Howdy Friends! I’m sharing a short series starting today. I thought we’d talk about creating special spaces at home since most of us are trapped there anyway. Thanks Corona. We spend hours in the bedroom so let’s make this the first space in the series. I get stuck in a rut sometimes and get tired of the boring (to me) everyday looks in my house. Making small changes can make a big difference so here are a few ideas for making the mundane more memorable.
Creating Special Spaces At Home Series
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I find most of us leave our master bedroom last on the list when it comes to decorating. Believe me, I am guilty of this and have my arm held high and the hand waving around quite vigorously. Why is that? It should be a place of respite. Is it possible we think it should be a space that doesn’t need to impress others? When a guest visits, they aren’t supposed to venture off into the private areas so we should be able to have all kinds of crap stacked and at-the-ready for convenience, right?! Well, you can certainly do that but then there’s nothing peaceful, relaxing or less stressful about your bedroom is there? Nope.
It may sound nice to buy new bedding, lamps or furniture to make it a more inviting place but that’s not practical. Let’s consider these small changes instead.
One, Two, Let’s Make Do
One – Make your bed every. single. day. It makes the room look so much cleaner. Even if you are pressed for time, at least throw the bedding up over the wrinkled sheets.
Two – If you have a spring looking comforter, use it. If you have a double sided comforter, flip it. Add an extra comforter, blanket or throw at the end of the bed. Having your bed made like a hotel bed instantly gives off a different vibe when you walk in the room. And go ahead and add those pillows your significant other dislikes so much. It’s worth the extra 60 seconds it takes to move them or remake the bed again the next day.
Three, Four, Junky No More
Three – Clear the clutter from the bedside tables. Trust me when I say you don’t need multiple water bottles, books, magazines, etc. within reach. Put all that inside the drawers. If you don’t have drawers, keep only what you need nightly and keep it neat and tidy. Keeping small necessities corralled in a basket or on a tray is better. If you have medicines you want to keep handy, place them in a nice looking container. Something with a lid. The small blue glass container houses the Misters lip balm, ear buds, etc.
Four – Keep your hampers and baskets in either the closet, bathroom or laundry room. Did y’all know I am also a Home Stager? People, I have seen it all. I should write a book about the horrors and laughable things I’ve seen. One thing I see most is dirty laundry hampers in bedrooms. I know many of us don’t have large closets or bathrooms to keep dirty clothes but I’m telling you, the bedroom isn’t the place. If you must keep it in the bedroom, make sure it looks nice and also has a lid. Plug-ins help as well. Try a smell you relate to as clean, fresh or relaxing.
Five, Six, It’s A Fix!
Five – Add some pretties. Curtains can sometimes be a splurge but well worth it. They are like jewelry and finish off the outfit. IKEA has great prices and longer sizes than in most retail stores. Pottery Barn does too. PB isn’t cheap but the curtains are well made. I found exactly what I wanted at Home Goods and they were only $19.99 for a set of two. The rods were super inexpensive as well and I think the windows look so much better.
Adding a candle is lovely. A meaningful photo is nice too. If you don’t have the space, consider hanging it on the wall behind your bedside table. Just make sure it’s large enough to be seen. The color makes a difference as well. If you have a neutral bedroom, black and white prints works best. If your bedroom is colorful, your photo can be too.
Six – We have three lamps in our bedroom and I think the lighting is my favorite thing about the room. Mostly because we use a Phillips Hue lighting system throughout the house. When I walk in the room during the evening, the lights are already on. The Mister has set them to about 40% at dusk and as it gets darker the lamps get brighter. It’s extremely inviting and relaxing. If you don’t have room on your bedside tables for lamps, hang pendant lighting instead. IKEA has great choices like these. Quick tip: Whether the lamp is standing or hanging, when you sit on the bed the bottom of the shade should be close to the same level as your nose.
Creating special spaces at home isn’t hard but it can make a huge difference in the way we live and feel. It doesn’t mean expensive nor does it mean time consuming or exhausting. While we are all making the best of the Covid-19 situation, take some time to create something special for yourself.
