How would centuries of design work when mixed into one bedroom? Is it possible to make a vintage eclectic bedroom look like it has a story to cross the times and boundaries? In this story, we will have a look at time-traveling bedrooms that are inspired by divergent timeframes, dare-to-wear styles, and curious combinations- making one-of-a-kind, rule-bending retreats. You will learn to clash and combine furniture, finishes, and styles to create your own brash, but harmonious haven. So, what are the first seven transformations that show that design rules are made to be broken? Let us find out.
Victorian Meets Mid-Century Twist
It takes place between the richness of Victorian era and the clean lines of the mid-century modern in this unlikely combination. I adore the florid drama of Victorian decor, so the clean lines of mid-century furniture bring the balance to this room. A deep jewel-toned wallpaper makes a sumptuous setting to sparse wooden furniture, and crown moldings give a historical touch to the framing of the room.
I have contrasted a tufted high back velvet headboard in this room with a walnut low profile platform bed. Juxtaposition is successful as the materials used, velvet and wood, are successfully paired with one another. An old brass chandelier gets suspended above it, which is reflected in the brass legs of the night stands. Mid-century sputnik lamps and vintage Persian rugs add yet additional texture.
The arrangement reminds me of houses in Architectural Digest, where contemporary designers are not afraid to clash instead of creating harmony. Victoria Hagan once said that contrast is the key to design and this bedroom incorporates that saying literally. It’s not about clashing—it’s about conscious contradiction.
I would finish off this appearance by including some old lithographs in contemporary frames and possibly an antique writing desk of the Victorian era. The scene would be livened up with a touch of green in a mid-century planter.
Baroque Details With Pop Art Punch
In this bedroom, the dramatic flair of Baroque is united with neon vibrations of Pop Art. It has oversized moldings on the walls, plaster rosettes on the ceiling–but the color scheme is electric. I have decided to paint the wall panels with a bright cobalt blue and the baseboards with hot pink. The surprising color palette redesigns the historically luxurious area into a cool and younger one.
The furniture has a story of its own: a vintage four-poster bed finished in a matte black color is contrasted with Roy Lichtenstein-style bedding. A gold-gilded commode is placed on one side of the bed, a minimalist acrylic side table with LED light is on the other. Over the bed is a cartoon-like canvas on primary colors. It shouldn’t work, but it does—and that’s the beauty of this kind of design.
I’ve experienced this idea in small hotels that break the conventions- such as The Roxbury in New York. Not only do they mix styles, but they remix them. It is all about dedication: having taken the bold step, there is no going back. Have faith in the mess and revision with a purpose.
Layer lighting is still needed in this room; maybe a wall sconce in the style of Rococo with a fluorescent bulb. And a glassy resin figurine on the dresser would play the same humorous tune as the art object.
Bohemian Layers in a Georgian Shell
Imagine it: traditional Georgian building, symmetrical and majestic, yet completely stuffed with colorful fabrics and elements of world art and a definite touch of relaxed bohemian atmosphere. I kept the authentic Georgian windows and paneling and then added Lanterns of Morocco, Indian tapestries and Ghanaian baskets, to give it some cultural dimension.
The bed is low slung and has an unstructured canopy of gauzy linen. The bedding is covered with layers of throw pillows in embroidered silks, suzanis, and old floral prints. There is a combination of antique Persian rugs that are layered on the hardwood floor. And in the corner is an armchair of the Victorian type, upholstered in a disorderly mixture of patching fabric– disorderly, yet attractive.
I’ve always believed that architectural boundaries shouldn’t restrict your creativity. This room is a study case in that concept. As designer Justina Blakeney tends to note, “If you love it, it will work.” And it is true-it is emotion and memory that makes eclectic rooms seem like home.
A few battered leather-bound books, a rattan daybed by the window, or even some dried herbs tied up by the door, these are the details that would strengthen the storyline in my opinion.
Colonial Meets Rock ‘n’ Roll Chic
In this time-warp bedroom, the historical grandeur of Colonial design is combined with a rock n roll insurrection. I began with wide plank floors, dark wooden shutters, a high four post bed, mahogany finish. However, I also added old band posters, faded leather and industrial metal hardware.
