I love color, I really do. But if you use a lot of it, it can be expensive when you change to a new color. That is why I am moving more toward a white look with color accents.
For example, I started with this green bedroom, then I decided to go in a blue direction.
That meant the rug, the dust ruffle, the quilt, the artwork, the lamps, and the pillow shams were changed.
Onto another bedroom.
Here I changed to a neutral palette, and that meant I removed the artwork, the dust ruffle, the quilt, the chest, the chair, the lamps, and the pillow shams.
Want another example? How about my bedroom?
Ready for the before at the previous house? That’s right! I had lots of color in here. Sometimes I like to show this to prove I do love color.
When I went neutral, I had to change everything on the bed and slipcover the settee. I almost didn’t change the room to the neutral palette because changing felt like so much work. I had spent a lot on this bedding too. I had no idea how to make the slipcover for the settee, but I did it any way.
I’m not saying you have to have a neutral bedroom! I am saying if you use a lot of color and you change colors, it can be expensive changing colors. And that’s your decision to make.
Here is the bedroom where I went neutral from the beginning and then was able to change colors easily. The bedroom below is my daughter’s room. Below it is very neutral with a bit of blue and lots of color in the artwork.
I wanted to try something less overpowering above the bed, so I went with a small antique French mirror. I added lavender with a quilt, pillow sham and then a throw over the table.
Below I changed things up by simply replacing the pillow sham and the quilt on the bed. It feels a bit more stark without the artwork, almost monastic, but I kinda like that.
Here’s another look using a Dash and Albert gray and blue throw with a Shabby Chic pink pillow sham and the aqua throw over the chair.
Because I used a white pillow and coverlet, most any color will go in here. The room is a neutral palette that will accommodate most colors. I can easily change the look, by grabbing a different quilt or throw from my linen closet.
This is a great option, if you love the change the look or color very often.
Nice to see all the renditions of the rooms once they are more neutral. Thanks for the incentive to try this out.
Love all your lightening here, as you know I am all the way neutral in our small French cottage, leaving a much larger home to scale down was a choice of mine to go neutral making the French cottage flow with a more spacious feel to this Creole layout to our homes footprint. Love all your rooms up styling to a more neutral vibe, it allows the pieces in the room to not compete with each other, letting those beautiful iron beds to stand out.
See you soon and all the beauty you create here.
Xx
Bisous
Doré
Hello! I have a friend who sent me your blog link, as she realized we share quite a few things in common. (2 girls, one with Down Syndrome and a parent who said NO to becoming an artist and waking up one day and deciding to be one anyway)
I am so happy to have found your blog, it’s lovely!
We are in process of remodeling a 1956 mid century home. I’m not so keen on mid century and am looking for ways to incorporate vintage. I’m trying to describe my “look” to architects and builders and all I come up with is clean lines, vintage and some industrial thrown in.
I’m looking forward to delving into all your projects, as I’m sure I can find lots and lots of inspiration!
Lynn
Yay, Lynn so glad you are here!! You might enjoy our interior design forum (a group on FB.) Let me know if you need help finding it. You’ll get great ideas there.
I love the changes you have made to the smaller bedroom, the antique mirror is timeless and I love the gold patina. I believe that using white or shades of white as I have in my own house is the perfect foil for being able to update or change your decor. It makes a place feel bigger and brighter. I am not one for stark white, however there are some beautiful shades of neutrals on the market.
I have just finished my bedroom and used a white with a ‘hint of grey’, it is soft, soothing and although it is a cool colour, it is definitely not cold. I have used accents of blue in the room but this winter plan to add some deeper greys and keep the blue accents.
Sometimes white has to be warmed up a little with accessories and wooden furniture which you have done with the bedside tables. At the moment I have a little too much white going on with my furniture in the bedroom, so I plan to bring in more textures.
Interesting post, love to see how you make changes, definitely like the lighter look in the bedroom.
Lee
I was glad to see a light neutral bedroom with wood furniture finishes vs white or painted furniture that is so prevalent now. I am thinking of going to a neutral white wall for our master bedroom but I love our mahogany English style furniture too much to replace it. We have carpets unfortunately and not hardwoods. Is there a “safe” neutral white mix? Is it better with a little grey, a little khaki, a little cream or what?? I love to be surrounded by blues and aqua colors.
Karen,
To properly answer your question, I would need to see the room. I would not say there is one rule for all rooms. It really depends on a lot of factors.
You have very good taste – Love the white rooms. They are much lighter & brighter. Where did you get the lamps in your daughter’s rooms? I like both pairs in the old & new looks.
Thank you, Ellen M.
Those were from Jubilee and Heights Antiques on Yale.
Love all your rooms. I also prefer to use white/neutral bedding and had to laugh whe I realized how similar my guest room plan is to your rooms! Wish I knew how to post the board on here so you could see.
Your house is lovely.Is there a particular white paint you use on your walls.Blessings Jenny
That is SW agreeable gray Jenny.
Hi Anita: Just really enjoying your blog and your beautiful work. It seems that no matter what you put your hand to it turns into beauty. Thank you for sharing that beauty with us. I am thinking about changing some of my decor and know that when I start I will have to redo my whole home as I have a pretty good flow going with it now but am tired of some of my darker colours. I love the neutral colour you used on the walls and trim in your bedroom photo # 6 in this blog and it looks like it might be the same colours you used in your daughters room in the two following photos. It’s the look I am thinking of. Could you please share what these colours are on both the walls and trim. Thanks so much and will continue to follow your work. All the best, Belle
If I counted correctly that one is my bedroom. It is SW agreeable gray on the walls and SW eider white on the trim.
Thanks so much for the colours of your bedroom again. I thought from your previous comments that the colours were Agreeable Gray and Eider White but they look much lighter in the photo on the computer than the swatches do. Maybe I need to buy sample pots and try them in my home lighting.
What do you do when you see a colour in a photo or on the computer that you like? Do you go with the colour that is closest to what you see in the photo or the colour swatch if you know the actual colour?
I know I am really picking your brain on this but I know that you are so knowledgeable with photography, lighting and colour that I am interested in what you do.
Thanks again,
Belle
I would buy the paint samples and paint them on a board in the room with your lighting to see what you like. Try some lighter and darker to get some different shades to work with. Yes lighting will affect how they look greatly. And what a photo looks like on my screen is different from what it will look like on yours. I have two computer monitors and the color does not look the same on both of them even though they are attached to the same computer. I hope that helps.
Hi there! You’re style is beautiful. Can I ask where you got the neutral bedding in your bedroom? I absolutely love it.
Thanks Tiffany! Which bedroom are you asking about? I highlighted several beds.
Hi Anita,
I didn’t realize we have something in common as well. I have a grandson who has Down Syndrome. He is seven and is the light of my life.
Moving on.
I, too, am going neutral in our bedroom. But I’m having a hard time find a quilt set/comforter/duvet. I’ve found some on Amazon but am interested in the set you have in your bedroom (picture 6). Could you send me where you bought it? Also, could you send me an actual link to your daughter’s set from Joss and Main
Hi Rebecca, we will be selling a coverlet very much like mine in our shop very, very soon. Be sure to sign up for the emails and you’ll be notified. https://decoratingtipsandtricks.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5551a35b66e0b95466faaac99&id=a953cf1710
As for the Joss and Main link. I don’t have any other links to the bedding. You can check out my Amazon affiliate page for something similar. Amazon.com/shop/cedarhillfarmhouse.com