It was time to give our main bedroom a bit of a freshen up and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money so this main bedroom makeover was done on a budget of $50.

I’ve been slowly going through our house, making over each room. Not that it needs it but it’s nice to change the look every now again. I will always try and use what I already have or else I find it a challenge to source second hand items. I’d made over my daughter’s room in a ‘peacock’ theme and my 10 year old son’s bedroom in an African Safari theme but wasn’t sure about a ‘theme’ as such for the main bedroom.

I’ve inherited so much vintage linen over the last couple of years with the passing of my Nanna, my mother and my mother-in-law and to me it’s so precious. So much hard work, passion, love and talent has gone into every piece and I just can’t bare to part with any of it. I’m really going to give my vintage linen collection a good cull and if I can’t use it now, I’m going to have to part with it. It’s just taking up too much space in my linen cupboard. Part of my collection were these two hand embroidered linen cushion covers. They are just beautiful.

My husband didn’t really mind what colour scheme I used. I didn’t want to make it too feminine but he thinks what I’ve done is really refreshing.

My Inspiration

I wanted to incorporate the light blue colour from the feathers of the fairy wren, the cream colour of the bedspread I’ve had for years and the latte colour of the ‘new’ second hand curtains I’d recently scored.

It wasn’t like I was getting new furniture. There wasn’t any need. The bed was still fine although we will need a new mattress one day soon. The bedside tables were still functional as was all the other furniture in the room. I had plenty of linen and décor items to make it over but I just need to inject a bit of colour based on the fairy wren embroidered picture and those two hand embroidered cushion covers. I looked for ages for a throw rug for the end of the bed and saw many for anywhere from $29 right up to $100. This light blue (what looks like a single bedspread) was only $3.50 from the thrift store.

I had bought the curtains recently from the thrift store. There were 3 drops of a beautiful cotton type fabric which had a thread embroidered through each one. They were also lined with a separate cotton lining and a concealed cover on the tabs at the top. You wouldn’t believe it but they were $10! Four would’ve been better as this little ‘awkward’ window we have above the bed is just too wide for one curtain.

Making Good Use of the Space

I decided to look online for something in that light blue colour and found a pair of sheer tab top curtains for $12, brand new on ebay. I tried centering the bed right under the window but it didn’t leave us much room beside our closet. It does play with my OCD but I will get over it.

The framed picture on the other side was another thrift store find. It’s a beautiful embroidery of Australian native flowers which I think compliments the flowers embroidered on the cushion covers. I’ve had this for ages so put it to good use.

Putting Vintage Pieces out on Display

Another couple of pieces in my vintage collection were these hand crocheted pillow cases from my Nanna. I’ve always loved them since I spotted them when we were going through my mother’s things. She had obviously received them when Nanna passed away but I don’t recall her ever using them. I was reluctant to as well but I thought ‘why not?’. You can put any coloured pillow case underneath. I thought the latte colour worked well.

The two light blue fluffy cushions were a brand new purchase. Not something I do usually. I did look for absolute ages at the thrift stores and usually I’m pretty lucky finding what I need but not in this case. The post Christmas sale at one of the big fabric stores had these on special for $12 each so I grabbed them. They were the perfect colour and are so, so soft. The ‘Love’ cushion was already in my collection.

The other pieces were already in my collection. The doilies belonged to family members, the lamp shades were thrift store finds ages ago and brand new for about $2 a piece, replacing the shades on the existing lamps. The oil diffuser was a special souvenier from my husband and my weekend away when he proposed to me. (It’s lasted 2 years.) The cream coloured bedspread I’ve had for years and it was a thrift store buy for $10 and it’s light for the summer months, not that we have it over ourselves. All in all, just a bit of a change to the colour scheme and a few accent cushions and colours in prints and curtains.

Total Cost of the Makeover

The breakdown of the makeover is as follows:

• 3 x curtain drops from the thrift store = $10
• 1 x pair sheer light blue tab top curtains (new) = $12
• 2 x fluffy light blue cushions @ $12 each (new) = $24
• 1 x light blue throw from the thrift store @ $3.50
• Total = $49.50

I’m really happy with how it feels every night when we get into bed. A nice calm environment and using the vintage linen pieces that belonged to my Nanna makes me feel a lot better than having them tucked away in the linen cupboard for no one to see. You really can change the look of a room for very little cost using what you already have and buying just a few new or second hand pieces.