Could you start by looking at bedrooms on houzz, pinterest, google images and seeing what appeals to you? What colors...what makes a bedroom feel peaceful or cozy to you?

Just me but I would look at what will need to be unloaded before anything can be changed in the bedroom. Painting and carpeting will require furniture being moved. I would then look out the french doors to see if rearranging the furniture would make things better for you. Backward I know but I would then look at wall colors and perhaps buy some of those small "sample" cans. Before you paint does any of the window or door frames need replacement? That should be done before painting. When planning on replacing carpet in a room my preference is to paint the walls first so that any splatters are on the old carpet.

Edited to add think of happy colors vs just relaxing colors vs something that is current now but may be passé in a year.

Yes, look at pictures and try to replicate a bedroom you like or find bedding or artwork you like and use those as jumping off points for wall color and accessories. Keep carpet neutral so you can change things down the road easily.

Well I guess I should list the things I don't want: gray walls, bright colors, distressed anything. I will keep my furniture but would like to replace my queen headboard with a upholstered one.

I would start looking at bedding. So many sites with hundred of choices.

You need to decide a color or two, then what pattern etc. this. Breaks down the choices.

Let’s start with colors you are drawn to.

If you are trying to keep costs down, I'd start with trying to find a good deal on a headboard and or carpet that you like. Pick paint last, as it is cheap and you can always find a paint that will work. By contrast if you start w a paint you may end up wanting a custom headboard.

I redid all our bedrooms after living here 30 years. I started by buying the bedspread/quilt for each room. Then I picked a color for the walls from the bedspread, and added white wood working and doors. The hardest part was finding the quilt or bedspread that I thought would work for each family member. It is easy to find any shade of paint after that. In our area, the whole house is the same wood or carpet or both, so I just picked a neutral color. Then I haunted TJ Maxx/ Home Goods for a few pictures.

And if your name is Amylou, that means lots of pink;)

I was going to suggest what Sheilajoyce said. Start with finding inspiration from the colors in a quilt or bedspread and shams you want. Look for sales and you can always add some colorful throw pillows if needed later. Then find the paint color last. If you pick a neutral carpet, you can go from there with your bedding choices and paint.

Don’t forget, the talented people on this forum are here to help.

If you have a spare room to sleep in you could start by clearing the room out. Sell or donate everything you don’t want.Go through your closet as well. It might be easier once you have a blank canvas.

Eld6161, lots of hearts too!

I start with an inspiration...be it a room, a color palette, a piece of pottery, art, a room in a magazine, an heirloom, etc. That will give you a color direction to go in. (One time I painted my bedroom walls inspire by my cat's eye color.)

Then think of mood...do you want it energizing? relaxing? serene? formal? dressy? glamourous? to reflect something of your personality or history or hobbies?

Then assess what's in the room now that you will keep as that will give you a style to work around. Also consider what's in the room that you have than can be refurbished rather than replaced....slipcover...paint...

Think about function you'd like to have in the room besides sleeping...do you want a small writing desk? A reading corner? A bench to change your shoes on?

Think about storage needs and lighting needs and what you might want on the wall including a mirror for dressing.

Putting that together will help you get started.

Then, if you do decide to change things one step at a time, you know those steps will be working toward a consistent master plan.

Just a small suggestion since you mentioned French doors leading to a small patio. Depending on weather where you are and your bedrooms size perhaps plan to bring the outside furniture inside to create a small reading area where you can easily look outside. When I can not sleep I like sitting looking out at the wild things that visit.

I've seen people post a photo of what they have here on HOUZZ.....and others....post photos of inspiration...what they like....to give YOU ideas.