Cindy, I laughed when I read the first bullet point, make your bed! Our Mamas were right. Over 40 years ago a college room mate that didn’t plus piling her dirty, stinky laundry in a corner cured me of not making my bed every morning and dropping my clothes wherever. I remarried a number of years ago ( I am an old lady now according to the CDC). The nicest compliment I received from my husband was after being married a number of months he stated that neither his 1st or 2nd wives ever made the bed in the morning. He confessed he didn’t’ either. He told me he had never realized how nice it was to come home after a day in court ( an attorney of all things), eat dinner at a reasonable hour and then see a nicely made bed where the sheets had been smoothed down, etc. Yes, make your bed first, no matter what, is the first priority of a beautiful master bedroom.
Thank you for the laugh and the memory it brought to me. Praying for you and your family during these chaotic times.
Author
Glad you got a chuckle out of it. We need a little of that these days. Not sure when I started making me bed every morning. I think it was high school because that’s when I finally got my own room. I remember it changing my entire outlook for the day. Glad I’m not the only one that sees the difference. Thank you Elizabeth for stopping by today!
Great tips, I keep our laundry in our bathroom closet. I can’t stand seeing dirty laundry.
Making the bed first thing makes a big difference. Love seeing my bed pretty all day as I walk back and forth.
Didn’t know you were a stager. I can imagine what you’ve seen or maybe not.
Cindy
Author
Yep. I’ve been a Home Stager for at least 15 years now and sometimes I think I could have a comedic reality show and other times we’d have to bring in a psychologist! When you said you walk back and forth all day, it made me realize I do to. Mostly for the bathroom. I like using my own. LOL. Hope you have a great weekend Cindy. Thanks
Cindy you are 100% correct about keeping your sleeping spaces clutter free and inviting! I know people who use their bedrooms as dumping grounds and then have to sleep in that clutter/mess every night! Yikes, not for me!
I am not a clutter bug or hoarder so this post was right up my alley. I have to be able to focus and breathe when I walk into a room. Great post.
Author
Thank you Rebecca. I live a clutter free life but practically everyone I know has a not-so-relaxing bedroom. I don’t get it. Hope they all read this, try it and see what a huge difference it would make in their daily lives! 😉
Great ideas, Cindy. I love lamps too and we keep most bedside necessities in the nightstand drawers. I love the idea of a picture on the wall by the nightstand.
Author
Thank you Carol. When I stage houses, I usually hang a print (usually at least an 8 x 10) next to the lamp and everyone loves it. Sort of rounds everything out and it makes it’s own vignette of sorts. Let me know if you try it!
I always wonder when designer/home experts say to keep your nightstand cleared. They often list just a few items to keep on them. My question is this: Where do you keep your CPAP and BiPAP machines, your nebulizers? Most people I know after a certain age (40 or 50) need at least one of these machines to sleep. Also what about air purifiers and perhaps an oxygen concentrator? Except for staging, it seems rather silly to me.
Author
Great question Josephine. Even on a daily basis, keeping things that aren’t “pretty” tucked away makes a difference. You can see in one of my photos I have my little fan still on the bedside table. It doesn’t feel cluttered because everything else is tucked away. I helped a friend who’s husband has a CPAP Machine. She didn’t like that it was always seen because his side of the bed was by the door way that led to the family room. We purchased a nice basket with a lid that sat next to his night stand. Each morning she put the tube and head gear in the basket. The machine itself still sits out but it doesn’t have a cluttered look anymore.
Hope that helps.
Making my bed is something i have done since college,before then no. I also change my bedding with the seasons whether i have a pea in my bed or not, this princess is crawling into a pretty one,lol!! I love the ideas for the bedroom and the black and white pictures i never even thought about, good idea. Thanks and stay healthy dear friend, oh i loved the sign above your bed.
Author
Thank you Marlene. I’m glad you saw something new. You made me laugh about the Princess and the Pea. I love that story and often reminded by my husband about it. LOL! Elbow bump from afar!
