During my eight years or so of blogging, I’ve written numerous times about the importance of feeling at home, while at home. This is our second apartment in NYC and while we loved our first year in the brownstone apartment, it wasn’t until we moved into our new apartment that, well, that sometimes elusive feeling (the X Factor?!) of being truly at home in our apartment, finally arrived. There’s a softness to the natural light in this space that I find very calming. In fact, it was this that partly inspired my decision to choose a gray paint color (remember how I was torn between two colors?!) for the bedroom walls. The gentle light pairs effortlessly with the Gray Frost PPG Paints color, don’t you think? I truly love how this room has come together and I’m excited to share a full tour of the master bedroom with the before and after. Click through to take the tour for some gray bedroom decor inspiration!
Last month, I shared my paint and decor plans for the bedroom. Before I dive into the full reveal and gray bedroom decor inspiration in my second post in partnership with PPG Paints, I thought it would be useful to share some painting tips for that perfect straight line. As you can see from the top image in the post, I decided not to paint Gray Frost all the way to the ceiling. This was because I wanted to use the color on all four of the bedroom walls, so to keep the space feeling airy and fresh I left around one foot of white wall from the ceiling down. Taking this painting approach (vs. painting straight up to the ceiling line) does take more time but I think it’s 100% worth it, especially in smaller spaces. My top tip for making any painting makeover or project look professional is prep, prep, prep. If you invest the time upfront to ensure everything is properly prepared and ready for the actual paint – think: washing the walls of any grease; taping drop sheets to the baseboard and floor; gathering your arsenal of painting tools and brushes in advance, and so on – then you will speed through the painting part and have a new look space in no time at all! For the straight line, I used a compact self-leveling laser line tool, which you place on a flat surface or tripod at the desired height to project a perfectly straight line onto the surface you wish you paint. It’s then super easy to stick painter’s tape along the line on the wall so that you get that perfectly straight line when you peel back the tape. Remember to slightly dampen the tape once you’ve applied it (this helps to prevent paint seeping underneath), and to peel the tape off the moment you finish painting (and before it dries) – this helps minimize the opportunity for tears in the paint along the line.
The result of the white ‘banner’ around the top of the room serves two purposes: firstly, it helps to reflect light at the top of the room, visually raising the ceiling; secondly, it gives added impact to the Gray Frost painted walls below, encouraging the eye to be drawn down into the room, and therefore making the bedroom feel more intimate in the process. And, here it is! Ta-da! I love stepping out of bed onto the reindeer hide rug, it’s so soft and comforting..
I joked over on Instagram how I was sweating the details of the space so that they perfectly paired with the Gray Frost color of the room. Well, I’m pleased I did because this has turned out to be my favorite bedroom I’ve ever decorated – I love it so much! My aim was to create a serene and cocooning space that still felt fresh and not imposing, and it really does tick all those boxes. The Princeton plug-in sconces are the perfect nightstand lights, as the antique black finish and cord are a subtle reference point to the Petra Ebony fabric that was used to upholster the Ella bed.
I dressed the nightstands with pieces that reflect my love of Scandinavian forests: a gorgeous Gran tray (remember how I used the same print as wallpaper in one of my old London apartments many, many years ago?!) and a reindeer candleholder. The gorgeous misty forest print adds the splash of mountain pine blue-green accent color I was looking for in the space, while the graphic black and white stripes of the Zebra print from Minted add a splash of pattern. I introduced texture with a few silver birch branches in the corner to complete this vignette.
I love the subtle forest reference created by the upside down ‘V’ shapes in the Northern Flow 2 print next to the left-hand nightstand. I dressed the bed in washed gray linen bedding and repeated the upside down ‘V’ pattern on a smaller scale in two Euro shams from West Elm. The gray-green color of the Sanela curtains was the perfect final splash of accent color in the space. Love!
Finally, I hung a trio of prints – Apache Jack, Dark Fog and As You Are – to create a small monochrome gallery wall as a way to disguise the wall-mounted television. I choose the monochrome palette to both contrast with the Gray Frost paint color, and harmonize with the black and white casing of TV to make it ‘disappear.’ I hope you have found some gray bedroom decor inspiration within the post?! What’s catching your eye from my gray and green bedroom scheme? You can find your nearest PPG store here and you can use this coupon to get $10 off any paint purchases over $25!
// Art direction, styling and photography by Will Taylor | Posted in partnership with PPG Paints; all views my own.
68 Comments
This is gorgeous Will, I love the grey you chose and the photo above your bed is beautiful, moody and very soothing
http://karinecandicekong.com/2016/12/quickly-update-dining-room/
@Karine – Thank you so much! Thrilled that you like it as your eye for decor is one I greatly admire. 🙂
This looks gorgeous! Love the colour and the white border giving the illusion of space too! x
@Lori – Yay! Glad you like the paint choice! Isn’t that boarder at the top so great?! Really helps to maximize the natural light! x
I love it so much Will! You did an amazing job creating a gray space that’s monochromatic but still feels cozy and warm. I’m in love! Meanwhile I’m over here, too lazy to paint the walls of my rental even though I’ve lived here for six years. Haha.
@Jackie – Thank you very much! I had a blast working on this space and it feels so relaxing to be in it now. Love the Scandinavian feel! You should totally paint in your place – let’s have a painting party! 🙂
Don’t know where to start….love every last detail Will!! The color, the art, the lights! Wow!! You are a talent!
