Start with a lamp.

I think I'd also change the sheets.

And another easy way to change the look of the nightstands you already have is to change the hardware. Just get some nicer hardware for those knobs and they'll look like totally different pieces!

What do u like? I live by the ocean and love seashells...have a few on mine. What would u love to wake to? Pictures, flowers, build from there.

I think the headboard looks out of place. I would consider painting the headboard white. Or you could remove the headboard and make any number of DIY headboards featured on Apartment Therapy.

The night stands look nice because they go with the white molding and blue/grey color scheme. I second the notion of new hardware. But first, I'd invest in matching lamps for either side of the bed.

Finally the bedding looks mismatched. Some new sheets (even plain white) would be an improvement. Perhaps with a lively bedspread that would bring in the blue color.

I agree with changing the knobs. Anthropologie has great ones, and Home Goods has great lamps. Your bedding needs a big change too. I love your wall color and chair rail. the bed would look very cool white OR even silver (silver leaf )

Lamps, plants, small stacks of books, photos, trays, etc. Do you want to keep it clean and sleek, or lush? Decide on a color scheme first, then go wander around a Home Goods or something of the sort. Flip through decorating books at the local bookstore. You have a pretty blank slate, so start making up a mood board before you start spending money.

You could paint legs of the headboard white and upholster it, either with a cheap comfortor or with a number of the really cute upholstery fabrics on fabric.com -- I've snagged some for about $6/yard. You could also probably change out the bedding to something solid and play with cute throw pillows.

For the nightstands, you could go solid on the fabric and then stencil a design onto the nightsands, or use a decal on them to provide a little interest. When it comes to accessorizing them, you could find matching lamps at Target or Homegoods and maybe layer the look by learning a framed print or photo against the wall with a few more accessories or even a cute tray.

A few people have mentioned hardware. Anthropologie is having a sale on some of their decorative stuff, so you might be able to find some cute hardware there (normally it's pretty pricey).

No matter what you do, your stuff definitely has potential! Good luck!

You could easily paint your headboard white, and that would make the whole thing look more cohesive (perhaps either spray paint or with an enamel paint?) or do as a previous commenter suggested and upholster the headboard (buy some batting and fabric and a staple gun, it doesn't have to be perfect in the back!).

Then go for some color! If you don't pick a color fabric for an upholstery job, get it in the table accessories. Again, a lamp can also be spray-painted, so look for a shape you love and the color can be secondary. A lamp, a funky alarm clock (ditch that old utilitarian one), a nice carafe/water glass. You could add a dish or two to catch jewelry/odds and ends.

You definitely need something over the bed (a sunburst mirror, perhaps?) and art on the walls, but save the art purchases for after you've bought a lamp.

If you're going to leave the furniture as it is (bed and headboard seem to clash a bit), I'd add a wood element to your nightstand, like a wooden lamp with a parchment shade. Carry the colour through the rest of the surface with maybe a wicker tchocke, add some texture like a plant, a couple of books, etc. Coordinate your bedding and linens to go with the colour elements on your stand.

Otherwise, I'd consider removing the headboard completely. It's a bit out of scale for the other elements (nightstands and chair rail) with it.

The biggest problem is that the headboard doesn't 'go' at the moment. The way to make it work is to pick up the wood tone in other things in the room - such as picture frames for the pictures above the nightstands, lamp bases on the nightstands, and maybe a wooden chair of similar color an shape. You need at least a couple of other examples of wood approximately that shade.

Also, new bedding that works with the blue and white, but also has a deeper tone or tones in it to go with the headboard.

Pick some accent colors from the artwork in the wooden frames above the nightstands and/or the sheet set and add a few more accents on the nightstands or a cushion or two.

the headboard and side tables will fade into the background if you pick cohesive accessories-- lamps, bed linens, and wall art are a good place to start. have fun!

I disagree with painting the headboard white. It looks to be in really good shape from the pictures. Different bedding could tie the space together and bring in all of those colors (and a few more) to bring the room together. All white furniture starts looking like a little girl's room IMO. Little (and inexpensive) things I would do: new bedding that has touches of browns/earthy tones, light blue like the walls, and maybe one or two other colors, lamps and maybe a vase or candle for the nightstands, and new pulls for the drawers. I think you could do all of that with less than $100 easily (much less is you are a shopping diva like some on AT).

