Authored by Interior Designer & Spoonflower Collaborator, Dabito
Learn all about how designer Dabito transformed a blank Los Angeles bedroom into a bold, organic, and luxurious retreat using textured grasscloth wallpaper, custom color-matched paint, and simple yet high-impact styling tricks.
In this makeover, he brings his signature use of color, pattern, and meaningful details to life, from selecting a stunning grasscloth design to creating a custom-look headboard with matching fabric. Dabito’s studio, Old Brand New, specializes in design, art direction, branding, photography, and creative partnerships. His work has been featured in major publications like Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful. He believes that anyone can use color and personal objects to tell their own design stories. This makeover is a perfect example of that philosophy in action.
Dabito’s Bedroom Renovation with Texture
When my best friend Philip moved into his new place in Los Angeles, I got the SOS call. His bedroom, let’s just say, was giving zero vibes. It was a spacious room that lacked personality. As a designer and a really good friend, I knew this was a prime opportunity to intervene and Dabify the space!
My immediate thought for this blank canvas was wallpaper. The walls were calling for texture and pattern to create a cozy, cocoon-like feel. I headed straight to Spoonflower to search for the perfect design.
Philip was gravitating towards organic patterns, so I focused on designs featuring nature, soft lines, and texture. To start the search, I went through Spoonflower’s Wallpaper collections which was very helpful. And that’s where I stumbled on the stunning Vienne Atelier Woods in their classic and traditional collection. Its soft, blushy coral color combined with bonsai-like tree branches offered the perfect balance of boldness and tranquility for a bedroom.
For the wallpaper type, I chose grasscloth to deliver that extra oomph of texture. If you’ve never used grasscloth before, I highly recommend it. I absolutely love its tactile quality and organic feel. Grasscloth is definitely trickier to install, so hiring a pro is a must!
Then, we color-matched the coral tone directly from the wallpaper at our local paint store. We used a flat finish for the ceiling and a semi-gloss for the trims and doors to add subtle dimension. Pro-Tip: Our installer measured each panel of the wallpaper so that we can paint the wall where the seams will go. Painting the coral color before installing the paper is a genius move to ensure no sliver of white peeks through the seams. The installer worked their magic over two days. It truly is a work of art to see them bring my design to life!
I also noticed Philip’s existing gray headboard. It looked flat and completely disconnected from the warm new wall treatment. Instead of splurging on a new bed, I decided on a simple yet transformative fix. I ordered matching linen fabric from Spoonflower in the same pattern. What I love about linen is that it’s not too thick and drapes beautifully. By simply draping the patterned fabric over the existing headboard, we achieved a custom, upholstered look that seamlessly ties into the walls. This really elevated the space.
We continued the organic theme by swapping out the ceiling fan for a fixture made of rattan and brass. For the window treatment, I chose a green velvet Roman shade to provide a rich contrast to the warm coral tones of the wallpaper. Since there is a hint of deep green subtly woven into the wallpaper pattern, the shades brilliantly pull that color out and ground the overall palette. We anchored the entire room with a deep, plum-colored rug. This saturated color choice grounds the space beautifully, adding more depth and warmth.
The final reveal is this absolutely bold and sexy vibe. I think it turned out to be a luxurious space that feels rich, grounded, calming, and truly inspiring. And most importantly, Philip is thrilled with his new bedroom!
What I love about working with Spoonflower is the vast community of designers they support. There’s something for every style, and I love that I’m directly supporting independent artists and their designs. Whether it’s the customization for a designer like me (getting things reupholstered or professionally installed) or the flexibility for a renter doing a DIY peel-and-stick project, Spoonflower offers limitless possibilities!
Get Inspired & Explore Dabito’s Curated collection of Spoonflower products, including the styles he used for this project here!
