Bedroom Bliss

My bedroom is a space I have been curating since I moved to Chicago in 2016. My design style and home aesthetic could be considered to be traditional bohemian with a contemporary monochromatic flare. My color pallet is limited to black, white and gray with accents of green and gold. I find that my free spirited and boho pieces are complimented by metallic elegance and pops of greenery and plants. My inner Slytherin is displayed all throughout my bedroom.

In my home, I have a rule and in my opinion "every room can use a touch of black." I have found that a little bit of Alex has been sprinkled in place’s such as my living room, kitchen, bathrooms and dining room. Black happens to be my favorite color. Black is a color that draws your eye and serves as focal point. Black grounds, anchors, and adds a sophisticated look to a room. But to get real drama and spark, I like to pair black with white. Black and white together are a classic color combo. The pairing of black and white in decorating and interior design gives a fresh, clean, chic, unquestionably sophisticated, and elegant look to any room.

When I first fell in love with home décor and furniture, my eye was always drawn to black and white. White gives off a fresh, clean, bright, simple and relaxing calm atheistic. While black, encapsulates you with it’s bold, hard, dark and dense striking feel. When it came to designing my bedroom, I knew I wanted unique and special pieces that would never go out of style. I do not spend money lightly. I believe if something is special enough and carries unique properties, that price is not a factor. I want furniture pieces and decor that I can pass down throughout my life and keep in my family for generations. I didn’t want to recreate your average run-of-the-mill bedroom filled with repetitive garbage from big cooperate moguls. I strive for diversity, simplicity and elegance. I created a clean color story while adding little touches of my personality throughout this room.

For me, I am that obsessive type who will scour the internet until I find exactly what i’m looking for or a hidden treasure I never knew I needed in my life. My bedroom is filled with furniture and home decor from several brands and companies. I worked for URBN inc and had a discount at several of their brands like Anthropolgie and Urban Outfitters. From my bone-inlay dressers, to some simple art prints, my room is me in a nutshell. I find that the simple little touches make the biggest impact.

Once I found the perfect hard carved bed frame and matching entertainment center, I knew I had a lot of bohemian accents in the room. I needed something bold and full of contrast to combat the bright white colored furniture I purchased. I stumbled upon bone inlay in some of my interior design courses at Columbia College Chicago. Bone inlay is traditionally practiced with pearl or ivory. The bone inlay technique steams from japan, Egypt and India, it was traditionally etched into lingering wood pieces where craftsmen would carve bone fragments into intricate designs and patterns. Any and all bone inlay furniture exhibits a blend of bohemian, classical and traditional artistry. Throughout time bone inlay has been derived from camel bone, rhino horns or elephant ivory tusks and teeth. As and animal rights activist, I could never justify impacting the environment like that. Ethically, I had a huge problem with this. I could never condone de-tusking elephants or de-horing rhino’s for the sake of furniture. Luckily, the dressers I found were sourced ethically from natural byproducts of the food industry. No animals were harmed or injured for the sake of these ornate furniture pieces. I have never encountered anything as elegant or as enchanting as bone inlay. These dressers are the first thing that catches your eye when you walk into the room. They are so elaborate and striking. They have the ability to tie my whole space together, adding a dash of excitement and character. They complement the other colors, textures and patterns I have throughout my room. 

Decor is that art of curating how you wish to enhance and furnish a room. Whenever it comes to decorating something a personal as a bedroom, It should be a reflection of who you are. Every little nook and cranny should be filled with the essence of you and your style. Some of the decor pieces you will find in my room include, pots, vases, a skull, throw pillows and blankets, a ladder, art prints, frames, photos, purses, platters, candles, knickknacks, jewelry stands, perfume, coasters, and books. You will smell green sage, sandalwood and tonka bean notes from my favorite candle, black tie from Bath and Body works. You will see black and white floral and cactus art prints from Urban Outfitters. You will also find hand painted watercolor prints from Italy hanging on the wall. You will find delicate jewelry adorned on a geode rock serving tray with pops of metallic accents on my dresser. Green plants and succulents contrast from my gray walls and my ornate patterned dressers.

No matter the size of the object, it can make your space that much more interesting. Shopping for decor might just be my favorite activity. I like to shop as stores like Rejuvenation, Target, Jayson Home, TJmaxx, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Pier One, CB2, Crate and Barrel, World Market, Khols, Macy’s, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Marshall’s and Home Goods. I find that some of my best decor was purchased when I was away on a trip or somewhere you would least expect to find it. You never know where you will stumble upon greatness.

You never know when inspiration will strike when it comes decor. Sorting out what accents and colors you want in your space can be hard. For me, black and white makes the biggest impact in my room and I needed something to break up such a bold space. I choose to add small uniquely personalized decor in my room. For example, I have a small bronze skull sitting on the dresser next to my bed. To some people that might seem a little creepy and weird but things are not always as what they appear. That bronze skull is actually from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. Harry Potter has an extremely special place in my heart. I grew up reading the books and watching the films in theaters like millions of other millennial’s. I purchased that skull from Borgin and Burkes, which (in the Harry Potter universe) is notoriously known for selling old antiques, furniture and wizarding treasures. I identify as a Slytherin and I tend to gravitate toward curiosity and darkness. This small object also serves as a nice metallic color pop against the bold black and white anchor pieces I have. I choose to add a few touches of gold to sprinkle in a little more contemporary texture and modernity in such a bohemian styled space.

If I buy something, I will hold myself accountable and responsible for that product to the end of it’s life, no matter where it is in the world, no matter who is using its and no matter how many time’s it has been passed on. I try to purchase goods that will last and won’t fail the test of time. I invest in furniture that is both durable and long lasting. These pieces, trinkets and decor are 100% and unapologetically me. I take pride in my life, my style and my decor. I hope you enjoyed taking a peek into my design style and decor in my bedroom.