apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think throwing out a favorite bed for that reason would be a tad hasty. I have a tall bed too and it rocks. I suggest starting a little more smaller on the scale by playing around with your bedding first. I feel like all the space under the bed highlights the height of the bed. Is there such a thing as an extra long bedskirt of some sort (or perhaps have one made)? I think the bed height would be less obvious if that open area wasn't so visible to the eye. Then you have the added benefit of storage, as well.

Then again, I live in <330 square feet so I truly wouldn't be able to survive without that storage so perhaps I'm projecting. :) Good luck!

I think the dark wall behind it is just making the size of the bed stand out more. I'd go with a pale color wall, putting color on the bed itself. Small, brightly colored pillows might minimize the huge whiteness of the bed and add to cozy feeling. If it were me, I'd probably paint the bed a different color, too.

In fact, this is what I would do if it were my room. Paint the bed a green color like wrought iron, have wood floors in a light oak color, and bedding in rich greens and golds. The walls would be white or a lighter green shade. I'd put art above the bed, perhaps 3 small photos.

I say repaint the walls. If you want purple, try a lavender or gray. Also, rather than table lamps, try tall floor lamps. Because the bed is so tall, if you are going to use the space underneath for storage, get a bed skirt. Don't go with anything frilly. Try something sleek, like satin. Making it match your comforter/ duvet will make it look like a box spring is underneath.

Personally I love the bed!

...that's just like saying you want to lose 100 pounds, but you don't want to go on a diet. LOSE THE BED. Not only does it overpower the space, it amplifies the low ceiling height. A modernist low platform or tatami bed will help to bring everything down into scale and elongate the walls. I think a colorful rug with matching colorful bedding and window treatments will help to pull the room together. Lowering the lighting fixture a bit will also add to the illusion of height.

Is there really a problem with this room at all? I saw the photo and the first thing I though was, "How lovely!"

I'd curl up in here and read a book anytime. I have nothing to suggest in the way of changes - I think it's just perfect.

If that's a bay window, you could move the bed in there. The light might help open up the space around it, and make the low ceiling less obvious.

please don't lose the bed, its really very lovely.

I love the bed, and it sounds like you do too! Especially if this is a rental, keep the bed! Work the storage angle, you can get lots of cool products on castors that role in and out. Keep your bedlinens in there and stuff you dont need super often. If you didnt want a bedskirt you could get some large boxes perhaps something like this http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=62565&PRODID=10017455 or this http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=77004&PRODID=10016372 so it has appears orderly/uncluttered. See if you can find something on wheels, or put felt feet on it to minimise damage to floor as you pull it in/out.

Since you say the room is long, you could also place a storage bench/ottoman at the end of the bed that would eliminate the focus on that under bed area...a very pretty bed though...

Unless the ceiling height makes you claustrophobic (or you like to jump on the bed), I don't see the ceiling height being a problem. If it is only an aesthetic thing, I think a monochromatic scheme would help disguise the issue. I would love to see this room painted a warm, buttery cream color with a simple natural fiber rug in a slightly darker tan. Designers - correct me if I am wrong (and I know you will!), but if the rug is the darkest thing in the room and the walls and ceilings are light and bright, won't that give the illusion of a higher ceiling?

Make a tented room using fabric, or at least consider improvising a canopy over the bed. Like you said, it makes a virtue (coziness) out of necessity (low ceiling).

I agree with Clairepetrol - a bench at the end of the bed might help. Plus if the room is long and skinny, you certainly have the space for one.

Also, is there any chance you can mount the mattress lower on the frame? My bed frame has two options, so you can mount it lower if you have a thick mattress. Yours is a lovely bed - don't give it up!

If you love the bed, keep it! If you don't need the storage space under the bed, you might ask a metalsmith to lower the side rail brackets so your mattress isn't so far off the ground. Keep the purple wall, if you love it, but I like the idea of painting the bed frame so it doesn't stand out so much.

If this were my problem, I would get a bed skirt, use all that storage space under the bed, and pile on a ton of colorful pillows in different textures and sizes to make the bed look like a luxurious harem retreat. I would hang long drapes (satin? velvet?) at the very top of the wall and let them drag on the floor, so that they cover the entire wall with windows. Would a canopy over the bed be overkill? You can easily make one with some fabric, ceiling hooks and dowel rods. This might add to the coziness of the ceiling height. (Oops, I think I'm taking off on my own Moroccan fantasy here - sorry!) Good luck!

