Mine is all white, actually different shades of cream. The walls are all (real) adobe, painted Mt.Ranier White. The floors are brick. I varied the textures in here for added interest. To us, it looks cool and serene in the warmer months, but warm & cozy during the cold months. BTW, the rugs are Orientals. Accent colors are subtle shades of rose and sage green. I like that I can change out the accent colors easily, if I want.
Lynn
Here's a couple views taken during the summer:
{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}
And here it is on a cold winter evening:
{{gwi:1409068}}
The one real touch of color, other than the artwork, is this rose velveteen chair:
{{gwi:1499187}}

Off-white, white will be fine just be sure to vary textures. That's the key when doing a monochromatic room.

Have you considered covering the mirrors on the headboard to be different? If you're tired of them, it could be done in several ways. I was tired of mirrors in a china cabinet and covered posterboard with fabric, using double stick tape to hold in place.

They could also be covered with metal sheeting - like ceiling tin, painted. Any material really.

Check out Shabby Chic website for monochromatic inspiration pictures.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shabby Chic website

Allison's got some great ideas. If you're not going to be able to paint or replace the bed, with the style you have going in there perhaps think about some of these to mix up the textures and add some interest:
* sheepskin rugs for the floor by the bed ( I have them in my guest room and they're machine washable on the gentle cycle)
* cream colored matlasse bedspread with a fluffy, pale taupe or cream satin coverlet folded at the bottom of your bed.
* embroidered or tapestry throw pillows on the bed in cream and dark taupe or black floral prints, with perhaps another accent color (sage green?).
* cream colored Shabby Chic-style framed pictures and/or mirrors
* a green tree in the corner and light colored baskets (or pots) of greenery on top of your headboard.

Or, how about going with a winter forest look? You could use:
* the same cream matlasse spread, sheepskin rugs and satiny throw, but . . .
* use white birch or painted branches, white birch covered candles, etc.
* a rustic, white wood framed mirror
* white rustically framed prints or posters of tall evergreens or snowy mountain scenes.
* Big, white, lacy embroidered doilies that mimic snowflakes on your side tables, etc.
* Perhaps one of those great Moravian star hanging lights that's painted white
*use the white, cream, dark green and some brown as your colors.
Lynn

I ment to say "Big, white, crocheted doilies . . . ."

I take it that you do not wish to ever paint the cedar walls. You say you hate the oak headboard. Are you up to painting the oak bed? What would you have to lose? Having a wood bed against the wood walls is well, a lot of wood. I would also eliminate the mirrors. Could you put wood doors in front of them and replace the glass doors with wood? I like Alison's idea of using punched tin. Could you add a decorative molded crown at the top of the headboard unit to soften the hard square lines it has?

Its a nice room and I think that using all off white for accessories will make the space seem larger and brighter, and make the cedar walls seem like an asset by bringing out the texture.

I used to have a very similar bed as yours. I put different things on top of it, like nesting boxes and vases. It doesn't have to be busy, maybe just a row of white pillar candles, or framed prints with oversized mats.

DD1 just purchased a small sheepskin rug at Shabby Chic. I was surprised they were washable. It's gorgeous and so soft.

Punched tin, tin ceiling, copper panels (aged outside with the garden hose before installing). I like the idea of painting the headboard too but wasn't sure the OP wanted to paint.

You could even shirr fabric on tension rods to cover the mirrors. Could be carried over to behind the glass doors if you want to use it for storage rather than display.

Some art stores carry beautiful handmade papers with leaves, flowers, etc in them.

