My latest interior design project - Part 1: a bright, bohemian chic bedroom

Most of the time, when I post an image to my interior portfolio I label it "[room], private residence" out of respect for my clients' privacy. But this room is all mine.

It all began with a comforter set.

My bedding set from Target guided all my subsequent design choices. 

I started with my bed. It's a basic metal frame bed, no frills, one that can adjust from twin to full to queen with the turn of a few bolts. When I lived in a studio apartment, it was all I needed because I kept it wedged into a corner, covered with beautiful comforters. I had no headboard, footboard, or bedposts. I didn't have room for them, anyway. 

One of the first things I did to my bed in my new bedroom was take a plain gray upholstered headboard and create a cover for it with an old chindi rug from Urban Outfitters. But I felt like I needed something more for the wall above it. At first I considered hanging a large piece of wall art or even a small rug above my bed, but then I saw a modern canopy bed from Crate and Barrel that inspired me. 

Unlike the way modern canopy beds are typically styled in catalogs, I like the idea of adorning them with fabric, garlands, macramé, or string lights instead of leaving the frame bare and stark. Rather than purchase a brand new bed just to get that look, I decided to get a metal wedding arch and use half of it to surround my headboard. The one I chose was the perfect width for a full size bed. I used a Hangman elephant hook to secure it to the wall.

I adorned it with handmade pompom garlands from Etsy. I added beaded organza ribbon to coordinate with the fun (new in the unopened original package!) bed skirt I got from eBay. I used upholstery pins to hold it in place.

The upholstery pins also came in handy when it was time to secure my battery-operated string lights to the headboard. Sometimes less is more and sometimes more is more, and the challenge is figuring out which of those principles applies in a particular situation. I feel like my bed strikes the right balance between the two.

I always wanted a mirrored vanity table. I replaced the clear knobs provided by the manufacturer with some handmade ones from Etsy. I got a modern white vanity mirror that lights up and added washi tape around the mirror frame to make it more colorful.

I filled a decorative vase I've had for years with an assortment of peacock feathers, both natural and dyed.

I covered my ottoman with a handmade pouf cover from India, a simple and easy upgrade to make it better coordinate with my vanity table.

I have a lot of important papers to store, so I used some removable wallpaper from Spoonflower to cover my magazine files and boxes from The Container Store. They're the perfect fit for the IKEA EXPEDIT bookcase that I've had since 2001.

design by LittleSmileMakers on Spoonflower

 

I printed out some of my favorite quotes and put them in colorful frames. 

The figurines are heirlooms from my mom and my grandmothers. 

I used some of my leftover drapery fabric to cover my IKEA DRÖNA boxes on the bottom shelf. I didn't have to sew because I used iron-on adhesives.

 

 

Yes, that's right, I made curtains.

They were a no-sew project as well... at first, anyway. I used Stitch Witchery iron-on hemming tape to give them finished edges. I did have to sew the blackout backing on them, though. I used the leftover wallpaper from Spoonflower to cover my air conditioner unit. I put an outdoor rug from Talking Tables on that side of the room because my dressing table is there and it would be easier to clean any spilled cosmetics or hair products.

 

I painted and decoupaged two wood MOPPE chests from IKEA. I use them to store my hair accessories.  

The print above them is by Kesha Bruce. It's a limited edition entitled "Dream Into the Future."

Hanging from the wall above them on a metal bracket from Etsy is a vintage 1960s lamp from my aunt. The tassel that embellishes the pull chain on the lamp is from Etsy, too. Standing directly below the lamp is a pivoting accessory stand where I keep the scarves I like to use to make headwraps. 

Here's a better picture of the glass water carafe I keep on my dresser. 

Speaking of my dresser, you'll never guess where it, and the basket and lamp in the photo above, came from. Believe it or not, all 3 are from the kids' section at Crate & Barrel! You'd never guess from looking at them. This is why my motto is '"shop everywhere." There are great finds in unexpected places.

I keep the basket beside my bed. It the right size to corral my collection of throw pillows.

The other side of the room is where I sew and make crafts when I'm not at my studio. I got a very versatile secretary desk in a clean, white, midcentury modern style.

Then I embellished it with some of the Spoonflower wallpaper and made a bulletin board for the interior using a large piece of cardboard wrapped with a drapery fabric remnant.

I pinned a picture of my Granny, who was a very successful seamstress, inside to inspire me. I got some boxes from The Container Store to organize all my sewing notions. To give myself more light, I added a battery operated adhesive fixture to the underside of the shelf above the work surface. I put 4 boxes from Dick Blick and The Container store on the shelves above to hold my collage supplies and my finished collages.  I put baskets on the shelves below to hold my various sewing projects.

I keep the area organized with a metal wall organizer (also from the kids' section at Crate & Barrel), a 4 tier utility cart, command hooks to hold my T- square on the side of my secretary desk, and a mood board where I can pin images that inspire me.

I made the mood board from some old doors for my IKEA BILLY bookcase that I had already attached cork panels to so that I could use them as a bulletin board.

I wrapped them with fabric, stapled it to the back, and wired them for hanging just like I would with a piece of wall art. They hang one above the other and now that they're covered with fabric swatches and images I cut out of fashion magazines, they look like a single continuous board.

I replaced the adjacent closet doors with curtains on swing arm rods. I made the curtains with my sewing machine.

Here's my floorplan:

I left a lot of empty space so that I have room to set up my ironing board near my sewing area and so that I have space to work out.

I love the way everything looks together.

Of course, the accessories and art are what help to pull it all together. Though I hadn't planned to do so, all the art in my bedroom was made by women artists.

Print by FAMMAart

Print by Jade Purple Brown

Canvas print by Amanda McGee

top: vintage illustration by Ruth Ives; bottom: canvas print by Imogen Skelley

my Flower Power Collage, available on Zazzle

I look forward to sharing more of my home design projects in the next installment of this series. In the meantime, if you like what you see and want to work with me, please visit my website to learn more about my interior design services.