A couple of things from me. Firstly, the cornice painted a yellow makes the ceilings feel lower than necessary, paint them out white or as per tour ceiling rather than accentuate the highest perimeter moulding, you don't want yo draw attention to the highest detail not being high! Secondly, to make the room feel fully addressed the window has to be looked at in context of your room. The house style is important, but more so the room space and light. As you have a verandah you probably have in direct sunlight, but the room is not large, so i would try to make the window feel part of the bigger picture rather than contrast with it. Which is what the red does, effectively looks like a red rectangle dominating a small wall. Do the opposite, taking colour cues from the room will make it feel unified, therefore bigger. The caramel carpet, for me is where I would draw upwards from. I suggest a rattan roman blind, the texture and stiffness will resolve that terrible sag, let in diffused light and provide a natural element needed in country style schemes. It allows the scenery to stand out, and colour is easily built upon it. If you need further blackout, you can install a uv cheap roller blind within the window frame, which would be hidden from view by the roman blind, so it can remain up most times and the roman can frame the beautiful view, allow light and then use the roller as your night privacy blackout blind. Most Romans look best as a frame treatment, they dress the window better than they function on them. Shutters would also be stunning with their play and filtering of light, but costly. And just a tip, your bed would feel far more luxurious in that space if it were not heavy in colour, the metal and timber, both which are not genuine as in fake cast iron and artificially stained orange pine date your space, that is not a dig, just an observation. You could do an upholstered bedhead for a luxurious look that a linen would tie in with the soft furnishings, you can address colour in many ways, but the blinds, carpet and bedhead should be neutral unless you can afford to upgrade often?.. A layering of texture and tones rather than colour is far softer in a country space, that's why it's done often, creamy whites on a caramel carpet will really brighten and freshen that space, , timber lamp bases, fabric shades, plush pillows and personality pieces, you'll have a space you can't wait to get to. I hope this was helpful!

Hey there, how did you go at Ikea? Would love to see if you updated your room, and if not, maybe we can offer some inspiration :)

Hi Lachie - I assume you have a built-in wardrobe on the wall where the door is? (where the photos were taken from?). I'd suggest combining some of the elements of the suggestions above, but orientate the bed so that it's facing the door when you walk in, then put your desk under the other window. You can then put the bookshelf on the other side of the desk, which might leave you enough room for a beanbag/comfy chair in the corner for reading? Otherwise, you can put the bookshelf under the floating shelf (not ideal I know). I'd leave the bookshelf upright so that it's taking up less floor space, and get yourself a beside table (preferably one with a drawer and a shelf below for extra storage). A rug would be great for pulling the space together, but you might run into some issues with your desk chair getting caught on it, so you'll need to think about that. But if you do get a rug, I'd try to match it to one of the blues in your bedspread. Maybe also think about getting a new lamp - something in pink to pick that up from the bedspread (and maybe wood instead of metal to bring some texture into the space). As jmm1837 says, some more art on the walls would be good and will help pull the colours together. I see you have a plant there already, what sort is it? Maybe put it in a small wooden or mint green pot and if you get a wide bedside table you could put it on there (which would put it in optimal light under the window). If you want something bigger which is pretty indestructible, you could try a dracaena, next to your desk would make a nice feature. You might want to think about painting the floating shelf too in white? Few other ideas: cushions for your bed; a throw rug; a vignette of glass/vessels for the floating shelf; if you have space (hard to tell) a chest at the end of your bed (as long as that doesn't mean you walk into it coming through the door) for additional storage/seating; and think about a few plants, not just one if you can. In general I'd try to bring some wood elements into the room to make it a bit more homey. Have attached a couple of quick layout possibilities for fun :). Would love to see what you end up doing!

With grey and white to go with, you're right on trend (well, in NZ anyway). Keep those colours. With the furniture, cut the newell posts off the bed and square up the headboard and baseboard (or get rid of the baseboard altogether if you can. I did my headboard with a piece of MDF and covered it with a sheet. I'd do the same with the dresser - cut the newell posts off. Those things really date the furniture. Paint all the furniture either gloss white or black and change the handles to silver or brushed chrome. Just make sure that some where else in the room is the same silver/ brushed chrome. Maybe a photo frame of a couple of lamps? I think white.High gloss. Black or grey plain (no pattern) drapes as close as you can get to the wall colour. That way they disappear and don't become a feature (unless you got for very expensive and make them a show piece). I'd put the drapes behind some shimmer voile sheers that drape across the floor a little. Now you only have to choose accents and you'll have a different look any time. Pinks, blues, purples -whatever takes your fancy. Don't forget to add in a few different textures to soften things up a bit, ad see if you can pick up a 2nd hand cheap chandelier.I think I spent about $300 total from a nasty blue flocked wallpaper and apricot curtains, and a couple of other bits and pieces. Would love to see the finished product!!