etsy,

Susan Mills

Tack up an interesting fabric on the entire wall behind the bed. You can find roll ends for a good price at fabric stores. It can be easily removed when you move. All of your furniture and accents are rectangular. You need an accent that is round. Maybe use a round large mirror with a decorative frame ,more frame less mirror. Make it large enough to make an impact. Use your beautiful photos on another wall. Also don't have your lamp shades match that will help get rid of they symetrical issue. Darken the side table for some contrast.

The pictures are too small. Take them off the wall behind the bed. Bunch them together and hang them on the wall beside the bed that already has one photo.

The pictures are too small. Take them off the wall behind the bed. Bunch them together and hang them on the wall beside the bed that already has one photo.

I think the difference in scale between the headboard and lamps would just be emphasized by putting anything over the headboard. I would hang the pictures lower and no higher than the headboard (or just one picture on each side between the lamp base and bed) to keep the visual lower. This would give some weight to the lamps and end tables. If you can get more heighth on the lamps all the better. I would change out the lamp shades with ones that were more vertical. Lowes is a good place to check. You could try stacking the lamps on some books or a pretty box. Play with different light bulbs to reduce the yellow tones. A graphic pillow or something textural on the bed would be a bonus. Good Luck!

With a bad ass wild wallpaper!

The problem is the headboard needs to be taller. If there is more hidden by the mattress and box spring extend the headboards legs. This may require a new surface mounted bed rail catch and a little thought on what will look best at the bottom of the headboards legs.

I'm thinking if you bought a couple more pictures and then display them in a arch shape.......it would bring another shape into the room.

One thing I think needs to be said. People have lamps on tables beside the bed for a purpose, not necessarily for design. The lamps are probably in the corner so the people can put their watches and glasses, or maybe a book on the table. The lamps cannot be so tall that one cannot reach to turn them off from a comfortable position in the bed.

Lamps do have several purposes in the bedroom ikwewe that's true. Most often rooms have an overhead light for general lighting, so the bedside are for task or mood. Tasks such as reading in bed are best achieved when the light is approx 27 inches higher than the nitestand which are most often 28-30 inches high. This allows the light to fall where the open book is, making reading in bed more enjoyable. As we know much more than reading goes on in bedrooms so here is where the mood lighting comes in, if the lights are three way, meaning they can have three different levels of light, a much gentler and softer level of lighting can be achieved. Yes a switch should be close at hand and of course nitestands should be big enough to accomodate other items such as drinks, books and such.

In this room the lamps are a bit short for reading properly, hence the suggestions to raise them with books under. ALso lamps can visually balance a headboard, with their height, style and colour, there could be a better choice for this room but meanwhile moving them would help. :)

Another option; is to invest in some tall, skinny lamps. Personally I think the shade should come to the top of your headboard and match your bedspread. Then to help break up the square- straight line feeling that's going on, maybe a nice large round mirror anove the bed. Something that brings out your headboard color. But my fav idea is still chandelers by beds with a modern twist. :-)

You can buy clickers for your lampsmtp turn them on and off without ever raising your head off of the pillow. It will control a lamp across the room too.

There's not enough color in the paintings and they can't compete with the bed cover. Try an abstract(s) which picks up the color in the bedspread, preferably something with texture or drama to break up the monotony of the rectangular shapes and neutral colors.

Paint the wall smokey blue, shorten headboard by 4 inches, then place pics straight across above the headboard. Room needs a little color. Until you get new nightstands, paint the ones you have.

I wouldn't use the pictures at all. I would totally change the focus wall color to a deep brown. If you must use the nightstands (I would incorporate a hanging night shelf if it was my room) then change the color of those too. Perhaps a green or go bold with orange. The lamps are cute so do something with the lampshades that correspond with the accent color you choose. You can use fabric paint (in green or orange as accent color) to paint them and possible use a stencil to accent even further. Add color with accent pillows. For the headboard, again, accent it. Maybe use some rope or ribbon in vertical striping pattern to bring interest visually. On the back wall, I would use a wall mounted shelving system. It should be as wide as the bed itself plus 6 inches on each side. It can be of any style you wish. Choose nice pieces to accent the shelves. Enjoy!

damn...just read you can't paint the walls. Maybe you can use wall stencils. I visit and purchase lots from http://www.dezignwithaz.com/. I am attaching 3 photo designs I did in my livingroom. I think the clock arrangement would serve you well. It's not expensive and very easy to do. The last picture happens to be one that I painted over because I hated the picture. I painted it white to make a new canvas and did the design to match up with the wall border I painted on the walls. These are all inexpensive ways to add character.

I also live in an apartment. Not supposed to paint either. But I need to have some color in my environment. Besides, I will paint over this before I leave. I am looking at these photos and realize that they are the very beginning of what I wanted. The clock has been changed out to a different design. Fake plants removed. If you look at the "painting" and then look at the lamp and shade, you can see that I stayed with the same shape scheme. I added the black ribbon and medallion to the shade because the white shade alone wasn't adding anything to the design.

check this picture out I think it will show you how your pics would look above your bed. [houzz=]

This is what I'm talking about...it's a beautiful arrangement and the decorative molding is a great idea!

find a sheet or some material and use liquid starch and paste the material on the wall when you are ready to move you just wash it off

find a sheet or some material and use liquid starch and paste the material on the wall when you are ready to move you just wash it off

This issue has inspired many comments. I have to give mine, too. lol. The bed and bedding and lamps & wall color are perfect without the frames. You do not need the art over the bed or over the night tables. These frames are distracting. For future reference, the frames over the bed and the lamps should be the same finish (gold, silver, black etc). I do not think the lines of this pretty headboard need anything to distract from them. I think the lamps could have been taller, though, & maybe in a finish less heavy than brown.

You need to replace your lamps that are too small. I would suggest introducing some color in the bases of the lamps and following up with a pillow in a print that picks up this color. Remove all your art as they do not add anything to the mix.

So hat DID you decide to do?
Photos?