Marc Lesser
Though Janeane Burkholder of Congers, N.Y., recently painted her master bedroom and updated it with new furniture, she wasn't satisfied with the results. Janeane thought the blue paint made the room feel too cold, and despite the furniture additions, the room still looked unfinished. With one day to decorate and $1,000 to spend, home design expert Susanna Salk went to work.
Here's what she did:
Start with a soft and cozy color. To eliminate the cold feeling that the blue created, Salk chose to paint the room Optimistic Yellow by Sherwin-Williams. This soft, elegant hue created a warm backdrop for the other elements of the space.
Add dramatic textiles. Patterned curtains and bedding provide character and color. "Never underestimate the power of fabulous curtains," says Salk. "They not only warm a room up, but their pattern can give much-needed visual texture and really add excitement and elegance." Instead of choosing a bed covering that matched the wall color exactly, Salk brought in a graphic duvet and shams that became the lively focal point of the room.
Pick a pair of substantial lamps. Matching bedside lamps provide symmetry and balance. Salk advises selecting lamps that don't overpower the space but have enough height and weight to hold their own.
Here’s what Susanna used to transform Janeane’s room:
Laelia king-size quilt, $228 at Anthropologie. Image credit: Anthropologie
Laelia Euro shams, $58 each at Anthropologie. Image credit: Anthropologie
Marrakech curtains in Turquoise, $108 per panel at Anthropologie. Image credit: Anthropologie
Deep Tropics tiebacks in Periwinkle, $68 per pair at Anthropologie. Image credit: Anthropologie
Chunky table lamps, $30 each at HomeGoods.