In place of a conventional trunk at the foot of the bed I employed a graffiti-covered steamer chest. There is a large, faded and tattered Union Jack flag above the bed, in recognition of the British origins of punk. And on each side, unpaired candelabra and spiked lamps finish the appearance. The mix is as tradition-filled as it is punk present.
The interior of this space makes me think of the Ace Hotels- a combination of time periods to achieve the effect of cool lived-in comfort. Their style of adding stories on top of each other design-wise has sparked ideas in most of my boldest projects.
The only thing that would make this room even more special is the decoration of the wall with a guitar rack or an old Marshall amp. A little functional rebellion can never be bad.
Edwardian Walls and Disco Balls
Ever want to dance through the centuries? Then this bedroom will give you that opportunity. The architectural canvas is quintessential Edwardian: wainscoting, cornices, and elaborate trim in pale creams. But straight in the middle of the ceiling? An enormous disco ball. It revolves over a Mirrored vanity and flashes against a wall of iridescent wallpaper.
I chose a tufted bed that has crushed velvet champagne-colored upholstery. Its bedding is metallic silver, and the side tables are glass cubes on casters, objects of the disco era. Above them chrome pendant lights are suspended that replicate Studio 54. On the other side of the room, there is a ghost chair which creates a striking contrast with a baroque-style makeup desk.
I have witnessed designers such as Kelly Wearstler carry this type of surprise glamour. She has a knack of layering old-world grace with contemporary bling to make spaces come alive and be easily remembered.
To heighten the glamour, I’d add some under-bed LED lighting or even install a small color-changing floor spotlight. With mixing eras such as this, ambiance is everything.
Retro Futurism in a 1920s Frame
Starting in the 1920s, this bedroom has Deco-style arched windows and parquet deco flooring. But it balls ahead into the future with retro-futurism. I have added a floating bed that has a lit up bottom, modular seating made out of glossy white plastic and abstract LED wall panels.
A ceiling dome above the bed has a hand-painted solar system and a shag rug grounds the room below. There is a glass-top vanity that resembles spaceship consoles and the closet door was traded in to a sliding panel that has been etched with circuit-like designs. The time interactions between the past and the future are not gimmicky, though they are theatrical.
This combination evokes the feeling of The Jetsons meets Great Gatsby. I would if I could project starry images on the ceiling to make the space complete. This is an aesthetic combination that has been already eagerly adopted by designers such as Karim Rashid.
I would still wonder something sculptural as a reading light, possibly a planet-shaped one, and a space-age beanbag, in a reflective material. These would provide tactile interest to the smooth surfaces.
Velvet Drapes and Space-Age Shapes
This is a dramatically layered bedroom with heavy velvet emerald green drapes falling to the floor. Yet adjust your eyes and you will see the space-age forms: an elliptical bed, molded fiberglass shelving and an egg-shaped chair hanging down form the ceiling. It is theatrical futurism in moody vintage strokes.
Walls are deep matte navy, which serves as a pop-up place to put silver starburst decals. The illumination is provided by ring-shaped sconces and a spaceship-resembling floor lamp. There are crushed velvet pillows on the bed and facing it a floating chrome console that serves as a desk.
This room is inspired by Stanley Kubrick as well as retro sci-fi design. The cushion encounters the chic. It is ideal for a person who likes luxury and lightness in equal measure. As Jonathan Adler once said, “minimalism is a bummer” and this bedroom takes that philosophy to heart.
To dress up this appearance I would add a tall indoor plant in a geometric or even a big moon-phase mirror. It requires only a small amount of natural contrast to all of the shine.
Pre-War Minimalism With Dada Energy
This bedroom exists at the borderline between the minimalist pre-war austerity and the wild Dadaist expressionism. I wanted to be authentic and so kept the original baseboards and ceiling trim but painted the walls a bleak off-white so that the more bold pieces could make the statement. Sparacious furniture allows the surrealist moments in art to make their mark, such as a lamp in the shape of a melting clock, or a wall collageion of found objects.
The furnishings are minimal: a routine iron-frame bed, side tables that come flat-packed and are in a matte black finish, and an old steel cabinet that has been turned into a dresser. The true show-stoppers however, are the accents; a rug printed with collaged newspaper clippings, an asymmetrical mirror and a chair painted in abstract blocks of color a la Hans Arp.
