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Need help with design/decor...

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Hi there. I'm about to redo my small all in one room/bedroom and need some advice. My place is small and pretty much everything not kitchen related resides in one room hence why so much storage furniture. (The adjacent room is an 12 x 12 eat in kitchen). But my decor gene is seriously missing.


This planner pic (a recent attempt for placement) shows dimensions and the pieces in the planner are the ones i currently own (except for the rug).


A handful of questions, any feedback appreciated.

  • I'm getting rid of the desk to the right of the TV and and the shelves above it so i'll have that nook space free. I was thinking to put the bookshelf currently on the bed wall to be in that nook. Would it be too distracting next to the TV since it's got so much going on?
  • Should I get a rug? What size? Would 6 x 9 be okay? (the planner shows 5 x 8, is that to small?)
  • Ready to change window dressings but i don't know what will look nice. Or if it would even look better without drapes and just new pleated sheer blinds? I like textures like velvet or linen or sheer or something lovely like that.
  • Would a nicer dresser make things better?
  • Clearly I don’t have any color accents in my room would love to add something. Not sure what or where!
  • What else should i change? (Painting next weekend too, decided on BM 'Decorators White' but open to something different.
  • Any chance a canopy bed wouldn't be overwhelming? Always wanted one but... ?? And can definitely live without but i've kind of always wanted one.

Thank you!

Comments (9)

  • 7 years ago

    1.Your dog is adorable and yes I know that is a completely off topic comment!


    He is, it's just so true. :D.


    2. Do you use that chair at all to sit in? Since your room is so tiny, I would consider removing it. I long ago removed all chairs in my small bedrooms since all I did with them was pile clothes on them. Two problems solved.


    I do sit in it but i'll see about removing. The problem is that on occasion someone might come over and visit me and i like them to have somewhere to sit other than my bed.


    4.One of those small mosquito netting type canopies would be a compromise for your room. I love canopy beds, but between the dust and space they take up I would not put them in a small room like that. Other than something very open and even that seems like would be a waste, you just won't get the full effect in that small of a room. It will make the space look even more cluttered. You want a restful atmosphere in a bedroom.


    You're so right. Later that night i though and realized DUH, it'll interrupt vision of TV! lol. DOH! No canopy for me.


    5.Speaking of restful, if you go with open shelving in a bedroom, unless it is books or decorative items, get some decorative boxes or baskets, all some color or pattern, to store stuff in. A clean well organized line is restful to look at as opposed to shelves full of stuff. I should know, as I have open shelves across from my bed in a small bedroom and I don't like it, even with those rules being followed.


    Hmmm. Big thanks on that. I'll look into alternatives. Big thanks for your input. : )

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    If you use that room for an office, I wouldn't get rid of the desk but I would put in a desk chair that would serve also as guest seating.

    Just some thoughts on your colors. Black and white is a very "contrast-y" color combo so I would add some natural elements to make it more restful.

    I don't know what your budget is, but if I had a bedroom/living room combo I would get a futon and a big feather comforter with a duvet and rotate some colorful bottom sheets on the futon. I did that in my last apt. Most of the time I had it down like a bed but if I ever had company I could pretty easily flip it up and store the duvet. Just a thought. I'd also lose the makeup stuff on the bedside table, just move it into a basket and onto the shelf next to the mirror. Lose the mirror behind the bed, replace that with some restful art that will greet you when you go to bed, and a cool little lamp on the bedside table to tone down that harsh overhead lighting. You could even hang some lights with paper shades or paper art over that corners if you wanted something overhead like a canopy. Google "hanging paper decorations" and you can find a world of ideas.

    P.S. If you haven't ever visited the web site apartmenttherapy.com you should, tons of fun ideas there.

  • 7 years ago

    Thanks again!


    Im so lost that tmrw I’m going to short hills mall where Havenly designers are giving free 30 minute sessions. And I’ll probably buy the package they have for $80 or $180 because it’s tedeemab in product! From west Elm, cb2, Wayfair, etc.


    I think I’m gonna get rid of the storage piece under the tv. So without the 2 dark pieces of furniture now everything is white. Lol.


    I dont use a home office anymore but I do have a little fold out desk in the closet which I use if I need a little surface space with my laptop.


