Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s primary bedroom was designed twice. HELLO! reported that the designers first aimed for a serene, airy look that matched the rooms downstairs, and then the couple’s taste for change took the room somewhere darker and moodier. What survived is a room built on deep plaster walls and texture. Here is what was reported, and nine ways to get the same feeling at home.
What was reported
Reported by HELLO! and Entertainment Tonight in August 2023, around Architectural Digest’s feature on the house. The bedroom details were not explicitly credited to AD in the pieces we read.
How to read this article
“From their home” means the detail was reported for the primary bedroom. “Our take” is our own suggestion and is not from their home. How to recreate each look, and every price, is ours. We found no reliable report on the bed, the lighting, or a fireplace in this room, so we have not described them. Images are AI-generated illustrations, not photos of their bedroom.
1. Finish the Walls in Deep Plaster
From their homeEffort: MediumAbout $170
The room has rich, deep plaster walls. A plaster-like finish is soft and uneven, so it catches light differently through the day, which a flat paint cannot do. That depth is what makes a dark room feel luxurious instead of heavy. Limewash or plaster-effect paint is the budget route, and the finish is forgiving once you accept that visible brush strokes are part of the look.
The limewash math
Coverage is per gallon in two coats. Our estimate: a typical bedroom has around 300 square feet of paintable wall, about two gallons, or roughly $170 before primer and brushes. Portola recommends an undercoat in most cases. Practice on a spare board first.
2. Frame Seagrass Behind the Bed
From their homeEffort: MediumFrom $52
Behind the bed, there is walnut-framed seagrass. The reports do not say whether it is a headboard or a wall panel, so treat it as a woven panel with a dark wood border. It gives the bed a focal wall without any art, and the weave adds a natural texture that plaster alone cannot supply. Real seagrass wallcovering is sold by specialty retailers at higher prices, and we did not find a current price.
The budget version in 3 steps
- 1Test a corner of peel-and-stick grasscloth vinyl first (renters)
- 2Cover the wall behind the bed; a roll is about 24 in wide and 33 ft long, around 65 sq ft
- 3Frame it with walnut-stained trim; rolls were listed at $52 to $60
3. Let the Room Go Darker Than You Planned
From their homeEffort: Low
The room moved from airy to moody during the project. The lesson is not that dark is better, but that you can change direction if you test before you finish. A color that looks stylish in daylight can feel oppressive at night, so the evening check matters most in a bedroom.
The dark-room test
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| ✔ Paint a large sample board | Small swatches mislead in a dark color |
| ✔ Move it around the room | Light changes by wall |
| ✔ Look at it at night | With only a bedside lamp on, it should still feel calm |
| ✔ Give it three days | First impressions of dark colors change |
4. Share the Closet and the Bath
From their homeEffort: High, or Low
The couple dropped separate bathrooms and closets for a single shared space. John Legend explained: “We like to be together, so the his-and-hers thing seemed wasteful.” One larger shared closet usually wastes less floor than two small ones, which is the practical lesson even if you cannot rebuild a floor plan.
Separate vs. Shared
Separate
- Two small closets
- More walls and doors
- Often more dead floor space
Shared
- One larger zone, clear sides for each person
- Fewer walls to build
- In a bedroom: one tall wardrobe and one dresser
5. Layer Texture, Not Color
Our takeEffort: Low
A dark room works when the surfaces are different from one another. Plaster, woven seagrass, and wood already give you three. Add a fourth and a fifth in the bedding and the floor. If everything is in the same deep color family, the texture does the talking, and the room feels rich without being busy.
Three textures to add
Bed
Linen sheets
Soft, slightly rumpled.
Throw
Wool or bouclé
A chunky weave catches light.
Floor
A visible-weave rug
Keeps colors close, textures far.
6. Choose Matte Bedding
Our takeEffort: Low
Shiny sateen can look cheap against plaster. Matte fabrics, such as washed linen or brushed cotton, sit better with a soft wall finish because neither one reflects much light. A bed one shade lighter than the wall stands out without looking stark.
Matte vs. Shiny Bedding
Matte
- Washed linen, brushed cotton
- Sits quietly against plaster
Shiny
- Sateen, polished satin
- Competes with the wall finish
7. Light the Walls, Not the Room
Our takeEffort: Low
Textured walls look best with light that skims them. A pair of wall lights on each side of the bed does that and frees the bedside tables. The light grazes the plaster and throws small shadows across it, which is what makes it look three-dimensional.
The lighting setup
8. Add One Rounded Piece
Our takeEffort: Low
A dark room with straight lines can feel heavy. One curve, such as a round side table or an arched mirror, softens it. Use only one: several curves start to look like a theme.
1
Round side tableor arched mirror
One curve is enough to soften a room of straight lines.
9. Keep One Pale Element
Our takeEffort: Low
A fully dark bedroom can feel closed in during the day. A light ceiling, a pale lampshade, or a cream rug keeps it livable, because the eye needs somewhere to rest. The pale piece should be soft cream, not stark white.
Easy test
Lay a cream towel on the floor before buying a rug and see whether the room opens up.
Cost at a glance
| Item | Price seen or estimated |
|---|---|
| Limewash, quart (Portola) | $30 |
| Limewash, gallon (Portola) | $84 |
| Whole bedroom, about 2 gallons (our estimate) | About $170 |
| Peel-and-stick grasscloth, per roll | $52 to $60 |
Which Look Fits You?
If you rent, start with the grasscloth in idea 2 and the plug-in sconces in idea 7. If you own your home and enjoy a weekend project, the limewash in idea 1 does the most for the money. If you only want the mood without the work, ideas 5, 6 and 9 are all about textiles and need no tools.
Sources
- HELLO!: Inside Chrissy Teigen and John Legend’s dreamy Beverly Hills haven
- Entertainment Tonight: Chrissy Teigen and John Legend Give Fans a Tour of Their Family Home (Aug 2, 2023)
- Portola Paints: limewash FAQ and pricing
