Bedroom Talk
Need some easy decorating ideas for a Master Bedroom?
We have an older four poster oak bedroom set-its sturdy and well made and I just cant bring myself to get rid of it. I would really love to spice up my bedroom decor but cant figure out what would go well with the brown oak "country style" bedroom set. Im more into a contemporary or eclectic look now and I need help with some options...thanks.
Public Comments
- I had a Lane bedroom set. It was solid oak and gorgeous. It had a canopy bed, triple dresser, armoire and two nightstands. I had that set for at least 30 years and it looked like new. But times and tastes change and I wanted something more modern or at least "different". Trust me, nothing you do to that "country style" set is going to satisfy you if your taste has changed. Bite the bullet and let it go. I sold my old set reasonably to someone that loved it as much as I did when it was new so I knew it went to a good home. I then bought a new set that is just what I wanted at this point in my life. I don't go for the "sturdy, well made" (translated "really expensive") stuff anymore (I'm not talking about buying junk either, I got my new set at Ashley) because then you have it forever and get tired of it. If you take good care of whatever you buy it will last you for as long as you love it. Then, when you don't "love it" anymore you won't feel so bad to let it go. Life is short, you deserve to have what makes you happy today!! Edited: I work for a store that sells furniture wholesale and I update their catalogs. Believe me when I tell you that if you paint the "country" furniture black, it's going to look like black "country" furniture (I see hundreds of sets of black "country" furniture). Country is country is country. If you try to put modern stuff in, on and around your "country" stuff, it's going to scream "she's trying not to look country, but it's country with modern stuff". It won't go. I had country decorating in my home. My husband bought me a baby grand piano. When they bought it in and set it down amidst my "country" stuff, you could almost hear the piano saying "What's all this stuff?" I had to change my decor to go with the piano (much more sophistocated victorian). Modern stuff has clean lines and there is no way to make country stuff look modern. I'll say it again, life is short, get what you really want and enjoy it.
- I wouldn't get rid of it and why spend the money on new when you can change up what you have now? I think if you just want to get rid of the country look all you need to do is paint the furniture that you already have. I think you should paint the furniture black. You said it's a brown oak country style and I don't know how "chunky" the furniture is but even if it is "chunky" painting it black will take the "country" look out of it. All you need to do is use a good primer 1st. I would use a product called BIN to prime. It is a shellac based primer and you do not need to sand your furniture 1st if you use it. You can get it at a professional paint store like Sherwin Williams. Then, if you want a contemporary look I would use a semi gloss or high gloss black paint. I don't know what colors you like but anything goes with black and it is a very grounding color. I would love to see a picture of the bedroom suite that you have because 4 posters come in all kinds of styles. Can you upload a picture for us? If not, the picture coming to my mind is of going to a fabric store and buying a lot of rusty red material (kind of sheer) for the windows. You could paint the walls a cream and hang black framed prints on the wall. There is a lot of options and I could go on all day but I would definitely paint the furniture. Good luck!
- The wonderful thing about decor today is that being eclectic is completely cool! I have an older style bedroom set (oak) and to spice it up I just added contemporary bedding, curtains, chair, lamps and hung a chandelier. My accessories are a mixture of old and new so that everything blends well. Don't ever get rid of something that you love, it's part of you, you will only regret it later. With the brown tones of your furniture you could go with the rich but contemporary color of turquoise, its in lots of different patterns you'll be sure to fine something you love.
- Keep it. Don't paint it because that is soooo hard to undo. You can make the whole room look modern and funky with your fabric choices. Bold stripes, or solids with wonderful textures would be about right. Graphical silouette type prints are also all over the place right now. Obviously avoid things like chintz florals because that takes it back towards "country." There are a number of colors that will work with the oak left as is. Reds, warm neutrals, bright blues. I would say white bedding with some bold and bright throw pillows would look great. If you really can't work with the natural wood, painting it black would be the way to go, in my opinion.
