Does this look dated?

[Readinggirl]

We've had a new mattress, so decided to clear everything off our ottoman. Our bed & Ottoman very rarely looks this tidy. Does this look dated?

Yes but I am not a fan of red.
The lamps are to small.
A more colourful duvet and the box..just no

You've posted on a thread with 300 replies. OP has changed the lampsand the ottoman has gone.

IMHO - No to the green ottoman. The new lamps are an improvement and for me they’re 100% better than the sparkly ones you posted earlier!

It’s a great room, lovely size and with ensuite, that’s the most important thing. Anything else you do is just personal taste and as this thread has shown, everyone has different ideas about what looks nice.

The noticeable thing is the scale as others have said. Go bold with pictures, storage, headboard etc or zone with colours on walls - eg something behind the the dressing table to make it stand out. I usually start with a duvet cover or cushion in a pattern I love, then choose other plain or striped/more subtle patterned items based on the colours in that. You mention your other more colourful duvet cover. Maybe use that as inspiration for a wall colour or for something other than red to accent with?

As an example - and one I don’t expect others to love, as it’s very ‘me’! - I loved this cushion so have chosen colours from it for throws, sofa, walls etc. for my sitting room. Still got lots to do, and lots of boxes to unpack, but I have a vision which started from one item and has informed all the other choices so far! The olive green and plum etc would be an unusual choice for most, but I’m hoping the cushions with all of those colours on will bring it all together.

For me decorating isn’t about being on trend or something everyone likes. It’s bringing together things I love in way that makes me feel happy to be in that space. The young ‘uns call it dopamine decor. It’s just decor!

@TheShoeLady That’s just a random collection of stuff.

For a bedroom it’s way easier to start with white bed linen. Patterns can work but a lot are just very dated. I like Designers Guild big florals but my interior designer dd isn’t keen. Any patterns need skill to incorporate them into a design. Random stuff looks pretty bad. Buying odds and ends looks personal but not curated as a look.

@Readinggirl Why dark green? The duvet is pretty old fashioned too! It’s just random stuff again. The ottoman is gross. A wooden bench with baskets under is far more chic.

I've already said that I've decided against it.

I'm finishing on this page now. For good. Thank you all.

Well a) it’s not random as I said it’s choices based on a pattern and b) yes it’s just stuff at the moment as it’s a work in progress!

But it's 'stuff' @TheShoeLady loves and that's what matters imo.

I've already posted a pic of our bedroom which is very much our personal style/taste. Both DH and I have backgrounds in design, but I still struggle to put schemes together sometimes, although I'm a firm believer in buying what you love and it will work. Most of our stuff is antique/old, collected over many years and all means something to us.

That said, we used to seriously collect antique Art Nouveau/Arts & Crafts Movement pieces and had a whole house that was very themed, from furniture and rugs to textiles and toilet roll holders - rather like being in a museum as a friend said. A visiting family member once remarked it was a shame nothing went together, which we found odd as even we could see it was verging on the contrived! Each to their own, lol!

Anyway, if you come back to the thread @Readinggirl, your new lamps are far better than the glittery ones (and your old tiny examples)! I didn't think the green ottoman worked, so glad you've ruled that out. The lamps are quite plain/neutral, so imo, you still need more colour, pattern and texture...but you're heading in the right direction.

I wouldn’t say it looks dated as frequent visits to Rightmove remind me that poor interior design choices are timeless (but absolutely the norm). Starting with positives - it’s a nice big room. I would lose the red blinds, the window shape/size/spacing isn’t one where making them pop out enhances the look. Keep it neutral with a nice texture. The ottoman needs to be a similar width to the bed. The rug should start under the bed, but not under the nightstands, and extend a decent amount past the ottoman. Make the rug the stand out item, get a nice pattern free duvet cover in a colour that compliments the stand out rug, the pillows need not be the same colour as the duvet cover. There is nothing romantic about TVs in a bedroom, but watching TV in bed is great, so lose the shiny TV stand and buy something that compliments the other furniture and hides the DVD and other bits (you can buy kit to allow a remote to operate items behind a closed door). I think there was mention of the lights going but if not they definitely need to, they should be much bigger but shade size shouldn’t exceed the width of the nightstand. The wedding photo looks a bit lonely, put some more with it. Lose the writing on the walls.

@LibertyLily She might well love it, but it’s not interior design for anyone else. That’s my issue. It’s not easy to copy when it’s so personal. That’s why neutrals and textures are better advice.

True 😁 But personally I don't want my choices copied by anyone else (not saying they'd want to, lol!)

In the case of the OP, despite her saying certain suggestions have been too bland/boring, it does feel neutrals/textures are the safer option as she doesn't appear to have a natural affinity for mixing/matching colours. And the new lamps she's chosen are definitely on the 'safe' side (although a darn sight better than those other monstrosities that were in contention!).....

@LibertyLily So why come on an advice board then? However I agree. The Op is a bit clueless. That ottoman! So neutrals and whites really would be better. It’s just colours added for the sake of it. There’s no design, no coherence and no taste. Quite a few suggestions on this board exhibit the same traits!

There are no rights or wrongs . I think OP got more than she bargained for in some of the responses . Some comments were a bit harsh and uncalled for. Constructive criticism is one thing, but some comments criticised her taste, and were snobby. No one on here is an expert. Many of us don’t have show homes. Many of us can’t afford to replace furniture and bedding. OP only needed a few hints and tweaks to make a difference.

Yes, sorry and not in a good way. Nothing wrong with vintage done right. Quite like this…

That is quite obviously not the OP's taste. It looks like my grandmother's guest bedroom in the 1970s.

Those are cute! Really versatile and I like the round shape :)

@RedRock41 That’s 1 million miles away from the OP’s skills with interior design though! Just look at the expensive headboard, the full curtains and a lovely wood floor plus very coordinated walls and quilt blue flowers! It’s staged and expensive. Not a red or green ottoman in sight! Or red blinds and a slogan cushion.

Agreed. Think it’s my favourite bedroom this month all the same, pics not OPs (sorry OP!)

@DaisyHoah A horrible green cheap looking “velvet” ottoman with no connection to any colour scheme or design ethos doesn’t make the space fresh or relaxing. It’s jarring and outdated.

Getting there. We like it anyway.

The lamps are a big improvement. I'd rescue the Love cushion and put it on the chair.

It already looks so much warmer. Keep adding little bits when you find the right ones, but you are on the right track.

PS. I’m impressed by how well you have handled the comments on this thread, even the harsh ones.

@Readinggirl Not entirely sure you disliked it before!