I drew inspiration also by the anti-rationalist revolt of the Dada movement and its incongruously good suitability with pre-war architecture. The first time I had ever seen a similar room, in a Brooklyn brownstone, I understood how remarked contradiction can stabilize creativity.
To make this even more I would suggest either installing something mobile over the bed or tearing some paper art and framing it with glass. These would add to the artistic disruption that characterises this aesthetic.
Chinoiserie and Psychedelic Dreams
Think 18th-century Chinoiserie wallpaper in acid-bright colors and whirling patterns, and this bedroom is a game of historicality and head-spinning power. There are neon pinks and oranges of cherry blossoms and fantastical pagodas on the walls. I’ve needed to counteract the visual vigor with something cool like keeping the ceiling and trim pure white.
Lacquered red armoire and mirrored vanity bring the look downtown, and a platform bed in electric teal borders on the cartoonish. Silk throws in layers, huge floor cushions in velvet and lava-lamp-like sconces make the place dreamlike. An ombr e shag rug lies across the floor like an imagination heat map.
This room is telling me of something that would be featured in Dwell magazine, the blending of the East and West in psychedelic splendor. I adore the way the conventional visuals of Chinoiserie are turned upside down in this case. The philosophy of the designer Jonathan Adler, who believes that “Color is a powerful mood enhancer” is realized in every corner.
I would include incense holders in the form of lotus blossoms and perhaps even a mini zen garden using hot pink gravel. It is quirky, and that is the idea.
Art Nouveau Meets Punk Couture
Flowers and nature-adorned Art Nouveau lines snake through this bedroom-but then they are confronted by the roughness of punk fashion. I swung towards curvilinear wallpaper and iron bed frame design, but contrasted it with distressed plaid bedding and self-crafted looking wall decals that look like torn band flyers.
The headboard is an iron vine theme, although the rest of the room speaks more loudly: of torn leather cushions on a brass stool, a trunk studded with safety pins, and a small bookshelf in the shape of a guitar neck. The traditional shapes are given an eccentric finishes with ornate crown molding in a matte charcoal hue.
This area is a reference to such designers as Philippe Starck, who couples formality and rebellion. I used to see this mixture a lot when I lived in London-old bones with attitude. It is dirty, but romantic.
As a final touch I would fit under-bed lights in red and black and a full-length mirror that looks like it had been used as a pound rag—in an aesthetic way, of course.
Rococo Reimagined With Industrial Touches
The extravagant Rococo curvilinear shapes and pastel colors are contrasted with industrial materials and rough edges in this case. The impact is that Marie Antoinette has come to live in a loft. I have saved beautiful ceiling medallions and floral cornices and replaced the anticipated decor with bare concrete floors and re-purposed steel piping.
The bed has a vintage carved wood frame, which is painted in chalky white and is covered with frayed linen sheets. Above, an iron pendant light gives contrasts cruelly. A steel desk weathered and used as a vanity is accompanied by a lucite chair. There are porcelain figurines on rolling shelves of a factory style on one side.
This bedroom makes me think of Soho interiors that are a blend of fineness and roughness. I have heard in Elle Decor that contrast is not only decorative, but transformative. It is that philosophy which is reflected in this room.
I would still like to add a dramatic floor mirror with a frame made out of burnished metal and maybe a faux fur throw in faded blush as a texture. These are the finishing touches that unite the romance and rebellion.
Dusty Pastels in a Gothic Revival
It is the place of oppositions the somber structure of Gothic Revival lightened with the dusty pastel shades and airy finishes. I retains the pointed arches and the ribbed ceilings, but I put the walls a dull rose-gray. The stained glass windows have been retained but have been framed with thin blush coloured drapes allowing the light to pass through in muted tones.
The furniture is modest but pretty: a plain white canopy bed with pink tulle, vintage side tables in powder blue, and a tufted ottoman in dusty lilac. Crystal knobs and porcelain drawer pulls add just a touch of glam, without overwhelming the Gothic setting.
This is the first time I saw a castle conversion in Veranda, and I was motivated to come up with such a look. The stylist expanded a dark area with soft pastels and did not want to miss the mood- and I had to give it a try.
I would include dried floral decorations in neutral colors and wall sconces in the form of creeping vines to finish this space. It is captivating how this balances between romantic ruin and sensitive coziness.
