To make it look bigger you need to let the eye travel so no dramatic changes in color,all white is best but since you want it for a teenager for meditation,keep your tonal changes to a minimum,say maybe 3 pastels in a row on the color chart,blues are supposed to be calming,greens cooling,etc.Say you chose a soft pale blue you would then use a soft pale turquoiseand maybe a soft lilac.Do the walls floors ceiling and accessories in the same and it will look bigger.

use mirrors,mirror the front of you drawers,and there are great mirror vases and jewellery boxes around

Hi Taylor,

You should be able to install a few hooks from the beam (check with the employees at Lowe's or Home Depot about what will work best and what kind of tools, such as a drill, you may need) and then hang paper lanterns from them. Mirrors are useful for making rooms seem bigger--put one above the dresser or on the wall alongside the bed that is closest to the door. I love the Container Store--they have a wide selection of storage options; try to find some containers that can go under your bed and stash sweaters or linens in them.

Assuming you don't have a jewelry box, you could hang your jewelry on pretty hooks or maybe get a silverware organizer, put the jewelry in there and then stash the organizer in your dresser. Sephora and art supply stores have makeup/paint cases that hold everything including nail polish; a good one will cost at least $100, but you can always try to get them on sale.

Everyone has a different idea of what colors are calming to them, but water colors like turquoise are usually relaxing across the board. What colors make you happy and relaxed? For example, you could paint the walls turquoise, the ceiling and trim cream and the beams could be sanded down and stained a complimentary brown. If you find lavender soothing, paint the walls that color, paint the ceiling and trim either white or pale gray and paint the beams silver or pewter. Buy linens to go with the new color scheme.

Ten Thousand Villages has an interesting selection of crafts from around the world. Always go for authentic rather than mass-produced art and crafts. Just a thought about the Hindu and Buddhist (or other religions, for that matter) elements that you're considering: if you're using them only as decorative elements you may run the risk of offending those who do practice those religions. Dream catchers are significant in the Native American community. Instead of bringing in religious elements, how about water features like a small fountain on a shelf?

As for the incense, if you're in a dorm you should check with the R.A. first because it may be against code, along with candles. If you're not in a dorm, keep your door open when you burn it in a container meant to hold incense--the smoke will get into your clothing and bedding; candles should be kept in votive holders. It wouldn't hurt to keep a personal fire extinguisher behind your door;)

Best,
Shari

spkcreative@gmail.com
www.spkcreative.com

A window is a wonderful way of adding space but I see yours is behind the bed ,also when you come in you walk straight into the bed .What is on the window is there a view,is it private?I suggest you put wheels on the bed and do this.In the attched image youy can see how similar tones add a feeling of space.

Paper lantern idea from SPK: [houzz=]

Small room with calming greens (you don't have to use the orange!) [houzz=]

Some storage ideas: [houzz=]

Not so calming, but fun! [houzz=]

You've received some great ideas already, which I agree with. May want to change colour of beam. Depending on what is underneath black paint, the original beam may be interesting enough. You don't say what you want to hang on beams? Get confirmation of strength of beam and then you will know what options you have. One thing I would have loved to have in my bedroom, a hanging rattan chair. Pier 1 has one & it may be on sale now as it was a summer product.
Moving the bed will be big improvement, as eye will then go to window & see a bigger room. Can hang bamboo shades for some privacy, as they are inexpensive & easy to hang, and if you want drapes, place rod high on window wall, close to ceiling, this raises the ceiling over all. There are several different types of rods, go to drapery store to see options.
Container Store has lots of storage ideas online and Target & other stores have lots of products you can get reasonably priced.

Key to room looking larger is to keep furniture, wall colour, drapes, bedspread etc. as uniform as possible, and add pops of colour thru pillows, art work - small pieces which can be rotated by season.

Good luck,

Great for organizing makeup and jewelry inside dresser and bathroom drawers, are those plastic segmented things made for holding silverware. I use three for that purpose myself.

