A “50 Shades of Beige” Bedroom Got a Dream Makeover — Even the Brown Wood Furniture Looks Amazing!

Sometimes, all it takes for a space to sing is a little bit of color, pattern, and artful layering. That’s the formula designer Sarah Storms, the founder of Styled by Storms, followed to transform a New Jersey primary bedroom that was 50 shades of beige and brown into a serene suite retreat. 

The project’s biggest hurdle involved tweaking the current doorway placement. “The primary bedroom and bathroom were off the main hallway, and only the adults in the home used this bathroom, as their children have a Jack-and-Jill on the other side of the home,” Storms explains. “By removing the primary bedroom door and relocating it to the hall, we created a suite that not only added function, but also added major appeal.”

Next up? Tweaking the bedroom furniture placement to make the space feel larger and more open with a better flow. “While the bedroom wasn’t small, the previous furniture layout made it feel cramped,” Storms says, noting that the bed was positioned against a wall that was a little too short for it. Meanwhile, a desk sat in front of a window, and computer monitors blocked much of the natural light streaming into the space. 

“Simple layout changes made this bedroom feel more spacious and more restful,” explains the designer, who opted to move the bed so that it sits against a longer wall. Storms also convinced her clients to part ways with the desk setup entirely, so the windows would be unobstructed. 

With the construction and the spatial planning underway, Storms turned her attention to furnishings and finishes. Prior to the makeover, the bedroom featured a hodgepodge of wooden furniture and darker textiles. “Bits and pieces pulled together was the original vibe,” Storms says. Clutter was prominent throughout the space, and the design lacked cohesion.

The new goal, then, would be to create a sleep space that felt “layered and almost cocoon-like,” according to Storms. To do that, she’d lean into soothing teals with pops of rust and warm burnt oranges — a fresh take on a classic complementary color scheme. 

Inspiration came from the wall and floor covering selections.“The palette was driven by the hand-knotted wool area rug with the rich teal green and coral geometric motif — and the very soft and subdued wallpaper from Block Shop,” Storms explains. “The idea of color-drenching a space to make it feel warm but not moody was where we ended up.” 

She wove a mixture of high and low pieces into the room. Custom Roman shades made from Dedar fabric hang on the windows and tie into the rug and a Pierre Frey lumbar pillow. A custom bed covered in sumptuous peacock velvet was a total splurge, but it’s a strong, luxurious-looking focal point in the space.

Storms sourced a budget-friendly gauzy comforter from Target and a mid-priced burlwood nightstand from West Elm — you’ll notice the asymmetric look here, with this nightstand on one side of the bed and a chair on the other. Her clients had amazing artwork (some of which one of them made!), so she hung a few pieces solo throughout the space and filled a bare spot on a wall with a pretty gallery cluster. 

The combination of wallpaper and painted trim adds a cheery touch to the space and rounds it out nicely. “Don’t be afraid to paint your trim,” Storms says. “It instantly gives it an elevated look with a slight British feel.”

Now Storms’ clients couldn’t be happier with the bedroom. She was even able to incorporate a few of the couple’s former wooden furniture pieces, which now shine in the new setting and give the space even more character (alongside an original cast iron radiator!).

“In historic homes space is at a premium, and an en-suite primary is often a dream,” says Storms. “With three simple changes — moving the door, tweaking the layout, and going all-in on a soothing color palette — we were able to transform a primary bedroom into a dreamy suite.”