So today is my birthday. I don’t need a big fuss—no party, no grand celebration—just a quiet day. I’m not ashamed of getting older; being well over forty has its perks. With each year I appreciate more clearly what matters and gain a bit of wisdom along the way.
I do enjoy giving myself small gifts for birthdays and holidays—any excuse to treat myself is welcome. Lately I’ve wanted to update our bedroom decor. Over the past year I managed to install new hardwood floors, repaint the room, and add curtains and bamboo blinds (no more old towels on the windows!). I also found a great mirror and some bird-themed pillows at HomeGoods. Those changes made a big difference and gave me a solid foundation to build on.
With those improvements in place, my next step is to personalize the room further—adding finishing layers and thoughtful decorating details. This refresh will be my birthday present to myself.
You can see how the room has evolved in the bedroom makeover update post. I’m so glad it’s past the days of smelly carpet and an unflattering paint color!
I love thinking about the small touches that make a bedroom feel like a cozy sanctuary—a place to escape from the rest of the house and the busyness of daily life.
For years I’ve used the same matelassé coverlet—probably about fifteen years. It has traveled with me through four bedrooms and still looks beautiful, but it has shrunk enough that it no longer covers our current mattress properly. Instead of forcing it to fit, I’ll repurpose it on a guest bed where it will be the perfect size.
This week I’ll be shopping with my daughters for inspiration—looking for new bedding, possibly a rug, and other accents to help define the room’s direction. I’m keeping a traditional sleigh bed for now (it actually belongs to my mom, so it stays until she wants it back). I enjoy mixing the familiar with a few fresh pieces to create a balanced, personal look.
With updated bedding and accessories, I can transform the room without changing the core elements like flooring and wall color. I’ll likely share a few posts about bedroom inspiration as I experiment; sometimes the right accessory or color is what sparks the whole design.
Last week I received a generous gift from a blogging friend, Tara Lowry—a custom wood LOVE sign. It’s large and beautiful, and the verse it features means a great deal to me. Now it hangs in our bedroom and feels like a meaningful addition to the space.
My husband and I have been married for many years, and this verse is a gentle reminder of what true love looks like for us and our family. It’s a lovely Valentine’s-themed accent for the room.
Tara creates beautiful personalized signs that bring meaning into a home—whether highlighting family rules, cherished places, or favorite verses. Her handcrafted pieces are thoughtful additions for any room.
I’ll be taking pictures as I visit a few shops later this week in search of bedroom decorating inspiration, and I have another inspiration-focused post planned for tomorrow.
Have you updated a bedroom lately? I’ll host a bedroom makeover link-up this weekend if you’d like to share your room and inspire others with your ideas!