Sometimes the worst place to look is Houzz, since their suggestions are always so upscale. I would walk through my house, analyze mostly functional issues and then "how does the room make me feel?" There are many low hanging fruit problems that can be solved easily. For example, in my guest bathroom, there is a hodge podge of metal finishes--brass, wrought iron/black and chrome. I am gradually replacing them all to one finish which makes the room feel more serene. Also making sure I have nice towels and utilizing some wall space to put up shelves and get some clutter off the sink counter, making it easier to clean and visually more serene. Also the walls are looking dingy, so paint is an easy pick up. All of that being done with the end game in mind--a new floor and replacing the tub and shower with a nice tiled walk-in. Nothing I do now will preclude that. Meanwhile the room looks fresher and is more functional. The floor has a small footprint anyway, so nice little rugs could also make a big difference. Again, still useable and functional even if the flooring gets replaced . . .

This is just an example of how every room can be tweaked. As for the bedroom, when I redid mine, I used art that I planned to put in there for my inspiration. One bedroom featured a Japanese woodblock print of a Zen garden, so the whole color scheme and room developed a soothing Zen type vibe based on the art. Another way to do it is find some bedding you love and design the room around that. My current guest bedroom has a color scheme based on a quilt I use in there . . .

Usually when you have a general color scheme and "vibe" or "theme" that you want to evoke, you figure out how pieces you already have fit in with it. Sure, you can go to a "Bed Bath and Beyond" or other home store and buy pre-made theme/matching kinds of things, but I have found that eventually I tire of that kind of stuff and much prefer "using what I have" to create the bones and then as time goes by, finding pieces individually that meld with the color scheme. Another example of this would be my china--I inherited a china pattern that I love from my mother, and the design and color scheme has literally "colored" the other serving pieces and decor of my dining room. The base is neutral so I can change it out seasonally.

Having said that, nothing wrong with saving a folder of "inspiration pics" and figuring out how to incorporate what you like about the room in your own inexpensive way.

I'd start with drapes and curtains, paintings, maybe change the main lighting in the bedroom to a chandelier......it's hard to say without seeing a photo of the room.

For me the bedroom starts with a great bed / headboard and bedding because it's the central focus of the bedroom. For example, I love a beautiful wood bed (preferably cherry, walnut, or mahogany) and patterned bedding. So I'd start by shopping for upholstered beds / headboards since it sounds like that's what you want. And then build up from there.

What's your budget?

I went looking for carpet last winter and was shocked at how limited the color selections were. I wanted a soft sage green like the one I was replacing - nope, not available in my price range (or even a bit above). All grays and beiges.

So, you probably should start with a bit of carpet shopping to see what is out there, see what appeals to you, even some idea of cost, since that will be the most permanent and most expensive component. The carpet color can be the foundation of your decor, or a neutral that is merely a background to your other choices.

Also, stop into a few paint stores (even Home Depot or Lowes) to pick up several of those folders of suggested colors - they are organized sometimes by palette (ie whites and lights), sometimes by room, sometimes by a theme (ie coastal, traditional, relaxing, energizing...). Just to start seeing what catches your eye, what you might like to surround yourself with.

I took a watercolor class about ten years ago. I found out I don't enjoy watercolor painting, but I remembered this part. The teacher told us that the rooms in our house should be designed around the art pieces in them... not the other way around. Do you have a nice or favorite piece of art you would like in there?

I've been redoing my house slowly. I repainted most rooms 4 or 5 years ago. I did things backwards. Painted, bought new curtains, then years later bought a new duvet cover, new desk and nightstand for my bedroom. I had a nice country cottage picture that was massive and was going to hang it over my bed. I decided not to and gave it to the Salvation army. It looked really dated to me. So my daughter suggested a tapestry until I found something more permanent. I really like it. She put white Christmas lights around it so when they're on it is very warm and inviting. I then bought a trio of inexpensive forest paintings for another wall and brought another forest picture from the livingroom. I didn't want anything flowery but like natural things so my duvet has brown leaves on a white background. I'm now trying to decide on hooks for inside my new closet. I want something to hang up a coat and hang my purses on. Thinking of something fun like lizards or dragonflies. I have them both in my Amazon cart right now but can't decide. Good luck and hope you post pictures!

