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kylie_kallio

Master Bedroom in Attic

13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Hi there,
My master bedroom needs serious help. It's a renovated attic, so it's an odd shaped room, and with a weird eave-access door, we were forced to put our bed in front of the window. We special ordered this bed with a low headboard & open slats so that it wouldn't completely block the window. I like the bedding, and am not willing to take out the dark carpet at this point, so I'm trying to work around the colors & pull it together. What do you think about colors? White nightstands? Yellow accents?? The blue chair obviously needs to go, but what do I do with that corner? I can't get large furniture pieces (i.e. a larger chair or chaise) up there. Any other layout comments?? Thank you!!

Comments (38)

  • 13 years ago
    Another image that didn't upload...
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I would work in some more dark colors in the space, preferably dark brown and go for that cozy look instead of trying to brighten it. The room would look amazing if you positioned the bed against the wall on the right side in the photo, putting up a longer curtain rod so the curtain extends out almost covering that whole wall ( so to balance out the weight of the bed) I would go for a lighter warm color in curtains though, with many pleats. Above the curtains you could install a floating shelf wide as the wall, to draw the eye up making the ceiling appear taller. You could anchor the bed against that wall by hanging natural textured wallpaper such as grass cloth on those walls in that nook ( surrounding the bed on both sides as well as the back wall.) the rest of walls could be painted a few hues lighter, a warm inviting khaki maybe. I would skip a rug on the carpet, maybe a couple of sheepskins
    beside the bed. Skip night and and hang a couple of scones on the wall above bed instead and maybe a basket on floor to toss books in.
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    I 'd try angling the bed into the room from the left corner, with endtables on both sides, and an upholstered bench at the end. I do agree w Eagle re extending the drapes, but would take them only to the inner corner on the right, and as far left as needed to make the sides even. I think you could use a thicker drapery rod, doubled pleated panels in a medium weight, and would hang them higher, starting at the inner right corner edge. A chair( or two), table and lamp in the remaining area. Blue and yellow would look well w a lighter green from your carpet (nixing the area rug) and low light levels:
    http://curtainscolors.com/navy-blue-and-white-patterned-curtains.jpg
  • 13 years ago
    Thanks, guys! I hadn't thought about extending the drapes. Eagle Interior, you're suggesting putting the bed on the wall with the drawers? We have limited closet space in this room, and those built-in drawers are pretty critical. Attaching a couple more images with perspectives of that wall -- with closets at the end (and one of the other wall with weird access door). I had thought about floating the bed with curtains behind it at one point.

    Also, studio10001, that weird access door there that makes angling difficult... I think we might need to move that to do what you've suggested. When it was staged before we moved in, that's exactly what they did... with a full sized bed. King gets a little more difficult.

    So, both of you think having the bed in front of the window is to be avoided at all costs? We had sort of resigned to it being there.
  • 13 years ago
    How often to you need access though that smaller door? If it is once or twice a year, I'd put the bed in front of it, chair angled by the windows on drawer side of the space. Get a larger rug that would pull up under the bed half way. I would want the bedspread as the rug color/pattern and something simpler for a bedspread. Replace the curtains with black out roman shades if you have need for light reduction to sleep. You could have the bedspread made into an upholstered cornice to install above the windows. I'm for the brightening myself. Country Curtains has a thermal cordless roman that could work for you.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    That's a gorgeous and interesting room. I think it's OK to have your bed in front of the window. I had mine that way in a difficult room, and I loved looking up into the sky (slightly backwards) laying there.

    I wouldn't get any more white furniture. It won't match your bed. Find side tables that match your bed or slightly darker.

    You can add color with a rug, accessories, lamps, and artwork.

    https://www.etsy.com/shop/katshoa
  • 13 years ago
    I wouldn't say"at all costs" *L*, but certainly a last choice. You might move the access, but as deco alluded, it isn't paramount, and could be painted out the wall color to recess the look. I like the idea of romans, as it adds a layer of warmth in winter, and can hold its own as the summer treatment without drapes, if you like, but would not accent above the drapery line in any way; the less horizontal emphasis, the better, in my book. Bringing a lighter ceiling color (I'd go with flat white) down to the straight lower wall will brighten more, as well.
  • 13 years ago
    Love an attic bedroom. So cozy.

