Soft blush pink bedroom reveal BEFORE + AFTER

It’s finally time to reveal the results of our bedroom makeover. Neglected and in need of a little love, for a while it was a dumping ground while we did up downstairs. We got the things we really needed in – new windows and clean, new carpet – but came to a pause after the builders had left and the chaos of renovating had settled. Before long we were fed up with the luminous, bright blue ‘feature wall’ and the curtains temporarily tacked up with nails. With a fresh lick of paint and new furniture from West Elm, our blush pink, mid-century inspired bedroom has taken shape, transforming what was a cold, bare space into a welcoming, relaxing room. Now, the bedroom is a calm sanctuary to escape to and unwind, its soft textures appealing to the senses and its feminine hues bringing about an element of serenity.

Before

So let’s remind ourselves of the before (you can see the full before post and my initial ideas for the space here). When we first moved in, the wood floors were stained a bright orange-brown, the windows were cheap PVC, and there was that blue wall staring us in the face… It felt like an uninviting space, lacking any sense of soul or feeling of homeliness.

We really wanted to bring back a bit of the period charm and character of the house, so straight away replaced the windows with proper wooden sash ones. The road outside is really noisy with traffic (I remember the first night in the new house we couldn’t sleep, we looked at each other and thought what have we done!!) but these windows are specifically designed to block out sounds – the difference is amazing.

And now…

We carpeted the floors in deep dark grey, and straight away the bedroom started to feel warmer and cosier. The walls were painted in Farrow & Ball’s Peignoir, a lovely grey-pink that has a grown-up feel to it and isn’t too girly pink. The woodwork is a subtle light grey called Ammonite, also by Farrow & Ball. We pulled off the tacked-on curtains et voila, the room felt so much lighter and airier.

Inspired by chiffon night gowns, Peignoir is the perfect colour for a bedroom I think – it’s delicate and neutral but adds just the right amount of colour to stop the space looking too dull and ordinary. It’s an uplifting colour that instantly calms, ideal for creating a restful retreat.

The furniture

The West Elm mid-century bed with its streamlined headboard and gently tapered legs is simple yet nods to Scandinavian modernism. We positioned it opposite the windows so when you’re lying in bed you can see the rooftops and trees outside. We look opposite to a road rather than a terrace directly across from us so when you’re on the bed and look out it’s almost like there’s no other buildings around us at all. The door opens into the room as well so it provides a little nook for the bed behind it and a sense of privacy when you’re walking in.

White mid-century-style bedside tables prevent the dark wood of the bed looking too heavy or traditional, while a textured rug softens the look. The tapered legs give the bedside tables a retro vibe and drawers help all the clutter than inevitably collects either side of the bed. The two alcoves either side of the chimney breast provide space for much-needed storage and a little dressing table next to the window. I love how, despite the fact all the furniture is new, it looks like it’s an eclectic mix of old and new.

(all the sources and links for the items can be found at the bottom of the post)

The finishing touches and details

I really wanted texture to be a big theme, I think especially in a bedroom where you want to create a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. I love the natural crumpled look and feel of flax linen, and paired with these light pink, silk and cotton blend cushions from West Elm, makes for a very welcoming bed. Each cushion cover is hand spun, dyed and loomed by the skilled artisans at Eco Tasar, a silk workshop and social enterprise in rural India. I would usually go for matching pillowcases and duvet but a slightly darker charcoal pillowcase just sets off the pink nicely.

A speckled black and white West Elm Dhurrie rug feels soft underfoot, while the mélange-like colours stop everything in the room looking too grey and dingy. I love the shaggy tassels too.

Little touches of pink, like this Cooee vase, and natural elements bring the scheme together. I like to think this is a grown-up take on pink, without being too sickly pretty pink! The tall vase is West Elm.

By the bed, I bought these MENU Bollard lamps from Clippings.com. The light grey matches the Ammonite of the woodwork and door. They’re so versatile, they can either be strung up on the little hooks (bought from a local utility store), tilted to direct to light onto the bed for reading or placed upright or on their side on a flat surface like the bedside tables. Very clever indeed.

I love the colour combination of the grey and the pink with the rich dark wood and little touches of greenery. A Beni Ourain berber rug is nice and shaggy, providing a bit of luxury when you step out of bed.

This corner is my favourite in the room. West Elm’s Penelope desk fits the alcove perfectly. It has a stunning marble top and is perfect for getting ready in the morning; I used to have all my makeup just in a makeup bag, now it’s laid out neatly in the drawer. I love to sit here with my morning coffee and look out of the window watching the world go by.

The mirror, from Cloudberry Living, is one of my best buys. I had been using a cracked hand-held mirror and been lusting after this simple Normann Copenhagen design for ages, so when I knew I was getting a dressing table I thought it would be the perfect accessory. I love that it has a dish shaped bottom so you can tidy away lotions and potions while still having them close to hand.

The lovely delicate print is from One Must Dash. I’m so picky when it comes to artwork and always like to wait to find the right thing, but this is a beauty that fits with the room’s calm look and feel. Slowly I’ll fill some of the other walls, but for now I’m enjoying the expanses of beautiful Peignoir colour.

A little mid-century bench fits between the windows. Eventually I’ll find something to put on the space above it. I love how the huge windows bring in lots of natural light; we have black out blinds (IKEA) but they’re really discreet, you would hardly know they’re there at all, allowing every scrap of light to come in. The paper cloud ceiling light from IKEA adds a playful accent to the room (it was only £9!).

So there we are, my blush pink bedroom makeover. What a difference. I am so happy with the results, it is now such a lovely space to be in; as soon as you walk through the door and step into the room, you instantly feel calmed. The colour bounces the light around and creates such a Zen feeling. I just love spending time in here now, but between that and the living room, I can never decide which one to pick for the evening!

You might notice that the camera is focused in one direction, because behind the camera (to the right of the door when you walk in) is a pile of mess where we don’t have a wardrobe yet! I hope to show you that side soon. For now, I’m going to enjoy taking it easy after the hard work, relaxing on the bed looking out at the treetops and taking a quiet moment to appreciate my new-look surroundings.

Thank you to my collaborators West Elm and Farrow & Ball for supporting this project and making it possible.

Source list (* indicates where item was gifted or I received a discount):

Paint, Peignoir walls and Ammonite woodwork, Farrow & Ball*
Carpet, Tapi Carpets & Floors
Soundproof sash windows, Hugo Carter*
KRUSNING ceiling pendant, IKEA
Mid-Century bed, West Elm*
Mid-Century bedside tables, West Elm*
MALM chest of drawers, IKEA
Porcini lamp, Habitat
Bedside pendants, Bollard Versatile Lamp, MENU, from IKEA*
Dressing table, Penelope mini desk, West Elm*
Mid-Century stool, West Elm*
Tufted dining bench, West Elm*
Bed linen, West Elm*
Pink cushions, West Elm*
Bed throw, By Molle
Small pink vase, Cooee*
Framed floral print, One Must Dash*
Normann Copenhagen mirror, Cloudberry Living*
Dhurrie speckled rug, West Elm*
Beni Ourain berber rug, Sukhi rugs*

Let me know if I’ve missed anything off or if you have any questions.