Want to thank everyone for the suggestions and ideas you have offered me. I really like the idea of moving into the guest room and emptying my bedroom. I know it would be a huge job but I think in the end it would be worth it. I have been looking online at bedding and am beginning to get an idea of color that I might like. I dont really have a budget because I have no idea the cost of things. I think when I get some quotes for carpeting and painting I will be able to come up with an amount I will be spending. I have been in my home for 11 years and other than replacing the roof, replacing some rotted wood and painting the trim I haven't done a thing and it is beginning to show. Again, thanks for all the suggestions.

Bedding is usually on sale now. Look at department store websites near you like Macy’s or BB&B.

I bought light gray paint I meant to use in the BR but I gave the painting contractor the wrong can and wound up with the same Wedgwood blue i have in the office. Yikes, but I’m glad we don’t have the gray in the BR. The house next door was flipped and everything is gray, and I definitely don’t like it in the BR. I like color too much.

Also, if you are on Nextdoor look at moving sales and sales from home staging for your headboard.

JC Penney's is great for sales and really nice bedding. Don't forget to look there. I just purchased 8 curtain panels from them, for a rental......they were GORGEOUS! Staged the living room to perfection!

Emptying the room is a good idea. I would probably start with carpet, then choose a focal point piece of art or bedding, etc. something as a starting point for my color choices for the room. The only thing is I think you might have a bit of a hard time right now with Covid. Bedding and other items are easily found on-line, but of course you will want to look at carpet and paint in a store.

As mtn said, paint last. You can always have paint mixed to match. It is harder to find carpet or fabric to match the paint.

I like a white bed and that is fairly easy to come by. You can find a white coverlet at almost any price point.

A decorator I follow on YouTube thinks Ikea velvet pillows are great. They are less than $10 each. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/sanela-cushion-cover-dark-blue-60343646/. The link says “dark blue” but there are about a dozen colors.

Here are the Shaw carpets that are considered sage https://shawfloors.com/search/carpet?searchtext=sage&searchmode=allwords

Here are the Shaw carpets that are considered green

https://shawfloors.com/search/carpet?searchtext=green&searchmode=allwords

I find pictures in glossy magazines frustrating, as the rooms are pretty much always much bigger and much more nicely furnished than my own. I wish there were a magazine for the rest of us. :)

Good luck in your endeavor, Satine. I think you have a good plan.

"I don't have any preconceived idea of what it should look like."

It should look how you want it to make you feel. Does that make sense? :)

My advice would be to start with what works in the room for you and what doesn't. Very much along the lines of what pinkmountain expressed. Really hone in on what's motivating this room redo. Do you even want to spend more time in this room? Assess and rectify the functionality of the space first. Are you getting a good night's sleep? Is getting ready in the morning a breeze for you? Is reading in bed pleasant? Etc.

Carpet is the more permanent element of your hard finishes and will dictate or limit your colour palette. It'll take a fair chunk of the budget as well. Bring a sheet of white copier paper when carpet shopping to evaluate those neutrals and always look at your samples in your room's daylight. Window dressing can take a fair chunk of the budget as well. I know people suggest finding bedroom colour palettes from bedding but the bedding I buy never lasts long enough to warrant inspiring the wall colour. Once you start shopping for those elements, you'll have a better idea of the room budget.

About moving into the guest room: makes logistical sense but keep in mind your comfort level for the (un)expected timeframe. Sometimes, rooms take longer to "finish" than we expect.

Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck.

Thanks all for the suggestions and advice. I just spent sometime in my room puttering and realize that before I do anything I have to rid the room of clutter of which there is plenty. Also need to purge closets and drawers etc before I can do much of anything. That will take a while because of back and knee issues allowing only a certain amount of time up and moving. However, that is my first step and I think I will not make the move to the guest room until this much is done. In the mean time I will be deciding on flooring which will either be recarpeting in a neutral beige or possibly hardwood to match the rest of the house. Once I decide on bedding or drapes I will be able to make a color choice for the walls. I know this will take some time but I feel as though I have a plan. If I can figure out how to post pictures I will (after I declutter some)