@ElleN

You are still worrying about the wrong thing You don't need curtains the entire width of the wall unless you have money to burn. This is why you have a pile of stuff you dont't like.......and NO RIGHT SIZE BED. Cut it out. Get a piggy bank. Mattress and box, or mattress and platform FIRST /The mattress is the important thing. It is NOT a lowly accessory to a "bed" IT IS THE BED. Repeat: It is the bed.

Some results from a Pinterest search for rustic glam:

https://pin.it/3vsrevtfmyaltf

https://pin.it/w6t2lurm22qglj

https://pin.it/7pyryew3ifpy6v

Jan, definitely buying the bed next, don't worry I've learned my lesson on "cheap lipstick on a pig" the hard way.
I really like the rich/luxurious feeling of the pictures you posted and was trying to figure out how to emulate them. They almost feel like a hotel room. Seems like some shinier materials and the full width curtains were contributing to that feeling?

Let me add: This is in many ways, the most important room in your house. Dog hair? Sorry, not a fan. A good mattress pad, King sheets ( LLBean in premium percale an excellent value ) GOOD pillows down or alternative. A good comforter, down or alternative. The elements add up, and they should last a long time. Take your time. Because to do what I just said, should NOT cost you less than 4 grand. Piles of junk are sold under the guise of "mattress." It's a third of your life.

I think you're too hard on yourself. Find a pair of nightstands that will fit now and when you upgrade to a king. Add matching table lamps. If you keep the moon prints above the bed, lower them a bit and move them closer together. They would also work on the opposite wall over a wide dresser. Then hang a round mirror over your headboard.

I like your wall colour and I think you can get where you are going with that room. Like others above, I'd agree, go get your King bed and that is the place to start.

I saw bedding that I really liked earlier today. This is similar and I think it might work in your room with your colour scheme.

It was styled with a chunky knit throw that looked to be about the colour of your walls. Similar in style to this throw.

Hmmm...I found this canopy bed on Pottery barn. Actually the whole look including the bedding might work really well in your room. Is this something you'd consider? I'm not sure that my vision of rustic glam matches anyone else's. Here is another view of it.

I love those art pieces of the moon.

The chandelier is very pretty but I think for sure you need some bedside lamps to have some better light.

How much space will you have once you get a king size bed in there? I wonder how big your side tables might be. Is the bed going to go on the same wall it is on now?

If you don't have a lot of room, you could do light fixtures like these on either side of the bed. Then just a small floating shelf could be your table surface - something like these, also from Pottery Barn. That one, the smallest is 24" wide and I think you'd need narrower, but I think you could find something similar.

If you end up going with some of the style I've mentioned, I think I would go with offwhite lined linen curtains, but make them wider and fuller than you have now. Extend the rod and put up enough curtain so that it looks really luxurious and thick, like the window is wider than it is. This would help step up the luxe of the room, in my opinion.

If you choose the floating shelf idea, then I'd match the wood tone and get a large dresser to match.

What do you think - I may be miles off from your vision for this room.

Thanks mvcanda! I really like the pottery Barn bed and throw, and your idea for the curtains. I'm such a sucker for canopy beds. I think the duvet is a bit too modern though, it's kind of similar to what I have now.

Oh, and I will have about 30" on either side of the bed once we have the king bed. So I'd like to ty to incorporate an actual chest with drawers if I can. Right now I have all my bedside stuff piled out in the open and hate it.

agree,,,get your bed first, and then decide what you have left over to spend. as for curtains, I'm not familiar w/baseboard heaters so I assume that's why they're short? have you thought about doing a nice blind? cellular, roman, woven wood, ??

you can even pick something a little glam or with color/pattern.

I actually like dark, moody walls. mine is black, with lighter gray walls, and dark bamboo platform type of bed.

determine what kind of headboard and bed you want. then your bedding, then wall colors. the rest of the furniture you can find on sales, craigslist, HomeGoods, etc. I've even had mirrors cut and put on drawers of dressers to glam them up a bit.

black walls, black/white linens w/some velvet, black and white photos, mirrors, small lamps,,,love this look. and your chandy would fit right in w/this style. you can do this if you know where to shop.

cheaper version. painted '60's nightstands, DIY covered bench, etc. I don't particularly care for this color bed or the lamps, but you could tweak whatever you need to fit your style.

back to dark gray. Velvet bed, white duvet, mirrored nightstands, and a faux fur throw.

all of these should give you ideas of what you like and what you can do w/your room.

BTW, if you can DIY, or do a little sewing, you can make your own velvet tufted headboard on the cheap. Like this one:

Oh man Beth, I'm completely obsessed with that black room, very sultry. I also really like the lighter grey room with the white wreath.
Between yours and Jan's suggestions now I'm feeling torn between the sexy velvet (transitional?) and the "rustic glam" or whatever you call it.