I'm not happy with the bedding, I'd mix and match some pillow cases of different prints. I think a navy blue would work with the pink. I also get a marine theme vibe going on. If you can get some knobs that bring off the color in the headboard, it might work.

I like the idea of having a keepsake box on my nightstand or a container to hold glasses and bobby pins.

A lot of what you put on your night stands depends on your personality. If you're looking to do something feminine, I suggest heirloom figurines or a ceramic vase. If you're going for masculine, I'd suggest antique, leather bound books or a journal or maybe a globe or objects that you collect like a signed baseball or a framed coin collection.

I'd also hang a small picture frame on either side and make sure they align with the headboard.

Lamps are a must. Here's a couple links of lamps that I like for this space.

http://www.kirklands.com/product/Lamps/Table-Lamps/Baluster-Table-Lamp/pc/2286/c/0/sc/2309/157615.uts

http://www.target.com/p/Exotic-Retreat-Table-Lamp-Espresso-Base-Tan-Shade/-/A-10424432

http://www.target.com/p/Table-Lamp-Brown/-/A-13527489

http://www.finehomelamps.com/Daphne-Table-Lamp.html

I look at this space, and here's what I see: A non-themey nautical vibe. A simple canvas slip cover over the headboard with ties on the sides (an imperfect example: http://www.marthastewart.com/264276/slipcovered-headboard). Fluffy white bedding with MAYBE a little blue (http://www.potterybarn.com/products/cameron-organic-matelasse-duvet-cover-sham-white/?pkey=corganic-duvet-covers-shams). Beach glassy lamps (like this Jonathan Adler rip-off: http://www.shadesoflight.com/long-neck-ceramic-table-lamp-4-colors.html). And maybe a simple silver oval or round mirror above each nightstand. A more classic alarm clock would be nice as would silver knobs on the nightstands. But the less junk on the nightstands, the better in my opinion.

Overall, I think the chair rail a bit of a problem. If possible, it'd be nice to see either board and batten underneath it or maybe just white wall. Otherwise, it'd be cool to see it gone or painted the same color as the wall maybe? Either way, it currently strikes me as being little more than an awkward white stripe around the room.

Start with lamps and some candles or flowers. And an alarm clock.

My husband also has a tray on his to take up some visual space and give him a spot to put the things he doesn't want to lose: his wallet and cell phone mostly.

Fluffy pillows with white cases against the headboard and some new bedding.

If you'd like an ultra feminine look (I'm guessing from the sheets), maybe you could do the drawers in a blue ombre that complements the walls. You could get some deep golden or antique brass Art Deco-inspired drawer pulls (this isn't exactly what I was thinking, but it's a starting point http://www.kennedyhardware.com/art-deco-brass-drawer-pull-da-32.html) to tie into your headboard's warmth and geometric pattern.

Then, you could look for lamps with bases that are a similar metallic color (http://www.shoptablelamps.com/TLJ6550.htm?cm_mmc=BIZR-SH-_-Table%20Lamps-_-Table%20Lamps-_-TLJ6550).

Maybe, eventually, you could add a chair that repeats the metallic and mahogany colors with a Greek key or similarly geometric design (http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/cX/5-everywhere-greekkey-chair-0308-xlg.jpg). A nice faux silk comforter in a chocolate color, or - if you could match the shade - a similar mostly blue comforter w/ a few simple brown accents might look nice with your pink sheets.

Then you could add a vintage-look mahogany clock (http://www.webstore.com/Vintage-WESTCLOX-SOLID-MAHOGANY-ALARM-CLOCKCANADA,name,10952696,auction_id,auction_details).

After you find a/some prints you like to put over the bed (I think a lot of the Alphonse Mucha prints would pull these colors together well, but don't know if that would make it too much for you), you could work in the things you have to decorate everything else.

If you're looking for something less girly, though, I'd pick up a patterned comforter with similar browns and blues and burgundy/burnt red and golden yellows in it. Throw in some fun prints for the walls, matching red sheets, lamps with bases in a similar yellow and white shades, some rubbed bronze drawerpulls and a vintage-inspired mahogany alarm clock, and you'd be set. A deep emerald green would be another nice highlight color if that's more your style.

And I'll stop commenting before I set a new AT record :)

I think you've got good basics here, and while I agree about possibly painting the headboard, you could also just add accessories to downplay it. I'd definitely add lamps to both tables, pictures, mirrors, or wall hangings above the tables, and books or other small accessories to each table. You could also find a matching duvet or comforter and shams, and then add some throw pillows into the mix. If you take your time and find things you love, this could be a really simple makeover. Good luck!

I think color will help. Go to a paint store and pick out paint chips that match the colors that you now have: grey-ish blue, chocolate brown, and white. Then pick out 2 more paint chips that work with your colors. Try dark blue, vibrant green, eggplant and/or orange. Just stick with the same tone as the walls; tone is key. Use the paint chips as your guide to develop the room. Then, find a duvet and sheets that knock your socks off. Check out Amy Butler; her colors might match yours, and I think she now has a line at Bed Bath and Beyond. Look on Esty for 2 matching lamps for the end tables. Etsy and 20x200 have reasonably priced artwork. You might be able to pick up a nice second-hand area rug at a good price on Craig's List. Decide if your curtain rods, door knobs, drawer pulls, and light switch covers are going to be silver, gold, white, etc. and then stick to that color for your hardware, which will help to pull the room together. And, you need a plant or two. They bring life into the room. Then, if the end tables still don't work with what you've got, paint them with one of your bold colors and get new knobs, maybe from Anthropologie. Et voila! I think you can pull this off for $500 easy. Best of luck!

Go with bold lamps with drum shades. I had puny lamps and couldn't figure out why the room looked like crap. Then I swapped them out for big, chartreuse lamps with white drum shades and the room looked transformed. Throw a couple stacks of books on either side and call it a day.

And swap out the bedding. Great way to change up a room on the cheap, and it has big impact.

Lamps (not matchy-matchy - try different heights, a small one on top of a stack of books). A pretty tray with some small, pretty glass or decorative canisters to hold aspirin/Advil/whatever you might reach for at night, a glass of water, reading glasses, remote controls, etc. A plant. Books. I already said books. A more aesthetic clock. A candle.

Mirrors over or next to the bed will give off "that" vibe. You definitely need a large piece of art or architectural interest over the bed.

Paint/stain the nightstands to match the headboard.

Then introduce a basket weave or something with texture to them. Either on top or on the drawer faces. Something like grass cloth wall covering would work too.

This, with your paint color, will give your room an island vibe.

Agree on lamps and new hardware. I would check out Hobby Lobby for the hardware. You can get the Anthropologie look for A LOT less. They have online shopping if you don't live near one. I think you should improve your bedding but could keep your current duvet and get some euro shams and throw pillows!

People, if Annie is struggling to decorate her own bedside tables, she's obviously not the sort of person who is comfortable with painting chevrons and reupholstering headboards. This is clearly a baby steps scenario.

The first step would be to get lamp bases in a similar wood to the headboard, to diffuse the wood look across the room. Get shades in a similar tone to your bed linen. Unifying the bedlinen would also help: those pillowcases clearly don't match.

The second step is a nicer alarm clock (the current one is too utilitarian), a couple of beautiful bowls or dishes for watches, phones etc, and some attractive but useful items (a handsome dream journal, or candles for those romantic evenings). Don't spend too little - cheap trinkets will make it look like a teenage girl's room.

Third step: Framed mirrors or artworks above the tables, either leaning on the wall or hanging above the chair rail.

Right now you have a decent room, but it is un-decorated!
- Bold lamps - think large scale, drum shade, can be a bold color. Don't shy away.
- Patterned comforter - check out the duvets at West Elm.
- I like the other commenters' ideas of painting the headboard white or upholstering it!.
- Add an interesting tray, vase, a few throw pillows.
- the color is very neutral right now, you can add mustard yellow and teal for example - bold teal lamp bases, white drum shades, yellow/white patterned duvet, blue striped sheets, mustard velvet throw pillows, black vase with yellow flowers, gorgeous mirror or artwork above the headboard. Time to go shopping! :)

Don't paint the headboard. If you paint something, let it be the nightstands.