When I was a kid, I based the aesthetic dreams of my future on what I saw on TV sets, music videos, and MTV Cribs. Little did I know that, as a grown woman, I would divert my source of inspiration completely and obliviously… to stock photos.
Once again, I have been utterly duped by a stock photo on Pinterest. I found a gorgeous, glamorous-yet-inviting bedroom that was decorated just enough to feel luxurious without looking too cluttered or garish.
It was an ad for Joss & Main, and when I clicked through on Pinterest, I saw it again – as the background of a login screen. Joss & Main is one of those websites that doesn’t let you in without your email address. I’m a sucker, so with one click, I signed in and probably registered for an account – all in the name of finding the products I saw in the photo.
Fast forward 20 minutes (aka 15 pages of nightstands) and it dawns on me – this photo isn’t even theirs, is it? A quick Google image search revealed that, no, it isn’t. It really, really isn’t.
And that’s totally fine. Stock photos are meant for uses like advertisements and promotions. I use stock photos all the time in freelance and design projects. Tons of the images on Broke & Beautiful are royalty-free stock photos, so I can’t even be mad. Except that Joss & Main is a freaking store that sells home decor and furniture so like… C’mon, you guys. Try harder. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Anyway, this little divot in my shopping experience left open a window of opportunity for a Style Remake. The last Style Remake bedroom we did was just as calming and peaceful, but this one amps up the glam by about 100%.
The Tufted Headboard
I think most people would agree with me when they say they… don’t have a headboard. I mean, maybe you have a bed set, but putting thought into what style of headboard best reflects your personal style comes way after things like how you’re going to pay rent, and how you’re going to get the Check Engine light to turn off in your car, you know what I mean?
But I was surprised to find that tufted headboards are actually not as extravagantly expensive as I thought. I mean, they’re not exactly bargain bin prices, but if you have some money stashed for a budget bedroom makeover, you can get a really dramatic and beautiful headboard for less than $200.
Christopher Knight Tufted Headboard |
Modway Linen Tufted Headboard |
Region Nail Head Headboard |
Mainstays Tufted Headboard |
These are all lovely, and even the non-tufted option with the nail head border woud be gorgeous in this room. But, as usual, if you’re ready to get handy and borrow your parents’ power tools for a weekend, there’s always the DIY route. And people have made some really gorgeous headboards at home – arguably cuter than the ones above.
Here are a few tufted headboard DIYs to get your started (or just inspired):
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The Metallic Lighting & Accents
Mixed metals are usually a scary and dangerous place for newbie decor artists to tread. But when everything else in the room is beige and light, blushy pink, it seems like you can do pretty much whatever you want. Chances are good that, if you love the way this bedroom looks, you already have a good amount of metallic stuff already (probably copper and/or gold). Or, you have a good metallic spray paint source and are itching to use it.
Either way, you can definitely incorporate stuff you already own into this design. The best part about neutral stuff is that it goes with pretty much all other neutral stuff, and this bedroom is based on neutrals, so have fun with it.
Lamps, on the other hand, might be harder to come by. I’m a big fan of lamps instead of overhead lighting because it makes everything feel more cozy and cute. Lighting definitely affects my mood, so I highly recommend checking into some budget options for table lighting because it can really affect the feel of a room.
Acrylic Prism Accent Lamp, $34.99 | Opalhouse Leaf Table Lamp, $39.99 | Manila Ceramic Table Lamp, $57.99
Glass Pentagon Lamp Base, $29.99 | Antique Brass Arrow Lamp Base, $27.99 | Glass and Gold Orb Lamp, $59.99
If you’ve never bought a lamp base before, it’s really easy to find a shade to go along with it. In fact, you might already have a great lamp shade on one your current lamps that just needs a base upgrade. I think a lot of people kind of… forget about lamps, though. They’re obviously an excellent source of inviting, cozy light, but they’re also excellent opportunities to bolster your room’s personality. Don’t be afraid to get wild with your lamps. Your decor style can handle it!
The Chic Furniture
The Mirrored Nightstand
First, let’s talk about the mirrored nightstand, aka the piece that started this whole thing. Once I saw this nightstand, I fell in love. I’ve seen a billion mirrored nightstands, don’t get me wrong, but they’re usually too architectural and modern for my personal style. I like a mix of new and old, and the mirrored panels on this traditional, legged nightstand are the perfect blend.
The knobs are even kind of plain compared to the glitzy mirrors, which are even cut to perfectly fit the legs. Despite the stock photo putting me completely off the path of success, I managed to track down the brand who made it: Design Tree Home. Judging by the accompanying pieces of similar design, this nightstand is definitely over $700.
