Este Haim’s Home Makeover Turned a ‘Big White Box’ into a Dreamy RetreatHere’s What We’re Loving

Some homes walk into your life with instant personality: creaky wood floors, charming arches, a fireplace that practically auditions for a rom-com.
And some homes… are just a big white box. Bright. Blank. Echo-y. The kind of place that looks amazing in a listing photo and mildly
confusing in real lifelike, “Where does the vibe go?”

That’s exactly why Este Haim’s home makeover hits so hard. She took a modern, sun-drenched space in L.A.’s Silver Lake and turned it into a
serene retreat that feels soft, grounded, and deeply lived-inwithout losing the clean, airy bones. The result is cozy in the “curl up and exhale”
way, not the “stuffed with random throw pillows you’re afraid to touch” way. Let’s unpack what makes this makeover workand how to steal the best
ideas for your own space, whether you’re decorating a whole house or just trying to make your bedroom feel like a real human sleeps there.

The “Big White Box” Problem (and Why It’s So Common)

Modern homes often come with bright white walls, open layouts, and minimal visual breaks. That’s great for natural light and terrible for feeling
emotionally supported by your environment. A blank space can feel unfinished even when it’s technically “done,” because the room is missing the
things that signal comfort: texture, warmth, rhythm, and a few intentional surprises.

Este’s makeover solves that exact problem with a simple strategy: keep the home’s natural brightness, but layer in softness everywherethrough
rounded shapes, warm neutrals, tactile materials, and a bedroom that leans into color in the calmest way possible.

What Sets the Mood: Warm Neutrals, Earth Tones, and Soft Shapes

If you had to describe the makeover in one sentence, it might be: “nature-inspired minimalism, but make it cozy.”
The palette leans neutral and earthythink sand, clay, blush, tan, creamy whites, and wood tonesso your eyes can rest.
Then the furniture brings movement: curved silhouettes, sculptural pieces, and textures that look like they’d be nice to nap on.

Why the curves matter

Curves are basically the design version of lowering your shoulders. A rounded sofa, a bulbous lamp base, a softly contoured chairthese shapes
feel welcoming, and they visually “soften” modern architecture. In an open-plan space, curved furniture also helps define zones without needing
walls (or a dramatic curtain moment you’ll regret during allergy season).

Why the textures matter even more

Here’s a sneaky truth: in neutral rooms, texture is the pattern. Bouclé, wool, velvet, natural fibers, woven accentsthese create depth,
shadow, and a sense of “collected-ness.” That’s how a clean home becomes a comforting home.

Living Room Love: Plush, Curved Seating and a Calm-But-Not-Boring Layout

The living room is one of the biggest glow-ups in the makeover: it’s designed for real lifelounging, hosting friends, watching something
“just one episode” that turns into four. The room balances softness (plush seating, cozy rug, layered textiles) with a few statement details
that keep it from feeling like a hotel lobby.

Steal this idea: choose one “hero curve”

Instead of adding ten trendy curved objects and calling it “organic,” pick one main curved piecelike a sofa or accent chairthen support it
with smaller rounded details (a lamp, a mirror, an ottoman). One hero curve makes the room feel intentional, not like a showroom that fell into
a Pinterest board.

Steal this idea: layer your neutrals like a playlist

Good neutral rooms aren’t one-note. They’re like a great playlist: similar vibe, different textures and tones. Mix warm whites with camel,
tan, taupe, and a hint of clay. Add wood that leans honey or walnut. Then bring in something with a little contrastdark metal, a deeper brown,
or a piece of art that pulls the whole thing together.

The Bedroom: A Color-Drenched “Womb” That Feels Like a Soft Landing

If the living room is “chill hosting energy,” the bedroom is full-on “dreamy retreat.” Este has described her bedroom as a comforting cocoon,
and you can feel that intention in the design. Rather than leaving the bedroom bright white, the space leans into a blush-to-terracotta range
that feels warm, quiet, and intimatelike the room is giving you a tiny hug (without asking too many questions about your day).