70s Glam in a Tudor Envelope
Tudor features of exposed beams and leaded glass windows are the perfect setting to a bedroom oozing with 1970s glam. I left the wood elements dark and rustic, but added velvet, chrome and high-shine textures to contrast with the rustic underpinnings.
It has a round rust velvet bed as a focal point flanked by mirrored nightstands and globe lamps. The floor is covered with a shag carpet in golden ochre, and an illusion of a dancefloor is made with the help of a wall-length mirror. There’s a modular vinyl bench in teal, and above the fireplace, a vintage sunburst clock completes the scene.
It is one of my dining room favorites–it is daring, but not Brash. The editorial touch is one that you would expect in Luxe Interiors + Design. The combination of the two periods gives the room a kind of time capsule revisited.
To finish it off I would add a lucite bar cart and a tray of vintage perfume bottles. Not too on the nose- nothing but some teasers of period details to accompany the story.
Film Noir Lighting in Edwardian Grandeur
This bedroom combines the melodrama of the Film Noir and the traditional Edwardian symmetry. Moody light effects are created with deep shadows, backlit panels and Venetian blinds, against wainscoting, rich walnut paneling and complicated plasterwork.
A sleigh bed of dark mahogany curves was my selection and this I covered with satin of moody gray and black. Another piece of furniture is a chaise longue covered in midnight velvet resting under a noir-type floor lamp. There are Art Deco mirrors and an old-fashioned rotary phone that points to the mid-century glamor. The seductive light is low and sculptural sconces, and flickering bulbs.
The voice is film noir… picture Double Indemnity and Downton Abbey. I have always loved the manner in which cinematographers treat light as architecture. The shadows contribute as much here to the structure as the moldings.
To truly finish off the appearance I would have a secret projector and show black-and-white movies on repeat on the back wall. A hint of jazz tune would not be amiss as well.
Grandmillennial With a Mod Spin
I have always loved how grandmillennial style steals old-school charm and gives it a wink. Sharp mid-century silhouettes are mixed with floral wallpaper and embroidered linens and needlepoint pillows in this bedroom. The visual contraposition of ornate and clean-lined adds depth to the room, and makes it look nostalgic and fresh at the same time. This mixture rejoices maximalism and comfort without being too stuffy.
The major details are tufted headboard upholstered in velvet, antique nightstands fitted with modern table lamps, and an abundance of vintage elements such as porcelain figurines and lace curtains. I’ve used a walnut mod dresser from the ’60s to ground the room and prevent it from feeling too saccharine. There is a surprise burst of energy with the pop of chartreuse in the armchair fabric that combines old and new.
This design is so livable, I think grandma would be comfortable but have those edges that are worth instagramming. And, as designer Sarah Stacey used to tell us, It is magic in the blending of periods, rather than matching of patterns. It is so,–the friction that makes the style.
I would also like to say a hanging globe pendant here instead of a chandelier to pursue the mod look a little more. It would dress up the theme and provide sharper contrast to the classical accessories.
Art Deco Mirrorlands With Modern Flair
The design is based on the mirror-laden Art Deco bedrooms of the 1930s but rather than go all out Gatsby I have offset the sparkle with some modern minimalism. Deep teal glossy lacquered walls envelop a minimalist low-profile bed, and geometric mirrors are placed on both sides of the headboard, which reflect ambient light and make the room look longer.
The nightstands, armoires trimmed in brass and the velvet bench at the foot of the bed are a tribute to the glamour of the times. There is a circular patterned rug which provides movement under the slim platform bed. I have introduced satin drapes and some Art deco wall sconces with frosted glass to take the edge off.
Personally, I am in love with the way this room is dramatic yet not overwhelming. It possesses the enigma of a cocktail lounge, though the functionality of a peaceful sleep chamber. Architectural Digest states that the play of layered mirrors is back with a new level of sophistication, and this bedroom is not an exception.
The idea could be taken to an even higher level with a statement headboard in the form of a rising sun and provide a more significant reference to traditional Deco buildings.
Vintage Eclectic With Hollywood Regency Glow
I was inspired by this design by asking myself: What would happen if Zsa Zsa Gabor had a run in with an indie thrifter? The outcome is this glossy Hollywood Regency dramatic vintage bedroom full of luxury but toned down with bohemian details. Rich jewel colors, metal trims, and faux fur combine to bring a feeling of luxury without the strictness.
