My mom went on vacation this year and I decided I wanted to do something very special for her while she was away. I thought the best homecoming present for her would be this room makeover. She loves the classic french style of trim, molding, and florals.
I wanted this master bedroom remodel to be the best gift. The decor, style and most of the design would honor my parents and still be very her.
My mom recently moved into a new home. After my father’s passing, she downsized to a cozy house with so much character. My mom is the kindest soul you will ever meet. Always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Showering my family and me with love all these years. I hope this small gesture from my heart shows her my appreciation.
Before– A Bland Bedroom
Since my mom just moved into this house, the room was pretty much a blank canvas. The walls were neutral, The furniture was all from her guest bedroom in the old house. The room was calling me to make it over!
Because the room was pretty much still empty, I had a lot of time to mull over my design ideas. Before my mom went on vacation I showed her a few inspiration pictures to determine what she would like. I didn’t tell her what it was for to keep the surprise, but did get a good idea of what she would like.
Inspiration for this french inspired bedroom
My vision for this room was Parisian elegance. Ornate high ceilings, texture and layers of patterns. I wanted to feel like I stepped into Paris and could smell the fresh croissants in the air, full of depth, warmth.
I recently gave my bathroom a french provincial inspired feel with blue wall paint and gold accents and my mom loves it! I wanted to bring that same design to her bedroom.
The goal was clear, a layered, French-inspired bedroom, wall paint, molding and trim and a reading nook would be center focus.
Finding the Perfect Blue Paint Color
I knew from the beginning I was going to go with a Benjamin Moore paint. Having used their paint in the past, I personally knew about the durability and ease of painting.
I sampled a few French blue shades, before I settled on Santorini Blue 1634 by Benjamin Moore, Regal Select Interior Paint in Eggshell. A beautiful soft blue shade.
When I am installing wall molding, I like to tape the wall to get a feel for the right size boxes. Also take into account any doors, windows and outlets. I have an in-depth guide on how to plan and install wall molding.
Painting the Walls the perfect shade of blue paint
With the time crunch I was on I knew I had to choose and paint the room. Before painting, I taped off the wall. I used a single long piece of tape across the ceiling. Make sure not to break into smaller pieces as it may lead to uneven taping.
My mom had just spent $600 on professional carpet cleaning before she moved in, so there was no way I was going to ruin that! I laid down carpet protectors. Make sure to get ones with a rubber back, not just canvas. That way if any paint spills, it won’t go through the mat and stain the carpet.
After deciding the paint color, I got to work. I used an 18″ roller to paint quickly. I applied 2 coats of the Santorini Blue. With just the first coat the color looked a little gray. And I was second guessing my decision. However, after the second coat the color transformed into the most serene French country blue. The French blue bedroom was coming together nicely. Very soft, moody, and full of depth.
Picture Frame Molding to elevate the bedroom
The next step was to start on the box molding. Quite possibly my favorite feature in any room, it makes it look so high-end. I cannot recommend it enough.
There are a total of 18 walls in my moms room, so I got to work right on the box molding. If you know me then you know, I do not use pre-bought trim. It is more expensive, it uses adhesive that can be damaging for the wall, and it just doesn’t look as high-end because it’s not custom fit to the walls.
I used my Mitre Saw to make the cuts on the store bought moulding. Cut moulding at a 45 degree angle with your saw set to zero. You’ll always a clean cut. For a full tutorial, check out this post on how to install picture frame molding
Attaching Trim with Pin Nailer
Once I had all the pieces for the box moulding cut, the next step was to attach it to the wall. I used my pin nailer instead of a traditional nail gun. It is a better option when working with thinner wood like this trim.
Here’s all the tools I used for this project
Make sure you don’t nail too close to the corners at first. Line the wood up, pinch the corners together and then nail to close the box perfectly.
Caulk and Fill Holes for a professional finish
The last step for the trim is to caulk it at the seams. I recommend not to skip this step as it is the difference between a pro finish and beginner DIY.
The process is simple, just apply a thin bead of caulk in the corners and where the wall meets the trim. Then, wipe the excess off. Instantly you get a seamless look! Make sure to fill in any gaps before painting over the trim to match the wall color.
The benefit of using a pin nailer is that the holes can be easily filled with just paint. This helps you save time because you don’t need to use wood filler in the holes.
I removed the tape and was so please with the result!
Styling this french inspired blue bedroom
With the walls now complete, and trim painted, the next step was to bring the room to life with bedroom decor. I reused as much of my mom’s old furniture as possible for sentimental value.
My husband helped me assemble the bed, bring in the side tables and chair for the reading nook. The cream colored bed frame and the brown side tables contrasted really well. I also already had the rug from her old home.
I added cream colored pinch pleated curtains, they paired beautifully with the French blue walls.
Mixing Patterns on Bed
For the bed, I used a mix of my parents’ old bedding and a few new pieces. Fully enough, my mom wanted to donate the green comforter when she was moving, but I urged her not to. Seems like I had this vision all along. Layered with lots of patterns and similar tones – a green duvet, cream throw blanket and pillows in different shades of blue, the finished look was something straight out of a catalogue.
Side Table Set-up
For the side tables, I went with a classic approach. Two matching cream colored lamps, a green picture frame, a gold clock and fresh flowers in a vase.
A moody rug to ground her bedroom
To pull the bed set up together, I laid down a moody rug under the bed. The darker tone balanced the lighter walls and created that soft, French-inspired contrast.
Turning a useless corner into a book Nook
The cozy reading nook is probably my favorite thing in this room. As soon as I saw this big beautiful window, with all the sunlight pouring in, I knew it had to be converted into a reading nook.
I brought in a gorgeous floral chair my dad had, a dark brown mini side table, and gold/brass frames for the ornate gallery wall.
My mom loves to read, and I think this would be a good place for her to unwind in the evenings.
For the gallery wall, I used the wrapping paper method. I had accumulated a pretty good art collection over the years, between what I thrifted and what my dad left behind. I brought in all the art, laid it on the floor to see what would look good together and in the room. After choosing, I arranged them together on the floor, cut and traced them with the wrapping paper, and taped that wrapping paper on the wall to see how it looked.
Reveal of my mom’s blue bedroom makeover
Finally it was the big reveal day! I was very nervous showing my mom the final product, kept my fingers crossed that she would like it.
When my mom saw the room, she couldn’t stop smiling. The first thing she said was how much she loved the wall color. She even joked about never sleeping in the room so she could keep it as a showpiece!
The reading nook ended up being both of our favorite.
Final Thoughts
This makeover was more than just a DIY project. It was a labor of love and a physical embodiment of my appreciation. A lot of late nights, weekends and lots of heart!
I wanted my mom to feel surrounded by love, comfort and support with her new change. And for her to see my dad in every detail of this room. He had immaculate taste and I made sure to keep it alive in the decisions I made.
This move signified a big change in our family’s lives. Leaving behind our family home full of memories and love, I wanted this room to be really peaceful and special. I hope our family continues to grow and make more memories in this new home of hers.
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