A simple guest bedroom update with Heal’s Morten Collection

This is a sponsored post written in collaboration with Heal’s.

So the next room to get the makeover treatment for my #cshhouserefurb series is the guest bedroom – a rather plain, bare white space that had got a little lost as we focused our efforts on the other rooms in the house. It will be getting a fresh lick of paint in due course, and a lovely desk area for me to work from, looking out to the garden, but first some essential pieces of storage were needed to make the space more functional. With some friends coming over from France to stay with us last weekend, it was the perfect excuse to tidy things up and get it back to being a bedroom, rather than a messy dumping ground! It only takes a few simple updates to make a space feel fresh and welcoming again.

I’ve therefore teamed up with Heal’s to showcase the new Morten Collection and bring an element of understated Scandinavian style to the guest bedroom. When I used to live opposite Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road during my first year of uni at UCL, I always used to wander past and stare dreamily into the window displays – the big, stylish beds layered with fluffy duvets and warm, cosy throws. I wanted to fall back onto them and drift away to sleep. Fast forward to now and I’ve tried to bottle an element of that luxury for my own guests, creating a calm, relaxing sanctuary with lots of natural textures and touches.

The Morten collection, designed exclusively for Heal’s by furniture designer John Jenkins, is Nordic-inspired with a clean, simple expression and timeless appeal. The collection comprises a 2-seater and 3-seater sofa, armchair, king size bed, chest of drawers, sideboard and bedside table, all united by their use of solid oak that gives a warm feel to the designs. They’re at accessible price points too, the sofas start at £999, while the bed is £699. Designer John Jenkins says:

‘The Morten collection has been designed with the next generation of home owners in mind. Combining beauty, value and functionality, Morten has a Metropolitan feel, with elements of Scandinavian and mid 20th century design, both of which resonate with a young, design-aware customer.’

I decided to go with the chest of drawers and bedside table for my guest bedroom. We previously didn’t have any storage at all, so these pieces have been essential in providing a space for fresh bed linen and for guests to store their clothes. Having two pieces from the same collection also means that the room feels more balanced and harmonious.

We don’t have room for two bedside tables, but this one provides ample storage and space for two people staying. There’s a shelf to pop books and magazines and a drawer to hide away personal items or functional things like a hairdryer. Gently curved, raised legs prevent the design looking too chunky, while still being able to see the floor running under increases the sense of space in the room.

I love that both pieces have a protective, raised edge around the top. It defines the design – I like to think that it gives you a frame to style things within. But also, being quite low to the bed it also means things can’t be easily knocked off the bedside table, handy to avoid things like spilling coffee on the carpet!

Well thought out details make the pieces quite tactile pieces. The chest of drawers has three, deep drawers with inset handle details that look neat and minimal. The oak has a light, white washed finish that brings out the natural grain of the wood without it looking dark or heavy in tone.

I always like to give guests some magazines to flick through and a fresh vase of flowers – little things that make a space feel homely. As an added luxury, I’ve put some soft, cashmere bed socks in the drawer and a dressing gown. I also collect mini bottles from hotel stays across the world so guests don’t have to worry about bringing big bottles of toiletries with them.

I’ve complemented the natural oak of the furniture with simple, fresh white linen bedding and a waffle throw that goes with the dark grey carpet. Striped cushions add a bit of pattern, while a classic Anglepoise lamp provides a reading light for guests. It’s a clean, elegant look, finished off with a bunch of fragrant eucalyptus which links back to nature.

So it’s as simple as that, two new pieces of furniture that have transformed the feel of the room. They’ve given the space style and meaning, this room is no longer a neglected corner of the house with bits of furniture we don’t know where to put, but a homely, welcoming space in its own right. I hope it’s conducive to a good night’s sleep – it feels like a place where you can relax and breathe, cosy up in bed and recharge the batteries. I might have to move into this room now!

Shop the Morten Collection online here.