A gold bamboo mirror, a tufted blush chaise lounge, lacquered black dressers with Lucite knobs, and satin-lined drapes that pool on the floor are among the necessary ones here. An area rug, shag with cream color balances the gloss and brings in the warmth. I layered on a fringe lamp and gold bar cart turned vanity, too, to perform the functional glam.
As far as I am concerned this design is not afraid of being too much and yet they are useful. Interior stylist Jonathan Adler believes in design that does not apologize and this room does not offer any excuses. It is swanky and chic.
A canopy bed, covered in gauzy sheers would be one of the elements that might add to this room; something dramatic and airy that makes a statement in the room without introducing further gleam.
Jazz Age Layers and Grunge Attitude
This one is dedicated to the punk hearted old soul. This is the Jazz Age of the 1920s combined with the Seattle grunge of the 1990s. The walls are burgundy, and the distress finish gives the space a wealthy but humble touch, and the ceiling is painted matte black to create a dark interior. The room is anchored on a four-poster bed that has carved flowering motifs.
I’ve layered vintage Persian rugs, mismatched antique chairs, and string lights that look like they’ve been draped hastily (but deliberately). There are velvet throws, cracked leather armchairs and scattered vinyl records, which contribute to the improvisational atmosphere.
Some may find this room overwhelming, however, to me, it has an energy of a “lived-in genius.” It is the sort of place that poetry is written in. Elle Decor magazine has had a similar idea labeled as melancholic maximalism, and I believe that it could not be described better in this case.
I’d consider adding a typewriter-style desk or a steamer trunk at the end of the bed for both function and added character.
Antique Textures With Digital Edge
With this idea, I was interested in seeing what would occur in the event 19 th century ornamentation crashed into 21 st century smart technology. The bottom half of the walls are covered in carved wood paneling, and the upper half is a matte white surface with digital art displaying on a wall-mounted screen that shifts through a variety of projections. Intelligent lighting is voice-controlled, and it can simulate the lighting of a candle and daylight.
The furniture-wise, I have matched a Victorian fainting couch with a minimalistic Japanese futon-style bed. The nightstand has a wireless charging dock and speakers within the frame. Behind the bed is a hand-painted screen, which is digitally backlit in the evening atmosphere.
I adore this concept of contemporary life it takes into account the past but is inclined to the future. As designer Kelly Wearstler has observed, “The clash of the old and new is where there is true personality.” I can not agree more.
The room could also benefit by the addition of a piece of antique taxidermy or a grandfather clock to further enhance the antique influence of the room.
Timeworn Elegance and Retro Icons
This bedroom feels like stepping into a faded photograph from the ’40s… except there’s a lava lamp on the dresser. The walls are covered with old flowery wallpaper of sepia color. It has a patinaed brass bed frame with two side tables on either side that are flea market finds.
I needed to add some balance, so I introduced retro elements to it: a rotary phone, checkerboard floor tiles, and a bubblegum-pink mushroom lamp. The curtains are sewn out of old fabrics, say silk scarves and curtain samples. And the contrast between shabby chic and impudent mid-century kitsch is what makes this design so enjoyable.
I believe that there is beauty in wearing and patination. It gives reality. This design is promoting a less refined way of interior designing and I find it freeing.
A mid-century atomic starburst mirror or even a ’50s TV console repurposed as a dresser could expand the quirky retro palette further.
Opulent Trims and Scandinavian Balance
but what would you get if you crossed Gustavian trims with IKEA basics? That is the assumption in this case. There is architectural drama with gilded crown moldings and painted ceiling medallions yet the furnishings are clean and Scandinavian. Everything is united with the help of a neutral palette of off-whites, dusty blues, and warm grays.
Contemporary wood bedframe covered with birch looks exquisitely with gilded rococo wall sconces. Bedside tables are clean and minimalistic, and an old writing desk adds an element of luxury. The otherwise minimalistic layout is enhanced with layers of linen and wool making it tactile and soft to the touch.
I believe this room would perfectly suit a person who desires the ageless look without the clutter. So, as Emily Henderson has put it, Ornate and minimal always have a shocking difference, one enhances the other. The room proves that principle.
