Decorating above an off-centered bed with a bold duvet print

8 years ago

Hi! I've got a smaller room that we use as a guest bedroom/office (there's a desk off to the side that isn't pictured). I'm totally stumped on how to decorate the wall above the bed, for two reasons:

1) the room is too small to center the bed on a wall, so it's pushed to one side

2) I went with a bold duvet, which I like, but a lot of the framed prints I've considered hanging feel like they clash with it.

(In case it's helpful: the walls are a light, minty green with white trim. The bedspread is turquoise with white pattern)

So, my questions:

1) Do I use the center of the bed or the center of the wall as the center point for whatever I choose to hang, and

2) How do I keep whatever I hang from clashing with the duvet/looking too busy?

Most of my wall art is made up of prints and photos in frames, but I'd be open to anything: mirrors, textiles, shelves...

I'm not at all attached to the tiny bookshelf next to the bed, either; it's just what we had on hand. I'd be open to recommendations on that, too!

Thanks so much, everyone...I'm such a novice at all this, so really appreciate your advice!!

Featured Answer

Olychick

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I would center your art above the bed and add a lamp (not too tiny) to the side table to provide some height and balance. I think black and white art is a great idea, but since I live in earthquake country, the thought of a shelf with unattached items over my head, makes me feel very unsettled.

Another idea would be to paint that wall as an accent wall in a bold color or dark gray. It would add a lot and make the bedding less bold by comparison to your neutral wall. Then, less bold art could be featured - like the first pic below.

Here are some other ideas for arranging things - all different from your room, but just look at how they balanced an off-center bed.

Here, all the art is off-center, which could work, too. Harder to pull off, tho.

Instead of a lamp for balance, you could probably fit a taller piece of furniture (altho your space is tight).

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Manon Floreat
8 years ago
If you like photography, you could find some simple black and whites for above the bed. You could underscore them with a natural wood shelf - maybe a live edge. Consider bookshelf clip on lights for reading while in bed.
elsie321 thanked Manon Floreat
oliviag55
8 years ago
use the center of the bed. it is a small room.
what your guests will see is the bed. and whatever is over it, and at the foot.
I also intentionally built a small guest room. that's what I did.
room for a nightstand, lamp, a few dtaerd, and a luggage rack. perfect for weekend guests.
elsie321 thanked oliviag55
Related Professionals
Bozeman Interior Designers & Decorators · Chatham Interior Designers & Decorators · Butte Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cape Girardeau Furniture & Accessories · Sedalia Furniture & Accessories · Allentown Furniture & Accessories · Dover Interior Designers & Decorators · Middlesboro Interior Designers & Decorators · Charlotte Architects & Building Designers · London Architects & Building Designers · Clarksville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Indianapolis Interior Designers & Decorators · Vincennes Furniture & Accessories · Baltimore Furniture & Accessories · Cape Girardeau Furniture & Accessories
oliviag55
8 years ago
mine is not as tiny as yours, but my last guestroom was close.
sleep in it a few times. it will give you a better idea of what you want.
elsie321 thanked oliviag55
elsie321
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you everyone for the fabulous feedback and ideas!! @Manon- love the way you incorporated a shelf & photos together, and B&W was definitely one idea I'd thought about. Great idea about putting lamps on the shelf as a space saver, too! @Oliviag55- great call on sleeping in the room a few times to get a feel for what it needs. I think I currently avoid it bc I feel bad I haven't decorated it yet-- time to face my fears! :) And totally true that what folks notice is above the bed and at the foot...thanks for that! @Olychick- thank you SO much for these photos. I love them all and it gives me a much better sense of what decorations above an off-centered bed would look like. The first pic is perfect and gives me a great vision to work toward. And, never would have thought about doing an accent wall in a more neutral color, but that is such a great idea!! I've got a color in mind and will definitely think about that!

Thank you so much everyone!! I'll definitely post an after pic once I make some progress on the room!
l pinkmountain
8 years ago
If you're worried about it falling, you can have art mounted on foamcore.
elsie321 thanked l pinkmountain
elsie321
Original Author
8 years ago
Good call! :)