    I like the bed in front of the windows. I don't like the dark panel in the middle. I would put sheers or light colored curatins in the middle and have the darker ones only on the ends. It will frame the bed nicely. I think the rod needs to come down a couple of inches too. What color are the dark drapes?

    I like the color of the throw pillow, and mabe a throw in the same color on the blue chair would help bring the chair into the room better.

    I would act as if the carpet is wood, and put a larger area rug that goes under the bed and out a bit on each side.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Hi Kylie. Your room is great. I like the bed in front if the windows but, as suggested already, I'd remove the center panel and frame the window with panels on the sides only. I'd also raise the rod and install a natural style like bamboo blind just under the rod - this will maker the ceiling seem higher. See cote de texas blog for window inspiration. I would also decide on a color palate - the green and white are beautiful so maybe focus on those colors and lighten up the room. Does the carpet have to stay? If so can you add a larger area rug in a lighter color. The built in storage is great too. Your room color loos like a nice neutral. lastly, Look at the attic bedrooms that were done by Candace Olson - they are stunning!
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I would leave the bed as is under the window We had a similar shaped bedroom in our last home and when we had the bed on the other walls, my husband hit his head on the ceiling too many times getting in and out of bed! It's pretty low at the head board end.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Look how great these rooms look!
  • 13 years ago
    Thanks everyone. We use the eaves storage quite a bit... and the bed is HEAVY. I don't think I could convince my husband to move it out of the way every time we need access... I thought about having a bookcase on hinges installed as a sort of built-in/eaves access a few feet down the wall, which would allow the bed to be angled there... but it's a small room, and I think we'd be giving up 4 feet of that corner to do so.

    I will see what it looks like to remove the middle panel. They're actually two windows there - I thought the middle panel helped make it look larger. But will try & post another picture this weekend to see what you think.

    Any more ideas about color schemes? The drapes are dark brown, the carpet is charcoal grey. What color/wood finish do I go with for side tables or nightstands? I was thinking lighter, but it sounds like the consensus might be darker?

    Thanks so much for all your help!
  • 13 years ago
    Also, here's my pinterest board with the colors & nightstands I was considering. If white isn't right, I can go with a darker color. Don't like the idea of getting too matchy-matchy with cherry wood everything. http://pinterest.com/kylie_kallio/master-bedroom-possibilities/
  • 13 years ago
    I like brighter myself and cozy. If this were my room I would also angle the bed to the left of the window to help balance the left side of the room as you have great built in's on the right. I would loose the curtains all together and put plantation shutters in white on windows. Paint the walls a soft brown - not dark. I would put a soft yellow area rug over your dark carpet. Consider glass knobs on all of the built ins. I would put a white down comfortor on the bed, with a cozy throw in yellow or brown across the bottom with coordinating throw pillows. Lights in glass or wicker on window height stand across windows by bed.
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    I like the shade of the painted night stand you chose, and think it would be a good way to strengthen the colour story here; along those lines, new window treatment is called for! You are right, the middle panel is not working. The window treatment should read more uniformly: a single shade, or sheers (with the bed pulled out a bit) and fuller drapery panels would make a stronger statement, as well as allow you to cheat the center, as needed, for bed placement. Taller bedside lamps are also called for,and a good place to put a dollop of yellow into the mix. If the current blue chair doesn't fit in with the new drapery choice, a light neutral slipcover will resolve the issue, with a patterned pillow to coordinate.
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Here's a totally different concept for arranging your room:

    1 -- Turn the bed around so it is facing the windows, and leave about 2 feet (at least) of clearance (walking space) between the foot of the bed and the windows. You can dispense with the bed's footboard if you want.

    2 -- Use a couple of inexpensive bookshelves in a pale color to back up to the headboard, so that the bookshelves with their books and art objects are what you see first when you enter the room. Select bookcases with a height that's either the same, or not more than an inch or two higher, than the headboard, and a total width that adds up to the same width as the headboard, or just a smidge wider. Because you have wisely chosen a low headboard, you'll get a nice view of the windows when you walk into the room.

    3 -- Change the window treatment. Definitely get rid of that center drapery panel, it makes the room appear narrower. Extend the curtain rod out almost to the corners, and hang some draperies in a lighter color, possibly with a geometric print, from an inch or two inside the window frame to the ends of the rod. Choose a color and design that makes your heart sing! It will be one of the first things you see when you enter the room, and when you awake. Think of them as art on your walls!