You're right about our reason for going with the short drapes, but we tried out longer drapes in another room and it seems to be ok as long as they don't cover so much of the heater that all the heat gets trapped. I was worried it was a fire hazard but turns out it's not since it's water baseboard heat and not electric. So I can switch it up now.

Hi ElleN,

I find your dark wall color cozy. You'll notice in a lot of the suggested pictures there are a lot of whites and light colors, in the linens, pictures and furniture.. You have a dark wall color and said you can't do white linens because of the water. Would light grays in the linens work for you? Also, you could lighten up the space by adding groups pictures on the walls with white backgrounds or white mats.

Something that makes the beds in the pictures look nice are layers of linens and the cozy pillows. They all have at least four pillows on the bed that make you want to snuggle in, and maybe a throw blanket or folded blanket at the base of the bed.

It sounds like you like pink! Could you add it in small, subtle touches? Keep the main items in the room (linens, was, curtains, floor) in neutral colors. Add a small pink decorative pillow on your bed. Your idea of having a picture of a peony is nice.

A great headboard to fit your new bed and a few plants will look wonderful.

Have fun!

I don’t think you need to buy a pricey bed from a fancy catalog company.
I do think you need a really good mattress and box spring because if you don’t get a good night’s sleep and/or your back hurts nothing else will be good in your life!
I totally agree with Beth H that you can make a very attractive fabric covered headboard yourself.
Instructions for many types abound on the internet.
Buy some great bed linens on sale and a bed skirt, either tailored or ruffled, there are all sorts.
You can use a little CLR in your wash to get out rust stains, and OxiClean or OxiMagic.
Can you get a water softener to remove some of the iron from the water?
You can buy a set of night tables at a tag sale or Goodwill store and paint them yourself, too.

Your drapes are NOT too short. They are the perfect length, for the same reason that you can't do a wall of curtains--the baseboard heat! If you put longer curtains there, especially a wall full of them, your outside wall will be nice and cozy, but you'll be cold.

I don't mind a dark room, but that particular color is so drab and so uninteresting that it's depressing.

I know it's more fun to play decorator, but your first task is the mattress. Everything else is a distant second.

Have you measured for a king? Will you have room for nightstands? It doesn't look like you have much extra space for a larger bed.

Sorry I never answered the last question. With a king in the room we will have 30" on either side of the bed.

What do you think of painting the room a deep plum like this one? I love the elegant color, although I'm a bit worried it won't be as bright in our room with it's one window. Compared to the swatch the color we have now is much duller and more grey.

I am loving the idea of a color on the wall because then I could keep everything else a bit subtler and more neutral. Wood night stands and a wrought iron bed perhaps?

While unusual, rustic glam is still possible. I don't think you have the right foundation for it though!

I think you should keep your moody deep wall color! The room will not appear so dark once you decorate more. I'd start by choosing a bed that has an white, ivory, or oatmeal-colored upholstered headboard -- perhaps in a tufted, wingback style. Since you don't want white bedding, I'd probably go with a pale gray linen. And white linen or cotton curtains! Love your idea of an antique mantel! I'd look for wood that is pale and/or limewashed. Perhaps nightstands like these from Pottery Barn? Or these from Anthropologie? Perhaps an ornate leaning floor mirror somewhere in the room (again, you could check out anthropologie)? And you could do accents of blush pink, as you mentioned. A large Lupen Grainne peony print would be gorgeous! I'd frame it in an acrylic floating frame.

Wow thanks Betsy I love all those suggestions! I love the new limewash style wood, wasnt sure what the name for it was.

“Cerused” is another term for that limewashed wood look, too!

These nightstands from Pier 1 might work well! https://www.pier1.com/sakandi-nightstand/2788291.html

We recently bought VANT panels for headboard in White Dove color from Bed Bath and Beyond and we are happy with it. I think bronze will work great with your plum walls.

ElleN

I LOVE the moon and star map prints. Mind if I ask where you got them?

Sophie- I got them on Etsy! I can't find the exact moon prints anymore but if you Google "moon phase print" there's tons of options. If you get a digital print you can get them printed at wallgreens for about $20 full poster size.

