HOW MY BEDROOM HAS CHANGED IN 5 YEARS
Living with my decorating restlessness
Some people rearrange their closet when they get restless. I rearrange my house. Maybe it’s a designer thing, but I will never say my home is truly “done.” I’m always tweaking things, swapping pieces around, layering in new finds, moving something to another room just to see how it feels. Five years in, I’m even daydreaming about re-renovating a bathroom that’s already been renovated, and plotting little updates here and there because I get antsy if things stay the same for too long. I’m writing this from my dining room and as soon as I’m done I’m going to go dig out some new paintings from my prop closet and switch things up. I just can’t help myself!
Case in point: my primary bedroom. Like most rooms in my house, it’s gone through its own evolutions since we moved in—starting out minimal and neutral, and slowly shifting into something warmer, layered, and a little moodier.
When we first moved in, I wanted the bedroom to feel calm, bright, and serene. The palette was light and neutral: crisp white bedding, sheer curtains, and just enough texture in the upholstered bed and nightstands to keep things interesting. A Turkish Oushak rug anchored the space, bringing in subtle pattern and warmth.
It was fresh, simple, and restful, and I still love the look.
Over time, the room began to take on more layers and character. The first shift was practical: I swapped our light and plush living room rug and the Oushak rug because I wanted a richer palette in the living room. This move made our bedroom even more monochromatic and bright, which made me want to start layering…
I hung velvet curtains, which instantly deepened the room. An antique oil painting I found at a shop in Woodbury, CT followed, layering in heritage character and a little patina. The pillows were swapped with an oversized lumbar that was in the guest room.
Slowly, other elements fell into place. I found an antique settee at auction and recovered it in a bold Suzani fabric, I added shell sconces to the wall that were previously in our entry, replaced an old dresser with a rich wood one…and then we hosted a photoshoot which really changed things up yet again.
I had planned to keep our ivory upholstered bed in the room, but during a shoot a beautiful wood bed was brought in. By the end of the day, we were running low on time with the movers, and I knew how long it would take to disassemble, move, and reassemble the old bed. So, on the spot, I decided to leave the new bed (and rug) in place. We ended moving the original upholstered bed to Pennybrook Cottage. From there, the bedroom shifted fully into its current, moodier layered state.
Patterned Suzani pillows that coordinate with the settee now live on the bed, the dresser holds a vintage lamp with just the right amount of patina. It’s still calming, but warmer and richer, with more heritage woven into the mix.
When I look back, part of me misses the earlier version. It was light, bright, and serene, and I’ll always love that look for a bedroom. But this version feels like a big hug, a true cozy retreat. And honestly, I love both directions; they show how a bedroom can evolve over time to reflect where you are in life.
And who knows, maybe next year it’ll look different all over again. Here’s to the future evolutions I don’t even know about yet.