Color drenching, but make it soothing

Color drenching is the idea of wrapping a room in one color familywalls, trim, and sometimes even the ceilingso everything feels cohesive and
immersive. When done with softer shades (like sandy pinks, muted clay, warm blush), it reads less “bold statement” and more “calm atmosphere.”
It also reduces visual noise, which is exactly what you want in a sleep space.

Steal this idea: build a bedtime “comfort stack”

The bedroom isn’t just styled; it’s set up for actual comfort. Think: cozy textiles, soft lighting, and a nightstand arrangement that’s practical
(not performative). The overall vibe is “I live here,” not “I took this photo for a brand collab and then never returned.”

Bonus comfort: the Scandinavian Sleep Method

One of the most charming takeaways from Este’s cozy-bedroom approach is the Scandinavian sleep method, which uses two separate duvets on the same bed.
The logic is beautifully simple: you can share a bed without fighting over blankets or temperature preferences. If you’ve ever woken up tangled in a
comforter like a sad burrito, you understand the appeal immediately.

Dining Room + Entertaining: Calm Can Still Be Social

A serene home doesn’t mean a silent home. The makeover also makes space for gatheringespecially with a dining area that feels grounded and sculptural.
A strong light fixture, a warm wood table, and seating that blends comfort with style can make the room feel like an invitation instead of a museum.

The trick is balance: keep the palette cohesive, then let one element be the focal pointlighting is perfect for that because it adds personality
without adding clutter.

Vintage-Inspired Touches: The “Collected, Not Cluttered” Sweet Spot

One reason the home doesn’t feel like a plain catalog spread is the presence of vintage-inspired details and art. A well-chosen print or antique-feeling
piece gives the room historywhether it’s actually old or just has that timeless energy. That sense of “collected over time” is what makes neutral,
modern spaces feel personal instead of generic.

Steal this idea: pick art that calms you

Not all art has to be loud. In a serene home, art can be quietsoft landscapes, earthy abstracts, gentle still lifes. The goal isn’t to overwhelm;
it’s to add soul. Even one thoughtfully chosen piece can make a white wall feel finished.

How to Get the Look: Turn Your Own “White Box” into a Dreamy Retreat

You don’t need celebrity-square-footage (or celebrity budget) to borrow the principles behind this makeover. Here’s a practical roadmap that works
for apartments, rentals, and starter homesespecially if your space currently feels like “white walls + anxiety.”

Step 1: Warm up the whites

• Choose warm white paint (creamy, not icy) so the room feels soft even in bright daylight.
• Repeat warm tones in rugs, pillows, throws, and artthink sand, oat, camel, clay.
• Add wood wherever you can: coffee table, side table, picture frames, shelving.

Step 2: Add curves strategically

• Start with one curved “anchor” piece (sofa, accent chair, coffee table, or mirror).
• Echo the shape 2–3 more times (a lamp base, vase, sculptural bowl, rounded ottoman).
• Keep the rest simple so the curves stand out.

Step 3: Layer textures like you mean it

• Rug (wool or high-quality textured weave) to ground the room.
• Soft upholstery (bouclé, velvet, brushed linen) for touchable comfort.
• Natural accents (rattan, cane, ceramics, linen) for warmth and variation.

Step 4: Create “quiet vignettes” instead of clutter

A serene home still needs stylingbut think in small, intentional moments: a tray on the coffee table with a book and candle, a bowl for keys in the
entry, a bedside setup that makes winding down easier. You’re not decorating to impress strangers on the internet; you’re decorating to support your life.

Step 5: Make the bedroom your retreat first

• Try a soft color drench (even just one wall) in a muted clay or blush tone.
• Switch to warm bulbs and add a lamp with a soft shade for nighttime.
• Test the Scandinavian sleep method with two duvets if you share a bed.
• Invest in one “comfort hero” item: a duvet you love, a thick throw, or a supportive pillow.

