MEADOW BEDROOM TRANSFORMATION

As there are still a few weeks left this year, it's perfect for a quick makeover of a bedroom, particularly if you're just going to change the colour scheme with a splash of paint and some detailed accessories. It will elevate your bedroom from a basic space to a comforting retreat to snuggle in style.

Over at my seaside house, The Croft, I've been modernising the guest bedroom. This has been a full renovation, so I'll share my inspiration and the steps I've taken to create a luxury bedroom for guests to relax in comfort and style.

HOW IT LOOKED

When I bought my dream seaside house, the guest bedroom was a yellow paradise.

It's a great sized bedroom that can take this strength of colour, however, the yellow felt too overpowering and unsettling. I wanted the bedroom to feel calming and relaxing for guests.

MY COLOUR INSPIRATION

The small back bedroom was initially painted in a soft green colour. It was a lovely colour, but too dark for this small back bedroom.

I decided this colour would be perfect for the Meadow guest bedroom. As the front of the house is lighter and brighter, the Meadow bedroom would carry this colour better.

I sourced this gorgeous colour 'YARD PARTY' by COAT Paints. It's not too pale and not too dark, just perfect.

But, I wanted to find a complementary fabric, for the curtains, before I finalised my choice.

If you create your design and bring the scheme together before you decorate, you'll have more confidence of its success.

INSPIRATION FOR THE NAME 'MEADOW' BEDROOM

Now that I had the perfect colour, I searched for several months to find curtain fabric to strengthen the design. Luckily, at the time, Sophie Robinson brought out a fabric collection with Harlequin, and one of her designs was Daisy Trellis.

It reminds me of my dad taking me and my sisters for a Sunday walk and ending up in a grassy field making daisy chains. Such wonderful memories. As I walk around this seaside town, I also see lots of daisies down by the harbour, so it was the perfect choice.

Linking to The Croft, which relates to a pasture of land, I decided to call this room the MEADOW BEDROOM.

You might ask, why bother giving the bedroom a name? When guests visit, this is a special house so I don't want to say "you're staying in the bedroom at the top of the stairs" because that's so bland. I've elevated the bedroom with a personalised name that creates a sense of expectation and excitement for my family and friends.

THE BUILDING WORKS

As I started to create the detailed design, the renovations progressed in the bedroom.

Initially, I was expecting just to repaint the bedroom, however, it needed a full overhaul, starting with centering the ceiling light and then boarding out to cover the artex.

It's important to set a good foundation because you only want to do this once and it will refine your decor.

Of course, once it's boarded, then it's time for plastering. I love fresh plaster because it reminds me of Mr Whippy ice cream, so smooth and silky.

Although I've shown you this process in a couple of photos, it actually takes at least a month to get through this stage. There were several cracks in the walls, so these needed plastering as well, and then it all had to dry out. You'll see in this next photo how the plaster changes colour when it dries.

This is the cluttered Meadow bedroom that I slept in whilst the other bedrooms were being decorated. It felt like a storage container, but at least I had a comfortable bed to sleep on.

Be prepared for mess, dust and disruption whilst building works are progressing. Particularly the dust because it gets everywhere, even in rooms that aren't being renovated.

A SUMPTUOUS BED

The main feature of any bedroom is the bed. I chose a divan bed that lifts up with storage beneath. This is really useful for seasonal quilts and throws. I also store the linen for the bed because I love being organised and it's not getting mixed up with the other bedrooms.

When updating your bedroom, it's the perfect time to review your storage. What do you store, how is it stored and how can it be improved to save you time and energy?

I could have easily chosen a plain, ready made headboard, but I was looking for something extra special for this bedroom. I want my guests to feel as if they've been transported to a sumptuous hotel, so I designed a bespoke headboard using the Daisy Trellis fabric. Doesn't it look gorgeous against the green backdrop.

To enhance the style, I created a scalloped edge that's reminiscent of shells. I also added green piping as a trim to strengthen the shape. It's the small details that create a big impact.

When designing your room, be mindful to emphasise the main feature. It's worth giving more of your budget to the focal point in your room, so that you create something stunning that will make your guests go WOW with delight as they enter the room.

MORE TO COME...

Next week, I'll show you the rest of the bedroom transformation (scalloped designer bedding, feature lighting, antique furniture and handmade curtains) with all of my expert tips to help you create your own dream bedroom in time for the festive season.

This is the fun part of any transformation, so I'm looking forward to sharing the details of the design and how the Meadow bedroom is so idyllic, stylish and welcoming for all of my friends and family.

In the meantime

WISHING YOU AN AMAZING WEEKEND