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I can’t keep a secret to save my life, except for when I sign an NDA, and really don’t want to get sued. Thankfully, I got the okay from my brand partner, Valspar, to share these plans with my Homies!

Over the next 6 months, Valspar and I are working together to transform three completely different spaces, but the first project is my primary bedroom makeover. Let’s get into the design plans!

Nightstand Upcycle

Y’all know I love dark and moody interiors, so imagine the shock on my face when I got the brief for my first project with Valspar. I couldn’t think of any way to incorporate their 2024 Color Of The Year, Renew Blue, into my neutral maximalist style.

That was until I remembered the nightstand (right) I found on the street. The wood wasn’t in good shape and I wasn’t inspired to do anything with it, so it just sat in a corner collecting dust for over a year.

But, one night, while doing my in-depth skincare routine, the idea to paint the nightstand Renew Blue came into my cranium and I was shooketh.

I immediately got on Facebook Marketplace to find a second nightstand (left), to go on the other side of my bedframe. I’m finally in an apartment with enough square footage to allow for such luxuries and I’m taking full advantage.

It’s been a while since I’ve painted furniture, but I’m excited to get into a labor-intensive, but rewarding DIY project.

Wall Paint

Coordinating paint colors is tricky, but the first step, at least for me, was to order paint chips I thought would work well with Renew Blue. I got mustard tones, deep reds, and a few colors that resemble caca!

While on my way to Lowe’s for samples & paint supplies, I looked over my Pinterest board and came across this image, and once again, in an instant, I knew which direction to go in. I picked up $5 jars of Retrofit and Coconut Husk to test out.

It’s important to see a paint color in daylight, at nighttime, and with artificial light because these scenarios can greatly affect a color's appearance.

Once the samples were up on the wall, I asked trusted friends and design pros for their opinions. And to my surprise… Most people picked Retrofit (left).

I thought it looked too similar to Fervent Brass by Sherwin Williams, so I went with the darker of the two… Coconut Husk.

Heavily inspired by the color-drenching trend Chris Loves Julia used in their primary bedroom, I’ve decided to paint the baseboards and window trim, in the same color as the walls, but in a high-gloss sheen.

Next to the eggshell walls, which I picked to help hide imperfections, this will add a subtle hint of interest and make the space feel layered.

I'm nervous about this color combination.

Although it’s similar to the color I used in this D.C. condo makeover, I’ve never had a light blue moment in my own home and I’m scared this will look ugly.

But, I’m forging ahead anyway… Because it’s just paint. If I hate it, I’ll paint over it with something else and I’ll write a blog post about what it’s like to fail in front of people (and with a huge brand deal on the line…)

Fingers crossed this goes well!

By the way, if you’re completely lost on how to find a paint color, always look at the colors of the year lists. These aren't necessarily the biggest sellers, so you don’t have to worry about seeing them everywhere, but they do speak to trends and can be a great way to get inspired.

Storage and Organization

I did a great job maximizing space in my narrow closet, but it’s not enough, I simply have too much stuff I’m not ready to part with, so I’m adding a floor-to-ceiling PAX wardrobe from IKEA to keep shoes, linens, out of season clothes and more. I’m still in the process of researching how to do this kind of build, but in the meantime, I’m playing around with the Pax Planner tool to get the right configuration.

Tons of questions came in on IG about a Pax closet, so I’ll be making a dedicated post in the future - stay tuned!

Lighting

I'm investing heavily in lighting since my bedroom is the darkest room in the apartment, thanks to those West-facing windows.

A ceiling fixture is proving difficult to find as I want a chandelier that has 4 or more lights but doesn’t look like it belongs in a dining room. I'm considering these options, but I’m also open to a #vintagefind. And before you ask!

No, I can’t use a semi-flush mount, even one of the cute ones!

The reason is, I have 9 ft. ceilings and a low-sitting bed. Add in the fact that dark colors absorb light, and you’ll see why I need to bring a fixture down (about a foot) into the room to provide an overall glow.

The vintage floral lamps I inherited from my grandma, will live on the nightstands as accent lights, but I will need to replace the shades at some point. Additionally, task lighting will come in the form of, yet-to-be-sourced, plug-in sconces to hang over the Pax wardrobe.

Window Treatments

Speak of the devil...

I found the most beautiful bamboo drapery rods from Ballard Design, but I’m still on the hunt for the perfect window treatments. The trouble is I need panels that are at least 108” to avoid the “wading in the water” look.

Most retailers only go up to 96” (or 8 ft.) so my options are limited. Good thing curtains are the last piece of the puzzle, so this isn't a choice that needs to be made right now.

One thing is for sure: those white, plastic blinds are out of here. Cream, light-filtering Roman shades, are on the way as I type!

A (Bigger) Rug

Some designers use rugs as an anchor to decide which direction to take a space, but I built this room around my upholstered bed from The Inside, so I'm doing things a bit out of order.

The current rug, a 6x9, was perfect in my studio apartment, but in this much larger room, the scale is off. Do you see how little of the rug shows at the foot of the bed? Ideally, you’d want an overhang of two feet or more.

I guess I should take my own advice on rug placement and sizing and upgrade to an 8x10 ASAP.

My friend and favorite interior designer on TikTok, Annie Elliott Design, suggested I find a rug with hints of red in it... That idea wasn't even on my radar, but now I can't stop thinking about it… I’ll keep you updated on my weekly newsletter when I make my decision, make sure you subscribe here.

Bedding & Furnishings

I love the look of all-white bedding, but I want to jazz up the bed area with textiles. Inspired by the pattern mixing I saw on Heidi Callier's Instagram, I want to style the bed with two (or three?) blue & white striped euro shams and a colorful quilt at the foot of the bed.

I've been eyeing a few throws from Anthropologie, but no purchases have been made yet. Styling is one of the last things I’ll do, so there’s no rush.

Unlike with my home office makeover, I don’t NEED my bedroom to be done quickly. I want it done right. And I’m willing to wait to find the perfect pieces for my dark and moody sanctuary.

xoxo, Imani

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