Adding Color and Contrast With Last Layers to a Plain Bedroom

This room is from one of my past projects. The homeowner was getting most of the major spaces done first in this new build home before they moved in. Some of the last layers were going to wait till later, when they had lived there a bit and hung the art that they had, etc.

All of the furniture, bed, nightstands and lamps in this room were purchased new. She loved white bedding and we kept the upholstered bed in a simple light neutral, so she could have room to play with whatever direction she wanted to go later on.

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These clients really loved wall to wall carpet for their flooring. They did not want to go with wood, and this carpet selection also went into other bedrooms in the home.

I really had pushed them to do wood flooring in here. I just don’t see people going with carpet much in a primary bedroom in a home of this size anymore and I felt this room needed warmth and a grounding. They elected to go with carpet though so this is what we are working with in this bedroom.

I helped her select the furniture in here via retail choices, with the exception of the gray pillows. At the time, she thought she wanted to paint the room a medium blue-gray color and we went with light, neutral items based on having a color on the walls.

A blue/gray color like this one, SW Meditative, is the direction we were intending to go.

They did white on the walls and ceiling for a temporary fix, as they weren’t ready to commit before the build was complete.

Well, they decided they like the white, SW Extra White, and wanted to keep it. So now, we need to consider the design of the room with white walls, the light carpet and the light, neutral furnishings they have.

She did her own retail purchases because she was remote to me and loved to shop online.

Plain white primary bedroom needing some color and contrast. carlaaston.com

Neutral primary bedroom that needs some color and contrast.

Let’s add some color to this bedroom!

I’m going to bring out a slate blue color here, since she does love the blues. Then I’ll go to the opposite side of the color wheel and add yellow to contrast.

If they had wood floors, I would start with a rug that would help guide the color direction.

Even though I’ve never done this in a client home, I really hate putting a rug on top of carpet, I might suggest it here as this room, with the white walls, really needs a rug.

I like something like this one, an abstract mottled blue rug that would put that color on the floor.

On the bed wall, I would like to add art above the headboard, something long and horizontal. This one would look great there, it is 50” wide and 25” high.

Then, I’d add some new shams on those Euros. I think those that match the bed came from the manufacturer. Time to update that.

Euro matte lase shams in a slate blue color can help break up the neutrality of the bed.

In front of the shams I’d do this contrasting yellow lumbar pillow. I love long lumbar pillows on beds these days and this dose of sunshine is just what this bed needs.

I might even be tempted to add these slate blue lampshades on the lamps, if the color was right.

I’d add this knit throw to the end of the bed.

Then this bench, for some of that yellow color.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the other side of the room that has a cast stone fireplace in the middle of the wall.

The homeowner had this artwork and hung it up here. There is also accomodation for a tv there, if they ever want to install one.

They don’t need bookshelves or anything like that in here, they have plenty of open shelves in the living room and library. Nor do they want a dresser or storage in here, as they have a huge closet with all kinds of storage.

We do need something on this wall though. I’m suggesting a console with art above, one on each side.

I like this console because it has some detail and the white marble top echoes the white marble in the bathroom. It’s slim and I like the gridwork pattern on the face of it.

The gilded finish picks up the gilded finish on the mirror frames across the room.

Here are two art pieces I’m proposing for these areas. They are part of a triptych, so they work together and are tall and narrow for the wall. I like that these are neutral and are a different type of subject matter from the landscape look art above the fireplace.

To bring the yellow over to this side of the room, I’d like to see her use this large vase on each console.

I’ve used this vase in a breakfast room on this project, and it is large and hefty. Just the perfect pop of yellow without being too much.

We’re going to do draperies too, a set of panels on each side of this tall window on a brass finish French rod. They do currently have remote operated shades, so we are just doing drapery panels for decorative purposes.

They have a lovely view out the windows to their property, so I included this chaise at the window for lounging, to sit in front of the window.

I would recommend they get this or something similar custom upholstered in a fabric that works with the art, rug, pillows, etc. All of these fabrics need to be evaluated together to see if they will work with samples in hand. It is too hard to judge color and quality based on photos seen on a computer screen.

Add in a pillow in our yellow accent color with a gilded little drum table to get that contrast.

I do love this curvy brass floor lamp by the sofa there too.

Here are all the furnishings put together.

Primary Bedroom Storyboard - Slate blue and yellow accents for a neutral bedroom.

I still think they could paint the walls and ceiling the SW Meditative, to get a gorgeous envelope of color. Then the light bed and nightstands would stand out against the blue walls. They might not need a rug so much then.

This mock up below shows my limited photoshop skills, but I couldn’t help but try it out. Obviously the rug would run under the bed. Those mirrors would be better a bit higher too.

Mock up of the slate blue and yellow accents to add to this neutral bedroom. carlaaston.com

Here’s another mock up of the space showing a wood floor and the rug. I couldn’t get the consoles and the end of bed bench in there, but it kind of gives a general idea of the space. I love the drapery added in.

There are options here to consider. I do like the blue tones with the yellow added in to this space.

There are ways to add color to a big white room with draperies, upholstery, pillows, rugs, art, lampshades and accessories. Some paint on the walls helps too! :-)

More on adding color to a room!

This blogpost was thoughtfully written by me, Carla Aston, and not by AI, ghostwriters, or guest posters.