Relaxed Elegance Bedroom Refresh

This relaxed elegance bedroom refresh combines laid-back linen bedding with vintage art and muted colors to create a haven that’s both beautiful and livable. But it wasn’t always this way…

This post is an exciting one for me! I’m finally giving some attention to our master bedroom after nearly two years of focusing on the girls’ bedrooms. If you read my post about the custom curtains in our bedroom, you might be wondering what happened between that photoshoot and this image…

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Well, life happened. I also didn’t love the bedding I used for that shoot. So, our room went back to looking like a bachelor pad after I posted. And sadly, we’ve had this upholstered headboard for eight years now with no bed skirt. I’m not sure what that says about me (I sew just about everything), but I’m glad to be addressing this situation now. Better late than never right? 

Relaxed Elegance Bedding

My first hurdle in this relaxed elegance bedroom refresh was bedding. I’ve never found a bedding combo I liked, which is why our bedroom has looked this way for so long. It was total paralysis by analysis. Literally anything would have been better than what we’ve lived with in here for years. So, I finally put all my energy into this piece of the master bedroom design and partnered with Serena and Lily on bedding that would be appealing, classic, and practical. 

I love the look of crisp, white bedding, but we have animals. So, I chose the Sutter Linen Quilt in white, but then added the Cavallo Linen Duvet cover with the Primaloft Duvet Insert in the Medium weight to layer on top as protection against our animals who like the end of our bed just a little too much (we’re working on it). I also added a plaid bed blanket as one more layer of protection against dirt and dog hair. I then used some extra ticking stripe fabric I had lying around as a faux bed skirt until I get to making a real one. 

Details of this Relaxed Elegance Bedding

When I received my new Serena and Lily bedding, I was thrilled to see that the white quilt had contrasting embroidered dots on it that coordinated perfectly with the duvet cover. It’s also super soft on the sleeping side, but full of yummy linen texture on the outside. It’s those details for me that set this bedding apart from anything I’ve had in the past. 

I wanted wrinkly linen as the top layer of our bed because my goal was a relaxed elegance bedroom refresh; nothing too fussy or precious. Good linen is a perfect blend of luxury and livability, and the Cavallo Duvet Cover is as good as it gets. 

Pillows With Subtle Pattern and Color

For decorative pillows, I grabbed three that I had on hand but wasn’t sold on using in other areas of our home. I can switch these out any time I want, while the versatile Serena and Lily bedding will provide a timeless backdrop for years to come. 

Relaxed and Elegant Dresser Styling

Okay, so our bed wasn’t the only area that received a refresh. On the wall opposite our bed, I simply switched out the DIY gilded mirror for my favorite round mirror. It used to hang above our dresser, but then I “borrowed” it for the family room for awhile. I always knew it belonged in here. I love the juxtaposition of the round shape with the linear elements in the room. I’m just so glad we no longer need it in the family room since we’re finally demolishing the corner fireplace! 

And now, I love that the reflection in the mirror is beautiful and not disheveled like it has been for so many years. It feels so much more put together. 

The Story of Our Oil Painting

I also want to touch on the oil painting above our bed because it’s so special. I found this piece on a recent trip to our family’s favorite place…Franklin, TN. You can read all about our trip in this post, where you’ll see a picture of this oil painting. It was my favorite find on our trip, but for some reason I didn’t buy it.

When I returned home, I regretted not buying it. So, when a friend of mine said she was going through Franklin on an unexpected trip out east, I jumped at the chance to ask her if she would pick it up for me. She graciously did, and when I hung it up, I knew it was meant to be. Not only is it the perfect shape and size (surprisingly), but it’s also tied to our family’s favorite place, which makes it the most special piece.

Adding a Rug for Relaxed Elegance

Oh, and I almost forgot…one of the biggest changes in here is the addition of the rug that was in the front living room. We won’t need it in there anymore after the luxury vinyl plank floors are laid in a few months, so I relocated it to our bedroom. It pairs perfectly with the Serena and Lily bedding, as well as the decorative pillows (which I relocated from other areas of the house too), and adds to the relaxed elegance vibe.

I am so excited about this bedding because it means we have momentum for our master bedroom. A big “thank you” goes to Serena and Lily for partnering with me on this. I’m reinvigorated to keep going and get this room across the finish line…slowly, but we’ll get there. Up next is the upholstered bed project and then new carpet in August, so stay tuned for those changes. For now, I’m going to go crawl into this cozy situation and enjoy the progress! 

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