Vellore Village Bedroom Reveal

Ask any designer, and they’ll tell you the same thing, designing your own space is always harder than designing for a client. Projects tend to drag, decisions get postponed, and somehow everything takes longer than expected. This year, I set an ultimatum. The bedroom was finally getting a makeover. You may have already seen it on Instagram, but I wanted to walk you through some of the design decisions behind it, along with what’s still to come. If you’re exploring different bedroom design ideas, this is a great example of how small changes can completely shift the feel of a space.

Finding Your Inspiration and Colour Scheme, Neutral or Bold?

From the get-go I knew that I wanted colour in the room with something slightly more feminine, especially since for the last 10 years that bedroom has been in shades of dark red. It desperately needed a change.

It all started with this inspiration image. Somehow the light dusty pink door resonated with me. I loved the idea of incorporating pink, but it needed balance. Without an accent colour, it could easily feel too ‘girly’. The goal was to create something more layered and sophisticated.

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Colour!

This house is full of colour, as I clearly don’t shy away from it. I really believe that colour is one of the most powerful ways to transform a space in record time. This room is proof, considering all the main furniture was unchanged. When creating the colour palette, I stumbled across Slate Teal by Benjamin Moore and knew it was the colour to use as my accent. Monticello Rose was chosen to complement it as the main colour of the space, not an obvious choice at first but it worked great. The white trim (BM Pure White) and shades of grey in the accessories helped tone everything down, and create a sophisticated look. These kinds of bedroom design ideas show how much impact colour alone can have.

Reusing Existing Furniture

Take the time to do a good purge, and put aside the items you intend to keep. There is rarely a case when you have to completely furnish a room from scratch. In this case, the item to keep was the bedroom set, which is over 20 years old and it barely shows any signs of aging. I’ve been preaching quality over quantity for as long as I’ve been designing. Invest in some good quality pieces, and they will stay with you for a long time. Later on they can be easily updated through accessories.

TIP: replace the hardware of your old furniture, or doors for a refreshed look. We used an Anthropologie door knob on the closet door here for a pop of colour. While it’s not available anymore, Etsy is a great source for these types of knobs.

The bed is actually an Irish Super King Size bed, which means getting a mattress in Canada is not only a challenge, but also very expensive. I have plans on turning it into a California King Size bed, but that little project is for another time. I will walk you through the process once it happens.

Don’t Overlook Drapery

Before this update, the room barely had any window treatment. Adding drapery made a huge difference. The colour of the fabric could’ve gone either way, but chose a neutral colour in case I decide to paint different colour walls in the near future. So much easier to switch up paint than fabric, especially since these panels were custom made. The photos don’t really do this fabric justice. The silver tones change base on the time of day, and even pick up on the wall colours. I paired the fabric with a blackout linen backing and ripple fold track system.

What exactly are ripple fold curtains? They are curtains installed on a track and corded carriers that create a s-curve ripple across the track. I like the sleek design of the track, and the fact that no matter how heavy the drapery is, it easily glides. I chose a silver track to blend with the fabric, but it comes in a large variety of styles, including a more traditional rod style.

Adding a Large-Scale Rug

This is the first time this room actually sees a rug. Why? Simply put, my 2 cats like to treat every rug like their own personal scratching post. A past attempt with a quality wool rug that was shredded to oblivion made me hesitant to ever try again.

Recently though, going through various testing samples, we came to the conclusion they can’t actually scratch a very low pile rug!

Decided to experiment with an affordable rug and a few months in, I can confidently say that this one will survive. While we usually recommend to invest in good quality rugs that will last you a lifetime, sometimes you have to assess the situation and see if it is the right route. An inexpensive rug that can be switched out every few years will not leave a hole in your pocket, and you won’t feel so bad when your pet decides to turn it into deconstructed art.

Bringing in Art and Plants

I was deeply inspired by the work of Vanessa Hogge (a ceramic artist from the UK), and while they are nowhere comparable, these 3 resin flowers from Urban Barn fit in perfectly and add a lovely contrast to the wall.

While the bedroom is South facing, the proximity to the neighbouring house blocks quite a bit the natural light. Found that plants for shades are much better suited in this instance. I don’t have the greenest of thumbs, so I was on the hunt for easy maintenance plants. I decided to go for Pothos, Boston Fern, Monstera, and Peace Lilly. All seem to be thriving, except for the Boston Fern that is being quite stubborn. Any tips there would be highly appreciated. Otherwise it may just have to be changed with another Pothos.

Tying It All Together with Bedding

Because of the colour scheme of the room, there were so many possibilities with the bedding. I chose a set by Ted Baker because it had hints of most colours. Added a few extra custom throw pillows to tie in everything. Bedding is so versatile and can be easily switched out to give a completely different vibe.

I will say, as much as I love Ted Baker’s designs and products, this particular set does not seem to be same quality as others I’ve tried. The sizing seems off and the material is a bit of a nightmare, picking up a lot of lint and wrinkles very easily. Not to mention the zippers on the both pillow shams broke in a few months. Their Flight of the Orient Mint set seems to be a much better quality! None of these problems there.

Lighting (Still in Progress)

The lighting is the one element that is still to be changed in this room. I am still looking for the perfect chandelier and table lamps, but there is no rush. It is ok to leave room for growth. A lot of times we get so consumed with the idea that we have to finish a room, that we sacrifice certain design elements, or waste money by picking the wrong item. While table lamps can be easily swapped, I like to invest in good quality ceiling fixtures that will last a long time.

Designing your own space is always a process. It rarely comes together all at once, and that’s part of what makes it interesting. Some decisions are immediate, while others take time, testing, and a bit of trial and error. If you’re exploring different bedroom design ideas, don’t feel like everything needs to be perfect from the start. Let the space evolve, and focus on creating something that feels right for you.

Have you seen our Vellore Village Kitchen reveal yet? We go through all the design choices in depth.