Depends your budget!

Perfect world? I reduce the look of my " college age son's" bedroom.

First thing I'd want? My flooring from the living room, continued into the bedroom with a great area rug.

I 'd want MAYBE a king bed and not queen?

I'd want more proportionally related bedside chests, .......

I 'd want a beautifully made bed, with a bit more finished and inviting look?, and .........

A color on the walls I loved!

What do YOU want?

I see no need for floating shelves. I do see books, and assume you both enjoy reading in bed? Doesn't look comfortable for that.

Maybe look online a bit, find a few images of bedrooms you might love, and get some help here adapting what you really like to your room.

I don't think the look you may love is your son's room, and I say that with NO mal intent, so do not take it as that: )

The bed is always the elephant in the room.....

one way to browse for inspiration? Look at images from even the catalogue folks

not for copying.... just for inviting beds, and from minimal to more. lighter furnishings, etc

https://www.potterybarn.com/shop/shop-by-room/bedrooms/

Or google "beautiful and simple traditional bedrooms......"

Jan why are you saying college aged son. This is clearly an adult bedroom. No college kid bothers to make their bed and have a throw on the end of it. It looks like w space where one has comforts and is cozy to read in and relax. By changing the lamps, end tables, and refreshing the bedding you can accomplish a lot. One thing I agree with Jan on is that budget will dictate a lot.

I would start by editing all the miss matched furnishings. Great that the chest of drawers is hidden on that wall, Do you need the extra storage?

is the bookcase necessary? Do you read in bed?

Dress the bed in bedding that looks lush and inviting. I'd also add window coverings on all the windows. You didn't mention colors you love or a style you are drawn to. Do you want to display family photos?

Some type of upholstered panel on the wall under the window would be a good look. You can purchase these panels on Amazon.

I am not so good at interior design as others on this site - they will give you great ideas! My first reaction is the bedding - it seems off - doesn't quite match and seems underwhelming. The night stands should match. I dislike the paint color - it just doesn't seem to go with anything. I feel like a nice rich color on the walls would look great! I would put a cushion on the chest at the end of the bed or drape a folded blanket/comforter on it.

I do like the pictures you have up, but hang them in a different spot. I really like the 2 wall mount lamps. I love the plants - you have great windows and light in there!

I tried to do a mock up for you ( I'm not too good at these ). Maybe it will give you some ideas

Do small things - just one or 2 at a time and step back to see what you think!

I am saying......"college age son". from brown pieces surround." style of bed.....and How I SEE the room at a first glance.

I said............"no mal intent and don't take it that way" : )

It's what I see, and I'd use the same words in the home of a client, with the same room. It feels masculine......to ME and young masculine

To the point, as usual that Jan is here and most beneficial as I keep up with her design knowledge. So agree on the “college age son’s bedroom” never to minuscule the OP, only to offer honest help. Budget (?) was my question as well. This bedroom being directly off the main would be better addressed with style as entering your home. Doesn’t have to be the wow factor but pleasing and calm and comfortable.

I don’t have a big budget but can do some minor upgrades.

I would focus on changing up the bedding and lights as a first priority then.

Here are some photos of our living space.

Here are some photos of our living space.

I would perhaps start with a headboard! If that’s in the cards? You can have a throw over the bench at the end of bed matching new bedding. Bedding comes in multitude of styles with the spread, shams plus other parts such as pillows all in one for a matched beautiful set at all price points.

Thank you for posting the living space. You can go light as in beiges, or darker as in burgundies, just my new favorites, not everyone’s :). Post some bedroom ideas you like!

Would this coverlet be
An option

No picture posted but you need more than a coverlet. You need to add more pillows too. The pics of beds made up should be your guide

Here is one that has caught my eye

Okay! "Caught your eye, .

love Blue?

It's lighter?

Love the quilt and matching shams?

Keep going, I bet you find even more : )

Coverlet in the burgundy color, would match the pictures that are in the room and also could still use the wool blanket on the bottom of bed

Do you see how full the bed looks in your image though? How the pillows are placed and look higher than your bed and how fluffy the bedding looks in general?

Blanket would not go well with it. And I think burgundy might not be the right colour. It may make it look more dated.

I thought a burgundy when I saw your rug although it’s going a darker than what you posted. Doesn’t have to be a darker like burgundy but maybe tie into the living space somewhat? May be too dark with the brown furniture in the bedroom. Lighter would brighten! Greens or blues, anything lighter really go with darker furniture! Is painting that bed wall an option for you? I’m not one for accent walls but could bring that bed wall up a notch with the right color. Then with new bedding and pretty lamps on your bedsides? Hobby Lobby does a half off sale on lamps every other week is how I was able to afford two matching for our master bedroom.

I see you do have blue accents in your living room.

Blue is throughout my home. Painting the wall certainly is an option and would be a cheaper option than a new bed.

