We finally made a start on our bedroom makeover last week and it’s already turned out to be a much bigger job than expected. I mentioned in my blogpost back in July that there were a few things we needed to tackle first before decorating. This meant fixing things like the radiators and sorting out the flooring before we could even think about decorating. As it turned out, our little mould problem (which seemed pretty minor to me at the time) was actually a much bigger issue than I realised and it’s changed the way we’ll decorate the room. It’s funny how things always change once you start renovating and you end up having to make adjustments along the way. That’s why I never have a design completely locked down because I know I’ll probably have to make changes as we go. There are always surprises along the way and I think the best thing you can do is stay flexible and work with what you’ve got.
We finally got started on the room this week and here’s what we’ve done so far.
Samsung Frame TV Wires & Box
We bought the Samsung Frame a few months ago and it’s actually our second Frame TV. We originally bought the larger version for our fireplace room and have loved it so much (it really does look like art) that I knew I wanted one for our bedroom too. I’d love our bedroom to be a TV-free zone, but my husband likes watching TV in there, so we compromised on a Frame that just happens to look like art. I can definitely live with that! The only issue was figuring out how to hide Samsung Frame TV cables. The wires weren’t concealed and the boxes were on show which wasn’t exactly the tidy setup I was going for. So, the first thing we did was get our handyman to chisel the cable into the wall and buy a stylish chest of drawers to house the Sky box and the Frame box. We ended up having to run the wire under the carpet, which of course now means that hardwood flooring is off the table. I’m OK with that, though, as I love the setup and how discreet everything looks.
A neat way to hide the Samsung Frame TV and Sky Box
The rattan chest hides the Samsung Frame Box.
I do think I may have a bit of an obsession with rattan chests as I now have one in three rooms. They bring instant warmth to a room and are perfect for hiding away clutter. Our chest is from MADE and is the perfect size for the Samsung Frame and Sky boxes. We have a plug socket behind it and the Frame cable runs neatly underneath the carpet. There’s also plenty of room inside the drawers for the devices, although we don’t store anything else in the first two drawers to allow for ventilation. I love the combination of oak and rattan. The oak ties in beautifully with our French-style bed frame and brings some warmth to the room, while the rattan softens the look and adds a lovely natural texture. It feels much more like a proper piece of bedroom furniture than storage for the TV equipment. The main thing to remember when hiding electronics inside furniture is ventilation. Make sure there’s enough space around the devices for air to circulate and avoid enclosing them too tightly so they don’t overheat.
Dealing with Damp Around the Windows
The wall after removing the mould and replastering.
This was what I’d been dreading for a while now. The black mould spots around the windows had been getting worse over time and I knew we’d have to sort it out before doing any decorating. There are different types of damp and what we’re dealing with here is condensation (most likely). There were no visible cracks outside the window, although we did put up some new plaster and weatherproof sealant to stop the moisture coming through. The old windows and poor ventilation in our room are most likely the culprits for our damp problems. The indoor air is very humid, which leads to condensation on the windows. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been wiping it down regularly and it has led to bigger problems. Having lining paper on the wall made everything so much worse and it’s something we will not be putting back on.
The primer we used to conceal the dust and odours after mould removal.
Our handyman first removed the lining paper and then carefully cleaned the wall with a mould removal spray. Some of the plaster came off too, which had to be put back. Once the wall was cleaned, we used a primer to smooth it all out and get ready for the paint job. Hopefully, if there aren’t any underlying issues or cracks outside, we shouldn’t see the mould spots return. I’m hoping that will do the trick, but I’m too nervous to wallpaper this wall now, so a feature wall it is. Once we start decorating, we’ll reseal the windows and caulk under the windowsill to stop any moisture from entering. For now, we’ll just cross our fingers and hope that this is the bedroom damp condensation fix we’ve been looking for!
Tackling Humidity with a Moisture Absorber
Unibond moisture absorber after collecting moisture for a week.
To stay on top of the moisture problem, I bought a Unibond moisture and odour absorber, which will hopefully help us maintain lower humidity levels. It’s supposed to draw moisture from the air, turning it into a liquid and reducing the humidity in the room. It’s not an industrial-grade dehumidifier, so it’s only recommended for small spaces like bathrooms and wardrobes. Ours sits on the windowsill and I’m hoping it’ll help keep the black mould around the windows at bay. I might consider getting a proper dehumidifier once the room is finished, just to be safe! I should also add that another reason for the high humidity is our en-suite and the fact that the extractor fan is broken. We won’t be able to get that fixed until we renovate that room, so it’ll be a while.
New Radiator & Radiator Cover
Next, we’re replacing our rusty and leaking radiator and I’ll be getting a radiator cover for it to help it blend in and protect the Frame TV from the heat. Apparently, if your radiator is leaking rust, you should get it checked out immediately. Thankfully, this is the perfect time to do it and we have our plumber scheduled for a visit. I’m also very excited about the radiator cover I’ve picked out and I should add that it has a tiny bit of rattan in it (of course).
What’s Next?
I’ve bought some new furniture for the room, which I’m so excited about. I’ve also been sampling paint colours to find the perfect shade to go with the wall mural. Finding the right paint colour is probably the hardest part for me. Everything looks so different in the room depending on the time of day and your existing colour palette can also affect how a colour looks and feels. But I know I want something matte and plaster-like, with a hint of grey and beige. Does that even exist? I guess we’ll find out! It’s so exciting to see everything unfolding. I just hope everything goes according to plan and we don’t have any nasty surprises.
