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31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

Sarah’s House, Sarah Richardson Design {more drooling} HGTV

Has it been awhile since you freshened up your master bedroom? Fall is an excellent time to cozy things up! I don’t know about you but I LOVE MY BED in the long cold winter months, so considering some updates to my bedroom is a priority for me right now!

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

House Beautiful Mikkel Vang

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

Southern Living

I’ve been thinking about my bedroom ever since we moved in here  I have had the same bedding for maybe eight years. It was great quality so it is not going to wear out for a long time. Fortunately it is fairly neutral and classic.

But after looking at that same bedding for years and years, I am ready for a new look. And since I haven’t done a thing to my room since we moved in, I’m really wanting to give it a makeover.

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

Pottery Barn

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

House Beautiful Victoria Pearson

Even though my bedding is still pretty, sometimes I just want to walk in my room and have a little burst of something new and happy to catch my eye. A new color scheme, a funky new lamp or a pop of life from a new patterned pillow.

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

Pottery Barn

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

House Beautiful

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

Coastal Living Dominique Vorillion

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

House Beautiful

This next confession will probably make you want to click away shaking your head, but I play this silly little game where I walk down a hall in my house and then PEEK back around the corner really fast into a room to see what reaction I have.

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

Sarah’s House HGTV

If it makes me smile to look in that room, I am content and feel at peace. The room will inspire me and life will be as it should be.

On the other hand, if I feel like scrunching up my nose and saying “MEH” when I walk by, something is desperately wrong and it needs to be fixed. Immediately. Then I switch things up or add something new or different. If I can walk by the next time and smile instead of cringe, all is right with the world. If I can’t, I need to try something else.

How is that for a scientific approach to decorating? Please. I don’t know where I get my ideas. It would make a brilliant decorating book. I really need my own e-book.

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

House Beautiful Victoria Pearson (Kathy Ireland designer)

How to decorate your home in three easy steps.
The Inspired Room way.

Step one. Walk down the hall in your home, non-nonchalantly gazing around at nothing in particular.

Step two. When you pass by a room, do a quick double take back into in the room. Note: Careful of whiplash.

Step three. Ask yourself, were you happy with what you saw? Do you feel a sense of inner peace and overwhelming inspiration to live a better life? If so, sigh with happiness and proceed to another room. On the contrary, if you said, “MEH” (sound it out, it sounds like it is spelled) out loud (or inside your head) and crinkled your nose, change something in the space. Immediately.

Repeat steps one through three.

The end.

Brilliant I tell you!

I’m not even kidding. That is exactly how I decorate.
You cannot make this stuff up.

Fall is THE BEST time for creating a cozy nest to curl up in!

Have you done any double takes lately?

{Humor me, people.}

This is an updated version of a previous post, if it sounds strangely familiar to you, I’m not crazy (nor are you), I just wanted to share it again!

For the entire series links, click the 31 Days Button below!

31 Days of Autumn Bliss {Day 12}: Bedrooms

Find the rest of the 31 Day girls here.

50 Comments

  1. Sarah

    Oooooohh…love these photos! I noticed that in every one, the pillows are big, full, and fluffy. Is that the secret to a great bed?

    I love your approach to decorating! It’s good to get a gut reaction. I always walk around my house and look at everything right when we get home from vacation–you really notice the little things when it’s fresh.

    Thanks for giving us such great reading EVERY DAY this month–you amaze me!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Sarah,
      I guess I must love big full fluffy pillows! It is funny how I start to notice a common theme with what I love by the photos I gather. I noticed two photos with polka dot pillows! Hmmm! Must get some polka dot pillows.
      :-)

      Reply
  2. Angela

    I am really enjoying this series! We are moving next month and I’m collecting all kinds of inspiration to decorate my new home. :)

    Reply
    • Melissa

      Congrats on your home home!!

      Reply
  3. Tiffany

    LOL, I just gave our bedroom a pick-me-up — and I could tell if I liked it by nonchalantly walking up the stairs, then casting a casual glance into our room as I would if I did not know how it was decorated. Cracked me up that you pretty much described the same thing! My new design is centered around two LIME GREEN vintage chairs I got at an estate sale for $40.00 (for both!) and a vintage 1950’s peacock chenille coverlet. I love it — it’s almost done too. Yay!

    Reply
    • Melissa

      I would love to see your room, it sounds awesome!!! I love lime green!!

      Reply
    • Elen

      I’m hoping you will post a picture somewhere. Those chairs and that spread sound fabulous.

      Reply
  4. {lauren}

    Though I’m giggling at your approach, I’ve been having that “MEH” feeling about our bedroom for months now. And I’ve had those exact photos from Sarah’s House saved on my desktop as my inspiration to redo the room for months as well. Now, I just need to get my hubby on board. Any tips on translating “MEH” to man-speak?? :)

    Reply
  5. Tara G.

    I’ve been re-doing our master and have almost all of the new bedding now- lots of pillows! :) I found a great deal on Euro size on overstock.