Here's the star print:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/517085233/vintage-constellation-chart

I haven't read the other comments but one thing struck me when I looked at your photo. You love those prints and so do I. Are they in black and white? If so, have you considered building the room around those two colors with a touch of whatever your favorite color is? I could see the walls in white with perhaps the one behind the bed in a gorgeous dark floral print wallpaper like these. Make the paint match some less obvious white in the wallpaper.

https://www.elliecashmandesign.com/floral-wallpaper/dark-floral-wallpaper

https://www.muralswallpaper.com/wall-murals/flower-wallpaper-murals/

https://www.elliecashmandesign.com/floral-wallpaper/dark-floral-wallpaper

Then you could get a solid color comforter or bedspread (not a duvet because I see those as looking like nothing more than a very messy unmade bed) and a couple of shams or decorative pillows. A black bedspread would be wonderful! I think this would work well against your headboard if you like that. But if you want to change the headboard white cane might work.

https://www.amazon.com/Superior-Solitaire-Jacquard-Matelass%C3%A9-Bedspread/dp/B01N55UMKM/ref=asc_df_B01N55UMKM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=192061120963&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6980273992721462880&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031637&hvtargid=pla-301706269380&psc=1

https://www.hayneedle.com/product/tonio4pieceduvetsetbychichome.cfm 

For nightstands, I'd probably go with silver mirrored ones. Clear acrylic or black glass table lamps would probably work well.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/hd0/3-drawer-accent-chest-l157-k~cogr2707.html?refid=GX112603341843-COGR2707&device=c&ptid=402290399971&network=g&targetid=pla-402290399971&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=44334504&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-62oo7rF3gIVhbfsCh1HGQM2EAYYBCABEgJMRPD_BwE

https://www.birchlane.com/furniture/hd0/claybrooks-large-3-drawer-mirrored-end-table-with-storage-l442-k~hohm8334.html?refid=GX182316682492-HOHM8334_24832963&device=c&ptid=390949076610&network=g&ireid=45042524&PiID%5B0%5D=24832963&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-62oo7rF3gIVhbfsCh1HGQM2EAYYBiABEgLU-fD_BwE

https://www.wayfair.com/lighting/pdp/house-of-hampton-eagleville-255-table-lamp-w000891789.html

Nothing at the foot of the bed unless it feels too empty. You can get a dresser but I would get one as small as you can stand. Or put everything in the closet--can you fit wall shelves in there?--and maybe include a small sitting area with floor lamp for reading or meditating late at night, the exact location depending on where you have the most room. Don't assume that your bedroom requires standard bedroom furniture; different is not just unusual but fun.

Replace the curtains with perhaps a graphic black and white print. Or what about white wood shutters?

Good luck. It looks like a fun project.

Thanks for those ideas. I Love the glamorous and romantic big floral wallpaper. I'm shying away from white walls just because I sleep better in a "cave" but I do love the idea of a black bedspread.

ElleN, make the curtains black-out ones. (Or have them lined so they are as dark as a hotel room's curtains. If you like the shutters, you can get curtains to put over them and have them hang attractively during the day. That way you get your darkness at night.

I like your wall color...whatever makes you feel all warm and cozy (and sleepy!). The ONE thing you can do immediately (while you’re deciding on size and headboard, and all that is....pull that duvet off, fold it and place it at the foot of the bed. It just looks like you are trying to not make the bed now. Turn the sheet down at the head, prop the pillows up at the headboard. It will be a HUGE difference.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. We ordered these nightstands and lamps (might not keep the lamps but I need something for now). I'm obsessed with the nightstands.
And we're thinking of this bed. I was going to go upholstered because it's cozier, but something about it seems really... unclean? I have bad allergies and it seems like a bit of a dust trap.
Maybe lilac linen bedding? Or is that too much purple?

Perhaps you could stick with your current wall color and use plum as the accent. These linen curtains from PB come in dark gray.

hey happen to be on sale now as well. www.potterybarn.com/products/classic-belgian-flax-linen-drape-flagstone/?pkey=ccurtains-drapes%7Csolid-drapes-curtains&isx=0.0.5800.9599609375Then you could add a pretty duvet. Here's one in charcoal purple linen from Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/554142577/linen-duvet-cover-in-purple-charcoal?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_christmas_Home_and_Living&utm_custom1=c566de70-9a15-48ef-9a2c-5ca6b4ea8cdd&utm_content=go_1097955555_54558577802_256645734144_pla-303628061699_c__554142577&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgv6M5e_F3gIVBkGGCh0PeQsOEAQYFyABEgL8xfD_

Like wall color, chandelier, and moon prints. Think turquoise would be pretty color to introduce. Pottery Barn has attractive mirrored night tables and mercury glass lamps and accesssories that you might like.

Kate- I was thinking we may be able to keep the current wall color if we do a bunch of curtains in purple and the bedding in purple. But it seems like you're suggesting gray on gray for those items? Where would you accent with purple?

sorry... I LOVE that purple linen duvet. I got all confused at first when i read because I just read "charcoal" and to me the picture looked purple but I figured it must be my phone playing tricks on me lol

Before doing anything you should make sure you get the bed you want, since that’s a very important piece in the room. Once you have decided on the bed you should decide on what color paint to use, because you should definitely change it. It’s no very relaxing as it should be for a bedroom. After that, you can start making decisions on the rest of the decoration.