Don't get rid of the bed if you love it! It seems like you have a difficult room, but getting rid of the bed will not make the ceilings any taller or the room any less funny-shaped!

I concur with Clairepetrol's suggestion that you get a bench or ottomon to put at the foot of the bed--I agree that the large amount of space visible under there is quite noticeable and makes the bed look a little like it's on stilts, but I'm not sure you'll be able to use a bed skirt since the footboard will prevent the end part of a bedskirt from falling to the floor. I think a bench or something would be a great solution to that.

What is the long, low thing with the dark frame and lighter top that's on the left side of the picture under the windows? If it's not something built in, I think removing it or replacing it with something that doesn't stick out as much might help with the side-to-side crowdedness problem you describe.

Not having tall furniture in a room with a low ceiling would be like not having large furniture in a small room. It seems to make sense and some people will swear by it, but we've all seen that it can work. I think that if you let your ceiling height dictate your bed height, you will be unhappy.

Personally, I agree that a bedskirt or ottoman/chest at the bottom of the bed will do wonders to help balance the room. It's really the negative space under the bed that's making it seem disproportionate. Also, perhaps consider adding some curtains or shades and painting the walls a different color. Find a color that makes you happy and go with it. I'm a 'anything but white' person when it comes to walls, but I think the brown is just too dark/cold for the room as it is.

As for the other side of the room, I'd add a seating/conversation area - maybe two comfy chairs or a chaise lounge, a table and a lamp. :)

Best of luck!

OMG this is just like my bed! I agree it's the color of the wall behind it.

Paint the walls and the ceilings the same light color.

Not to derail things, but where did you find the bed? I'm looking for this very same bed style. Is it a Wesley Allen?

Would it work better on its side pushed up against the wall like a daybed?

I think your bed is lovely and that you can "fix" the proportions of the room by playing with the envelope. A large part of the problem is that not only does the dark wall contrast with the white bed frame, but by emphasizing the point where the wall stops and the ceiling starts it also emphasizes the low ceiling. I would consider painting the walls and ceiling the same color. If that's not for you another trick I have seen advocated (but not used myself . . . anyone else?) is to continue the wall color up onto the ceiling for several inches, forming a narrow border around the ceiling color. Supposedly this creates the illusion the walls continue upward!

I agree with the suggestions of a bedskirt. A darker shade on the floor will visually "push" it down -- thus, again, making the ceiling seem higher -- and why not add a border (say about 6" wide) around the hem of the bedskirt that is the same or close to the color of whatever carpet you end up getting? This will break up the vertical expanse of the bedskirt and make the bed seem not quite so high; it will also visually suggest that the bedskirt is a continuation of the carpet.

I wouldn't hang art above the headboard, but to either side would be fine.

I agree that the bed appears to high off the ground. But I love the frame and I think you can totally work with it.
One solution to disguising the height is to put a bench at the foot of the bed. The fact that you can see under the bed is what is accentuating the issue, so if you disguise it, it just may work.
Also, another thought. How about paiting the bed frame? I'm thinking gold, like a dark gold, to just push the homey, girly, anthropologie-like feel.
But DONT change that wall color - its gorgeous!

It's a lovely bed, and I would not part with it. I'd use a bedskirt, as I think that what is throwing the view off kilter is the large expanse showing underneath. I think that if you could not see underneath it would pull the view back into scale.

Is this "long time AT Fiona"???

Have you considered in this home, to just use the headboard, with a standard bed frame? That would allow you the look of the bed but have you not feel like you are inches from the ceiling. Keep the rest of the bed in storage.

I add mine to the voices saying the dark/light contrast of the wall and ceiling is only highlighting where (and how low) the ceiling starts.

If wed to a dark wall, paint the wall color into the ceiling about eight to twelve inches of the wall color.

You can also use some of the usual room heightening tricks... drapes to the VERY top of the wall, preferably in a vertical stripe (check Restoration home), vertical stripes on the wall (even if only tone on tone) tall mirrors, and anything else that draws the eye up.

Another possible paint/color solution... keep the walls white (or the subtlest tint) and paint the ceiling a cool and smoky pastel, to make it "evaporate".

Love that bed, I wouldn't part with it myself. But since it's cozy you got from the ceiling heights, then I'd go all out cozy....it is a bedroom after all, right?