To bring the design into the present I could introduce a contemporary sculpture or a floor lamp with a geometric profile.
Macramé in a Federalist Shell
The idea behind this bedroom was this: what would happen if bohemian furnishings were put in an 18th-century Federalist architectural shell? The effect is a design that seems like it cannot work- but definitely does. I maintained a purity of structure: elaborately detailed crown molding, wood wall panels and a marble fireplace establish the classical integrity. Then I added the surprise element – macram e wall hangings and tasseled hammocks.
I would use low-set platform beds, with woven rattan headboards, up against the paneled walls of the room. Rough pottery styled floating side tables and tall fiddle-leaf figs interrupt the symmetry of the room. Thecombination of jute and wool rugs in layers makes the polished hardwood floors softer. Springy cotton, rope, wicker natural textures are in opposition with the strict symmetry of the room, which forms the inviting tension.
This room is a reminder that eclectic bedrooms do not need the loud color to be loud. Boho, as designer Justina Blakeney has stated, is not a style, it is a vibe, and in this case that vibe is controlled chaos inside a well-disciplined exterior. I discovered that the organic shapes of macram Have the best way of breaking the conventional geometry.
I dream of putting a contemporary hanging chair by the fireplace to create relaxation and add a curve to all the boxiness of this room.
Eclectic Surrealism on a Victorian Canvas
I have long loved surrealist art, and I chose to put that dreamy quality over a Victorian bedroom scene. Imagine original crown molding and stained glass windows- but this time with floating bedside tables in the shape of moons and abstract-shaped mirrors. The effect is playful and creepy.
The background is gloomy: forest green walls, Victorian brass canopy bed and carved armoire. Then the fun begins. I included a melting clock art piece (à la Dali), a shaggy asymmetrical rug, and cloud-like light fixtures that float from the ceiling. The night tables are different, one is a lacquered mushroom, the other a stone block. The asymmetry makes the eye continue moving.
This bedroom makes me recollect a quotation by an artist, Salvador Dali, who said, “Have no fear of perfection- you will never find it.” That is the ethos I attempt to remember when batting styles such as this. The outcome is weirdly peaceful despite the contradictions, and it turns into a visual playground to the imagination.
An old oil painting with surreal filters applied to it, such as an old portrait with digital glitches applied, would be a witty final touch and would finalize the story.
Cottagecore Meets Retro TV Sets
When does rural nostalgia meet with the technology of the 1970s? I explored that unlikely pairing here, creating a cozy vintage bedroom layered with gingham bedding, eyelet curtains, and wicker baskets—all grounded by a massive console TV set from the ’70s that now functions as a storage unit.
It has a canopy bed as the centerpiece that is covered with patchwork quilts and embroidered pillows. Side tables are crocheted doilies on wooden stumps which are not matching. The palette is muted: buttercream, sage green, and dusty rose. The retro TV helps to provide a balanced visual counterpoint – to give some unexpected mass to an otherwise lightweight appearance.
I consider the two to be comical and reminiscent. The design includes the imperfection and history. As Apartment Therapy explains, “Cottagecore enjoys the chaos of the uncurated beauty” and I am very much in that vibe here. The old technology turns into a silly gimmick, not a shortcoming.
I would include a wall-mounted adjustable reading lamp in oil-rubbed bronze so as not to detract too much or take away the retro-homespun feel.
Mid-Century Lines and 19th-Century Palettes
In this case, I was interested in combining the beauty of 1800s color schemes with the simplicity of mid-century modern furniture. Walls are colored in deep colors reminiscent of antique paint formulas: o Xbox blood, navy, and sage. I have arbitrarily positioned mid-century walnut furniture against this backdrop: a tapered-legged bedframe, atomic-style sconces and spindle chairs.
A botanical prints in brass frames, a glass decanter set and mustard and garnet velvet throw pillows are some of the decorative elements. The combination is successful since the color balances the difference in silhouettes. Its floor is wide-plank pine, but it has been treated to look old with a matte finish. There is just enough drama with heavy drapes that have gold tassels.
Personally, I have the sensation that this bedroom is an inter-generational conversation. In the words of interior expert Bobby Berk, there is no need to recreate the past, “You can update it with reverence.” This room finds that golden mean of respect and novice.