    Reply
  6. Dac

    I had the same giggling reaction as Lauren, and then the same realization that the “Meh” feeling is what I’ve been having for a while now too. Our master bedroom is definitely needing a small spruce up to become the small haven of rest that it should be.

    Reply
  7. Alicia

    Omgoodness, I decorate the same way! LOL, sometimes I even leave the house and re-enter ;)

    I really enjoyed the fact that you included the bedroom in your Autumn Bliss. I realized that I need to focus some attention on getting our bedroom, too. Do you have any tips for an extremely small bedroom?

    Reply
  8. Adrienne

    Love your way of explaining how to know when our rooms are done well. I didn’t even have to walk down the hall – I sat here and mentally ‘looked’ into our master bedroom and smiled. Visualized the guestroom across the hall and groaned, then moved on to my office studio and it didn’t even rate a groan! Think I’d better get busy – I have work to do! Thanks for the inspiration. Love coming here every day to see what you have to share. Wish I could hire Sarah!
    ~Adrienne~

    Reply
  9. Sharon

    Though I love the quilt I found for our bedroom this past spring… I am longing to have a different one for the winter months. Is that nuts? the summer one is rather nautical and I would like a more masculine winter one. Finding the right one is not easy because I have a seafoam green, (or is it celadon?) chair in the corner and the walls are beige. I’m thinking on going to check out the Calico Corner outlet I found this past weekend and see if I can find fabric to make a new duvet. of course I have no idea where I would find the time to actually sew such a thing, though I know it would be easy.
    I agree with your idea on how you decorate. I do the same thing. In the last home we had I had this in every room, something that made me smile. But in this new house (been in it for 9 1/2 months now) I don’t have that ‘peace’ in any room. It has been such a struggle. I have never lived anywhere that I did not know ‘just what to do’. but here, I am at a loss. Partly because of doubt maybe, that we would not be here long, but after this past week of revival in our church I know God wants me to settle in for the long haul. So I am trusting Him to help me do it.

    Reply
    • Brandy E.

      I hate to even admit this…..but I change mine seasonally. Yikes! Depending on where you live it might make sense to at least have a summer quilt as well as a winter one simply based on weight. At least that’s what I told myslef. ;)

      Reply
  10. Emily

    this makes me want to go buy lots of pillows!

    all i am asking for for my birthday this year is a decorated bedroom. I need everything – bedding, pillows, lamps, rug, chair for the corner. I am going to use these pics as inspiration when I start to put it together. I feel cozy just looking at them.

    Reply
  11. Franki Parde

    I am SO GLAD I moved our garden bench to the foot of our bed. You see, it is “that” one thing that makes me smile when I do that double take. I love my red luytens bench. franki

    Reply
  12. Stacey

    Recently we made an investment in our master bedroom. Through a free bed, and a great deal on a 4 poster dream bed frame we are in heaven! Now, every time I look in that room, I smile. The room is not by any means finished. But it is a step!

    Reply
  13. Courtney

    Love these pictures! I think the bedroom is one of the most important rooms to love as you start and end your day there! Can’t wait to see what you come up with for yours. :)

    Reply
  14. Liz

    I really need to update my bedroom. Seems like it always gets pushed to the back burner.
    Thanks for sharing such great inspiration!
    ~Liz

    Reply
  15. Josee Telfer

    I thought I was the only one that did the whiplash-inducing quick double take! It really works. I also will stand at the threshold of a room with my eyes closed for a minute and then open them up as if I’m looking at it for the first time. Great post! Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Vee

    There’s so much going on here causing whiplash that if I were to try this exercise, I’d better put on a neck brace. Perhaps just being a bit more careful about tidying up would be the trick. Your rooms are always so beautiful and tailored. Any flea market tricks up your sleeve? That’s where I shop these days.

    Reply
    • Melissa

      You could do any of these rooms with flea market finds. Sometimes you have to get a little creative or be flexible but you totally could do it!

      Reply
  17. Sharon

    Your inspiration photos are beatiful! And love the concept of double takes. I’m going to take a walk around my house and see what happens.
    Your home should definitely make you smile!

    Reply
  18. Imperfect

    Hubby and I were just thinking about re-doing our master bedroom also. Right now it’s pale blue with black furniture and neutral bedding. I don’t want to change the furniture – I like the black. But we might be switching to red and gray for bedding and accessories. And though I don’t quite do it the way you do, I also evaluate my rooms by the nose-scrunch test.

    Reply
  19. Rebekah

    I LOVE that first Sarah’s House bedroom. She’s a genius.

    I like the double-take idea. I may give that a try today. I can tell you right now that the “freshening up” that my bedroom needs is clean sheets. :)

    Reply
  20. Elen

    When I walk by our bedroom, I have to put a wet cloth on my head and get prone for 20 mins. It’s taken a back seat for a long time. I need something that speaks to both the masculine and feminine, and says a G-Pup dwells within. Maybe that’s why it is taking so long to come up with a fresh approach. ;-)

    Reply
    • Melissa

      lol. too funny!

      Reply
  21. Katy

    i LOVE sarah from hgtv. she inspires me every time i watch it.

    i’m busy putting my son’s nursery together and i’m just struggling! these ideas inspire me.

