“I wanted something to represent us and our love…”

When children come along, it becomes easier and easier to put yourself last. Seven years (and three kids) later, this certainly held true for this couple. They had put four years of time and effort into renovating a foreclosure, but realized that they had to bring the design back to what was really important. This home had a great foundation, but it needed updates and love. See how this couple accomplished their dream master bedroom makeover.

 

This was a big project. How did you accomplish it all? 

Small steps. Renovations take time and patience–and a lot of hard work. Of course, the goal is the end product, but thinking about that will overwhelm you. As you can see, our home needed a lot of updating. And, with three kids to take care of, it was difficult to find a balance. The key was taking it one day at a time and focusing on small aspects of the master bedroom makeover. I found it better to trust the process and focus on our small decisions along the way.

 

How did you choose your design? 

I started with a palette. Your colors will become boundaries, which will ultimately take away 90% of your choices. This might sound restricting, but it helps you to stay focused on one main design scheme for the project. I chose yellow, gray, and whites, and then added aqua. The neutrals are soft and cozy, while the yellow brings in a revitalizing touch. Although these three colors would have worked well alone, I wanted my personality to come through in my design, which is why I chose a small amount of aqua accents.

 

We love the gallery wall. How did you come up with this idea?

After spending so much time decorating our daughter’s nursery, my husband mentioned how he’d like our room to have as much thought and love put into the design of our room. He went out of the country for work, and my project began! I wanted to surprise him with a master bedroom makeover as an anniversary gift. I wanted something to represent us and our love; then, I put all the pieces together to create this gallery wall.

 

What’s the best part about your bedroom? 

The function. Functional design is just as important as creating a beautiful room. For our master bedroom makeover, I had to keep in mind that my room doubles as a home office. We have a separate room in our home that could be an office, but we use it as a playroom–which I love. So, adding an entire work area to our bedroom meant that it had to be functional and minimal. It includes everything I need for work, as well as supplies to entertain my kids if they want to visit. And, I created this fun photo collage, which added an eclectic, whimsical element to an otherwise serious space. This was another benefit of choosing the palette–I dressed them up in the colors I had chosen and photographed them in this space before putting the room together. I love the way it turned out.

On the other end, our bedroom is a place to unwind and, most importantly, SLEEP! The best investment we made was in our energy efficient, room-darkening shades. They’re cordless, which means I don’t have to worry about my children, and they provide the privacy and light control we need to get a good night’s sleep. Not to mention, they’re gorgeous. I chose Solera Shades because of the design and features. 

What advice do you have for those working on their own master bedroom makeover?

Realize that re-doing any part of your home is a process! It will take time. Don’t feel like you have to rush to get it done. It took us four years to get to our master bedroom makeover. Spend the extra time finding elements that mean something to you and your life. The end result will be beautiful.