Master Bedroom Reveal 10: World Traveler

by Samantha James


Happy Labor Day! We're back with another edition of our Mission Master Bedroom series, where we're trying on a bunch of budget looks for size, incorporating our homeowner's existing furniture into our furnished rental.

This week, thanks to two bargain buys, we tried a different twist we're calling World Traveler.

World Traveler Bedroom Design

World Traveler Bedroom Design

Or at least a wannabe. Although there are some shades of other looks going on here, I find the more subdued blue and navy are a refreshing change to the turquoise we've worked with a lot, and I think the theme is cute - even if it is pretty theme-y.

Between the map, the pillows, and the rug and box which both helpfully spell out some world cities, it's pretty clear that travel is the idea. Oh yeah, and the ship's wheel. Just in case you needed a more literal evocation of transport. Shall we do a breakdown?

Blog_Bedroom_World Traveler.jpg

1. Dresser Styling & Art. The piece above the dresser seems to be an original, and we think it's a painting of Kansas City. It belongs to our homeowners.

2. Curtains. This was one of the two deals that led to this look. I found these curtains at a local teen help center's huge garage sale. For $5, you got a plastic bag you could fill to your heart's content. I stuffed this pair of curtains in there with about nine other things, so let's call their cost $0.50. They're definitely not high-quality; similar can be found at Marshall's and even the dollar store for $10 - $12 per panel.

3. Tall Dresser Styling. Same Ikea-potted plant we've had for a while (and one of only a couple I haven't killed this summer). The device charger is a DIY I'll be sharing soon, made from a Goodwill desk organizer (Staples' Martha Stewart line) for $3.

4. Map. Rand McNally classroom-style, this is the second of the scores that led to this iteration: I got it for $1.50 at Goodwill. Yeah, that was an amazing deal. I've seen maps only a smidge cooler sell for hundreds at local flea markets. Really.

5. Headboard Styling. The other plant I haven't (yet) killed, a succulent, in a Target clearance planter for about $6. Three cactus terrariums (terrariai? cacti terrariai?) in tiny glass storage jars from Anchor Hocking via Amazon for $4 each (similar). Wait! Those are plants, too. So five not-dead-yet plants. FTW. Photo of Lou in Marshall's clearance frame - I think $1.70.

6. Poufs & Throw. Poufs from Target, on clearance, for $12 each this winter. Throw homeowners'.

7. Bedding & Pillows. The Union Jack and French postal pillows are both our homeowners', as is the navy body pillow and navy bedspread (both Ikea). White duvet is ours (originally $25 from Target a few years ago - similar). The blue throw pillows were $6 each from Goodwill's Target section.

8. Bench. Bench was a free street side find, originally Ikea. The London Paris New York bin is from Ross a few months ago for $11. White tray homeowners'. The wicker basket is ours, and we've had it for years.

9. Rug. From Wal-Mart's outdoor line (ours is blue), it was $56 and I recently divested Lou's room of it. I just didn't like it in there. She's fine with it: there was too much white in there anyway.

Sooooo, whaddya think? I think this look is similar to Buggin' Out -- but different. I don't think I'll stick with it, because it is a tad too thematic for me. But for a kid's or guest room jumping off point, I dig it. You can compare it to the rest of our Mission Master Bedroom attempts by clicking any of the images below. And since there are nine of those images, that makes this look number 10 in this challenge! I get a kick seeing them all laid out there next to one another - and it also makes me appreciate that even if we're all getting our stuff from Ikea, the individual vision sure makes a difference.