Budget-Friendly Swaps That Still Feel Luxe

Want the dreamy retreat vibe without a full makeover? Start small. The transformation works because of a few repeatable movesnot because every item is
fancy.

• Swap harsh overhead lighting for two warm lamps (table + floor).
• Add one oversized rug (bigger than you think) to instantly soften the room.
• Use slipcovers or textured throws to make a basic sofa feel upgraded.
• Frame a print you actually love; size matters more than price.
• Pick one sculptural accent (mirror, vase, lamp) for a “designer” focal point.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (So Your Calm Room Doesn’t Become a Beige Fog)

• Too many matching sets: Serene doesn’t mean everything has to be identical. Mix materials and finishes.
• Ignoring contrast: Add at least one deeper tone (brown, charcoal, black metal) to keep the room grounded.
• Going texture-light: In a neutral room, texture is your main “pattern.” Don’t skip it.
• Overstyling the bedroom: If you can’t put your water glass down without rearranging décor, the room is working against you.

Why We’re Loving This Makeover So Much

The best part of Este Haim’s transformation isn’t a single product or a one-off trendit’s the feeling. The home is serene without being sterile,
stylish without being precious, and personal without being chaotic. It proves you can keep a modern home’s bright, clean foundation and still make it feel
like a true retreat.

In other words: you don’t have to choose between “pretty” and “livable.” You can have both. And yes, you can absolutely have curved furniture without
needing to explain it to your relatives at Thanksgiving.

Real-World Experiences: What People Learn When They Turn a “Big White Box” into a Retreat (Extra )

If you’ve ever tried to cozy up a modern, white-walled space, you already know the emotional rollercoaster: Day one, the blank room looks “fresh and clean.”
Day seven, it looks like you’re living inside a printer paper tray. And by week three, you’re considering buying a single dramatic chair just to prove you have
a personality.

One common experience people report when they start warming up a “white box” is how quickly the room’s sound changes. Add a large rug, fabric curtains,
and upholstered seating, and suddenly the echo disappears. The space feels quieter, even if you didn’t touch the walls. That’s when many people realize:
comfort isn’t only visualit’s acoustic and tactile, too. A room can be gorgeous and still feel stressful if everything is hard, shiny, and loud.

Another real-life takeaway: choosing a calm palette doesn’t mean your home becomes boringit means your mind gets a break. People who switch from stark white +
high-contrast black accents to warmer neutrals often describe the difference as “exhaling.” The room feels softer in the morning light and warmer at night, which
makes everyday routinescoffee, getting dressed, winding downfeel smoother. The trick is to avoid the “beige fog” by mixing tones (cream, sand, tan, clay) and
adding contrast through wood, darker metals, or a single moody art piece.

Bedrooms, especially, tend to be where people notice the biggest improvement the fastest. When someone commits to a soothing color (even a muted blush or clay
on one wall), then pairs it with warm lighting and layered bedding, sleep spaces stop feeling like an afterthought. A surprising number of couples who try the
two-duvet approach say the change feels immediateless blanket tug-of-war, fewer wake-ups, and a weirdly satisfying sense of having “your” comfort zone even in
a shared bed. It’s one of those small, practical upgrades that feels like a lifestyle glow-up.

People also learn that “collected” doesn’t have to mean “cluttered.” A common fear with adding personality is that the home will feel messy. But when you use
the “quiet vignette” approachone tray, one bowl, one intentional stack of books, one meaningful printthe space reads curated instead of chaotic. Over time,
homeowners often find they buy fewer random décor items because they’re clearer on what the room is trying to feel like. The goal isn’t to fill space; it’s to
shape it.

Finally, the most relatable experience of all: once the room starts feeling good, you use it differently. You sit in the living room more. You invite a friend
over without apologizing for the emptiness. You actually enjoy folding laundry because the bedroom doesn’t feel like a fluorescent-lit waiting room. The makeover
isn’t just about aestheticsit’s about turning your home into a place that supports rest, creativity, and real life. That’s the magic of taking a “big white box”
and giving it softness, warmth, and intention.