    4 -- Depending on what time you get up in the morning, you could cover the windows themselves with either black-out roman shades or a bamboo roll-up blind, but with either, use just one, not two, to cover both windows.

    5 -- A garden stool in a pale color, or a small round stand with a pretty tile top, could be placed on one side of the bed if you desire.

    6 -- Re the corners to the sides of the windows, a nice low chair upholstered in a fabric that pleases you in one corner, possibly a small bench in the other.

    Choose a bedspread that you love, draperies you enjoy looking at, things you want to see. This is a totally lovely room and everything about it should bring a smile to your face!
  • 13 years ago
    Wow, some good & interesting ideas! You've all given me a lot to think about, thanks! I'll play with some things & report back!
  • 13 years ago
    If there is an open wall to the right of the window I would put the bed there. In front of the window I would put two comfy chairs and a reading table and maybe a bookshelf. You could also try adding some natural accents like brown to bring out the wooden bed
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Love Bonnie's ideas!
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    I forgot to mention a suggestion that you base your color scheme on the colors in the draperies you select, or the colors in a favorite painting you plan on displaying in your room, or the colors in a beautiful area rug.

    If the dark carpet must stay, then handymam has a great idea about acting as if it were wood, and using a larger area rug to define the space around your bed. The grey carpet is a neutral, and should work well with whatever color palette you decide on.

    The idea is to draw your inspiration from something that you and your husband find absolutely beautiful, whether it's draperies, throw pillows, artwork, a rug, etc. and coordinate all of your other color choices with it.

    A friend just refreshed her bedroom by coordinating all of the colors in it with a gorgeous comforter featuring tropical blooms in deep coral on a leafy green background with touches of caramel brown.

    Find what inspires you, and everything will come together!
  • 13 years ago
    My daughter has a similar master bedroom in her home. She put Roman shades on the windows in a black/white toile fabric, with a plain white bedspread and green and purple pillows. You could use your current bedspread and get a coordinating fabric for the shades. Then, the bed can go anywhere and not fight with drapes. Instead of ignoring the odd shaped walls, she highlighted them with a different color paint. She loves bright colors and chose a neutral color for most of the walls, but highlighted the odd shaped areas with a purpley color. You could match the paint to highlight odd shaped walls with your spread and also paint the end tables with that color to tie them in.
    If I can get over to her house in the next few days, I will take a photo and send it to you - your room has the same type of built ins and problems with furniture placement. In fact just yesterday she purchased a king sized bed to go in the room to replace the queen she currently has. Her room came out lovely.
  • 13 years ago
    Like previously suggested, remove the center panel. Go with lighter colored curtains. Let the bed stay in its current location. It's too big to angle, and you need the built-ins and access.
  • 13 years ago
    Since the carpet is grey, I'd paint the walls a soft light grey to tie in the rug instead of trying to cover it up. It looks too choppy with the rug on top and looks like you're just trying to hide the rug. I'd paint the ceiling and trim a crisp bright white as well as the trim. You see lots of yellow and grey these days ...could paint side tables any of these colors and would look great with your bed cover. I had a room like this and pulled the bed away from the window to let it float more in the middle of the room-it looked great!
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Soft pale grey with darker grey on the floor, bright white, and creamy yellow accents sounds so lovely! lcb_brown is correct, with this color combination you wouldn't even need an area rug, your draperies and bedspread will provide all of the color contrast you need.

    By the way, you could even turn the bed sideways if you wanted, leaving an equal amount of space from the head and foot boards to the walls so you can access your storage on both sides, along with a couple of feet of space between the side of the bed and the windows. Then you wouldn't have to bother with the bookshelves unless you really wanted them.

