Before and after: here's how a splash of yellow can bring a bland bedroom to life

Proof that a colourful change makes a HUGE difference when it comes to bedroom design

Bedroom with yellow and white colour block wall, black steel windows
(Image credit: Chris Snook)

We all know that when it comes to a room makeover, there's no better way to refresh your space than with a lick of paint – so when we saw this bedroom makeover, we just had to share it. 

Communications consultant Nikki Griffiths and songwriter and music producer Luke Moseley of @tierneyterracelocation bought a run-down end-of-terrace on the same street as their old flat and immediately set about making it their own. Thanks to the couple's creativity, they've transformed each room into a colourful haven – including this bright and beautiful bedroom, which uses the uplifting qualities of yellow to create a happy space.

The before

Before image of yellow bedroom

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

The room was fairly bland, with beige walls and an old-fashioned blue patterned carpet. Still, like the rest of the house, the couple realised that it had good bones to it – and was flooded with light. 'It had lots of potential,' says Nikki. 'We just needed to make it our own.'

The process

Bedroom with yellow and white colour block wall, mix of patterned cushions in green and pink

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

The couple replaced all the windows in the house, choosing modern black framed versions that made more of a statement. Nikki then opted for Banana Yellow by Benjamin Moore to make the walls pop. 

'I'd originally earmarked a green colour for this room, but we chose to use it in the studio instead,' says Nikki. 'Instead, we chose this really nice chalky banana yellow paint. We thought it might feel a bit strange painting all the walls in the colour, so we kept the top half white to make it feel light and bright.'

The after

Bedroom with yellow and white colour block wall, black steel windows

(Image credit: Chris Snook)

The room was based around a ceiling light by Mathieu Challières that Nikki had spotted 10 years before. 'It's quite expensive – about £600 – and so it had always been one of those "Oh, one day" purchases,' she says. 'But actually, I decided I really did want it in the house, and my mum kindly said she'd give me some money towards it.'

Nikki finished off the space with bold accents in green, pink and red to add to the playful feel of the space. A white bed frame and shelves keep the foundations of the room neutral, allowing the sunny yellow shade to take centre stage.

'We used a lot of yellow in our last flat, and we always thought we'd stay away from it,' says Nikki. 'I love the tone. It's not really bright but it's not a pastel – it's somewhere in between. It's a really happy colour to wake up to every day.'

Ellen Finch
Former deputy editor

Formerly deputy editor of Real Homes magazine, Ellen has been lucky enough to spend most of her working life speaking to real people and writing about real homes, from extended Victorian terraces to modest apartments. She's recently bought her own home and has a special interest in sustainable living and clever storage.

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