This Zen bedroom makeover was designed for a single mom who works double-time and takes care of everyone but herself. We transformed this dated space into a calm retreat to recharge and refresh. With young adults at home, her goal was to make her new home a place where her kids would always want to return. This bedroom became a place for her to reclaim her Zen after a long day.
The definition of Zen is “a state of calm attentiveness in which one’s actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort” (Merriam-Webster). The key word for this bedroom was CALM.
The Zen Bedroom Makeover
When our client bought a townhouse with great bones in need of TLC, she made a few budget fixes to transform the dated disaster into a lovely home. Before she moved in, the popcorn ceilings were removed. This was a big dirty job, but worth every penny, and it instantly updated the space and added value to her new home. We also replaced the pukey pink beige carpets, painted the room and updated the furniture.
The Zen Color Palette
We created a Zen bedroom with calm whites and neutral colors, organic woods and wicker, and styled the room with baskets, flowers and books.
We tested twenty shades of white for the walls in this north facing room with evergreen trees at the window.
Benjamin Moore Ballet White was the best color because of the warm undertones, which neutralize the greens in the trees and the cool northern light. Walls and closets were painted with Ballet White.
Ceilings and base molding were painted Chantilly Lace. The Ikea white from the dresser is matched to BM Marscapone for a lovely trio of whites that work! The carpet is green beige, and the black and white prints add a pop of black for depth. The wood and wicker in the room add warmth to the monochromatic white palette.
Timeless Simple Scandinavian Furniture (IKEA!)
Simplicity is always timeless, so we chose the simple Ikea Dyfjord dresser in white for the Zen bedroom. It was since discontinued, but another simple Ikea dresser such as the Hemnes can be substituted. The Malm bed is an Ikea classic that adds warmth to the neutral palette.
Shop Your Closet for Art
We needed art and I was looking for something with black accents. Our homeowner reached into her closet and pulled out these perfect Escher prints! They are so simple and beautiful. You could also recreate this look with other black and white prints. These prints look gorgeous hung over the simple white Ikea dresser.
Neutral Beige Carpet and Throw Pillows
The original carpet was a dingy pink beige that had seen a better decade. Before move-in day, we installed a lovely green beige carpet. The perfect neutral color for a carpet is matched to green beige Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan or Sherwin Williams Softer Tan. If you shop for a new carpet, take one of these paint swatches with you to match the color. The beige throw pillows tie in with the carpet and the white comforter ties in with the white foundation palette.
The Verdict
Our busy single mom loves her new Zen bedroom makeover!
Don’t forget to always test your paint colors. Our directions for how to test paint colors are here.
Online Color Consulting
If you still need help with paint colors, check out our Online Color Consulting packages or an In-Person Color Consultation in the Denver Metro area.
Did you like this Post? Don’t forget to Pin!
About the Author
Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room.
Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person. I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.
One Response
Awesome!!