“I spent time cleaning for your arrival, so let me show you around my entire house. I will show you my pantry, laundry room, attic crawlspace, garage and work shed, however, there is one room that is off limits. My bedroom is a mess. Let’s just shut the door and pretend it doesn’t exist.”.

Okay, so clients do not usually say these words out loud. However, in the years of visiting people’s home as an interior designer, I have noticed some common themes.  One of the biggest ones is that some people go all out for their kid’s bedrooms. Head to toe, it is complete and fully furnished to rival Beyonce’s new twin’s room. However, when we visit their Master bedroom, it is pieced together with hand me downs and the decor looks like it might have migrated from their first college apartment.

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There is nothing wrong with having a modest bedroom, however in my experience, most people leave their room for last. Why is that? When you have kids or a demanding job, sometimes the Master bedroom can be a haven for you. (For example, yesterday the kids were wrestling with each other and sounded like shrieking dinosaurs, so I shut my bedroom door and told them to only get me out if they drew blood.)  The bedroom is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see before you close your eyes. Just like the proverbial oxygen mask on an airplane, if you love your bedroom, you will feel recharged for your other responsibilities.  Here are some tips to get your own room in shape and transform it from an afterthought to a place of rest and rejuvenation.

How to Refresh a Master Bedroom:

Paint

Paint is a designers secret weapon because it is one of the most inexpensive bangs for your buck! With just a $30 gallon of paint, a blah room turns into a showstopper!

For instance, this amazing ranch house owner wanted a rustic theme, so we highlighted the back wall with red and brought it some rustic details. Can you see how just changing the paint color makes a huge impact? Suddenly the overlooked, dated bedroom became lively and current.

Update your look

If it has been more than 3-5 years since you have refreshed your style, take a look at what is popular in stores and magazines. This is very difficult in our own home because our eyes glaze over issues after we see them so many times.  You need a completely impartial opinion. To  help with this, I tell clients to imagine they are hosting a big party or having a high school friend come visit. Then walk through the house and see what they will be seeing when they walk through the door.   Obviously, you don’t want to completely redo your house based on what is trendy, however, you can bring in some updates that will refresh your room and keep things current.

Add a chair

The chair in my bedroom has a lot of functions. Mainly, it houses clothes that I need to hang up. (Better than my treadmill, right?) However, I love having it there because it means I can retreat to a quiet place and read, check email, or just sit and pray or think. If you don’t have a place to sit in your bedroom besides your bed, this might be a great choice for you!

You do not have to make huge changes to create a more beautiful, cohesive space for your Master Bedroom. Even making one change can completely change the feeling of the room. One of the most helpful changes you can make is to begin to focus on your needs for flow and function and decide you want a bedroom you love. Don’t despair if you cannot make huge changes all at first. When you begin to think about your space differently, you will begin to think of creative ways to update your space and begin to love your home.

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What is one change that would help you love your bedroom more?