apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I've never understood the idea of repurposing items from other rooms to save money as if people (at least those reading this site) just have so much extra art or furniture in other parts of their homes that they can 'shop' in them. Isn't there a bare spot on the wall in the room where that painting came from that now needs to be filled?

That being said, I often use inexpensive pillows as fillers/stuffers for nicer covers to save money. That way, I can also switch the style of the room easily.

Actually I have moved stuff from one room to another to change things up. No biggie.
I find that the single best thing to keep a bedroom serene is to make it only a bedroom; no desk, no clutter, no anything For me it would ideally have nothing except a bed and 2 nightstands with soft lighting.

if you dont have any art to take from other rooms then you need my art to put into a room!

it is true that paint is a key ingredient in complete update of a room.

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This bedroom is really pretty. I think the flowers add a lot to the relaxed/dreamy feeling of it too.

I love it!! very comforting and pretty

Why are we all whispering in italics?

I thought the tips in this post were really useful and sensible.

Enamorada, you are probably too young to have accumulated enough art to have more than you can hang at any time. I have acquired so much--at very little cost (I think the most I ever paid for anything was $150, and that was an exception) that I am constantly moving pictures around. It's a great way to update one's space when boredom sets in!

I love this room. Can anyone tell me where to find the phone on the desk?

I'm pretty sure that is a pottery barn phone on the desk.

MJR mentioned the most common bedroom tip: make it just a bedroom, not a workroom, or TV room, or anything else. It's such a lovely ideal! But what about some tips for those of us who don't have any other options? Those of us who live in studios and one-rooms?

I'd love to see an article about creating a serene "bedroom" when necessity dictates that room also contain a living room, work space, possible dining area, etc. Has AT ever written something like this; if so, can someone point me towards it? If not, please???

Am I the only one wondering what happened to the so-called "pretty tight budget" of $5000?

Considering most of the stuff was marked down or taken from another room etc, I'm thinking $4000 of it must have been the designer's fee...

Anastasiabh- you took the words right out of my mouth!

Thank you Jeanneadele... sometimes I feel like the only realist/b***h on here :-)

I love the wallpaper.

Wish I had that 5 grand...

Five Thousand?!?!?!?!? Sorry, I would expect something FAR more spectacular. It seems like the writer brags about everything being bought on a budget....how does this stuff add up to five grand?

I think the big pieces would easily add up to $5000. I wouldn't be surprised...I'm always amazed at the money that leaves my pocket when I start redecorating...

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There was a whole other room that isn't shown. Where I would assume there is a sofa, chairs, etc. Also, 5k doesn't go that far, especially when people aren't willing to do labor intensive things for free. If you pay someone to come in and paint, hang curtains, move furniture, etc. there goes half of the money right there, no? Let alone if they did something like purchase a mattress.

People who think $5000 is outrageous have never added up the cost of everything in any room. They look at a $750 bed at CB2 and wonder how the price for an entire room could be $5000. Well, that is because you aren't adding it all up. People rarely buy an entire room at one time, so the true cost gets hidden in multiple smaller purchases. But they add up quickly.

Try this: pick a favorite room pictured in your favorite shelter magazine. Now, using the West Elm catalog as a pricing guide, add up the West Elm price of everything single thing you see in that room. Rugs, art, candles, bedding, mattress, dresser, lamps, light fixtures, curtains, chairs, desk, pouf, pillows, etc.. Don't forget the paint. Now add your local sales tax. Trust me, you will be in the neighborhood of $5000, no problem. And that's just using middle market West Elm as a guide, without decorator fees, delivery, or labor.

You can imagine how expensive it was to do the actual room you are using as your template...

ridiculous to spend that amt. of $$. i could make the same room for under 500.

"the entire project (2 rooms) was done for under $5,000"

The bedroom alone did not cost $5k.