A Structural Beam Was an Eyesore in This Bedroom — She Added Paneling to Disguise It
Tricky layouts can feel like a real home dealbreaker. A space with interesting cut-outs and questionable window placements can make it feel impossible to figure out where furniture should go. Designer, illustrator, and content creator Amelia Deacon-Hunt understands this conflict well, as the primary bedroom in her London house had a problematic setup.
“As it’s in our loft conversion, the obvious place for the bed was beneath the sloping ceiling, but I felt that would limit both the layout and the overall design,” Amelia explained of the primary bedroom. “The opposite side of the room offered much more potential, but it came with a large structural beam that interrupted the wall and was impossible to ignore.”
Positivity Helped Move the Creative Process Along
Rather than having a negative attitude (or taking on my preferred coping mechanism of avoidance), Amelia saw the room’s configuration not as a “problem,” but as an opportunity to “think creatively.” Instead of attempting to remove the beam, which could’ve been a major project (if even possible at all), she used other materials to blend it in.
“I decided to turn it into a feature by disguising it with bespoke curved vertical paneling, helping it blend seamlessly into the room,” Amelia said. “It involved plenty of measuring, cutting timber, priming, painting, and more trips to B&Q than I can count! Measuring was particularly challenging as I’ve always struggled with maths, but seeing it all come together made every step worthwhile.”
Color-Drenching the Room Further Disguised the Beam
Another trick up Amelia’s sleeve? Paint. She used Lick’s Pink 02 to color-drench the room and further blend the beam into the paneling. She always appreciated how the color created a “warm, cocooning feel” in the bedroom. Placing lights and nightstands on either side of the bed visually anchors the bed in the ‘right’ spot — even with the beam behind it. (The beam being in the middle of the bed adds symmetry, too.)
Amelia’s solution to a visual eyesore in her bedroom proves that seemingly unchangeable features like that aren’t a reason to throw in the towel or settle for anything less than what you desire. It’s even more meaningful that she did it herself; and it’s not the only project in her splendid home. Visit the full House Tour to see more.