    Looking forward to seeing the finished room.
  • 13 years ago
    sage green looks great with cream. paint the walls cream. add in some cream or green accents like lamps, more bedpillows etc. get rid of the dark curtains esp the middle ones and go for faux silk cream ones at either end. it will really brighten up. otherwise i love it!
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
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    ]
  • 13 years ago
    I LOVE the idea of positioning the bed opposite the window and using bookcases to back up the headboard, as bonnieinflorida suggested. The books and objects would look terrific as you enter and provide more primacy, and you would have a wonderful view lying in bed. Also think the idea of light gray walls (to incorporate the gray carpet into the design instead of trying to hide it which you can't do anyway) is a great idea. The room will look larger and more unified, especially if you don't use an area rug. I think these two ideas solve all the problems in this unique beautiful room. Whatever accent color(s) you choose will glow against the gray. I'd love to see it!
  • 13 years ago
    I meant to say more PRIVACY
  • 13 years ago
    I love the character of attic rooms even if they do present design challenges. There really is a lot going on in the space. Each wall has built ins or doors or the window and there are many angles that restrict the placement of the bed. The design should be simple and not compete with all of that. The color scheme should be simple as well. Since you do not plan on changing the carpet, bed or comforter then I would suggest the following:

    One of my first thoughts was the same as bonnieinflorida to turn your bed around and use the headboard as a backdrop for bookshelves. Actually, my first thought was to lose the headboard altogether but since you just purchased it then turn it around.

    Use the window as the focal point. I agree with those who say removing the center panel from the window treatments. Use what you need for privacy/darkness, plantation shutters would be perfect for this, and add panels to the sides for accents only. Use a short curtain rod on the sides of the windows to hang the decorative panels.

    If your carpet is dark grey then a softer grey for the walls would add a rich romantic look. The ceiling could be painted white with a touch of the grey mixed in just so it isn't so stark. Then paint the trim and built in doors white to make them pop. You can incorporate another color(s) if you like as accents, nightstands, pillows, throws, even picture frames. Black, yellow, or even coral would be beautiful.

    Something else no one has mentioned is to reverse your comforter. The color is still the same and will look beautiful with the grey walls and not compete as much with the business of the room.

    Good luck and please post photos of the end result!
  • 13 years ago
    Thanks again, everyone! I like the idea of turning the bed around... unfortunately, there is only about 4 feet between the bed and the closet wall currently... so there isn't enough space there to pull it away from the windows and have walk-through space on either side, much less a bookshelf. Argh, this room is so challenging. Really, unless I move the eave access door, the bed has to stay where it is. I want to have nightstands & lamps to either side. Everyone seems to think the window panels need to change & I agree - I will do that. The walls are a greenish greyish already. I agree that painting the ceiling white would brighten things up. And, the area rug clearly isn't working.

    Thanks again for all of your thoughts on this challenging room! It's been very helpful.
  • 13 years ago
    http://houzz.com/photos/107144
    Found this in my attic idea book. Bonnie in Florida suggested something like this. Thought a visual might help. Good luck!
  • 13 years ago
    Mandy, what a charming room from your ideabook!
  • 13 years ago
    Paint a soft gray. Keep all trim white. Put samples on wall first. Don't be afraid to go a darker color than you have now. Remove panels replace with roman shades, in black. Bedding needs to fit bed, must be pulled down on footboard. I like print you have, but go dark gray and white. Use white sheets. Fold comforter dn half way. Add 4 shames 2 in print of comforter, and 2 in white with gray border. Bed, Bath & Beyond carry. Add yellow small pillows for accent color. Next to bed get a big chest type night table. Doesn't have to match bed. Make it long 24-36". It can be higher than one you have. That would fill space. Add a bigger lamp. Tall in black base with bright yellow shade.
  • 13 years ago
    New area rug 6x9 put part under foot of bed. West Elm has a gray with yellow design. If not in budget, Ikea has a gray and white design. For $ 20. If you want to get a little more bold and fun, could go black and white cow hide. Ikea. Or a sheep skin in white, something light to break up dark carpet.
  • 13 years ago
    Paint white box on wall by bed same as wall color.
  • 11 years ago
    I love what you've done with this room already! But given a chance:

    I'd love to see bold wallpaper on the wall with the headboard, loose the drapes entirely, and put in shades that open upward and downward. Also, can you afford a skylight or light tube to bring in more natural daylight without forgoing privacy? I'd love to see it brighter. Finally, the floor rug is much too small. Get one twice as big.
  • 11 years ago
    A few more things - bigger lamps on each nightstand, matching pictures over each lamp, and a bright and fluffy or textured throw pillow on that chair would liven it up, too.
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