    Funnily enough that bed frame is a is a futon frame.


    amen on the mirror, out it goes. I’m so confused.


    i found a good bookshelf but it’s 10” narrower than the nook, those gaps are gonna look ugly, anything I can do to avoid it looking tragic if I were to get it? If not I’ll keep looking, hard to find nice tall units. migh Get one built if I have to.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Organizing TINY spaces is an uncommon art. That's why I recommended Apartment Therapy. Don't panic and just breathe. Get a little basket for your makeup stuff and move it off of your bedside table and find a lovely cheapo lamp to put there and put in a soft white bulb. That will immediately cosy up your space. I used to like to go to IKEA for some apartment therapy. Their showrooms often have some great ideas on how to make the most out of a small space. IVAR and I had a great relationship for a LONG time. There are also web sites with IVAR hacks and other IKEA hacks as far as the shelving goes. You can always go a little smaller with the shelving. But you can do better than 10 inches too short.

    Going with the "have something built" theme, you might consider doing a loft/raised bed thing to maximize room in that tiny space. Kind of along the "canopy" vibe.

    Edited to add that I'm no sure why no one else has chimed in here. I suspect a lot of designers and folks who live in full houses don't have the experience of doing tiny apartments. If you live in a tiny apartment chances are you don't have the money to hire a decorator and all the trimmings. I only remember having lived in quite a few funky small spaces in my long reign of single days. You might have better luck for inspiration by googling dorm room decorating ideas. That's another group of folks that need to get a lot of uses out of a small space.

    sharon Neem thanked l pinkmountain
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago



    Thanks so much. it *is* hard. At least knowing that I don’t have to feel so bad never having been able to do it that well. And my being very uncreative does not help. Lol.

    Just took the the main makeup drawer off, and put a lamp there. That’ll be really nice at night, thanks. : )


    I was just in Ikea today! Ha. Took lots of pics and measurements. They have a 39 x 92 inch pax shelving unit that holds drawers and shelves, (pic is of the 29” version). And that nook is 39”, would almost look built in. Hmmmm. What do you think?

    ill start cruising apartmemtherapy and dorm decor for some more ideas, and the free and/or paid home design session could be very enlightening. I’ll come back and tell you what happens, it’s tmrw.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Here's a room look of a canopy by using fabric above the bed hung on the ceiling, right from IKEA's web page, kind of what I was envisioning in my first post. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/ideas/201643_idor05a/

    And from another IKEA inspired apt. Scroll down for the photo I am referencing which is the loft with the black and white color scheme and credited to IKEA. But other good ideas here too. https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/loft-bed-ideas-205896?crlt.pid=camp.Bdq6CWKc417s

    Edited to add that while 5 inches on each side would be fine, I'd keep looking for a while for something that is closer. MAYBE someone here will chime in. There are lots of folks way better at searching for furniture finds than me. Or maybe the decorator you referenced can give you some ideas or you can search Wayfair or some similar site. I have almost zero experience with online furniture shopping. I got a nice wood-look file cabinet online once, I think it was from Home Decorators catalog, but it came in pieces and my husband had a heck of a time putting it together. He's a carpenter. Before we met, it would have been me and the allen wrenches! BTDT.

    sharon Neem thanked l pinkmountain
  • 7 years ago

    I had my intro design session today. Was really cool. They said yes to the ikea bookcase thing (I found it in 39”, same size as the space (woot) and they sounded like they knew what they were doing. They even let

    me have a loveseat! :o. : ) Although we shall see if it lasts, I just had to text them with some spacing issues I found when I got home).. In 2 days they send me a board with items and maybe where they go (although space layout is isua for the full package, which I’ll definitely be getting). Really looking forward to seeing what they come up with. i like that it’s out of my hands at the start, I can barely pick a lunch sandwich let alone chose things that go together. Should be very interesting. And they’re gonna find me a nice handful of things that fit nice and look nice. We shall see. : ). I‘ll report back.


    Until then, it’s back to apartmenttherapy and Wayfair I go.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Very interesting! Nice that you posted back with the results. Lots of folks on here like following along with how these decorating projects turn out IRL.

    The 39 might be too tight. I'd go to IKEA and measure just to be sure before buying. Hard to take something back once you've built it!