I love the making the bed comment. Especially since I have trained Ray to do it in the morning when we get up! It really does make a difference when you walk in the room.
Author
Could you train your brother? Even though I’m still in bed long after he gets up, he still wouldn’t make it. But gratefully, he does many other wonderful things.
What beautiful photos. “Make Your Bed, little things that can change your life”, by retired Navy Admiral MCRaven is a great read about this subject Sharing a room with a very messy sister as a youngster, I loved having my own room and have made the bed first thing every day. When my husband was alive, our rule was that the last person out of bed made the bed right away. As a Realtor, I very much appreciate working with Stagers. Thank you for this great post.
Author
I bet as a Realtor, you’ve seen the same unsightly things I have! It’s amazing how people live behind closed doors. Anyway, when I finally got my own room in high school is when I think I started making my bed everyday. Wish I would have had your husband around to give my sister and I the great advice of last one out of bed made it. Sounds like he was a great (and tidy) man. Thank you for the comment today. I really love hearing from y’all.
Loved your thots, feelings and love you brought into a subject as simple as making a bed. Growing up with 3 sisters in a military family brought back many memories of our “drill Sargent” of a dad who had us not only make our beds but inspected them too.” 🙂 Could you just imagine bunk beds in a very tiny room unmade? Not a pretty picture or a restful environment for sure. Making the bed 1st thing in the morning not only brings a peaceful feeling to me but many wonderful memories of my Dad that I treasure each day. Thank you or making this day for me.
Author
Awe Betty, you actually made MY day for saying that. Glad you liked it. Hope others take note. As you and I know, it will make a huge difference!
Loved your ideas. When the bed is covered with a quilt, messy sheets don’t show; I have trained my SO to pull his side of the quilt up after he gets out of bed. It is done. Clothes don’t get washed unless they are put into the laundry basket in the bathroom linen closet. Simple rule!!! I was raised by a mom who believed in changing out curtains/seat covers/bedding with the seasons. Bright is good!
Author
I used to tell my kids the same simple rule. Not sure why others don’t get that. 😂 I also love changing things for the seasons. Years ago when we had standard size windows, I’d change the curtains out too. Wish I could still do that. Thanks for commenting Kathy! Always like hearing from you.
Thank you, Cindy! I loved your bedroom look! You don’t mind if I try to copy it? I love those mirrors – where could I get some like them?
PS I work with your Mom and hope she is doing well!
Author
Thank you Moira! Of course I don’t mind if you copy anything I post. I’m glad you find inspiration in it! The mirrors came from Pier 1 a few years ago so I’m not sure they still have them. You could try kirklands.com though. They have several beautiful choices. Best wishes and let me know if you need anything else. BTW, mom is doing great. Thanks for asking. 🙂
I love this post!! My grown kids maker fun of me about making up the bed every single day !!! lololol… This is a gorgeous room!!!
Author
That’s sweet of you to say Terri, thank you. My kids make fun of how much I clean. I say they should be so lucky – because I’m fabulous. 😂.
Good Morning Cindy,
In this house and in the house I grew up in we were sticklers for bed making! We left no cover turned down once daylight broke and that includes now. In fact keeping a routine during this time of stay at home orders makes me feel a little better. Do I sound like a Drill sergeant?
Anyways I love, love these tips and also chatting with you right here this morning!
Take care,
Jemma
Author
Hey Jemma! No you don’t sound like a Drill Sergeant. You sound like a woman who has a tidy house which I love! Glad you like the tips. Miss hearing your voice. I always think of you in CO when our TX heat starts up. Stay healthy friend!
Well, I can surely testify that you practice what you preach! My three favorite things this week are the picture of your wedding day in which your dad is the star, the fan on your nightstand that I know you can’t sleep without, and the comment from my good friend and coworker, Moira. 💕
Author
I adore that photo! And you are correct, no way can I give up my fan from 1980! Moira’s comment was very sweet as well. Glad she subscribes and reads the blog. 😃