The historical references can be rounded out without interfering with the flow with a fringe ottoman in olive green or a Victorian-style fainting couch.
Whimsical Heirlooms With Bold Color Pops
This room is unadulterated celebration, of memory, of colour, of maximalist happiness. I began using a color scheme of bright teal, sunflower yellow, and crimson. Then I started adding antique items such as a carved spindle bed, a vanity that was passed down and some mismatched china on open shelves. It is simply white walls with crown molding in the background, but the rest is singing.
Among the crucial ones are candy-colored rug, red lacquer side table, and layered textiles with florals, checks, and stripes. On the wall above the bed there is a gallery of family portraits in various gaudy frames. Fairy lights are flickling on the molding of the ceiling, making a faint magical light. The atmosphere is active without being childish.
Personally, I would say that this room reminds me of the sentimental maximalism trend featured in Domino Magazine. It is emotional and shamelessly entertaining. The conventions are abandoned and in its place are emotional rationality and pleasure of the senses.
I would think about including some sort of hanging mobile; of paper cranes or old keys, something with movement to keep in line with the energy of the rest of the room.
Jazz Records and French Empire Frames
It is a bedroom idea that incorporates sound and vision-vinyl records and French Empire furnishings. I started by using a record collection wall and a custom walnut media console and juxtaposed that against gilt framed portraits and Empire style sconces. The conflict between the bohemian musical culture and the aristocratic chic is impossible to resist.
This is a tufted velvet sleigh bed with an antique French mirror above the bed. There is an Eames lounge chair in one corner and a milk-glass floor lamp alongside. It has a herringbone wood floor, over which a Persian rug covers it partly. At the top of a French console table, there is a record player, which adds both sight and sound enjoyment.
I believe that this room is beautifully balanced. It is brooding and romantic, but at the same time firmly rooted in everyday life. One can practically smell vinyl and lavender candles. This sort of surprising beauty is cropping up in bedrooms that set out to be lived in, as opposed to designed.
The added functionality and theme would be a small bar cart with old glassware and a contemporary Bluetooth speaker in the garb of a vintage radio.
80s Neon Glow in an Art Nouveau Nest
The room is one big contradiction, and that is the point. There is Art Nouveau curvature and 1980s neon. The bedframe is an iron construction entwined with floral patterns, that contrasts with a wallpaper mural of peacocks and vines. Then, without any warning, pink neon lighting highlights the headboard and beats behind a cassette shelf mounted on the wall.
I selected Art Nouveau nightstands, which had cabriole legs, however, I placed lava lamps and clear acrylic clocks on them. The carpet is a Memphis-style graphic in pastel forms, which brings a retro-futuristic atmosphere. An jellyfish like light above diffuses the border between nature and club aesthetics.
It may not be news to say, as designer Jonathan Adler once phrased it, that minimalism is a bummer. This is an anti-minimalist room that boasts of it. It is melodramatic, expressive and unique. I’ve found it’s a hit with clients who grew up in the ’80s but now crave a bit of fantasy in their interiors.
Lucite desk and a carved-wood chair covered with neon lacquer would provide another level of delicious confusion to this room of bold choices.
Hand-Painted Walls in a 1940s Palette
When I entered this bedroom, I got the sensation of opening a technicolor postcard of the 1940s. Walls, Hand-painted in shades of avocado green, mustard yellow and dusty rose, were incredibly inviting and shouted mid-century optimism. The thing is that there is everything nostalgic and at the same time eclectic in this solution – bringing forgotten colors with an artistic touch. They are brush-stroked surfaces with soul as opposed to the digital prints of today that lack character.
I took a low-profile walnut bed frame and positioned a tufted headboard, which is covered with faded coral velvet. Vintage glass lamps were a wonderful match to brass-accented bedside tables. A vanity in the 1940s style with its edges rounded and corners softened added extra beauty. The hand-touched theme was also brought into the fabric with the curtains sewn of floral repurposed linen. Each corner is in homage to the irregularities that make up the significance of genuine craftsmanship.
Being a person who has always admired vintage artistry, I cannot emphasize enough the effectiveness of hand-painted details when it comes to making up a layered story. Architectural Digest claims that patterned walls, which have their basis in the historical context, become the desired detail in the modern design. In my opinion, this trend provides an opportunity to have a classical touch with the history without losing the modern functionality.