    Reply
  22. Stephanie

    Great pottery barn bedrooms!

    Reply
  23. Gina

    I love this post then and I still love it now-what a great approach to decorating!

    Reply
  24. Missy June

    I’ve really enjoyed coming here each day … now I just want to retire to my bedroom (at noon) and dream!

    Reply
  25. Courtney Henson

    It seems that you are as obsessed over “Sarah’s House” as I am …I can’t delete the shows from my DVR…I need to save them so when I am dying for delicious inspiration I can watch….

    Reply
  26. Jessica

    Oh me, oh my! The pictures of Sarah’s House are just the stule I adore…all mixed patterns and color, yet somehow coming together just perfect. I must have been living on another planet that I’ve missed her show on HGTV (nah…just a typical working/ sleep deprived mama!) What an inspiration (as is your blog!) Thank you for always providing just the right kick to get me out of the decorating doldrums!

    Reply
  27. Sandy

    Yup done that. If a room makes me smile I feel good. For years I had a living room that was well put together and was comfortable and welcoming but it never made me smile. Recently I (hubby & son) removed two biege and mushroom pieces of furniture, now I have white wicker(from the garden) with blue cushions and quilted pillows and an old loveseat that is light in color. Now I smile. Thank you for all the wonderful pictures that you gathered together and for the smiles.

    Reply
  28. Karen

    Melissa,

    When I get home this evening I’m going to try this. I also find that if I take photos of a room or wall or someplace in my house that has need of improvement (but I’m without ideas) it helps me to see the room as others might see it.

    Reply
  29. Laurie

    I love the three easy steps! I’m going to try it today while I’m running around the house cleaning!!! I also love Sarah’s house. It’s all recorded on my DVR. I can watch the Farm house episodes for inspiration over and over. She has great style…

    Reply
  30. Anne

    LOVE the photos…. Now you got me thinking about doing my room. You are right.. fall would be the perfect time to redo. Hmmm, I am going to have to do some shopping… As for my kids rooms, I do walk by and say “MEH” or maybe more like “YUK” ….LOL.. I will leave their rooms alone. It’s time for them to take care of their own. Thanks for the tips.

    Reply
  31. Natalie

    I just finished writing a post on my master bedroom..more of a complaining one. We haven’t decorated our bedroom ever..I bought bedding that I love but there are no pictures on the wall and it is Blah Blah Boring! It needs some sprucing up and fast! Love all the pictures!

    Reply
  32. Terri

    Funny stuff, I do the same thing. My husband is an artist and he says he has to walk away from a painting in progress and then come back to it later to get a new perspective and how it is going. I figure it is the same with us gals and our creating.

    Reply
  33. ashlee

    I do a double take with my rooms a lot and always say “meh”. :( I know what i want and when i get on craigslist to look for something i want to fix up i am always disappointed. It’s either too much money or more than it’s worth. AND sometimes i know what i want, but when i start seeing all kinds of things i start second guessing what i wanted in the first place. Somehow i talk myself out of buying anything. Any advice on that? :) I love the pictures! AND i love your blog!

    Reply
  34. Jess

    Ugg my master bedroom needs a major DO OVER. I’ve never once liked my master bedroom in the 6 years we’ve been married. We have some nice-ish pieces…I just don’t think they are “me.” Sigh. Someday I’m going to tackle it. Someday…

    Reply
  35. Sandy

    Hi Melissa. Did you read my mind today? LOL I am going to move my desk up to our spare room and get a new chair. It is scary to do a double-take of our bedroom. In the next week – it’s on my list. Freshen it up! Love your posts. Catching up … xo

    Reply
  36. Carol

    I love that theme of neutrals with pops of colour, particularly in the soft furnishings and accessories. I notice themes of beiges and reds particularly, maybe as I love those colours together, but recently am loving grays and browns, grays and yellows and grays and reds too.

    Reply
  37. Caitlin

    Wow those colours are amazing – I just can’t seem to get my colours right together – I never think to put together, say light blue (duck-egg blue?!) and red or things like that! I think my rooms are too flat – I look at them all and say “meh” – time for some change I think!! Really enjoying your blog Melissa, working my way through your archives :)

    Reply
  38. Jess

    This has been so much fun reading all these today! (I’m playing a little catch-up) I am completely inspired! Thank you Melissa!

    Reply
  39. Sarah

    They’re great photos – and they all have one thing in common (that I DON’T have) is lovely lamps. I need lamps so badly!

    Reply
  40. KayLynn

    I have that very same decorating approach! Or if it’s a room with a door I will close the door go do something else for a minute and then walk back in the room to get that fresh perspective! My husband is constantly cracking up at me while doing this… It works for me…I instantly see what I love or hate in that room!

    Reply
  41. Lauren

    I have always done the “quick peek” too, and it never fails! I am pleased to know that I am not alone. This “technique” really can help create a more happy home. Thank you for sharing these beautiful images. I am new to your blog and am enjoying everything I see!

    Reply

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