It is not just what it *looks* like in the picture, but what it *feels* like in the room. And from what I seem to be hearing Fiona say, it feels too high for the room. Eliminating or hiding the footboard, clever paint jobs, none of these options will fix the problem. If it were me, I would put the bedframe in storage for the day when I find another place (with higher ceilings!) and get something lower to the ground -- tatami bed, or modern low-to-the-ground bed. You will feel less like Alice in Wonderland (after she drank the potion), and your home will feel more like your home.

I am actually in the same predicament, albeit I had no choice in the matter. Our government supplied us housing and furniture for our overseas posting -- our tiny bedroom is under the eaves (deeply sloping ceiling), and the rather formal, traditional bed is very high (have to climb into bed). We have a limited ability to change things (and obviously don't want to spend money for something we will not take home with us), and are looking at options. We'll probably buy a bed and mattress (although will have to have it specially sized for North American dimensions), although we will be buying it for our home in North America, and not the one here, so it may not look like an ideal fit.

oops, meant to say, ultimately, floor-to-ceiling curtains or not, you lie in bed at night, and the ceiling just feels to damn close.

You could also try a low-profile box spring. It's not as tall as a regular box spring and would bring the height down a few inches.

Or no box spring at all and just put a supported piece of plywood under the mattress.

don't ever get rid of that bed.

The bed is gorgeous. Throwing it out and buying new things shouldn't be the answer. I think low modern beds are ugly, but that's just me.

As others have said, a tailored bed skirt and a chest or bench at the foot of the bed would help. A lighter paint color on the wall or a darker paint color on the bed frame would cause the tall headboard to stand out less. If the ceiling feels too close when you are in bed, a luxurious canopy or mosquito net might fix things. A high-gloss pale paint on the ceiling is supposed to make the ceiling seem higher. If all else fails, store that lovely bed until you can use it in a larger room.

Pictures showing the length and narrowness of the room might elicit more advice on that problem.

My friend has a tiny bedroom like this with a large double bed (she has white bed linens with a bed skirt). She painted the room a pastel rose-pink color and the ceiling sky blue. She put beige lace floor-to-ceiling curtains on the windows and a green and red floral Persian rug on the floor. She likes painted furniture, so there is a nightstand, hand-painted with flowers and birds, and a Indian (or Indonesian) rose and beige wardrobe. There is also a reading armchair in pale green and a little painted table. The effect is pretty; you forget the room is tiny and want to stay in it.

One could take a lesson from this without slavishly copying it -- if you have interesting things in pretty colors and fabrics, the smallness can be part of the charm. I wouldn't put a blanket chest there, but I agree with the bedskirt. You wouldn't need much other furniture as long as it harmonizes in some way with the bed (traditional perhaps). There are places that sell hand-painted Indian or Indonesian furniture, for example.

Wow - so much useful feedback on my question. Thank you all! Very helpful. Am going to have a think about it tonight but I think all of you who advised me to cover the big gap under the bed (whether using a bedskirt or using a chest/bench) have really hit the nail on the head. My mind is now whirring with ideas!

Am afraid the bed won't be easy to get your hands on. Am British born and bred - I bought it in that great British institution that is Marks and Spencer.

Well - I've come up with a number of ideas now. I'm thinking of moving the bed to the right hand side of the room, leaving space for a small chest of drawers next to it on the left where I can have a small lamp. I'm going to test the idea of having a long painting/mirror hanging over the chest to see what it looks like. I think it could look really cute!

I'll get a standard lamp for the other end of the room and get rid of the ceiling lamp completely - I feel it emphasizes the low ceiling.

Color-scheme-wise. I'm going to go for a nice warm rich cream for the walls. I found some lovely wallpaper with very subtle butterflies on a cream background. I think I'll cover the deep purple with that - I like the way there is a feature wall in the room - will just tone it down to a rich/warm neutral color.

Otherwise - long, sumptuous drapes on the bay window (which will be emphasized now that the bed is pushed over to the right). Also I found a nice bench on wheels for not too expensive (thank you Ikea). I measured and it will fit at the end of the bed and is just short enough to make sure the rosette features at the bottom of the bed are still visible.

I think I have me a plan. Thank you guys - much appreciated... Any other thoughts and suggestions on my plan so far?

Oh - and I really like the painted furniture idea - I have a wooden wardrobe that i have been meaning to paint. I think I could find a way of using the butterfly design from the wallpaper nicely on there... Hmmmm....