my Boho Bedroom redux. how to perform an inexpensive decorative overhaul, plus an evolution of decor

Friends, I have a confession. I obsessively compulsively move furniture around. Almost no furniture ever to cross my threshold has had a specific place or purpose, and will most likely be moved to serve a new “BETTER” purpose the next time you visit my house. “No honey, I didn’t get rid of our dining table, it’s just the desk in my office now. I know you really liked using that dresser as a bedside table, but look how prefect it is a console table! That 500lb. apothecary bookcase that you helped me drag upstairs in December and back downstairs in January? Well, would you please help me move it back upstairs AGAIN?”

Sometimes, when I feel the furniture has out lived its purpose, it gets sold on MP, donated, or carried to the curb free for the taking. Many times the furniture was acquired by me from one of the above means. Sometimes my furniture moving gets a little crazy and ends with the carpet and walls ripped out (have you seen my bar yet?).

My design and decorating sensibilities have not changed much over the years, even though my rooms certainly have. Here’s what I have learned about myself when it comes to decorating: I am a tactile person, so the more texture the better, especially in fabrics. I cannot LIVE with any color long term except certain muted shades of blush and plum. If it glitters, sparkles, or reflects light, I’m drawn to it. I prefer funky, whimsical art that has lots of personality vs basic art that was selected because it just matches a color scheme or theme. I LOVE the effect of layering different shades of whites and creams. I believe every room should have at least 1 black piece as an anchor, and that rooms feel unpolished without area rugs and curtains.

Since I know my “taste” so well, and select my most expensive pieces conscientiously with the long term in mind, it is easy for me to incorporate new trendy things in to my existing decor without a complete and total overhaul or a ton of $$. For example, my king size bed frame is just an adjustable frame that will accommodate any headboard or footboard I chose indefinitely. My dining room table is just a contemporary dark wood table that can look totally different in an instant with new chairs. My bedside tables are solid wood in a classic design and neutral color, and blend seamlessly no matter what style direction I go in.

This leads to my next point which hopefully you already know… Most “trendy” decor has a MAX shelf life of about 5 years. Those midcentury modern chairs in that buffalo check print that you FINALLY bit the bullet and invested in after drooling over for 3 years? You will probably be researching the cost of re-upholstery by the time your credit card is paid off. Picture your grandma’s floral sofa and massive dated china hutch. She “paid good money for those things”…Back in the 60’s… That you now stand to inherit.

My best advice when decorating is to nail down the “neutral” things that you love. Invest in the best quality timeless pieces that you can afford, that will blend seamlessly with what’s “trendy” for as long as you own them. Accommodate the current trends by sprinkling in a few inexpensive accessories that can be changed out easily, like throw pillows, bedspreads, art and even paint! Finally, stick with what you know always appeals to you. Don’t decorate with turquoise or cowhide just because it’s trendy, if you normally wouldn’t select it. Don’t fill up every extra inch of your space with furniture and clutter that gives you a migraine. Which brings me to my reason for a redux and this diatribe.

After converting my spare room to a dressing room/ office, then re-converting that room to my in-home photography studio (priorities), I had to come up with a place for one freestanding clothing rack and my desk. Thus, my indulgent master bedroom seating area became my awful looking embarrassing home “office” (photo above). I HATED this setup. I hated the muddy gray paint color that was so “in” 6 years ago. I hated my headboard, the lamps, the carpet, the flat surfaces creating an inviting place for dust to get cozy, EVERYTHING. I decided I needed a clear out and a clean bright white space with less furniture even though my giant bedroom can fit it. Since my most expensive pieces of furniture are timeless, all I needed was clean white paint, and a few inexpensive accessories to take the look from dark and traditional to casual boho chic.

Since I live just 10 minutes from the beach, I’ve been embracing a relaxed casual vibe in my home decor with lots of natural elements, while not totally abandoning my trademark glam style. Every room in my home has been slowly evolving towards this look. I’ve been lusting after the massive carved wood headboards for at least 3 years (remember my mid century chairs example?) But decided it’s against my sensibilities to invest thousands in a bed that I may not love in 5 years, like this:

I decided to get creative and DIY my own headboard. After a lot of looking and research, I decided that my best value was out of inexpensive cheap decorative wall panels from Target. For the full DIY tutorial on how I did this click here.

The result was a beautiful boho chic headboard that only cost $150 to make and is totally customizable depending on the size of your bed and available wall space.

Since my the rest of my furniture is of classic and timeless design, I only had to replace my bedside lamps, a few throw pillows, and 1-2 wall hangings to create this cozy and casual retreat. The whole redux, including paint, was completed for under $300. The midcentury dresser being used as an entertainment center under the TV was a $70 MP find that I bought having no idea where I was going to put it.

Even the traditional style bookcases and curio’s that I use as shoe and bag storage “go” with this look. They are painted the same color as the walls so that they blend vs. standout. The walls, bedding, throw pillows and nightstands are all different shades of cream and white, and mixing them creates lovely texture and dimension.

Live plants breath fresh air into the room as nature often does, and finish the look. I’m still waiting to find the perfect 8×10 area rug for under the bed. Perfection cannot always be achieved overnight;)