Creating a calm and cosy bedroom with panelling
Our bedroom is relatively small with a sloping ceiling on one side and two doors and a window on the other walls, resulting in only one possible location for the bed. I imagine this is pretty common for most people with ‘normal’ houses and whilst most people would choose to create a focal point behind the bed, when you have a sloping ceiling behind the bed, that is hard to do.
A few years ago I tried wallpapering all the walls. Whilst I haven’t ruled that out in the future as a solution - I have seen some examples of it working beautifully - it just didn’t work for us with the wallpaper we used. The pattern was too big and actually wallpapering around curves was a nightmare so the end finish always bothered me.
However if we just stuck with paint, I felt the room would feel quite plain. With two expanses of wall either side of the bed left bare (there is not enough space between the bed and walls for furniture,) it needed something to ‘anchor it’ and give it some character and depth.
Panelling
Panelling is hardly a new concept of course and we’re seeing it constantly across our social media feeds. There are so many opinions on it and more specifically, whether it is right to install in houses where the panelling isn’t in keeping with the era the house was built in. Whilst I can see the merit in this thought process I am also not one to say who should or shouldn’t have panelling - I mean if it makes your new build home feel more cosy and homely and more ‘you’ then, why not?
I do feel however that you shouldn’t choose it just because you’re seeing everyone do it. It needs to work within your design and add something to your scheme.
The type of panelling you choose should also be a consideration and for us in our 400 year old thatched cottage, that means as much as I love Georgian style panelling in other people’s homes, the grand ornate detailing will jar with the original features our home already has. However, tongue and groove panelling was typically used in cottages for people less grand and ostentatious, which feels like a better fit for our rough and ready, wonky walled, exposed beamed and wooden farm doored home.
Our bedroom before
The bedroom transformation
Sources: Bedding, old from George at Asda; Cupboard, Facebook Marketplace sanded and oiled with Osmo Raw; Wall light, Pooky; Upvc windows painted in Dulux Heritage Eggshell ‘Florentine Red’; Curtains in Cho Saffron by The Pure Edit; Jug, old Anthropologie.
I made the curtains using fabric from The Pure Edit called Cho in ‘Saffron’. It’s a fantastic high-quality printed cotton that is perfect for drapes or cushions. I’ve popped black out lining on the black and opted for no heading and instead used these clever curtain rings with clips instead.
Sources: Panelling, Easipanel at Homebase painted in Dulux Heritage Eggshell ‘Setting Stone’; Cabinet, Facebook Marketplace with new handles and painted in Dulux Heritage Eggshell ‘DH Slate’; Scalloped tray, Accesorize Home; Jug vase, Sunbury Antiques Market; Wall Light, Pooky.
Sources: Armchair, vintage Parker Knoll Froxfield from a charity shop; Cushion, Dunelm; Mirror, John Lewis; Switch plates, all Schneider Lisse in Brass at Screwfix; Vase, Car Boot.
Sources: Floral bedding, old George at Asda; White linen duvet set, La Redoute; Gingham cushion, hand made from a t-towel H&M; Lamp with shade I covered myself, Dunelm; Walls, Dulux Heritage ‘Pale Nutmeg’ Matt Velvet Emulsion, Bedside table from the tip!
Sources: Floral painting by one of my best friends Clare Therese Gray; Books, Car boot; Jug, old Anthropologie.
The bedroom feels so much calmer now and the Pale Nutmeg on the walls is the most beautiful shade of white with hints of pink undertones. I’ve taken it across the ceiling too which is what I always tend to do when painting with any light wall colours. The windows are UPVC but don’t let that stop you from having fun with colour - use Zinsser Primer and an eggshell paint for the top coat - simple as that! I love how paint truly elevates the window and this unexpected pop of red provides a focal point in the room.
The room has two doors which were both wooden, however one is a gorgeous aged wood and the other was orange pine so I’ve kept the wooden one we like and painted the other in a lovely muted dark green called Dulux Heritage ‘DH Slate’. I always try to have real wood in every scheme as the warmth, age and texture adds so much to a room. The cupboard was from Facebook Marketplace a few years ago which I sanded and oiled to reveal a lovely grain.
Apart from the curtain fabric, the mirror is the only other thing we bought new for this transformation (everything else was second hand, in here previously or moved from other rooms in the house) and I love the wiggle frame with its deep maroon colour. I feel the whole room exudes ‘grown-up’ with a little bit of fun and this mirror encapsulates this theme so well too.
Q&A:
Was the panelling hard to do?
The panelling was so much easier than I expected and it took me about two days in total. This product from EasiPanel comes with super sticky double sided tape on the back so on the most part you don’t even need to use adhesive or nails. I found the panels stuck very well, even on our wonky walls. The dado rail from the same company fits perfectly on top and provides a lovely finish.
Where is the bedding from?
One of the most commonly asked questions on my Instagram when I share this room - and unfortunately I can’t really help you as it’s no longer sold. It was from George Home at Asda though who often have some brilliant bedding options.
What did you paint the radiator with?
I primed it with Zinsser primer and then used the same eggshell paint (Dulux Heritage ‘Setting Stone’) as I did for the panelling. I’ve always painted our radiators and have never been unhappy with the finish. Find my diy tutorial on How to Paint Radiators here.