Thank you all so much! I had to be away from my computer for a while, and I came back to find lots of good ideas!

lynne--The photos you posted are very helpful! What a lovely room! I like the idea of varying the textures; I had already thought about doing that, and I like what you've done, especially the white-on-white bedding. I like your other ideas, too. I didn't know there were washable sheepskin rugs! Funny you mentioned Moravian stars--I just ordered these. And I have a set of birch-bark candles, too. :-)

allison--I never thought about covering the mirrors! That's a great idea! I think I'm going to do that, either with fabric or paper. Thanks for the link. I definitely like having photos as inspiration. I'm somewhat lacking in imagination.

dilly--No, painting the walls isn't an option. But I would be willing to paint the furniture. I thought about it months ago when there was a thread here about gel staining. I'm just not sure what color to paint it, because I don't want to be stuck with a particular color. I don't know if I'd want white furniture, and the only other color I've considered is a dark brown. Any ideas? I think I will cover the mirrors, like allison suggested.

daisy--I hadn't thought of nesting boxes. Some of them are really pretty. I like your idea of framed prints for above the headboard. What kind of prints? Botanicals? Photos of my dog? She's off-white! :-)

You've all been very helpful! I'm going to get started right away.

Minimizing the wood bed was my first thought too. I was thinking that by sheering a white cotton sheet on a rod and attaching it to the overhang above the bed would add some softness, continue your color scheme, and provide a cool hidey-hole behind for book and misc. bedroom things.

A long format piece of art would look beautiful above the bed since it looks like you have taller ceilings to draw the eye up.

OHH! I just realized that IT LIGHTS too! If you used the right fabric that could be super cool.

Glad I could help.

Not that you would want these in your room, but it reminded me that my children each had a paper star light in their rooms growing up. We also had one in the den. Great night lights or soft lights to watch TV late at night. They are gorgeous when lit. The pictures online don't do them justice. I did see some lit on Flickr if anyone is interested.

Here is a link that might be useful: Paper Star Lights

a friend of mine had a 80s oak bedroom set like yours and had a contractor add a oak trim to the top to give it a updated look do that and change out the mirrors and color and it would look like a new peice of furnature. I think if it was mine I would go darker on the bed then use lots of bold textures with your white beding and accessories. Framed painted art above the head board is also a great idea to add more color. Botanticals is a great idea but find something you love and painted not print. I think it might be hard to find a print that looks right with your stye house.

paint chips--I hadn't thought of putting fabric or paper out at the edge of the mirrored part above the bed. I was going to put it right on the mirrors. But, like you say, there are lights there. It would look cool to make a framed fabric or paper panel for that area, and mount it out near the front! It would look sort of like a shoji screen. Hmmmm... I'm really liking that idea! I usually just put candles there, but I have a problem with the cat getting up there during the night and rubbing on things or knocking them off.

allison--Those paper lights are cool! They remind me of the glass star candleholders my neighbor gave me, similar to these, but on a post. Maybe I'll see how they look on top of the headboard.

madeyna--I'm seriously thinking of staining or painting the furniture, maybe a mahogany color. Is that what you mean by "darker on the bed"? Or did you mean dark bedding? You're right about finding the right art--it's an ongoing problem I have. There's a lot of art that others love, but I don't. I have unusual taste. Botanicals would probably work the best, maybe ferns (or pinecones?). I'll have to do some searching.

As far as painting the furniture, that will be quite a project. There's not only the huge bed, which is several pieces, with wires coming out in six places; there's also a large armoire, a seven-drawer low dresser, and a five-drawer high dresser. And the drawers don't come out all the way (another reason why I hate the furniture).

Thanks again everybody for your input!

The paper stars hang down, they come with a long cord. You could mount them on a base of some sort with a pole.

I meant the bed not the beding .Yes is would be a huge job but would really give a huge impact to your room there was a thread on the kitchen for a few weeks ago that showed a close up of how oak looks painted dark . I,ll see if I can find it.

I like Paint chip's idea of using fabric instead of solid doors over the cubbies. With the lights it will look fantastic with that Shoji feel. Staining the bed set dark will make the wood walls seem lighter and the bed set seem smaller. The contrast between the woods will add interest.

I am curious about what looks to be a pocket door on the left side of the photo. Is is a closet door or an entrance? Maybe it could be changed out to a fabric screen?