Your solid beige spread could be used as bottom of bed throw addition if the new bedding had a blue and beige. Folding that up into three or four folds would add some fluff to the end of the bed. Try looking at local shops where returns are easy. Something like bed in a bag usually comes with a smaller pillow cover matching to have on your bench there. If you entertain painting that wall, I personally would get your new bedding first and go from there.

Your bookcase looks to be about the same height as the chest of drawers on the left of the bed. I'd put the bookcase to the right of the bed and use it as the right side night table. Move the left side chest of drawers to be centered in the space, not so close to the bed.

Do you use the 2 chairs in the room? Remove one or both if they are not being used. LOL we also give clothing a second wearing. I didn't like clothes draped on the chairs, and we got a coat stand in the bedroom closet for that purpose. Hooks would work too.

For any chair(s) that is being used for sitting, consider using the small night stand as a side table for it. But any unused furniture should be removed.

The blue and white coverlet you have shown looks great with the blues in your living room.

The bench at the foot of the bed is a focal point when viewed from the living room. You could paint it the blue in the coverlet. And/or add a cushion on top to coordinate.

With budget in mind, first step would be to move around or remove the furniture after considering how I use the room. Then purchase that attractive coverlet. Then repost for next steps on wall art and other decor considerations.

I would consider the bedroom "view" from the living room as part of of the living room/public space. So if you put family photos on the walls, I'd put them on a wall that's not directly visible from the living room. I know that other people feel differently about this, just my point of view.

Nice room, such lovely light from the windows on 2 sides.

I like where you have the bed currently but you could always put it at the window but it might show from the outside but if you keep the curtains closed on that side to be okay and I would get rid of the bookcase it's the only thing I don't quite like in the room maybe you need something else and you must wake up very early in the morning cuz those drapes are cute but they will bring in light and sunshine I would get drapes maybe blackout they say we sleep better with blackout but if you want cheers with it you could do shears get a double rod they have double rods

Partim you read my mind on the bookshelf to right side as nightstand. Or left then move left nightstand to right side 👏. Was hesitant on mentioning that bc of the plants and or dust collecting at bed? Although looks as though Allison keeps her home pretty darn dusted and up-kept. Love the idea of a coat stand in the space. Yes, the bedroom is an extension, as I see it as well, of the living room space.

If you wanted to extend the bed upward without painting that wall, using taller pillows on your bed is always helpful. You could even go a step further and choose a color from your new bedding and paint the trim only around the three windows above the bed. Not brash but a lighter color from the bedding for a bit of artsy up there.

Some great suggestions, thank you. Moving some of the furniture can be done easily. I will get some help with moving and repost.

I would not paint the bedroom walls a different colour than the living room. I would hang the spider plant beside the one already hanging there.

Thank you everyone. I’ve received some great feedback and really appreciate it lol.

No one's mentioned it but to my eye curtains would add a lot to the space.

Curtains on window? Not sure how they would work on the transom window above bed.

Diana ^ was referring to the other windows for curtain panels

You love light? Are early risers? Privacy not much an issue>

A natural woven wood shade could be nice, on ALL the windows,, then decorative panels or not on the other side , or not.

Having the natural light does not bother us. We do need some privacy on the larger
Window. Also would like to have plants so
Whatever light I
Can get. What about floor length linen panels mounted wider than window frame?
Also

Yes I mentioned that you need drapes or thicker curtains cuz you do need some privacy you can always open them up for the plants the plants don't mind the dark but they'll want the sun in the morning

You could also use curtains on the wall with the high windows, mount them on either side of the bed/windows.

Identical floor length linen panels mounted wider than window frame would look great on both windows. They should clear the window glass when open. Mount both rods just below the ceiling.

White board and batten wainscotting would look very natural if it went just to the bottom of the transom window, and it would complement your already very nice woodwork. Then Euro-style square pillows could be stacked against it, above the level of the low headboard, without looking like they were stacked against the wall. Not sure whether you'd go all around the room or just on that one wall.

Why not just close the door when you entertaining?

Some ideas of how to dress high windows:

Small Window Approach #2: Long drapery panels

Adding floor-length drapery panels will help bring visual height to the room. They draw the eye upward and add a good dose of texture. You should mount the rods at least 10-12″ outside of the width of the window so they don’t block the light when they’re open.

This would be a lovely way to frame the bed, if the bed can go beneath the window. A high headboard would help fill that awkward wall space between the pillows and window.

Hi there! To avoid purchasing all new furniture that "matches" I'd recommend painting all the brown a dark gray or black and add some new knobs for a nice, inexpensive refresh. I also would recommend a nice large area rug with colors that you love since you see right into the room from your living area. I think black always looks 'rich' and if you have some of that in the rug, it will come together nicely! I'd also do floor to ceiling drapes that matches a new comforter to tie everything together. Good Luck :)

Thanks ever for some great ideas. I’m going to start looking around and the very least moving furniture a bit and work on curtains. This has
Been great help.