@Jenna – Gosh! So kind of you to say, thank you! I am obsessed with the sconces from Schoolhouse!
Killer space man. Love what you did with that painted line at the top
@Brandon – Cheers!
Beautiful Will! The gray frost color you chose goes very well with the art and sconces. The windows look huge, was it expensive to dress them? I am in a rental and decorating my living room which is similar with big windows. Worried about how much the drapes will be.
@Chrissy – Right? A decor marriage made in heaven! Yes, the windows are super big – almost one whole wall, in fact – but I lucked out and found these amazing curtains from IKEA (linked in the post) which were only like $100 or so. I bought two packs so there are two drapes on either side as the window is so big, but it totally works!
It’s just beautiful, Will! Well done! 🙂
@Bradford – Really kind of you to say, Bradford, thank you! Hope you are keeping well and Seattle is as beautiful as ever!
It looks great, Will! Love reading your tips and thoughts too.
Carrie
http://www.wearwherewell.com
@Carrie – So pleased you found them useful, I really loved working on this makeover! Have a great weekend!
Most gorgeous shades Will! Just love how soothing and cozy it feels ^^
@Eleni – Isn’t that gray frost color just beautiful? It gave me so much inspiration for all the other elements that I brought into the space. Thanks for your kind words!
Adore how cool but not cold this room is, headboard fabric is delicious !!
@Kate – Love that you said that as it was my aim with the space! Thank you! 🙂 The upholstered headboard feels so luxe and comfortable – I love it!
Holy cow Will! This is incredible!! I see a BB boutique hotel down the line 🙂
@Lindsey – So kind of you to say, thank you! Beyond thrilled with how this space came together!
Brilliant! Totally stealing the idea to disguise the tv in the bedroom. Thanks, man!
@Nichole – Right?! I literally forget that there’s a TV on the wall!
Absolutely amazing! I’m sensing a makeover of my own, every single detail is perfect
@Tristan – Yay! Glad it has inspired you to decorate as well! 🙂
Absolutely amazing! That white banner feature is perfection!
@Jenn – Thank you!
Ahhh it’s beautiful! Grey can sometimes read a bit ‘cold’ but this is anything but – it’s so warm and inviting. I love those wall lamps and the art your chose too. Also, I totally had to scroll up to notice you had a wall-mounted TV there! The gallery wall totally did the trick because I didn’t even notice it at first! 😉 xx
@Kimberly – Thank you so much, lovely! Really thrilled with this space, it’s such a sanctuary! 🙂 xx
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I seriously can’t get over how amazing this looks! Nice work as usual Will 🙂
@Kevin – Really kind of you to say, thank you! Hope you had a lovely weekend! 🙂
I am obsessed with how your bedroom looks now! Your apartment must be a dream to photograph!!!
-Didier
@Didier – Yay! So happy you like it, thank you! The light and color combination sure do make for beautiful photographs in this space!
Absolutely ?LOVE? the color. A little bummed because the coupon link in your article expired November 2016. Wanted to try to fit the paint purchase in now.
@Paula – Thanks for the kind words about the color, I’m glad you love it as much as I do! I’m sorry to hear it has expired. Let me see if I can contact them for a new one!
Saw your tweet and had to see the makeover of your bedroom! I have dark furniture too and this cook grey looks amazing! Lastly I am diy’er and slowly updating my home 😉
Ursula /. If you get a chance you can view my blog here 🙂 http://kraftmint.com ?
@Ursula – Thanks for stopping by to see the makeover, I’m glad you found it inspiring! Just checked out your DIYs and they look AMAZING! 🙂
You’re right, the bedroom colour scheme is very soothing. Everything came together really nicely. Thanks for all the tips!
@Dian – I’m glad you think that the space is soothing as well, and that the tips were useful. Thank you for stopping by!
GORGEOUS!!! Where is the bed from and where are the hides on the floor from? Amazing
@Sara – Thanks so much! The bed is from Room & Board and the hides are from CB2. Everything is linked above in the post, if that helps! 🙂
You’ve done a great job with the new bedroom Will! I’m currently redecorating my room, but I’m actually going away from grey and to white. My room lacks light, so all white walls is hopefully going to optimise the light that does manage to enter the space. I think I’m going to have to pick up some grey bedding and a throw to introduce some colour.
Jordan Bunker | Men’s Fashion and Lifestyle Blog
@Jordan – Thank you, man! Your bedroom makeover sounds great, love the idea of the grey bedding. Can’t wait to see it.
You are great man, absolutely Good work. You give it a unique look and which I like much are two wood poll standing in corner.
I just love your wall art !
@Ora – Thank you! I love Minted!
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Perfect! Just what i was looking for while planning my makeover 🙂 Thanks!
@Simona – I’m so pleased it was useful! Thanks for reading!
I love it so much! This is perfect bedroom. It brings to mind cold, but refreshing morning air. It’s absolutely gorgeous. I checked out your post about colours dilemma – I think you choose best option. I also love TV idea 😀 It seems that’s nothings there.
http://thehomeexpert.uk/
Absolutely amazing all in one photography and presentation brilliant.
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This looks amazing. Just loved it….
I like the makeover of this bedroom. Really you are so talented. I am impressed with your work and got some great ideas. Thanks for sharing.
@Amanda – Thank you so much!
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Looks so beautiful – we want to do the exact same thing for our bedroom! What is the name of the white color that you used? It goes perfectly with the grey.
@Jeanette – Super White by BM!
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You’ve done a great job guys.