I would complete this room by introducing a hand-woven rug in harmonizing shades and maybe a tiny upholstered bench with scalloped legs on the bed foot. A warm white or eggshell blue ceiling would also be an addition to make the 1940s look complete.
Postmodern Minimalism With Antique Souls
This bedroom combines the coldness of the postmodern minimalism and coziness and stories behind the antique finds. It is a strange combination which surprisingly gels. The neutral base is provided by white walls, flat black accent wall and a smooth oak floor, but the real wow factor is the vintage details that fill the room like the ghosts out of the time traveler treasure trove.
The room is anchor by a platform, matte black bed. I put a pair of incongruous old side tables on each side–one an Empire table, with a marble top, and the other a converted Art Deco cart. Above a plain wood dresser is a Rococo mirror, a surprise element. I completed the room by one chair of the Bauhaus period close to the window and a clean linen curtain, and I drew the boundary between the ages but allowed them to speak in unison.
I am sometimes tempted to describe this as emotionally provoking design, and combining clean lines with Brimming items does exactly that. In Elle Decor, Athena Calderone, the designer, says, (It is) “What a piece makes you feel, rather than simply when it was created.” This room testifies to that ethos – it is restrained, yet with warmth, depth and personality.
The only thing that can make this even better is incorporation of ambient light such as a floor standing arc lamp and maybe an old trunk transformed into a bench. These would provide variation and unity.
Mixed Eras With an Avant-Garde Spin
Design in this bedroom has a dramatic theatricality. It is eagerly inspired by the avant-garde and it takes a leap of faith, combining Georgian paneling with Memphis-style color blocking. It has a huge round bed on a elevated terrazzo platform- yes, it is that bold. The walls are hung in half, one half deep crimson damask wallpaper, the other painted electric blue, with white sketch-like lines of modern figures.
The bed is the main attraction- a velvet round base, teal in color with a gold trimmed burgundy headboard that is shaped like a shell. Near a tasseled Victorian floor lamp, there is a Lucite side table. An Original Sputnik chandelier provides the light above the controlled pandemonium. It has a 1970s yellow shag rug, too, to ground the drama with a nudge to retro camp.
And to people, who are as addicted to boundary-pushing design as I am, this room is a study in confident design. It’s reminiscent of designer Kelly Wearstler’s fearless interiors. It is better to be bold, she stated in an interview with Veranda, and this bedroom confirms she was right. It is a platform and a place of refuge at the same time.
And to make this room even larger, I would suggest introducing a mirrored wall panel or an art deco-screen to add another dimension. Motion and depth could be also introduced with the help of a kinetic sculpture that would balance the bold colors and the dramatic flair.
Time-Traveler’s Trunk: The Ultimate Vintage Remix Room
This bedroom has the sensation of the interior of a much-used old trunk- layered, historical, eclectic. The room is filled with history, everything in it, including the steamer trunk serving as a coffee table, and the Parisian flea market oil painting above the fireplace. The walls are sullen navy with high-gloss molding, and the effect is one of the deep infinite sky with gold jewelry and antique frames.
I began by using a 1920s brass bed frame and covering it with a variety of linens–florals, stripes and lace. In the middle is a Moroccan kilim rug, with mid-century nightstands and a small carved writing desk of the 1800s. It is finished with Edison-bulb sconces and an old globe that tips its cap to the time travel concept. Travel photos and old letters in distressed wood frames are a part of a deconstructed gallery wall.
This bedroom addresses my enthusiasm towards vintage eclectic spaces that cannot be labeled. As House Beautiful once put it, “mixing with meaning,” collectors make the finest spaces. This room is just that, a blend with remembrance. It does not apologize to be this diverse, and this is its strength.
To go even deeper into this I would adore to have a suspended canopy of light gauze over the bed and maybe an old map mural behind the headboard. The additions would strengthen the worldwide story and enrich the feeling of narration.
So whether it is a hand-painted legacy walls or an avant-garde fearless mash up, these retro eclectic bedrooms can attest to the fact that the best designs are those that have a story to tell and that story is yours. What time-traveling appearance calls to you the most? What do you think, what combinations do you like compactness with, or what experiments of your own design have you tried in the comments below, we will be happy to hear how you violate the rules.