I wouldn’t suggest trying to find something similar in a store. The smartest thing to do, in my opinion, is to head to your local thrift store, and look for a side table that looks like this. Important features include: legs, drawers with knobs, and flat surfaces.
Then, sand it down, and throw some off-white chalk paint like this one all over it – maybe two coats. After that, the magic happens. Well, the magic of light manual labor, anyway.
Then, you simply use mirrored contact paper, which you can cut it into absolutely any shape that you want. Here is a handy DIY to show you how to do it. Or, if you’re into the look of mercury glass, there’s a cool way to achieve that affect with a few layers of spray paint. That being said, the mirrors are cool, but it wouldn’t ruin the muted, neutral vibe that this bedroom has going on. You can make up for the loss of glitz by just putting a mirror somewhere else, or filling your room with shiny stuff (easy).
Find cool knobs at any decent thrift store, and always at hardware stores. Anthropolgie is known for their gorgeous, vintage-inspired furniture knobs, too, so you have lots of new options, as well.
The Bed Bench
That cute little folding bench at the foot of the bed is also a cinch to dupe. If you’re shopping online for one of these little guys, try the term “shower bench,” which refers to a folding, backless bench made from wood (usually teak). If you’ve never had a bedroom with a bench in it, you’ve never put shoes on in the morning the way they’re meant to be put on: easily, from a comfortable-but-sturdy seat which may or may not be covered with something from the next category.
You can find these at nearly every large department store (Target, Walmart, etc.), but Amazon also has a shocking number of affordable, small, foot-of-bed benches available. There are non-wooden options that would look great in this room, too, so we’ve thrown in a tufted bench or two for good measure.
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Homfa Bamboo Bench Rack |
Rembrandt Tufted Bench |
The Simple Linens & Faux Fur Accents
Did you ever read about the Game of Thrones IKEA hack from their costume department? Well, those boys guarding the wall – the Night’s Watch – with their weaponry and huge furry, black coats… are all wearing faux fur rugs from IKEA. Yep, that’s the secret. And it’s a good one, too, because you can get a very cute faux fur rug from IKEA for only $14.99, or a very real sheepskin rug for $29.99.
Finding unique accent pillows is all about knowing where to look. The goldmines for gorgeous accent pillows in all styles for unbeatable prices are Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Home Goods. You’ll find pillows covered in delightful, shaggy faux fur as well as plenty of complimentary styles in less 3-dimensional designs.
If you’ve already got some pillows, but are so romanced by this bedroom shot that you want to just redo everything – don’t throw them out! Head over to Etsy and scope out the dozens and dozens of options for shaggy accent pillow covers and regular accent pillow covers.
drapeOrama Fawn Collection Pillow, $27 | Spencer Faux Fur Pillow, $19.99
Hotel 300TC Sateen Embroidered Duvet Set, $39.99 | Pure Hotel Metallic Embroidered Duvet Set, $49.99
Nicole Miller Indiana Faux Fur Throw, $39.99 | Celebrity Home Vernita Faux Fur Throw, $34.99
The linens couldn’t really be easier. This is a white bedspread with an ultra-minimalist border around the edge which, if you ask me, doesn’t really add much to the vibe. You can pick up a white duvet from just about anywhere, but honestly, white bed linens scare me. I’d opt instead for a super light grey or even a khaki or tan.
But, this isn’t a What Lindsay Would Change situation, it’s a Budget Copycat situation. Luckily, you can find really basic, really nice bed linens and duvets in the same stores where accent pillows live.
The Cool-Toned Art
Here’s where everything gets easy and fun, especially if you’re looking for an excuse to shop indie.
What makes this art such a smart choice is the delicate use of a sudden change of color. Nowhere in this entire room photo do we see blue anywhere other than this little nook. The fact that the blue only appears in fine lines surrounded by white space is no coincidence. The white space helps to introduce this complimentary color without overwhelming or darkening any corners.
The art in the photo looks like a cross-section of a stone, maybe an agate or something. So if you’re in love with that exact look, “blue agate art” is what you wanna search for on Etsy. There’s a lot there, so you’ll definitely be able to find something that perfectly matches your vibe.
Quantum Prints Blue Agate Watercolor Triptych, $28.90+
If you’re not ready to buy some random art just yet, keep your eye out for a wall accent that gently introduces a new color to the space. Something really cool-toned is gorgeous against all of this neutral blush and beige, but you could go super warm-toned with it, too, and have a great result.
What do you think of this bedroom? How would you go about replicating this look? Leave your expert tips & coveted opinions in the comments.
Past Budget Copycat: Home Decor posts:
