I think it's lovely and sophisticated. Great job!

Here are my two cents.... Take the dark purple bed cover fold it into 4ths and place it across the end of the bed,I think it may anchor the room. Second the pastel above the bed hang it horizontally and move closer to the headboard...run and try it and send new pic with changes...!

It looks nice. I'd go a step further with bedding that is more bold, or more complimentary to the picture on the wall.

Really like the lilac pillow covers. Great fabric!

IMO it just looks cleaner and decluttered. If that counts as a before and after, then it's great. I think the art above the bed is too big and hung too high...would love to see two or three smaller non-brass framed prints.

I love the bedside tables...anyone know where those are from?

I like it.

I really like the room. It does seem restful! The only change that I would make is to paint the frame above your bed yellow. Brass for your room, doesn't quite jive. I'd even consider painting the lamps yellow as well!

@mtlyorel: I think you meant "lose".

I disagree with mtlyorel; I think the room pops much more than it did before. It seems calmer and, I think, way less stifling. The only thing I would change is the frame on the picture - it does look a bit dated.

Overall, good job!

mtlyorel: Loose the bad spelling.

I think the after looks nice. Why try to hurt someone's feelings?

The after does look better. However, the artwork above the bed is too small. I would recommend adding more pieces to create a collage, or get one awesome, giant piece of art. You could even do it yourself. A large canvas isn't all that expensive for the impact you'd get.

The room needs more warmth - perhaps a brightly coloured throw on the bed, or a rug.

I like Norahl's suggestions.

Ooo! My first comment here. Hope I don't blow it.
Ok, I love the wall color. Very nice choice. You're almost there. Just a few minor adjustments are needed. It looks like the same color value is used in the room for everything. Can you add something to the headboard to make it stand out? Like make some kind of antimacassar that would add more contrast?
Or add contrast with bedding. No need to radically change the color. Monochromatic bedrooms can be quite soothing.
The painting needs to be dropped about 6 inches, moved to the left and balanced with some smaller wall art, either a couple of paintings hung horizontally or maybe something with 3D relief?
I like the nightstands but they seem out of scale. Maybe you could fudge it if you move them a smudge closer to the bed and made the patina glow. The surface of the wood looks a bit dull. Then, add some nickel hardware. That smooth taupey colored metal would really perk them up. Maybe all the wood needs is some orange glow or Homer Formby's refinishing stuff.
Last, bulk up the curtains or leave the window bare and just use a nice shade. The drapes you have there now look like they need company.
Or you could do nothing. :-)

Great job. I agree the painting is too high, and I'd hang it horizontally. I'd also like to see a little more of the mustard color, and a bedscarf, too.

I too like Norahl's suggestions. The bed looks much more inviting.

I don't see much of a difference except for the bedspread. I agree with @norahl- fold the purple bedspread in fourths and lay it at the foot of the bed. I'd also hang the picture horizontally (and lower)...or replace it with something larger. Whatever is hanging there, it needs to hang horizontally.

Interesting ideas about reorienting the painting. I like the idea of hanging it off-center with two smaller pieces in similar frames. I think the brass works well because of the mustard accents.

I agree with J.C. Really love the grey. What is a bed scarf??

I think the changes - while subtle - are a big improvement! It's so much more restful without those jarring colors!

Only thing I'd do is rehang the picture lower so that it relates to the bed better.

I really like it, but, the painting does seem a little awkward where it is. I think it's beautiful and as it's something your sister painted, that you really like, put it where you can see it first thing in the morning~maybe on the opposite wall? It will still pull the room together p.s. Yul's comment is hilarious! It's art! You don't change the artist's vision because you think it looks better the other way! Or how about you hang the Mona Lisa horizontally? People are crazy! Bethany, you really did a great job!

It's amazing what a difference a few subtle changes make: the After is is a vast improvement. Ditching the bedspread and ending the Festival of Purple was the best move.

I too, think Norahl has suggestions that might make it even better. You have nothing to loose by trying her ideas out.

i like the suggestion of bringing back the purple blanket to anchor the room however i do disagree on turning the picture on it's side. if it doesn't work replace it with something that does.

The room now looks so well put-together. I love posts like this, where a few small changes make the room look completely different. Nice job!

I find it strange that anyone would think to hang a piece of art sideways. But then maybe I am an art snob and not good at decorating.

Suggestion: update the artwork with a larger original painting something that gives off a feeling of life, show some personality....Somewhere along the road, it became fashionable to design personal spaces to look like sterile hotel rooms - I 'm not into that style...but that's just me.

It's a great transformation, but I would swap the artwork for something larger and wider, or for a grouping that better fits the shape of the wall above the headboard.

I have to go along with the commentators who write that it is almost there, but just needs a little tweaking.

It just needs to be a bit bolder, a little less hesitant and restrained. Right now, the strongest thing in your room is the small band of turquoise in your artwork, which makes it a bit unbalanced and seemingly anemic. Your friend was right -- your rooms needs some bold yellow. But you have introduced only very grudging amounts of yellow. And to me, those matching throw pillows push the room into "seriously buttoned-up" territory. Matching cool night tables and lights, okay, but identical geometric throw pillows are too much. Or rather, too little.

Try a little abandon... some more texture, and a bit (really just a bit) more colour.

I am not much of a decorative-pillow-on-the-bed person, but in this case, I make an exception. I think you should be inspired by this interior, which is in the same vein as your own colour scheme. The pillows -- the large woven ones in beautiful (but not overly strong) friendly colours and deliciously tactile textures, as well as gorgeous prints -- would be perfect in your room. The vases too, and maybe the rasta pouff, would also be beautiful in your room.

(click on the top picture for a better view)
http://www.kristyleeinteriors.com/2011/01/nikki-tibbles-maximalist-home.html

You can find those amazing chunky weave pillows here:

http://www.atelierabigailahern.com/merino-wool-cushions.asp

The other pillows, and perhaps even vases, might be found at Nikki Tibbles' florist shop, Wild At Heart, and so you could try there if they appeal to you:

http://www.wildatheart.com/Contact-Us

I like this room ..I think this is just a case of the photo not doing the room justice as we can't really see the textures or natural light.
The painting is nice --but not above the bed.
Something simple and colorful (and not contrived) would work above the bed.

I agree that the room needs a pop of yellow ..
I still like it..

i agree with jmack. it looks about the same.

it's almost like playing one of those bar games where you look at the same photo twice and try to determine the SUBTLE differences.

not a fan of the painting to begin with, and i don't feel like it's 'grown up' looking, the colors don't work right in the space.

imo, ditch the painting, go for a large mirror or painting with colors that actually compliment the new bedspread and paint color.

...forget to say -- the picture is too small in scale -- you need something much more horizontal.

I had to scroll back & forth a couple times to see any difference at all.

i love this before and after, because the "after" looks way better, but i also was scrolling up and down to try to figure out what the changes were before reading - and even while reading, i kept thinking, "really?!" because there were so many things i didn't notice. it was like a tricky puzzle. and the other reason that's so cool is that it shows how some small things can make a really big difference - you don't have to replace everything you own. love it!

It looks the same to me save for the bedspread. While I don't think you should turn the painting sideways, I do think it is too small for over the bed. The bed eats it up and it looks kind of awkward where it is.

inlimbo, did you read the article? That painting was something her sister had done, not a mass-produced piece.

And I can't figure out why everyone is suggesting hanging it sideways. It's a piece of art, and just because it's abstract doesn't mean there's no intentional up-down. Furthermore, she mentioned it was made as a visual reference to Rothko, whose canvases were vertical with horizontal bars.

I do think the color change for the walls and duvet are a big improvement!

looks great. all the small changes together make a big difference. i love the wall sconces. are they from west elm? wish they still carried them. you must have a lot of patience to do this project for 6 years?! great job!!

Like it. I'd paint the end tables white and replace the picture with three square somethings in a brown and white (a little lower too).

Love it! Love the colors..very subtle and relaxing. The first thing I thought of when I saw the picture though was turn the painting over the bed horizontally...though it looks better vertically in the after picture. It must be the new colors you chose...makes it look more aesthetic. Good job! Can you come over to my place and help me decorate. :) J/K

lol @ Coletta (rhymes with velveeta): you took the words out of my mouth. i may need to find a new design site.

unless the author of this post was referring to the "big impact" of changing out a dark bedspread to a light one (whoopidy do) this room "makeover" is anything but.

The mustard yellow details are perfect!

I think it's very interesting to see a before and after made with subtle changes. Sometimes an "extreme makeover" is needed, but homes are more oftern somewhat evolutionary in their improvements. To me, the shams are the thing that "make" this, by the way.

Now that I know that the art is a custom piece. I am even more mortified at the suggestion that it be hung sideways. I was once at an art dealer's gallery where a "designer" was advising a client to buy a 40K piece simply because it had a lot of blue in it. The client clearly did not like the work. I was just shaking my head. Luckily, the gallery owner overheard them and told them that piece was not available.

I am quite surprised that so many people were so excited about the changes. "Big Impact"? Um, where? When I was scrolling between the pictures, I thought it was the same room. Only the bedding gave it away.

I rarely leave comments, but I felt compelled with this one. The room is ... lacking.

LOVE IT! I think you did a great job!! Unlike comments from some others, I noticed the two major changes immediately--being the wall color and the bedding. I love how seemingly subtle changes can make such a dramatic difference!!

I do like the idea of possibly adding a smaller dose of lavender back into the room by quarter folding the darker bedspread at the bottom of the bed. That would take a moment to do though and then you could decide if that actually works or not. I also love the painting that your sis did, love it!! How very cool that it is personal too! I do agree about possibly hanging it a bit lower & I think you have to ask you sis to paint you two more much slimmer vertical paintings that could accompany the larger one & that would flank the middle one--maybe as a birthday gift? :) THAT would be amazing!

great job - thanks for sharing!!

I like the room a lot both ways, honestly; you have a good eye for simple, attractive, functional design - don't lose it.

I do agree that the space around the painting, instead of setting it off, ends up making it look small. I think other posters were right to suggest other paintings to create a larger grouping.

As to those who think the changes weren't big enough - most of us are just enhancing our spaces, not starting over from the ground up. It's nice to see what a difference tiny changes really can make!

It's better, but I agree with the others that the original purple blanket folded at the foot of the bed would help. Also, that artwork looks really out of place.

Try a different frame (the brass clashes with the gray-ish room) and find two more frames that match with whatever you pick for that piece. They can be the same size as the main piece, or two smaller ones (that are the same size as each other) to hang on either side of that main piece.

The current piece doesn't quite work because it's too small for the space. Grouping it with a couple of other frames with make the unit of frames big enough for the space. Also, a set of three will fill the wall horizontally, which will mimic the shape of your headboard (horizontal). The vertical feels out of place with your bed, which is probably why others have suggested hanging that piece sideways.

I agree with basically all of the comments here - I, too, had to scroll between the photos a few times to figure out what the difference was. But that's not to say that the subtle changes aren't nice.

2 things I'd do if it were my room (which it's not, so take it with a grain of salt):

a) paint the wall with the bed on it as an accent wall (probably the color of the original purple blanket, and then fold that blanket on the bed, as suggested).

b) move your sister's painting to the wall next to the bed, and have her create a larger, horizontal piece to hang over your bed for your next b-day, for Christmas, or just as a gift for no reason. I'd update the frames to match each other, and make sure they match the table lamps.

Thank you for sharing with us! If you update it more in the future, keep us posted so we can watch its evolution.

I think the whole point is to show that a big impact can be made with only a few changes. Perhaps the same angle in both shots would have showed the difference better.

I still have to highlight the absurdity of hanging any painting other than the way the artist intended it. What is wrong with you people?!

Yes, the Rothko-de-soeur needs to stay upright with respect to the artist's intentions.

But it also needs some company on that wall, IMHO.

Love the new wall color and the new bedding; love the nightstands and accesories, especially the silver phone; and I really love your (cute, cute!) radiator.

I'd add more lavender/violet/indigo/magenta/etc.; but then, I always want to add more purple to everything.

I agree with Norahl's tips plus I'd paint the side tables a light color to brighten the room even more.