Okay, since we’ve reordered of our affections toward our beloved, here’s a few practical tips for making the bedroom more welcoming and sultry.
Declutter
Remove the treadmill. And the stack of clothes currently sitting on it. You know this was never a good idea, right? This sanctuary, this sultry holy of holies (thank you, Laura!) was never made for exercise equipment. It’s just wrong. We’ve gone way to0 analytical and practical. This room is not made for practicality. Read some poetry in here. Play some Mumford and Sons. This room was made for love. Period. You know I’m right 🙂 And I know you’re gonna hate me for this–but while you’re at it, get rid of the t.v. too. Mmmkay, quickly moving on.
Infuse your Personality
If any room in your house should wreak with your personality, it should be this one. You can do this in so many simple ways. Put your jewelry or your scarves on display. Hang some art that inspires you. Paint it a romantic color. But somehow, in some way, make this room be a reflection of who you are and what you love. I violated all rules of wall hangings in my little corner but it makes me smile every single day. Of course my all-time personal favorite in the ‘make your room scream YOU’ category is the monogram. It’s my mission in life to have at least one in every room. That way, if you’re ever at my house and can’t remember my name, there will be little clues everywhere.
Now, don’t stress yourself out. Take baby steps. Make a Pinterest board of inspiration and then slowly but surely, infuse your bedroom with little parts of yourself.
Buy the Best Linens You Can Afford
Save your pennies and invest in good linens. You spend 1/3 of your life here in your bed. Don’t sleep on cheap, scratchy sheets. I’ve made a science of bed comforts. We use only feather pillows, we invested in a good mattress and I have the softest Italian sheets known to man. They were not cheap. But you can get great, high thread count sheets from Tuesday Morning and TJ Maxx for a fraction of the retail cost. It’s so worth the thought and effort you’ll put into it. Stevie and I HATE to travel because our bed and linens are like BUTTAH.
Invest in a Good Room Fragrance
4. I am so sensitive to smells. I can detect a sour scent a mile away. So, my house is full of home fragrances, mostly diffusers. There are certain ones I like for certain rooms but my favorite for the bedroom is Archipelago’s Havana. You can buy it here.
I do still have some candles but due to family allergies, I don’t use them very much. Good quality diffusers like this are so worth it because they put out a lot of fragrance and last forEVER. I’ve had the one in my bedroom for 6 months and it’s not even 1/3 gone. You’ll be addicted to this Havana scent! Just between you and me, I also spray a tiny little bit of my own perfume on the linens before I make up the bed. Did I mention I’m very influenced by smells? I use Tocca’s Cleopatra. It’s todiefor.
Okay, that’s a good start. Let me know the state of your bedroom and what little changes you could make to make it beautiful and inspiring for the one you love!
Oh I love this post to:) I think we decorate the whole house and our bedroom is the last room to do and I know mine allways has the stuff on the bed or on the chair from when I do a day of putzing.I do love my room (when it is clean). I have a beautiful bed now ( after sleeping on the floor till we could save up for a new one) with all white bedding and nice pillows. I did buy extra nice sheets that were expensive but I just love them:) My room is on the list to do tomorrow.
I was wondering where did you get those framed prints by your desk?? Love them and I also quickly ordered the Archipelago’s Havana for my room. Thanks!! Just love reading your blog!!!
Remote Control Candles…..I bought a set at Costco (6 at varied heights) and set them around the living room…..I can’t tell you how much I love them, plus with a push of the bottom they are on, and off……without the fear of fire ( I also had my house burn to the ground in front of my very own eyes about eleven years ago, although not because of candles.)
Everyone looks dreamy by candle light!
