In this post: When moving from a family home to a small apartment, these downsizing tips can help you keep a small bedroom light and bright.⇒
I never ever wear sunglasses.
Yep, it’s true. It’s not that I don’t own them. Quite the contrary, I’ve spent a small fortune on really cool or uber-fashionable sunglasses. But I never put them on. In fact I’ve misplaced countless pairs because they’re never on my face. So why, you may be wondering, do I refuse to wear sunglasses?
Well, you see, I’m crazy obsessed with light!
And there’s nowhere I’m more obsessed with light that in the home. I believe that light spaces are uplifting and can make you feel happier.
So if you live in a small space or are looking for downsizing tips, the very first thing I would say is that you need to take care to keep your rooms light.
This can be done in many ways, beginning with natural light and the light fixtures you add. But that’s just the start.
When my parents decided to downsize to an apartment, I helped them decorate their new space. (You can click here to see the downsized living room.) Their new bedroom has a nice large window and overhead lighting, but the space isn’t huge and is dominated by built in storage. So the single most important thing we could do to keep it light was to work with a soft color palette. Tapestry beige walls set the tone and an ivory tufted headboard was chosen over dark wood furniture.
(See resource list below.)
The built in storage is a distressed cream, essential to keeping it from looking too heavy. It offers the room amazing storage but is a very large piece that would be oppressive in a dark color.
For linens I chose a pale blue and beige print to keep up the light theme, but honor my mom’s preference for blue.
The bedside tables are a grey-beige and I used several accessories to bounce around light, from the crystal fringe lamps, to the silver in the frames.
On a side note, I used my parents’ wedding photo on one nightstand and a recent photo on the opposite side, reflecting the span of their long marriage.
The artwork I chose for over the bed not only works with their color scheme, but also itself depicts a pretty light source, a lovely French chandelier. The gold frame adds another touch of warm light.
A tonal beige window covering can be completely rolled up, allowing in as much daylight as possible. For the bedskirt I went with an ivory pique, again to keep the foundation light, particularly since the carpet is a patterned golden beige.
The brilliant light that comes through the window illuminates a peaceful space. On the opposite end of the room is a small dressing area which then leads into the master bath.
We had to work with a black marble floor, but we ripped out a dark wallpaper and painted the space linen white. It’s amazing how much it lightened the room and enhanced the look of the neutral vanity.
The final trick in lightening any room is a liberal use of reflective mirrors. I also peppered the counters with crystal bath accessories, as well as a few ivory ones.
The result is a comfortable master suite that is tranquil and calm, chock full of storage but light and bright, nonetheless.
Downsizing Tips Source List – Click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. (This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
- Upholstered headboard
- 2 Drawer nightstands
- Crystal candlestick lamps
- Sateen sheet set
- Comforter set
- Tailored Bedskirt
- Chandelier artwork
- Mother-of-pearl frame
- Antiqued silver frame
If you missed the downsized living room in this apartment you can find that post here:
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Beautiful bedroom for your parents and thank you for the great tips
Thank you and you are most welcome!!
You did a beautiful job on this new home. Your parents are so fortunate. Also, thanks for finding those pretty lamps for me, Lol, now I will have to order 🙂
Haha, enjoy them!! And thank you for the kind words… 🙂
Very beautiful. Did you use the white or gold lamps? I love them. Thank you for the tips as my inLaws will probably be making a change soon. I also enjoyed the video of your parent dancing. My dad was a wonderful dancer.
Thanks, Connie and I used the white lamps. I didn’t even realize there was a gold choice! Thanks for the heads up, because those might be nice elsewhere… 😉
What a beautiful bedroom!! love all the blues as it looks very rich!!
Hi! Beautiful! We are looking at having a custom built in made for our bedroom just like the one in your parents’ master. WOuld you be able to provide more pictures or more information like measurements? Thank you!
Thank you Leigh Anne! The piece came with the apartment, so I don’t have the contractors specs. I could possibly measure it in the future but right now mom is in the hospital, so we’ll put that on hold for a bit. It really is the perfect piece though. It’s 6 drawers on each side like 2 side by side dressers and the cabinets above are on each side, with small open shelves for display towards the center. Then the very center is for the TV. Hope that helps a bit in the mean time.
Your parents’ room is beautiful and very timely for us. My husband and I are downsizing in our own home, moving upstairs to our daughter’s old bedroom so my father can come to live with us in our first floor master suite. We are almost finished redecorating our new room to be light and bright. I really love the window treatment you used. Is there a source you could recommend?
Thanks as always for the great inspiration photos!
Thank you Janet, and wishing you the best. How wonderful that you are giving your space to your dad! Regarding the window treatment, it’s the one thing that came with the apartment and it matched the bedding that the prior owner had, so I assume it was custom made. It’s a fabric roman shade.