Rustic Boho Bedroom with Exposed Wood Beams

Nearly every surface is white microcement, a hard plaster finish taken over the floor, walls, bed base and built-in tables in one continuous coat. Running it everywhere hides the joins and gives the room its smooth, hand-made look. The finish is tough and wipes clean, which suits a child's room. Its one weakness is that a deep chip means patching a whole area rather than touching up a spot, since the colour runs right through.

The warmth comes from a few timber touches against all the white. Old wood beams run across the sloped ceiling, the built-in side tables have carved wood cabinet fronts, and a bone-inlay mirror sits in a wooden frame. Keeping the wood raw and a little rustic stops the white room from feeling cold or clinical. The beams also break up the height of the pitched ceiling, so there is something to look at near the top of the room.

Daylight leads, pouring in through a tall window dressed with sheer and grey curtains. For evenings, a cluster of three white dome pendants hangs to one side in place of a central light, giving a soft, uneven glow that suits the relaxed style. A white ceiling fan sits between the beams for air. Grouping the pendants off-centre keeps the ceiling beams clear and puts the light where the mirror and rug sit.

The soft layer is all natural texture. A round jute rug with a fringe sits on the floor, a woven pouffe stands beside the mirror, and a macrame hanging decorates the wall over a built-in bench. The bed keeps plain white linen with a couple of beige cushions and a woven throw. These pieces add the warmth and softness that hard microcement cannot, and they are easy and cheap to swap as the child's taste changes.

It has real strengths and one clear limit. The smooth finish has no gaps for dust, wipes clean and survives knocks far better than painted board, which suits an active child. The built-in bed and tables cannot tip or be pulled over. The limit is flexibility, since none of it can be rearranged, so you commit to the layout for years. For families who like a calm, lasting scheme that trade is usually worth it.

It is easier than it looks. A sealed microcement surface only needs a damp cloth or mop with a mild pH-neutral cleaner, and spills wipe away before they soak in. Re-sealing every couple of years keeps it water-resistant, especially on the floor. The main thing to avoid is harsh or acidic cleaners, which can dull the finish. For a white room it stays surprisingly forgiving, though very dark scuffs may need a gentle rub rather than a hard scrub.

The microcement work is the biggest part. Applying it by hand over the floor, walls, bed and built-ins is skilled labour, and the sculpted niche wall adds to that. The wood beams and bone-inlay mirror are the next notable costs, while the rug, pouffe and macrame are minor. You can bring the figure down by using microcement only on the floor and one wall rather than everything, so it helps to price the plaster work separately. Final cost depends on how much is hand-finished.