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Well, I have finished a month's worth of forced vacation from work. As some of you may remember, I went out of the country for work for nine months, at the end of which we have to use up some vacation time (in case anyone thinks "Heck, must be nice!" then consider the fact that I worked *every* day when I was gone (including New Year's, Canada Day, and Christmas) and most of those were 12+ hours). Most people take two months off, and I have that much time available to me, but I arranged with my new boss that I would take that other month's worth of vacation time at more random intervals throughout the summer. I am getting antsy to get back into a routine as I have been slacking off the past two weeks and I find that there is nothing worse than being on vacation and finding myself both bored and yet like I have piles of projects to work on but no motivation to accomplish them.

In the past couple weeks I did go to Quebec City to visit a friend (someone who worked with me), moved out my house-sitters and rearranged my home back to how I like it, and I unpacked and made my own meals and all the fun things that are involved with daily life. I fostered a kitty (a neurotic tuxedo kitten who has 'issues' with feather toys so I have called him Sylvester) and he is almost healthy again so will likely return in the next few days to get adopted. The vacation was good, but as I neared the end of it I wanted to feel like I had accomplished that little bit more.

So, today I was lucky to have my good friends do a 'moving day'. They rented a van for their couch, and I happened to add to their trip (they were passing nearby anyway). I don't drive, and it's rare to have someone rent a large van, so this was a perfect opportunity.

While I was away this winter, I have friends who knew that I was looking to get a new (queen-sized instead of single) bed, and they offered me a free bed frame. They were getting a room set, but they have a water-bed and therefore didn't need the bed frame, yet the cost was the same with or without the frame (individual vs a package deal). So they bought thewhole thing, and I traded them a couple nice rugs for the frame. I can be so indecisive at times, so I think I probably benefited most as I would have probably waffled for years on exactly which frame I should buy.

Our trip today also involved going to IKEA, where I picked up bed-side tables and lamps. I got the black blankie from there as well, as I am a sucker for $4 fleece throws. The duvet cover and curtains are a gift from my (design talented) aunt, although I cheated because the cover is only for the smaller bed so I turned it on its side and it is barely big enough, but I don't care because I love the design. The sheets are from a local linen place, because I had to newly acquire queen-sized sheets.

Plans for improvement include:
* A comforter for the colder months (it still gets below freezing here at night, although we'll be quite warm soon enough)
* A comfy chair!

I have a comforter that I want to buy, because it is soft and the perfect colours (tan, with some of that dark red and a bit of black). The chair will be for reading, the type where you can twist yourself to the side so that your back is against one arm of the chair and your legs are draped over the other one.

My requests for advice are:
* Should I turn the bed and tables so that they are against the wall to the left? Do they look better on the wall with the curtains, or against a lighter wall, with the curtains on full display to the side? (let me know if I should try both options, but keep in mind that that bed is not light!)
* What colour chair should I get? I can get a lighter tan/beige, a dark red (very similar in colour to the curtains), blue, green, etc. I don't want to over-do the red, but the colour does look nice and I don't seem to have too much of it.

Hopefully that wasn't WAY too much detail, but I have to say that I am extremely excited by the fact that I have brand new furniture in my bedroom (with the exception of my alarm clock . For years all I had was second-hand items from my family, that worked very well but they were plain and all were older than me. Before I left on my trip I donated them all to an organisation that provides furniture for new immigrants/refugees so they are well loved. And now I get to have some fun!

I am not very adept at decorating, so any additional advice is appreciated. Suggestions for accessories, wall decorations, and anything else that comes to mind will be most beneficial!

Feng shui recommends having the bed face the door, in the opposite corner of the room.

In which case its current position is facing the door, as I am standing slightly in the hallway when taking the photo (widest shot).

Oh, and the rug (which you can't see too well) is Afghan.

I would go with a tan/neutral chair, which you can always accent with a red pillow.

Room needs some texture -- how about some light colored woven baskets? Something that would fit on the bottom shelf of those bed side tables would look nice.

I would turn the bed yeah... and yep red chair too! I love the table/bed they look nice!

A tan chair with a small amount of texture would be great.
It should be versatile for other uses in future.
The dark red furniture and white linens that are already in the room create a high contrast and I feel like a natural colour with warmth in the tones will help warm up the room.
You may want to add a tan accessory or two such as pillow covers or shams on the bed, baskets, a throw with texture such as the new chenille ones for $10 ( for bed or chair), vases, etc.
If you want to keep the budget tight, just find stuff you already have and go to a store to pick a matching tan spray paint and there are your main accessories!

I'm liking the idea of the tan chair with red pillows, due to the variation in possibilities (I may not always want the chair in there). I don't know about getting texture on there, because the companies always seem to have such limited options, but I can always have fun with pillows!

Baskets under the tables are a good idea, and I know the cat would probably enjoy them too

I do believe that turning the bed would be best, although I'm so reluctant to continue moving it until I have someone there to help. It isn't impossible but...

My trip did provide me with some extra cash, so although I am usually tight with my money I am taking the opportunity to splurge on myself in compensation for the crappy work conditions. I'm not spending a large amount of money (a free bed frame and IKEA furniture help a lot with that) but I'm trying to get out of my usual routine and spend on what looks nice rather than what is merely functional but not aesthetically pleasing! The chair will cost more than everything else combined, but I have wanted a comfy reading chair for *years* so I'm making myself spend the money.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, and when I get that new comforter (on Saturday) then I will take another photo with it and the bed turned the other way for comparison.

I like the idea of a tan chair and pillows that match the curtains. You can also look for framed art that complements the curtains and pillows. Something with a matching red to pick up on the other reds you will already have.

OTOH - I can't tell from the picture how large the room is, but it may be overwhelmed with too much of the red - it looks like the duvet has some green in it? How about a green that matched that green in pillows and also in the art on the walls. If you go to monochromactic it will look like a hotel room.