Image - Natalie Hunfalvay

T&W's Head of Styling, Jessica Bellef, recently took a road trip north to transform the bedroom of Newcastle couple Tracey and Ben. Take the tour…

Unbeknownst to Tracey, her husband Ben had entered a competition on The Living Room to win the couple a T&W bedroom makeover. "I had no idea he'd entered until I opened the email saying we'd won!" she said. With 4 kids under 10, the couple were desperately in need of a space just for the two of them.

Tracey and Ben's 'before' bedroom

Step 1 – The before and the brief

To kick off the process, Tracey and Ben sent through photos of their 'before' bedroom. Tracey describes the space: "It was very plain, dark and boring and it didn't really have any character. The kids were starting to take over and toys were starting to creep in."

Say no more. Team T&W stepped in with a series of decorating questions designed to pinpoint the couple's style. The results led Jess to settle on a luxurious, coastal style for the makeover. "Considering their location near the water and their ultimate holiday destination, the Maldives, I felt we could head into 'coastal' style territory," Jess says. "But I wanted it to feel less like a boat shed and more like a high-end spa resort."

Jess's moodboard for the bedroom

Step 2 – Pinterest and planning

"Tracey and Ben's feature wall is a beautiful shade of textured grey, but it was lost against the dark furniture and colour matched bedding," Jess said of their room, pre-makeover. "We needed to bring in some fresh colour, a hit of pattern, and the large white wall was yelling out for a large scale art work."

Incorporating the colours that were already in Tracey and Ben's bedroom, she created a mood board of images that would serve as inspiration for the makeover. "I used their beautiful grey feature wall as the starting point for the colour palette and added soothing blues and textured neutrals to lighten it all up. Injecting some colour into the space was important, but I wanted to keep an overall feeling of calm and restfulness," she said.

Once her mood board got the go-ahead from Tracey and Ben, Jess sourced all of the products from Temple & Webster's suppliers. "Watercolour artworks in blues and greens echo the shades and movement of the ocean, so I was keen to include pieces in this style. I looked for white furniture pieces with a slight distressed finished knowing this would brighten up everything else in the room," Jess said.

Jess and Jono hang the ocean-toned artwork. Image - Natalie Hunfalvay

Step 3 – Travel and transformation

Jess packed all the ingredients into the van, along with T&W stylist Jono Fleming and photographer Natalie Hunfalvey, and hit the road for a full day of styling.

They installed furniture, fluffed cushions, hung art and a mirror, added new bed linen, lighting and a rug, completely transforming the space into a luxe, coastal retreat.

A round mirror reflects light and softens the angles in the room. Image - Natalie Hunfalvay

Says Jess of the finished room: "The textured beige bedding softens the grey wall, and the blue accents freshen the space. The wall art brings a nice energy into the space and piled up pillows and soft-to-touch bedding really makes the room feel luxurious."

The finished room - the existing grey wall and floor ground the space, while the light neutrals and blues create a coastal feel. Image - Natalie Hunfalvay

"Layering a rug onto the carpet allowed me to continue the colour scheme onto the floor, and a few woven baskets can help quickly tidy up any toys that creep back in," she adds.

Details, including driftwood frames, faux coral and aqua accents contribute to the coastal feel. Image - Natalie Hunfalvay

"Our new room is so bright, fresh, open and natural," says Tracey. "It's like we're on holidays every day now. My favourite feature would have to be the reading chair, it is gorgeous. The bamboo sheets feel divine too. I love that it all ties in together and that the accessories all match each other from the photo frames, to the vases and the artwork. The candles being coconut and lime add to the feel of the room and the flowers were a lovely touch. We have never had flowers in our room before."

A new chest provides extra storage and a vignette-ready surface, while Tracey's favourite chair is a comfortable spot to sit. Image - Natalie Hunfalvay

"The finished room is layered with texture, there are interesting items on display and the big cosy bed is so inviting," says Jess. "All together, it feels like a breath of fresh air."