When designing a bold space, the popular train of thought is often that the furniture needs to be as bold as possible. Anne Hathaway's California home shirks this convention. Rather than inviting boldness and color through furnishings, she uses paint and accessories to brighten the furniture grounds.
I'll admit that I've long held the misconception about bold furniture, but now that I've seen Anne Hathaway's bedroom, I will never look at the role of furniture in the same light. Especially for a bedroom, I think this might be one of the smartest, most beautiful, and most cost-effective ways to design a space. In the Les Misérables actress's home a washed gray farmhouse-style side table sits by a natural wood, open-concept bed. Above, a simple mid-century modern lamp grants some design contrast. These simple pieces create the perfect backdrop to allow the pink bedding, pink paneled walls and blue accent bowls on the side table.
The first reason I love Hathaway's furniture choice is how beautiful it makes the room. While the pink walls or pink throw pillows might be lost among a sea of maximalist furniture, this scheme allows them to shine. In my opinion, the farmhouse style of bedroom furniture is a great choice for replicating this style. The natural wood instantly brings texture into the space. Furthermore, the farmhouse is a style that is almost always created with red, yellow, or blue accents, so it fits into an existing design narrative.
Shop the look
This beautiful knotty oak nightstand lends a farmhouse feel with just the right amount of storage. The price is just right.
Bring out the beauty of natural wood with a beautiful blue bowl as a decorative accent (just as Hathaway demonstrates in her bedroom). This high-end lapiz lazuli version is an essential for every bedside table.
When admiring Hathaway's table, one piece really grabs my attention, and that's her beautiful blue vase. This rustic piece on Wayfair is one of the closet dupes I can find (and it looks just perfect beyond the bedroom).
Inspired by the floral pillow on Hathaway's bed, this reversible pattern piece features a beautiful rose pattern on each side (so you can turn it around for an instant change).
Made from velvet fabric, this dusty pink pillow pairs beautifully with a floral pillow like Hathaway's. However, its subtle yet stylish colorway looks just as pefect as a stand-alone piece – both on a bed or on an accent chair.
There's nothing more important than lighting in a bedroom. In this space, your decor choices can impact how you sleep, alongside the overall ambiance – but Hathaway's task lighting is the perfect inspiration point. It's the perfect light for bedtime reading (and looks beautiful in the process).
I plan to replicate this style in my future home not only because it is beautiful but because it is clever. With a seemingly endless cast of bedroom trends and new style inspiration, it's hard to settle on just one design scheme. Luckily, Hathway's choice to use simple furniture makes it easy to switch up the room. If she grows tired of pink, all she needs to do is change the bedding to a different color and repaint the wall behind the bed. No matter the colors introduced, the furniture would look just as cohesive and stylish.
In this vein, opting for furniture that creates a neutral background is also a wonderful budget bedroom makeover idea. Though furniture pieces like a bed or side table can be thousands of dollars a piece, bedding generally caps out in the hundreds. It's much easier to replace these accents then bring in a new slew of furniture when you are ready for a change.
If you are hoping to recreate this style, it's important to use a variety of shapes and textures to keep it interesting. For instance, in Hathway's bedroom, she has paired the rectangular side table with a round-edged bed for a satisfying contrast. Another contrast is created through the side table having a brushed texture, while the bed is made of natural wood. These simple differences draw the eye and keep the space from looking boring, even if she were to opt for more neutral accessories.
Decorating memorable spaces doesn't need to be about choosing the most brightly colored or 'out there' furniture, it can be about choosing neutral pieces that can fit easily into any design scheme over the years.
