.
At first glance, a well-designed bedroom allows you to just settle into the whole space. The colors, the furniture and the tiny details all work togehter harmoniously. Ahhhh, the cohesive loveliness! But as a designer, my next step is to start breaking it all down… the bed, the pillows, the window treatments and lamp. Why does it all work and how can I learn from this? I want to help you develop the same critical eye because this is the difference between a so-so decorating job and a room that comes alive.
I designed the room above for two teenage girls about 10 years ago. They liked feminine details but were growing up and did not want anything too cute. They loved horses but did not want the whole room to go “horsey”. It’s always a balancing act between “this” and “that.” So these are the steps I took to pull together this great little design without breaking the bank.
.
.
Color – We went with a warm peach because it was feminine, bright and fun. It’s a more complex color than pink or purple which spoke to their sophisticated tastes (yes teenagers now have sophisticated taste!)
Beds – These iron beds are classic and budget-friendly. The choice of many finishes allowed us to select one that tied in our coral, ivory and green palette. (I don’t usually recommend iron beds for master bedrooms but for kids or guest rooms they do the job at a great price.)
Bedding- Custom bed-skirts and shams echo the colors with a designer look but we saved some money by using a matelasse coverlets. These could easily be replace by down comforters and duvets when it gets cold.
.
Some Ladder Tape options from Smith + Noble. Simple wood blinds step up the style with this designer touch.
.
Windows - Simple 2″ wood blinds. The big slats work with the scale of the large windows. A color-coordinated ladder tape covers the strings that hold the blinds together (the ladder). Now instead of plain old blinds that control light they ARE the window treatment. Plus Ladder Tapes cover route holes so sunlight won’t poke through when blinds are closed.
Chair – We bought this wicker chair new but any old wicker chair can be painted for an instant face-lift. You can also just wrap the fabric around the cushions and safety pin them on the back if you are a not a seamstress.
Lamps – Two simple and affordable lamps that could be found at a local home store.
Artwork – I love to use colorful and interesting artwork in kids rooms and posters are an easy answer. The pieces in this room are prints of famous horse paintings. By going with more modern art, it gives the room a more updated feel and the white frames are simple and fresh.
I hope this helps you see, once again, that good design results is more than the sum of its parts. Consider the look you want and then approach it one step at a time patiently and thoughtfully!
Let me know if I can help you with any design dilemmas by commenting below or contacting me here!
.
