Please help me update my built in bedroom.

[Justtrying]

Hi, moved in with now dh 20 years ago and our bedroom is completely fitted, not offensive, but very white as we have 12 full height wardrobe doors, a built in dressing table at end of bed and built in bedside units with drawers either side of king-size bed with units above bed and dressing table. Main problem is headboard is also built in and to remove it will damage bedside units. It's an unoffensive grey velour.
Remaining walls only take 3 rolls of wall paper. I'm guessing my only choice as we are are on a tight budget is change curtains, wallpaper and perhaps the grey carpet and ring the changes with new bedding.
Any ideas wise Mumsnetters?

Would you feel comfortable sharing a pic, OP?

You could paint your 12 (12!) full height wardrobe doors, bedside units etc. if you use a primer first.

Could you remove the units around bed to give you just one wall of wardrobes/storage?
Is replacing the doors within budget?
Or painting them?

Thing is, white wardrobe doors are going to go with most things!

My grandparents had similar with their bedroom when I was wee but with a dark mahogany colour instead. It was the most beautiful bedroom I’ve ever seen, I can imagine yours will be too!

I’ve no help with decoration unfortunately but like PP said, white goes with near enough anything. You could change the wallpaper, curtains and carpet etc to a deep navy blue? I’ve just done my living room in a dark navy blue shade and white to brighten it up, I absolutely love it. But it’s so relaxing/calming I’m planning on doing the same to my bedroom!

I would avoid a dark colour, as it seems very "now" and will date easily. Does the room look dark? I have F and B Joas white in my bedroom and it looks great.

A photo might help? Or name change and reports a new thread if worried about being outed?

Thank you for all you suggestions so far, the room is lovely and light and gets morning sun so I'm looking to change the thin and faded curtains to blackout ones.
The only wallpaper is a little round the 3m wide window, on the facing wall and behind the door above the drawers.
Budget doesn't run to new doors otherwise I'd do this in a heartbeat. I think paining them is out too due to the white work surfaces on dressing table, bedside units and drawers.

Pictures of other end of room

I think new wallpaper, carpet, lampshade etc will make a huge difference. Also update lightswitches and plug sockets.

I think that as well as new carpet, I'd go for a new blind and also change the knobs on the units. Maybe for some lovely ceramic ones which could mirror a new colour scheme.
I think you could make a huge difference with some minor changes. It looks like a lovely light space.

Change the knobs, maybe crystal? Is there glass on top of the dressing table? A piece of beautiful fabric under that will look good.

I'd go for more contrast- you are stuck with white and straight lines, so go geometric on the fabric or wallpaper.

Can you tuck in to the back of the head board? So recover it? Dark grey is good though to be honest. You could paint the panel behind it- orange like a reverse sunset, perhaps. Do rays coming off it. Think Art Deco stylised sun images.

You could change the handles on the wardrobes as well that would make a difference - but I don't think your wardrobes are offensive they're nice and light. I would also remove the jutting out open ended unit that does date it. New carpet, wallpaper etc would really bring it up to date.

Hang the television on the blank wall so you have a surface and a mirror again.

New carpet, wallpaper/paint, lampshades, and curtains would make a huge difference.

You could paint the wardrobes and change the knobs, too. Or get the doors replaced. It's a bigger investment, but could do something really nice. I keep seeing this on my instagram.

What sort of budget do you have? Is removing some or all of the fitted units an option, or are you keen to keep them?

If it was my room I’d either:

1. Remove all fitted units and start again (sorry - they look very useful, but they’ll be hard to update!)

1. Remove everything except the full-length wardrobe units (assuming this is possible). Buy new wardrobe doors, something neutral like off-white shaker style and some dark or mid-toned free-standing wooden bedside cabinets and dressing table/large chest of drawers. You can pick up some lovely mid-century pieces on Facebook marketplace and eBay, so doesn’t have to cost the Earth. Lots of options for decoration if you did this.

1. Remove doors from all the high-level units and use as open shelving, perhaps with some nice baskets to hide away clutter. Replace the doors on the full length wardrobe units with something light coloured, possibly shaker style. Paint or replace the built in dressing table, bedside units and area behind the headboard in a contrasting colour, maybe a dark blue if the room can stand it, or a grey to tone in with the headboard. Plain off-white linen blackout lined curtains (buy extra wide for an opulent father). Plain off-white linen bedding with coloured, maybe tweed or wool throw and cushions. Walls in a neutral grey-beige colour. Either a larger piece of art on the wall by the door, or a small collection clustered together.

That’s what I’d do, but might not appeal to you!

We recently bought new knobs from tkmax of all places. But yes, replace soft furnishings, maybe a rug if you can’t replace the carpet. Redecorate. As it’s white, you could really go to town with colour-teal/aqua/hot pink etc

I think I'd save up and get rid completely and get some new furniture.

Failing that, new carpet, curtains, wallpaper and lighting will help.

Sorry, I have to say it - all those cupboards and no room for the ironing board

Strip out all the naff bits like the corner shelves by the bed and that end unit, or completely de clutter them and use display only.

Go with neutral walls and curtains to avoid stark contrast with the built in units. Off white linen blinds or full length curtains would work.

Investigate changing the headboard for a more modern shape, or reupholster.

Think about what you want your eye to be drawn to - it’s a bedroom, so make a feature of the bed alcove with a striking headboard or wallpaper or gorgeous bed linen.

Hang the tv on the wall and free up the dressing table top.

100% new carpet or wood floor and rugs.

New lighting - a pair of tall matching side lamps either side of the bed would look good (and detract from the alcoves if they cant be removed) - maybe crystal with plain square shades.

Having seen the pics, the thing that really dates the wardrobes are the bridging units (the tall ones over the bed and dressing table). I’d get I’d of these if you can manage without the storage. At least remove the doors and see if they can work as open shelving/with boxes instead.
Change the knobs as other posters have said, but wait until you’ve decided on the rest of the room!

Can the tv go? It’s very big and makes your dressing table unusable. Kind of looks like it’s just been dumped there.

Because room is south facing with lots of white, you could go for a dark velvety colour, although to me the navy/forest green type colours look best with very crisp bright whites, rather than the more traditional wardrobes in your room.

Or have a neutral off-white (personally I think bright white would make the wardrobes look yellowed), with a punchier headboard and accessories. Maybe burnt orange?

I'd personally remove all the fitted wardrobes and start over, they look very dated. My mother did this in her house with most of the bedrooms and it's amazing how much larger and brighter they look.

I don't have TV in bedroom as I think it's bad for helping to sleep.

Pick a nice colour you like for the walls, a dove grey maybe and then accessorize around that.

Baskets and shelves are good to store and display items on - e.g. jars or whatever you like, a nice print maybe.

If money no object as Saz17 is saying how about a velvet sofa/chaise longue in bright colour and then you could contrast with a punchier velvet headboard in a bright colour too.

Are all the units full of stuff?

Oops! By “dark velvety colour” I meant navy blue/forest green paint, not new furniture. Should’ve been clearer!

I agree, it’s the bridging units that are the big issue. I’d remove them, from both above the bed and above the dressing table and remove the aclove shelving from beside the bed and at the end of the wardrobe wall.

Then I’d paint them and change the knobs, I’d go for a pale grey, a dark navy, or a charcoal.and I’d put in long thin matt metal handles. Then I’d change the carpet up and paint the walls in a tonal colour.