It was confusing but I think by charcoal purple they mean that it's not a straight up purple but a little gray'd out or a "dirty" purple if you know what I mean. A bit more sophisticated than purple. I'm not sure I'd do curtains in purple-I think they would look nicer kept closer to the wall color. You could add purple in some wall art.

Yes, I'm with you on the charcoal purple. love the wall art!

Where did you find the wall art?

upgrading to a king bed

While the bed you have doesn't seem like "enough" -- that is, it doesn't seem to have enough "presence" -- for a master, it does seem to be the right size. A king would be too big /would make the room feel overly cramped.

Are you keeping the gray walls and bringing in the accent through linens and accessories? I usually don't like gray, but I do like these walls.

Love a duvet instead of a comforter ... so much easier to wash. I'd choose something with a subtle print.

I don't usually like mirrored, but I think it would bring in some light and would work with this room.

Nothing at the foot of the bed. This room is modest in size; don't push it.

Curtains? Choose your bedding first, then move to this decision.

As to "rustic glam". What the heck is that?

Oh, come on, you know what this is. Shabby chic. It's what's "hot" in weddings right now, and it's not unheard of in decorating. Rustic wood + a shiny chandelier ... lace curtains hung on dark iron rods.
Teal/turquoise

I'd like a light teal or turquoise better than the proposed pink.

Because to do what I just said, should NOT cost you less than 4 grand.

Maybe you live in a high cost of living area, but my husband and I bought each other a WONDERFUL mattress as a Christmas gift 6-7 years ago, and I still think "ahhhh" every night when I lie down. That plus all the bed accessories were significantly less than 4K.

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I like this brass headboard, but don't go gold-brass unless you're ready to embrace the concept! You'll need gold-brass accents elsewhere in the room.

Oh, and I will have about 30" on either side of the bed once we have the king bed.

30" ... do look at how much space this will be ... move your current bed to the side of the room and look at how little space this is ... move in and out of the space ... imagine yourself making the bed. I maintain your current bed is right-sized.

Last thought: No one's said anything about the floor. To make a master really lux, I think you need a nice rug. How about a sheepskin on each side of the bed?

Glad you like the art. I just googled "purple abstract art" and picked a few that looked like they could work. There are lots of options.

What do you guys think of this bed? It's leather so passes the husbands grossness test (he thinks upholstered linen headboards are gross because you can't wash them).

I think it's fun but it's very casual. IMO, mirrored nightstands wouldn't work with it.

Is the gold bed better? I don't want it to be too "cold"

ElleN , I really like the bed you've selected. I agree with Katinparadise that you cannot pair mirrored nightstands with this bed. I would suggest white/ivory nightstands. If you still plan on incorporating pink a pair of pink lamps for your nightstand would look really nice!

I already bought these nightstands. I do quite like them but I'm not sure what kind of bed to pair them with.
Obviously we need different lamps lol

Saw this in the Grandin Road catalog yesterday.

Just reading through your thread now—Ellen, you need a velvet bed! I know you mentioned being worried about cleanliness, but you can easily clean, vacuum the fabric. With mirrored nightstands, dark walls, accents of deep purples, I really think you need some rich softness to tie it all together! Check out thsee beds—simple but substantial and you’ll feel like you’re at a luxe hotel. you can also customize the fabric! https://www.theinside.com/products/modern-wingback-bed-collectors-cabinet?fabric=DoveVelvet

https://www.theinside.com/products/square-back-bed-clarence?fabric=FrenchGreyVelvet

Something like this would work with your nightstands.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/mercury-row-biondi-upholstered-platform-bed-mcrw1706.html?piid=20549274%2C20549275

How do you feel about sleigh beds?

https://www.amazon.com/Home-Styles-Lafayette-King-Sleigh/dp/B0095FZJF2/ref=sr_1_1?s=furniture&ie=UTF8&qid=1542236197&sr=1-1&refinements=p_n_feature_three_browse-bin%3A5392482011%2Cp_n_material_browse%3A316608011

ElleN, we have an upholstered bed that we have cleaned when we clean the carpets and upholstered furniture twice yearly. So an upholstered headboard definitely CAN be cleaned if you would prefer to go that route. I also vacuum it pretty routinely, too. I think an upholstered headboard is just the ticket for your lovely mirrored nightstands.

Two people said not to pair the mirrored nightstands with the leather upholstered bed, why not? I'm not a pro. but I don't see a problem. What am I missing? Because I like the bed she picked - does anyone else think it would work?
If you like it, I think your gray wall color can work with the right accessories adding color- art, lamps, pillows, curtains, bedspread.