Master bedroom- aesthetics over function?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I'd love your opinions please!

Our master bedroom is yuck. Lime green walls, cherry red carpet (inherited!) and it also has two chimney breasts and a cut away for the door, so really alcove-y. We each have a pax wardrobe, a chest of drawers, and we have a super king bed (7' x 6'). I hate the layout as it currently is and I want to move it so it looks more attractive. Dh says no can't be arsed and insists that my new layout plan is not practical.

Please peruse my diagrams and tell me what you think! They aren't to scale! In drawing 2, the extra pax is a single door unit which is currently in ds's room and has baskets in instead of hanging, so will replace 1 of the chests of drawers.

I prefer the second drawing.

I love not having radiators- removes this kind of problem!

My option 3 is this: I was thinking that if we got a headboard for our bed then we could put the bed further over, partially in front of the chimney breast (leaving a 30 cm gap behind- but that could be blocked with some sort of build in shelf?)

Dh hates option 2 because he'll be too close to the radiator/window. Option 3 would remove that issue but then would create new issue of gap behind the bed. He doesn't like change so is happy to remain in this student bedsit.

I have found a beautiful paper that perfectly ties in the red carpet and my beautiful vintage turquoise velvet curtains. But I don't want to wallpaper/paint until I know which walls! I'm all for aesthetic over practicality- as long as the wardrobe doors open I'm happy!

Can you try the bed centrally under the window perhaps ? With wardrobes as per drawing 2

And chest of drawers either side of bed ?

I'm thinking bed under the window as well, chest either side and wardrobes as option 2 - but difficult to know on scale.

Do you own or rent? Would you be prepared to move the radiator?

Although it could be a pain, I would look to move the radiator. It's the one thing that's blocking your options. You can always buy furniture at a later date if moving the rad stretches the budget too much.

Also - again it's a layout of money but - an ottoman bed will give you more storage. We got one when we lived in quite a small flat. It was really handy.

In option 1, one person has nowhere to put a glass of water by the bed.

Agree with trills. Practically, that would be a pain. You can save on bedside space by having hanging pendant lights so you don't need lamps on any table you might have, so they could be smaller?

For the sake of just 30cm I'd just put a false wall in where you have the bedhead in options 2 and 3, and get a flat wall. I hate rooms with little alcoves.

I'd go for option 3. Don't ikea make that sort of headboard? Alternatively, it would be an easy thing to get made.
I'd love to see your wallpaper. Love red and turquoise together; even more so if there's a touch of pink.

Wow thanks for all your replies!

Yes, trills that person is currently me. No bedside table. No lamp. No water. Makes me want to scream!!!

Can't remember who asked all these questions but I'll try to answer- yes, we own. I can't see us moving the radiator because it's an expense we just haven't budgeted for and dh is very much of the opinion that he's ok with it how it is, so if I want to change it I can but it's me who has to do it.

That pretty much rules out the bed under the window as it will completely block the radiator, although now you mention it that would be the best solution.

I think in the future we will buy a smaller bed. Super King is just ludicrous. 42 sq ft of bed space! But we haven't the budget yet so for now will have to stay. I think option 3 is my prefered- with maybe some sort of block behind to stop the bed slipping back and then perhaps some sort of feature headboard?

It frustrates me so much. We have just bought this house and have 4 double bedrooms. This was the one that was being used as the master so we just kept it as such although our baby ds has ended up with a vast room, double aspect Windows, which would be much better as a master. This one, although it's bigger in footage, is so alcovey it isn't useable space. Dh is a very practical man- he can fit his closet and drawers and bed in, so sees no need for aesthetics. I just think things look better if they are a) symmetrical and b) all similar furniture together (so all wardrobes in a run rather than put around the room.

I'm out at the moment but when I get back I'll try and photograph the room so you can see what I'm dealing with!

New pants this is the paper. It's a sort of shimmery blue, we are going to do the remaining walls in the pale pink (petal smoke from valspar is a perfect match) and the carpet is the exact colour of the red dots in the centre of the flowers. I detest the carpet- but again, it's got to stay. It's much better quality than we could afford right now and seems silly to rip up a perfectly good brand new carpet and replace with a cheap one.

That's lovely.
I was a bit obsessed with the Dunelm Beautiful Birds range last year (although only ended up with oven gloves). I've just spotted they also do wallpaper of that so that's my spare room sorted. Thanks!

Btw, if I were you I'd be v tempted to move into DS's room - or have you just decorated it for him?

Another one to say if ds's roo. Would be better you should swap them over.

I know. It's a massive none of contention. Dh doesn't like the two windows. I'm tempted to move it all round one day when he's at work!

YY to switching with DS. Alcoves will work much better with a single bed and fewer wardrobes. Just do it And don't downsize your bed in the future, I love my super king size bed almost as much as DH and the children.

Your DH is sounding a little bit obstructive. My DH can be a little like this (did yours go to boarding school?) and what it usually means is he doesn't want to get involved and if I crack on and do it, he's fine.

I'd swap with DS. Those alcoves will be great for a child, shelves for toys and books fit nicely into alcoves.

It's not fair that you don't have any bedside space.

Yes I think he's a little over-done with my 'ideas' as we have only lived here 4 months, I'm a sahm and I watch too many decorating shows. I happen to think this is actually a good idea my best yet.

I can see what he is saying about ds's room- the sk bed would be just as massive in there, and would be just as obtrusive in a different way.

I do agree though that I'm going to have to just crack on with it- it's not that he is being difficult, just that he cannot see the need for it to be aesthetically pleasing, when it functions perfectly well as it is. Why waste a day moving wardrobes and drilling them into the wall in a different place?

It might be worthwhile checking out any local handyman services if you can spare the cash and get them round to do the moving and shifting. Our local Nextdoor site is great for trades recommendations.

i think it's great to seize the momentum you get when you move somewhere new. Good luck.

My DH is the same with aesthetics. He'd have strip lights everywhere if it was up to him. Thankfully he's happy for me to crack on. (Married 17 years)

How are you for storage for things you don't really use but still need?

As in picture 3 could you put floor to ceiling cupboards that are sort of invisible in the alcove behind bed

These could be shelves or hanging etc but same colour doors as walls so it blends in

Is there any way you could turn door round so it opens to other side against the wall? Rather than into the room iyswim

What made you decide this was going to be your room when you moved in?

Rtkanga - simply because this was listed as the master bedroom. By sq ft it is the biggest. Then we put our bed in the place the previous owners bed had been, and fitted our other furniture in around it. It was completely unplanned.

Oke doke

And if you were looking round it today you would choose DS room?

What about the other 2 double rooms?

Which has best view of garden etc?

I was just going to suggest option 3 before you said about it, as it was something we (for 'we' read I) were thinking of doing. You could create a box with a lift up lid which is about top of your pillow height, for storing little often used items, and then you coud use the shelf behind the bed for plants, lights and pretty things

(I just read the thread and have seen others have suggested similar to what I have just done, so I am glad I am not too crazy with my idea).