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bonitapplebum

How can I make my bedroom more upscale?

6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

I'm on a lot more Zoom calls and I do them in my bedroom. I'm expected to work from home until mid next year and so I'm looking to make my bedroom more put together since I am relaxing and working here a lot now.



There is a window in the room on the Southwest wall so this room gets a lot of natural warm light around noon until sundown. I want to repaint this room for starters, add 6 qty of dimmable 4" recessed lighting, wire 2 bedside shaded sconces, and new 5" baseboards. I also bought a new bronze doorknob with a backplate and will be boiling those hinges to remove the paint.

I'm also considering maybe putting up some paneling or molding, but I'm not sure if that is a good idea. I saw some photos of plain square box molding that looked nice painted in a navy blue, like the photos below. However, I have that door on that wall and I'm not sure I can do square box molding because the door has those rectangle panels. Do I go with rectangle shapes? How do I figure out what thickness to make the panels going vertical and horizontal?

Another idea I'm considering is to paint a "wainscot" around the room, but I'm not sure if that makes a room look smaller. Perhaps just paint that wall only?

I don't want to put in anything that doesn't work in the home style which is an early 90s open plan home with double volume ceilings and no crown molding etc but is open to anything that does.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

box moulding photo:



Comments (17)

  • 6 years ago

    You don't need to add any architectural details. Art, window treatments and lamps will make your the room look more upscale. You have made nice choices but the room looks unfinished.


    bonitapplebum thanked deegw
  • 6 years ago

    Yes get a nicely framed canvas for over the bed (which will hide that chord). Make sure it’s at least as wide as the throw over the headboard and not wider than the headboard. Wall hung lamps on each side of the bed will look more tailored and give you full use of the nightstand top surface.

    bonitapplebum thanked thinkdesignlive
  • PRO
    6 years ago

    IMO don’t over think this keep it simple add a large piece of art as your backdrop some lamps on the night tables and if you want you could paint but I would keep it simple I also do not think doing zoom from your bedroom is the best .

    bonitapplebum thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 6 years ago

    You can use a virtual background with Zoom. I find them much more pleasing than looking at someone's bedroom...

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Please don't feel embarrassed about your home. Comparing one's material wealth to that of multimillionaires is an exercise in futility. I certainly wouldn't recommend revamping your space to look better to THEM. Do it for you and you alone, and then do it exactly how YOU want it done. In the meantime, can't you simply choose a stock Zoom background and use it during your calls? I know multimillionaires who do that themselves, because it's much less intrusive and distracting than a personal space.

  • 6 years ago

    I agree, don't zoom from your bedroom and if you do, use a zoom background. You can even create your own background. Changing your background can become a fun conversation starter while you wait for folks to join, especially if you use photos of places you've traveled to or something else that shows who you are. You could even use one of your inspiration photos above. As Amy Cuddy says, "Fake it until you become it!" (Great TED talk if you haven't seen it).

    I also like that zoom filter that makes all the details of my skin look a little fuzzy. :-)

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks, everyone. It's just not about the Zoom backgrounds; I also want the room to look nicer.


    I see everyone is referring to a long wall.. what is a long wall? Also, I'm not sure I understood "your desk facing in or out"? Could you explain more?


    The cord you see will be gone soon as I'm adding recessed lighting.


    I don't have an option to do zoom calls outside my bedroom.


  • 6 years ago

    What kind of style are you thinking of for the room? Do you have a color in mind for the walls?

  • 6 years ago

    Here are more photos of the room. I tried 2 pieces of art by the bed but I don't think that's the place for art in the room:






  • 6 years ago

    I'd like it classic but add more color. I don't like the jungalow style because it feels like a lot of "stuff" everywhere but I do wish my room was as colorful without the feeling of "clutter". I'm expected to work from home until at least summer 2021 and so this bedroom has to be a space to fall asleep in and get a lot of work done.


    The rest of the house is repainted Agreeable Grey, but I hadn't gotten around to painting this room yet. I' 'm thinking I could either paint it the same color and add color via art, or paint the room a bold color like deep dark green, but I'm unsure if that's a good color given how much warm direct sunlight this room gets...


    I'm still looking for bedside wall scones and I don't like that many of the options that catch my eye have bulbs that aren't completely veiled by a shade (I don't like the idea of direct light from a bulb while I'm lying in bed). I also have seen some photos of bedside lights are installed directly on the ceiling and drop down like pendants and those look very nice, but I'm unsure if my room is too small for a visual element like that.

  • 6 years ago

    Yes, style your bedroom to your liking but how about turning the desk around to Zoom? Place a large piece of art on the wall that will be behind you and let people think you're Zooming from your home office.

    bonitapplebum thanked tartanmeup
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Wall opposite the mirrored closet. You are missing out on useful space for larger night tables and lamps, as well as the impact bed would have on the long wall.


    Re desk, you can place chair so window is behind you, so during zoom your bedroom isn’t seen.


    or face window if you like the view and use a virtual background


    bonitapplebum thanked Maureen
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Ahh! I understand now. Ok I'll pull out my furniture slides and move the bed over to that wall and take a photo. If I center the bed on that wall, my headboard will probably cover some of the window's lower edge. Is that a big deal?

  • 6 years ago

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=good+zoom+backgrounds


    Here are lots of tips and tricks, as well as backgrounds to make your zoom time look great!

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Sorry I had room configuration wrong. Now that I‘ve seen your additional pictures....could this work?

    Move desk under window and dresser to the right of entrance. Now put bed on that long wall.


    You could paint your dresser black and add a round mirror above. A cream yellow would be nice with combination below


    Layer your bed with some black (You can really use any color - you mentioned green- but repeat in the different accessories so room has coordination and interest.)


    Add bedside lamps (you mentioned sconces) and your pictures over headboard. If you have room, a chair




  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I don't know if feng shui matters to you or not, but your bed should not be on the current wall or opposite the mirrored doors. For the best night's sleep, it should be on the wall opposite the door so you see the bed coming into the room. If you do this, you could put the dresser to the left of the window and the desk on the wall where the bed is currently. You may even be able to turn it to face into the room so the wall is your backdrop. What are the dimensions of the room? Can you please draw a floor plan with measurements, marking window, door and closet?

    As far as color, I like the room the color it is now. You could lighten it to a bit more of an off white and keep more of a Scandinavian look to the room. The light furniture, artwork, and color would work well with that style. The artwork could work over the bed or over your dresser.