CLEAN your room! (Not your room, Edie, just in general) It doesn’t have to be spotless but for pete’s sake, hang up the clothes, put the dirty ones on the hamper, take the fifty five things off the night stand, and put your shoes away. Oh, and make the bed, every. single. day. A made bed makes the world of difference in how your room looks. I know, you’re just going to get back in it, but I believe it makes the room appear orderly and peaceful so it starts the process of relaxing. My husband and I love ironed sheets. I only iron ours and like you, we like good sheets. If you iron them, I’m telling you there is nothing better. A clean house is my husband’s love language and keeping it clean for him is a way to show him he is a priority. But a clean room is a haven for both of us and we can reconnect when we are not so worried about cleaning up the room before we go to bed at night. Oh, and music is a wonderful background in the room. We treated ourselves to some really good Bose speakers and use the iPod to play music.
Edie, can you let us know what brand sheets you use? They sound wonderful. I tease my husband that he is a “sheet snob”. Sounds like he would love the kind you use!
The treadmill has been gone for a few years, thankfully. Our room is still a work in progress. I am saving up my pennies for good quality bedding. We are planning on painting our room and I have some new added beauties I can’t wait to add to the room. I am very sensitive to smells and allergic to certain strong scents. I will have to try and find the diffusers and smell them before purchasing them.
Thanks for all the great tips!!
I am really loving your series! I wasn’t expecting to be so moved and convicted by it, so thank you.
I just wanted to say that for my husband and I moving the t.v. to our bedroom was a great way for us to spend more time close together. We had to be intentional about watching stuff together and amazingly it made TV or movie watching quality time. Now we had it in a cabinet with door, so it could easily be closed up, but for us having a t.v. in our bedroom made it a place to retreat to earlier in the evening. We have even talked about adding a small bar in there…kind of like our own hotel room at home. 🙂
I know this isn’t the best case scenario for everyone, but for us it has been a good tool to getting us in bed early and spending quality time physically close to each other.
Two things make my day – a clean kitchen, and a tidy, beautiful bedroom. The rest of the house can be total chaos and I’m okay…just as long as my kitchen and my bedroom are beautiful 🙂
I have been firm about no treadmill in the bedroom (ever) and we are both good with no tv. Actually, we only have one tv in our house and it is probably the world’s smallest tv! Everyone who visits always asks “Where is your tv?” – hahaha! The only times I watch tv is the occasional news with the hubby, or if I’m sick and don’t want to move from the couch. TV is not big in our house or life…literally.
So wish we could have sweet smells in our house but my husband is so allergic/sensitive to any smell – we are the no smell people 🙁 Maybe perfume, if I keep my distance!
Love this series – so awesome – the first week was so thought provoking it takes awhile for it all to soak in. Thanks for all your effort, time and wonderful writings.
Would essential oils be ok? I have allergies and just avoid blends with ginger (one of my weird intolerances). My friend gets stuff from Young Living, but Rocky Mountain Essential oils has high quality oils, an inexpensive diffuser and some no-heat options. You can pick a blend with safe ingredients (stuff you know he can eat) and it might work. I’m a big fan of spices, herbals, and citrus.
The diffuser Evie talks about sounds lovely, but I can’t figure out what’s in it yet.
Doh! Edie. Note to self: stop commenting on phone. Auto correct strikes again. Sorry.
Excellent post and such WISE advice. I’m taking notes, literally. 🙂
Also, would you let me know what brand of sheets you have? I’ve been researching good quality sheets for our bed for Christmastime gifts to each other. lisanchris at gmail dot com. Thanks so much!
I love this post!! We’re a military family and my husband is currently on deployment and I’ve been thinking of ways to make our bedroom more welcoming when he comes home for good right before Christmas. 🙂 I can’t wait to try out those two scents!
Our bedroom needs to be decluttered!
We moved in just five days before our fourth baby was born, and his crib was in our room. He’s been in his own room for a year now, but the room also houses my husband’s work desk, our filing cabinet, and extra storage for homeschool and craft stuff.
We got a good laugh (like the kind when you can’t stop giggling) at it recently when my husband said our room looks like a storage room.
Edie! Love your tips- but all I can think about is what brand of sheets feel like buttah???!! Please share!
