Have you ever looked at your bedroom and wondered why it doesn't give you royalty teas? Despite being built for a Queen, you might find that the current status of your bedroom leaves a lot to be desired. Whether it's a change in the positioning of some of your furniture pieces, more pops of color, or just an overhaul where you start from scratch on a blank canvas – you just know, something's gotta give.
Your bedroom is a sanctuary. A place for you to get your zen back after a long day of dusting your shoulders off the antics of the 9-5 rise and grind. And once you've washed the grime of the day away, you should be able to bask in your solitude in an oasis that welcomes you and makes you feel something comparable to the crown on your head.
But where do you begin?
Well, having a Pinterest-worthy master bedroom doesn't mean you have to blow your budget in order to do it. No matter your budget, you can execute it all with just the right balance and finesse.
Once you learn the basics, I promise you'll never look back. As an interior designer, I have a few go-to tips that I use to help my clients spruce up any space.
Knock Out Bedding
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Your bedroom should feel like a relaxing retreat. That starts with major attention to your bed, and for good reason – you will be spending a lot of time there.
Ground the room with a unique, statement bed frame. To get that glamorous look, the key is to add lots of layers to your bedding. Create some extra volume by layering cozy blankets, throws and accent pillows on top of your standard sheet and comforter set. Sink in, and rest easy.
Art That Sparks
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Find that piece or two that you just love. You want to invoke feelings of happiness in your space. Don't be afraid to go a little bold here and hang pieces that add vibrance to the room.
While on the topic of art and wall décor – family photographs are wonderful additions to your living room and shared spaces. In the bedroom, I recommend swapping them out for other pieces of art or photographs that calm or inspire you. This keeps the room less emotionally charged.
Pro Tip: Try to hang your art near "standard" eye-level. For most spaces, that means that the center of your painting should be about 57 inches from the ground. Grab your tape measure and double check before you make any permanent holes in the wall!
Don’t Skip the Window Treatments
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The windows in your room have such a huge impact on your mood and canset the stage for some major glamour.
Give some thought to how much light you want to let into your room. If you have an East facing window, in most regions of the U.S., you may get hit with a lot of morning sun. Consider blackout curtains in a lux velvet or thick linen.
Pro Tip: When hanging curtains, be sure to hang them higher and wider than your window frame. At least by 3-4 inches. This gives the illusion that your window is bigger and creates a more balanced look.
Texture
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Keep it fun and interesting by adding different textures throughout the room. Mixing in varying textures of furnishings and fabrics gives the room dimension and keeps it from feeling flat. Even if your room is monochromatic, you can use different materials and finishes of the same color to add visual character.
Patterns and Colors That Pop
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Just like you can mix up textures, don't be afraid to shake things up buy combining different patterns and colors. You want the colors and themes in your room to compliment one another, not necessarily match.
What are some ways you're looking to revamp your bedroom? Let us know in the comments down below!
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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The first time I did it, I was among a group of ladies and we were encouraged to write down our feelings in our journals. Afterwards, we huddled around and one by one burned our pages with some ladies even revealing what they wrote. It was a beautiful moment and a great way to support each other.
The second time I did burn journaling, I was by myself. I was reading Calling In The One and one of the practices involved writing down the things I wanted to let go of and burning it. I had Cleo Sol’s “Know That You Are Loved” playing in the background on repeat while I burned the pages in my apartment bathroom.
What Does Burn Journaling Do?
Based on my experience and others' explanations, burn journaling is a cathartic practice. The act of burning serves as an emotional release of past traumas, old thoughts, and negative feelings. It’s also a way to say goodbye and/ or forgive.
Types of Burn Journaling
There are different examples of burn journaling: Burning journals after writing, burning letters and burning lists.
Burn Journals
As stated before, you can write in a journal and burn it afterwards. It’s up to you if you burn it page by page or wait until you fill the journal up and burn it altogether. There are journals you can buy for the sole purpose of burning them afterwards.
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Burn Lists
This technique involves writing a list of things you want to let go of and then burning it. Burning the list symbolizes the release of those things.
Burn Letters
Another example are burn letters. For this technique, you write a letter to someone that you either want to forgive or let go of, but instead of sending it to them, you burn it.
Safety Precautions
If you do decide to try this practice, make sure to be safe. Use a fireproof bowl for burning and never leave it unattended. Alternatively, you can shred the pages.
If you’re in Atlanta and want to try burn journaling, meet me this Sunday for Burn Journaling & Walk.
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