It would be really cute painted! With your bedding you could do black, white or gray, or actually any vibrant color you like. Google "updating bedroom furniture with paint" or get on Pinterest and search for painted bedroom furniture.

Is it the golden oak? If yes, I'd paint it white black or whatever color you prefer. Easy DIY task

If all you hated was the stain color, then painting it might be the answer, but it sounds like you also don't care for the style (at least of the headboard), and painting it isn't going to solve that. If I were you, I'd start trolling Craigslist and maybe create an email alert for "_____ bedroom set" (add whatever bed size you want to the search).

In looking for a mirror on Craigslist recently, I've seen some beautiful antique bedroom sets for dirt cheap prices that people are just trying to offload. You see a lot of ugly stuff there too, but then one person's ugly is another person's beautiful. It's worth checking out anyway, and if you find something you love (or think you could love with fresh paint and/or new hardware) you can offload your current set on Craigslist ;)

I think the dresser is cute. I'd be inclined to refinish (stain) and change the knobs, but it would also look good painted. It's hard to know without seeing more of your room.

I have a bed somewhat similar to yours, with fatter spindles. I painted a couple of milking stools in my kitchen and the round cross bars were an absolute b to paint so that the finish is smooth. Because of that, I've been reluctant to paint my bed.

OK, that's what you don't like. What are some looks you do like? Are you looking to do a simple refresh (paint or small changes/limited budget) or are yuo looking to make bigger changes?

If you want to stick to thte monochromatic look, you could paint the bed and nightstand balck, charcoal grey or white (replace those knobs with something in a silver finish). What you can't change (unless you can rearrange your furniture) is the fact that both are feeling smooshed in against that angled wall. I'd probably remove the headboard and do some kind of fabric against the wall to do a canopy type headboard to give a visual lift. Something like one of these.

http://www.homedesigninteriors.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Mock-Canopy-Headboard-Design.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c9/ee/e3/c9eee36e8c325a1f2d7d5db571e754b4.jpg

https://www.pinterest.com/fembotandria/faux-headboard/

I like the dresser as it is, the headboard not so much. Off load these items on Craigs List, and get something you'll enjoy.

You can always finds affordable beds, dressers etc on Craigslist.

I did have the thot of painting the set and having my DH build a frame (that I would upholster) that would fit over the headboard. But maybe that's a crazy complicated idea.

Don't forget estate sales! Or if you have the Nextdoor app, people are always trying to unload good furniture. However, you may be limited by your space. In that case, I'd paint.

An upholstered headboard will have to stand away from the wall -- might not be what you want. I would also look on Overstock, chek out Home Goods, World Market, resale options -- you could probably get a new headboard for what it would cost yo to build unless you are recycling at least some of your materials or get something to update without building.

I looovvee this look..

I guess one thing I could do is paint it white and then just upholster a piece to fit in front of the headboard spindles.

If it's the spindles you hate, then I'm with others in suggesting you sell the set on CL and find something, either there or within your budget to replace it. I happen to love your style bed and if I were looking for a bed on CL I would snap it up.

I have seen folks slipcover a headboard. Yo would basically make an arch shaped pocket stiched across the top and open from the point where you reach the posts on down (you could add ties or velcro on the sides). But that may cost you as much or more than a good buy on an upolstered headboard.

Take a look at headboards here for starters. They often have additioonal 10-12% off coupons or sales.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Headboards/22395/subcat.html

"An upholstered headboard will have to stand away from the wall "

Please explain what this means? My upholstered headboard is not away from the wall, that sucker is tight against it.

That's what I thought she meant too, but I think any headboard I have will have to? The one I have now does. Our bedroom is in a dormer of our 1 1/2 story farmhouse.

I think that people "hate" furniture if it is " orange oak"......! I am not sure when that trend started. If you dislike the style, that s different. I think that the only problem with this set is that it does not go with the trendy gray that everyone wants for their walls. The right wall color and pretty bedding would look fabulous with this set.

What is your favorite color? I love aqua so you could paint the tables a soft shade and get an upholstered headboard in ivory or white. I prefer off white and then go to town on the room.

Yes, any taller headboard would have to stand away further than the current headboard, which is already away from the wall. It doesn't matter if it is uphostered, but eht OP seemed to be leaning that way and an upholstered one is almost certainly going to be taller so you can see it. The current wood one is on the low side.

I've done really well by shopping regularly on craigslist… How much of a rush are you in?

I would want to see the whole room and figure out is a different furniture arrangement would open up better options.