This post was pretty convicting. I always horde the “pretty stuff” downstairs where “everyone” can see it. I really should pay more attention to this room. If I was allowed to paint I would totally try to recreate your room. Absolutely stunning!
Edie,
I love these tips! Our bedroom is always the dumping ground for everything else, I am cringing right now thinking of the little piles of overflow books in front of our bookcase, and the mess my jewellery and scarves are in, and the linens (i’ve been meaning to buy a new bed skirt since we bought our new bed a year ago!) I need to sort it out! I agree with the TV point too, we have a TV in our bedroom simply because we bought a new one for the living room and didnt want to fling the old one out, but we’ve never watched it!
Girl, you have totally inspired me with these last 2 posts. I love the reminder to serve our beloved, but man, we lack on the style in our room now. It’s very in between, the last of our home to be “redone” in our style. You’ve inspired me to order the furniture (and new buttah sheets) and go for it.
🙂
xoxo,
shaunna
Thanks for this post. I’d like to know what kind of sheets that feels like buttah! Also, where did you get your bed cover. I love.
Diffusers are the way to go! I can detect fake scents (due to the migraine they instantly give me) so I hate room sprays but I LOVE LOVE LOVE diffusers, also cause I’m lazy and they require little maintenance:)
And once again I can’t wait to move out of my rental so I can paint my bedroom a dark color!
Hi Edie! Loving your posts!……..even had me delving into “the word”……….I couldn’t find a specific “read” about being “slaves to your belongings”…….but it is something my parents always taught us…..is it biblical or just wisdom?…..and…loved the recommended ideas about the room. I love Egyptian cotton sheets with the highest count I can get…..it does feel like buttttahhhh…..I just run my toes over it and it makes me go “ahhhh”… 🙂 …. I have grown so tired of my “room scents”….currently using bath and body wall scents ….but I have tried every scent they have…MOST are dull or unpleasant….some are loud and awful…and didn’t know what to try next!!!…..(my family calls me the “blood hound” when it comes to scents, lol…and allergies abound here too)…..(I even put perfume on my light bulbs and when the lights are turned on the whole room infuses of the scent….lovely)…..loved your post about “loving your man”….(that is something my mother always taught too…..great reminder and I am so glad you are passing your wisdom on to sooooo many! I gotta go so I can order the scents!!! Love your style! Did I mention LOVE? 🙂 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 🙂 "Who created a flower to bloom, Who designed a prayer, Who dreamed up the joy of love?—–Only the God we share". 🙂
I’ve been enjoying your posts on hospitality and these about the bedroom really ring true with me. We’ve been in our home about 10 months now, taking our time with the remodeling and decorating. Guess which room has had very little attention? Yup – the master bedroom. It’s not a total wreck, but it’s not where I want it to be either. I have loved your use of the word “sultry” with this room and am making that my goal for future projects for this room. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love your sultry, sexy bedroom. I have never had a master bdrm that I loved, that is until we moved into our current home. Our new room is full of wonderful flowing fabrics, muted yet gorgeous colours, and furniture with history and character. Another tip is to make your bed every day. It’s a small thing, but it’s sooooo much nicer coming into your bedroom with the bed made, inviting you into it. Also, we don’t have electronics everywhere…..no tv (totally agree with you on that one), but also no cell phones luring you to text a friend, no flashing electronics on the bedside table. A good book is all you need =)
In the distant future, when you have recovered from this marathon, I’d love to know about your sheets. I’m in total agreement with your philosophy…have loved Havana for several years and will grieve if Anthropologie drops this scent. As well as Archipelago Body Wash, the only thing that stands between me and razor burn. [I would nominate for a Nobel Price anyone who could come up with painless, inexpensive, permanent hair removal.]Now, I’m shopping for linens for our new place. I’ve looked at the linen sheets at Restoration Hardware and other high thread count bedding. Willing to invest but would love suggestions. Love this series! Thanks!
