Bedroom makeover: 'Using neutrals has kept it versatile'

Turning to tones of nude brown and terracotta, Laurie Davidson has turned her bedroom into a soothing sanctuary that ticks all of her boxes.

Ideally the couple would have liked to replace their old wardrobe with a built-in design, but it would have meant moving the radiator. Instead, they updated it with new bamboo panels from IKEA, which gave the wardrobe an entirely new look and helped keep costs down

Read on for her bedroom makeover experience...

My story...

We removed the dated floral wallpaper and ugly brown carpet in the bedroom when we moved in, but other than painting the room we hadn’t got a lot further with it.

Natural textures add a relaxed, boho feel, with plant pots in woven materials and seagrass and bamboo baskets. Adding plants has helped breathe life into the scheme and also adds a pop of colour

We bought a new bed, but our furniture was an eclectic mix and nothing about the room felt relaxing.

Bedroom makeover: ‘I was determined to banish the bland on a budget’

I wanted it to be a cosy and soothing space, but it wasn’t until I saw the mural wallpaper, in its soft nude shade, that I decided to go for this colour palette.

Welcome to my home

A bit about me I’m Laurie Davidson, a writer and stylist. I live with my partner, Wayne, and our two ginger cats in a three-bedroom, 1930s chalet-style house in Surrey.

My problem bedroom Although we’d removed the floral wallpaper that was on the walls when we moved in, the existing décor was bland and we had a mix of furniture that didn’t really work together. The bedroom needed to have some thought put into it as the space felt anything but restful.

The mural went on the wall behind the bed and I picked out a similar colour paint for the other walls, which gave the room a warmer feel. I spotted that IKEA sells bamboo-effect panels for its wardrobes.

Wall décor ideas: wall art for every style and budget

Style idea! Linen touches help to create a relaxed feel with its natural crumpled effect

As we had an old Pax design from IKEA, with black glass-panelled doors, we could replace the glass panels with the bamboo ones to give the wardrobe a new look without replacing the whole thing.

‘I love So-Cal, boho schemes so you’ll find lots of items with fringing and tassels in this room!’ says Laurie

I also found some bedside tables from Wayfair that have a black frame to match our bed, and an armchair from Dwell with black metal legs – it’s those details that tie the scheme together.

Bedroom makeover: ‘It turned out exactly as I imagined it!’

A bit more about my room

How I made it work I started by choosing a large mural for the wall behind the bed, which is what the scheme revolves around. Then I added wood accents and lots of texture in the form of cushions and throws to give it a cosy feel.

My favourite part Turning the bay window into a little reading nook with an armchair, plant and a basket of magazines has made the room feel like it’s more than just somewhere to sleep. It’s a spot we can retreat to if we’re looking for a bit of peace and quiet, although we have to battle with the cats for a seat!

Then it was on to the fun part: choosing accessories! I love natural textures and I think some of the bits I’ve chosen – such as the fringed wall hanging, woven baskets and macramé plant hangers – add a relaxed boho touch.

'I love natural textures and I think some of the bits I’ve chosen – such as the fringed wall hanging, woven baskets and macramé plant hangers – add a relaxed boho touch' says Laurie

I’m so happy with how it’s turned out and can’t quite believe it’s the same room!

My style advice...

1. Turn unused space into a feature

If your room allows, create a small reading nook, with a chair, a plant and some magazines, as it will help to make the room feel cosier and less of a busy, distracting space.

Bedroom makeover: ‘Reusing old furniture kept our costs down’

Laurie chose to sit this armchair from Dwell in the bay window – the chair’s square shape is nice and modern, but the slight curve to the arms and back softens the overall look.

2. Soften corners with hanging plants

‘The hanging plants create a bit of interest in this corner of the room. I went for two non-matching planters and hung them at different heights,’ says Laurie.

‘The terracotta planter was only £10 from George Home. The TV used to sit on this chest of drawers, but we took it out of the room and replaced it with some more decorative items instead.’

3. Tie in new furniture with old

If you don’t want to replace all your furniture, look for new pieces that work well and have similar design elements to your existing pieces.

Bedroom makeover: ‘We went for maximum glamour on a minimal budget!’

These bedside tables have a rustic wood look, which works well with the wooden bench and bamboo-effect wardrobes. But they also have a black metal frame that sits nicely with the existing bed frame.

Shop the look

Penn kingsize bed, £249; Tangle pendant light, £99, both Made.com. For similar armchair, see Monaco armchair, £599, Dwell. Alamo two-drawer bedside tables, £79.99 each, Wayfair. Fjellhamar bamboo panels, £85 for four; Skogsta bench, £40, both IKEA. Features Nude wallpaper mural, £37 per sq m, Murals Wallpaper. Dimity estate emulsion, £39.96 for 2.5L, Farrow & Ball. Pia rug, £250, Cox & Cox. Large Milan mirror, £99, M&S. Hot & Not duvet, from £50, Nanu. Washed linen duvet cover, £64, La Redoute. Blushed Sky throw, £55, French Connection. Manhattan bedspread in Putty, £60, Dusk. Shaggy embroidered cushion, £48, Spicer & Wood. For a similar wall hanging, see Lana wall hanging, £59.50, Oliver Bonas. Plants, from £7.50, Patch Plants. Leather babouche slippers, £26, Yonder Living. Round fringed velvet cushion, £35, Rose & Grey. Jute laundry basket, £24.99, H&M Home. Terracotta hanging planter, £10, George Home. Petalo pink terracotta vase, £19.50, Oliver Bonas. Hanging Out print, £20, Rose England London. Poster hanger, £7.95; beige abstract poster, £6.71, both Poster Store.

This is a digital version of a feature that originally appeared in Home Style magazine. For more inspirational home ideas, why not subscribe today?