I am in the process of painting and glazing my bedroom set now, for a look much like the photo you posted, silversage. It was originally a brown stain, I just wanted a lighter brighter look but didn't want to go pure white or cream. The set had the "hutch style" mirror which was popular in the 80's (which is when we bought it) I got rid of the hutch mirror and bought a large wall mirror on clearance which I am painting/glazing to match. You can do it, its a bit time consuming though. Here's how I am doing it: Scrub clean, scuff sand, a good primer, 2 coats good paint, sand lightly between coats, premixed glaze brushed on, then wiped with some old T shirts, 3 coats polycrylic, sand lightly between coats. (Don't sand the glaze coat though) I am painting the old hardware, which was brass, to a oil rubbed bronze. Cost for everything, about $110, including the mirror but not counting the new T shirts I bought my husband, to replace the ones I used for glazing.

FYI - Overstock sent me an additional 10% off coupon this morning -- with 20% off bed and bath. In case you haven't looked or looked and were on the fence about something.

I would paint it and add new hardware to the drawers - either Baldwin oil rubbed bronze knobs or some pretty clear or colored glass knobs that you can find on ebay, depending on your preference.

If you google my user name plus "painted dressers hutch" you can see some before and after pictures of similar wood pieces that I painted and glazed.

Can you move the bed/forward such that you could get enough vertical space to put in the type headboard that you would want? If so, i would go for it. Check out Ikea's brimnes headboard for an example of what to do with that odd bit of space between the bed and wall.

Bye a Bedhead, then paint your furniture white. You can pickup varying prices of handles like these.

My neighbour done the same to her wooden bedroom suit and it looks wonderful. So fresh and stylish.

I agree with a lot of the other readers in painting the night stand & dresser. Changing the knobs is an easy fix. However, first I would find a new bed and then choose a color that would compliment the bed you choose.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts! Now... Do you think I would regret using chalk paint and then distressing? Something like this? I would probably change the bedding set if I did this.

Also, once I wax over chalk paint I won't be able to change to latex if I would want to redo it down the road. Maybe I shouldn't worry about that part of it though?

I like this finish too:

Lily's mom, I think I'll try what you suggested.

Yes I will post a pic, though it might be a while until it's actually started and finished.

And then... I stumbled across this new bedroom set.

I think if you like this BR set above, you can paint and distress your current pieces in a similar fashion, and add accessories to further get to where you want to go. To buy an entire BR set in a heavily distressed finish as this above is a very big commitment. Paint/distress what you have, and if you still like this look, say, in 6 mo. or a year, invest in new BR furniture.

I have yet to use their grey gel stain but have used their mahogany on many pieces with ease. I am doing this on my chest at the foot of my bed in a few weeks and am using general finishes.

Here is a link to purchase http://www.rockler.com/gel-stain-general-finishes-gray

here are some before and afters of pieces and a door I did with their mahogany finish. It was so easy.

After

No sanding pieces

no sanding pine door

General Finishes now also have chalk paint and milk paint. They are super helpful when you call them up.

I used General Finishes white milk paint, dark brown glaze, and polyacrylic finish on my DD's painted dressers. Really easy to use and I like the finish.

I'm just not quite sure I want to paint this bedroom set I have. It's built by a local Mennonite craftsman and I feel like painting it might devalue it. I listed it on Craigslist so we'll see what happens.

As for the headboard of the set I really like not fitting against the wall, this house is most likely not our 'forever' house (probably build or deeply remodel), so I hate to not get the one I like just because it doesn't fit this room.

Oh and one of the pps was wondering about different room arrangement. This arrangement is the only way a bedroom set works with our sloped ceilings.:/ unless we put the bed in front of the window... Which means in front of the window AC in summer, and in winter in front of a cold draft. Yes, it's an old, old original house. We're just biding our time until we know what we want to do with it.

I don't have a problem with beds in front of windows -- I've had two bedrooms with windows on two or even three walls plus closet and hall doors on the third. Putting the bed on the only full wall meant you would be walking right into it from the hall, so I set it in front of and between windows -- actually really liked both those rooms.

You can deal with the chill by using an insulating window cover, but the AC would require a different solution. Is that the only window? There are freestanding AC units that vent out a window. We used one when our AC was out. I don't know how they would be for more regular use.

You might want to consider no headboard in this room and get the headboard or new bed when you have the room for it. Use a fabric or paint treatment to define the area without taking up and room space -- or just add definition on either side of the bed.