The way to make everything cohesive is to have a piece in the room with all the colors you will use throughout the space. A rug, a piece of art, a sofa -- then you take the colors from this one item and develop your decor around it. You also take it through the house and pick up the colors with accents. Not every room is the same color. It can be either darker or lighter, or it can be one of the other colors in the scheme -- light or dark. I am not an expert, just someone who has lived in 4 different houses and found this formula works.

So it's only been like six months...but I've gotten some stuff done. It turns out that when you make it rather than buy it, it takes an obnoxiously long time. I painted the wall teal (eeek...not sure it's the right teal -- it probably reads a little more green than blue -- but hoping I can "make it work"). I finished the quilt, and I built two floating bedside tables. I also hung the lamps and stuck some canvas photos on the nightstands (totally random - not sure they go). This fan is in the works: Now I need help figuring out a headboard, pillows, and curtains. I was going to try to get by without a headboard, but I feel like it needs something. I can totally make one, so I was thinking maybe a super simple upholstered headboard in a dark charcoal gray, like this one from West Elm. Is a dark gray the right direction with this? Ai I'm also tossing around the idea of building a headboard and painting it glossy black or dark gray. Kind of this Pottery Barn one, but definitely not weathered. For pillows I'd like to do geometric black and whites to tie in with the backing and binding of the quilt. Here's a close up of the backing/binding (which looks a lot more yellow than I think it looks in person): Below is the kind of look I'd like, but I'm having trouble settling on scale of print and amount of black vs white in each print to get a well-layered look that "works". I'd also like to hang new drapes (I can make those, too, if need be, but something cheap and "off the rack" would make me pretty pumped). I was thinking I needed something dark to tie in the backing of the quilt. So, to recap, here are my questions: 1)What to do for a headboard? (I forgot to mention that I was gifted the cherry lumber by a friend for the nightstands, but buying enough for a headboard is out of my budget right now). 2) What do I do about pillows? Can you suggest fabrics that might work (I'll sew them myself). 3) What curtains would work? Awesome if they're cheap & ready made, but I can do them myself if it's something "special." 4) Artwork thoughts? I wanted to pull in some more brushed brass frames in other parts of the room to tie in nightstand knobs and lights. THANK YOU in advance for all your wonderful ideas

I'd choose neutral light curtains- linen or cotton canvas in soft white. In LR- Hang as close to the ceiling as possible and allow them to stack outside the window to increase the Window's size. I'd choose an oil rubbed bronze rod for a bit of black -an old design rule- very room needs a bit of black. If curtainsxare for a sliding glass door- no valances. Valances draw the eye down and give a heavy feeling. Think airy and light. Hang as high and as wide as possible and allow them to stack the outside the glass & against wall if possible

I like this article for inspiration for small living areas: https://www.bhg.com/decorating/small-spaces/strategies/living-room-ideas/?slide=slide_396850f0-930d-426a-b58e-6875e8648656#slide_396850f0-930d-426a-b58e-6875e8648656 Things I’d edit or remove: Put the floor lamp in-between the couches. It seems very dark over there and the height would look nice. Put the trunk where the lamp is now. It’s very crowded by your entry. Can toys go in the trunk? If not, I’d get a tall basket for them, it could go behind the lamp in between the couches. A decorative cover on the coffee table, such as a small throw rug, a woven place mat, folded runner, etc. I have a woven throw rug on mine, with a low basket on it for books, remote, etc. (To clarify: not cover the top completely, just part of it. A layered look and bring in color, with some wood still showing). As mentioned, colorful pillows and fix the curtains. I‘d get rid of the entry table and mirror. I’d put a small (but decorative) shoe rack there, and art on the wall. Clear the floor of small clutter. https://www.target.com/p/honey-can-do-rustic-z-frame-shoe-rack-brown/-/A-54579519?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Storage%2BOrganization%2BShopping&adgroup=SC_Storage%2BOrganization&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9027244&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs67yBRC7ARIsAF49CdWVoHC24mJDvW_lro74vvGrKJUioBfHXmJ_1IdOz0hLRlAvIxszB_gaAm6TEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds I‘d try moving the shelf unit just a few inches towards the dining room, and putting your cute doggie’s bed where the toys are now. A piece of art on the wall space beside the TV. On the TV console, a bit of very low decor ... wood tray, for example. Google ‘tv console decor’ for lots of inspiration. I remember about toys when my DD was little, but I’d definitely try to edit those down, if at all possible. Rotate what’s in their bedroom and living room. I’d try to keep them in just one area, not every corner. But I do remember that struggle, believe me! :D Keep us updated on what you decide! :)