Hey! I would recommend when you've got a blank bedroom to decorate that you start by choosing a nice light shade and sheets for the bed. A well-lit room with appealing sheets will make you feel at home and comfy. As for other decor, bedside tables are essential they don't have to be expensive, something practical in a decent colour works wonders for the function of the room, and to bring some aesthetic choose a nice lamp for the bedside table, and make it homey with your favourite books and some tissues etc... A rug and some decorative pillows can also work wonders, perhaps in this space a nice shaggy rug to add some texture and a fluffy pillow to complement that texture would be awesome. The painting you've got is great and it would look super good hung over the bed. Other things to consider having in your room are a laundry basket and some pretty curtains or blinds if there more your thing.

I used to have a Peace Lily, Philodendron, Succulent garden, a couple of ferns, Devil's Ivy and some grass plants in my bedroom. I currently don't have a bedroom that would support those kind of plants so I've cut back on them. I am planning on building a house that is specifically designed for plants (and lighting) in mind. They're so good for the bedroom, I would try to avoid pollen dispersing flowers though. My favourites are grasses, broadleaved plants, Succulents, bonsai for apartments, even small "indoor trees" (palms, ficus) if you have the space. Not only are there so many health benefits, but think about how you'll feel waking up every morning surrounded by nature and life. There are numerous studies about how much we benefit from being in nature, so there's no downside there. If you are getting bugs, you must be severely unfortunate. I've personally never had more than the occasional fly that one of my dogs let in. Unless, like others said, you rotate your plants outside.

I wouldn't. If having a master suite were important to me I would buy a modern home that has one. The thing about historic homes is that they typically had three equal sized bedrooms. It's part of the character of the home. If you combine two squareish bedrooms you will end up with a strangely shaped rectangular room that's not really all that useful. Particularly as you mention they both have french doors that go to a verandah. Those doors pretty much limits what you can do with the rooms. You will be trying to either preserve the symmetry of the doors or build a wardrobe wall up close to one and have the whole look of the room thrown off. A heritage home is what it is. It's never going to be a modern home and it's limitations are what people expect when they buy one. The limitation is a traditional floorplan that doesn't necessarily reflect modern lifestyle choices. One conversion that is often done on federations is part of the verandah is built in, and turned into a WIR or ensuite. Many of these homes already have built-in verandah sections so doing so won't necessarily ruin the character. Particularly if you infill them with a nice casement windows and appropriate trims on the outside.

My daughter ran her business from her bedroom until they could afford a 3 bedroom house, their 2 bedder with two boys and no where else to fit an office was a very difficult time which thankfully they all survived. Having your office in your bedroom should be avoided at all cost, as you never leave the office behind as my daughter found out. Your bedroom is where you go to relax , I certainly wouldn't give up my sanctuary for anyone, even my kids. You are there full time so it makes sense. Your house already has enough rooms, except for making a small change to allow for another bedroom albeit small next to the bathroom as per my suggestion, Both of these rooms have space for the boys to have a desk (they don't need a lot of storage being part time) The desk in the living area can be built in to hide an office. This is a low cost solution and won't damage resale value. If down the track you can afford the new deck, try to work out to fit a room underneath as a hang out (media) area for the boys. not sure about WA but rooms like these in some states can have ceiling height at 2100, depends on what name!! you give them. My son is in a similar situation to you, except he now lives in a Studio Apartment in Sydney, so when he has his two kids 50 50 they make do in that space and seem to manage very well.