I am LOVING this series you are doing… Every. Single. Post. We are in the process of revamping our bedroom… I had (YEARS ago) made a canopy bed/headboard (thank you Christopher Lowell) and it was beyond time for something new! Thank God for Pinterest and a Honey who has a Can Do attitude – I found inspiration there and he has been working on a new headboard (aka “Mantle” – so cool!) Anyway – we have never had a TV in our room… feel so strongly about that (quickly moving on now too!) nor will either of us allow exercise equipment in there but I have to admit – I have been guilty of stashing a tiny (ever growing) stack/pile of things to be given away in the corner. This reminded me to load up the car and once again make room! In the redecorating portion of what we are doing – we are getting rid of a few old art pieces – and I actually just bought two large canvases… so our plan is to paint (Ha – we are not so much painters?) a canvas for each side of the bed… I can’t WAIT to see how those turn out! <3
you know i’m in love with your room, right?
i fell into all sorts of coveting when i saw it for the first time…it was shameful.
all your words are true….our rooms should be a haven.
mine lacks a little personality, but it is definitely our refuge…we live for our kids to go to bed so we can retire to our favorite place in the house.
you’ll be disappointed, but we do have a tv hidden away in an armoire, but you’ll be very happy to know that everything is always clean and organized and there’s no exercise equipment in sight. 🙂
(oh! and there are candles….always candles!)
Thank you sooo much for all of your beautiful posts! You inspire me on a constant basis! My mom & I are blogging in the 31 days series also. 31 Days of Fall Farm Nesting http://narrowgatefarms.net/blog/ It’s such a great way to connect. Hospitality is important to us and we’re not always very good at it so thank you for inspiring us to try and try try again!!!! <3
Ooo, thanks for the shout out.{{blush}}
If I can stay with the 31 Days, I’ll get to telling how when we moved into our 112 year old, under construction, camping in our own home farm house, our bedroom still had wet paint! For the first six months we had no closets in the house…it was so challenging to keep our sacred place – well – sacred.
But, millions of baby steps later, we’re finishing details.
Next on the list – new linens, including the softest towels I can find for the world’s tiniest en suite bath.
You continue to inspire, encourage, convict, uplift, and make us all better for coming here.
Thank you for creating such rich community.
Another fantastic, inspiring post. I must admit, that I am insanely jealous of your beautiful room and wish it wasn’t such a long process to redo mine… ugh. Baby steps, right?
I’m curious about the sheets too!!! Oh and Edie have you tried linen sheets? They are an investment and I really want to know if they are worth it. Hubs and I love textured neutrals. Our must have is a lightweight (season-less) duvet. My personal must have is a good down pillow. I’m still learning what I really want after 30 some years. I just recently redid our bedscape. I’m currently using a mixed/collected approach. Satin pillowcases due to our curly haired tops (saving up for some silk ones). A nice supple, fitted, cotton sheet paired with a lovely tonal striped, silky duvet cover. (no top sheet, cuz hubs always ends up kicking it to the floor even though he recently requested a top sheet again, go figure). We love a light quilt too, so I found a wonderful gathered, cotton coverlet that is textured on the outside & quilted on the underside. Our bed is nothing fancy, just a simple frame. I wrapped the box spring with an older quilted coverlet that looks like raw silk and then we have a linen look bed skirt that hangs from the bottom of the box/top of the frame. I faked an upholstered headboard with framed canvas I found at a secondhand store for $30 & a faux fur throw. I haven’t found the all white love yet, but am dipping my toes into it with white plush, silky towels for the bathroom. That may eventually translate to sheets…I haven’t decided.
Thanks for the reminder of what a master bedroom should be…with two small children, ours often ends up with stray toys and children’s items. I’m adding to my ‘goals’ list…freshen up the master bedroom.
Getting caught up on your 31 days series! I love the note about the TV and treadmill! When i was dating my husband he was appalled that i did my homework on my bed… he said the bed is made for two things only!