Moving the bed as suggested is a very good idea. It is more calming to have sunlight/moonlight coming from the side or the foot of the bed instead of coming from behind the sleeper's head. Try to arrange the bed so that the beam is not directly over your head when you are in your bed. Paint the beam the same color as the ceiling. This will reduce the oppressiveness of the black beam.
To keep the room looking as large as possible, consider sheer white draperies across the windows. As previously suggested hang them as close to the ceiling as possible and have them come all the way down to the floor, but no "puddling" of draperies.
For unusual storage ideas, what about a necktie holder for your necklaces? You will also find good organizational pieces for jewelry at a jewelry supply shop - amazing stuff in there! Look in the kitchen organizers section at Target, Bed Bath, and Beyond, and other shops for things you could use for jewelry, drawer organizers and so on.
From your description, it seems as if peace and tranquilty are what you desire to feel in this space. What colors do you associate with peace? With tranquility? With meditation? Use this information when choosing wall color, bedding, and accessories.
It is honorable to use only the religious symbols, images, or texts of the religion you yourself practice.
I think it is healthier for the body and for the planet not to burn incense or candles for recreational purposes, due to carbon emissions. I suggest the alternative of aromatherapy. There are many educational sites about aromatherapy online, and also at the library.
Keep us posted as to your progress!

i think most of the time, you dont see things hanging from beams because people tend to hang from the highest area of the ceiling which is the area between. you could most likely do either or a combination. For instance, if hanging something heavy you will want to be sure the beam is stable/structural. if hanging something light (like paper lanterns or the like) it doesnt really matter where you hang it.

i think it would be neat to string lights and paper lanterns combined, similar to this:

a friend of mine did those type of lights in a small room with exposed beams and it looked awesome.

it seems like you have very little space for a bed and dresser... is getting a smaller bed an option? if you go for something like a day bed with storage beneath, it gives you more floor area and allows you to maybe put a corner seating area, a nightstand, a vanity instead of a dresser, etc. this also allows floor space to do yoga! i am going to assume that the bed will not fit if it is turned, like other posters suggested. you may be able to get bed risers which lift your bed up by about 6 inches and you can put some under bed storage there!

my suggestion since you have such a large window is to go bold. i like using a large mirror on the wall opposite of the window, it will reflect the lighting and make your space seem much larger. Maybe something with a cool ornate wooden or gold frame, kind of moroccan looking style. i would try mixing fuschia, orange, deep plum, gold tones, royal blue... those rich colors will surely brighten your space. take a look at this image for some cool inspiration:


this room has bright white with pops of color like i mentioned:


wall storage like open shelves, hooks, or shallow cabinets are a great way to organize without taking up too much area and will not close in your space. think about also using the walls on the little hallway that leads to your closet. that could be a great place to hang necklaces, belts, etc. that way when you come out with your outfit you are ready to accessorize.

for shopping, try pier one, the container store, ikea (great for storage and curtains), target, thrift stores, architectural salvage yards (for hooks, cool wooden things), and lowes/home depot (surprisingly lots of things you need will be there!)
good luck!

I think you've got a lot of great ideas here. I would move the bed to the corner Lee suggested, but have it completely hug both walls, then create an upholstered headboard on both walls, giving the bed an alternative use as a hang-out couch when your friends come over (see pic). This is something you could do yourself with some help from a friend. Get them to cut the wood for you at a home improvement store and you can get easy step-by-step instructions online. All you need is foam, batting, fabric and a staple gun. You could even use sheets for an inexpensive fabric option.
Do paint out the beam in the same colour as the ceiling, and I would paint the walls the same colour too, to make the room feel larger...same goes for draperies.
For jewelry storage you can get a unique frame at a thrift store, paint it, and put a piece of fabric-covered cork in it (see pic). IKEA has tons of organizational items if you have a store close by.
To help achieve your theme you can invite some friends over for a stencil party (see third pic).

Happy decorating!

Hi Taylor! We'd love to see how your room turned out! Any lessons learned, or things you did differently for the upcoming year? Please share a photo!

Hi, Taylor, we can customize jewelry drawer inserts per your request if you still need them to organize the jewelry. No minimum order requirement.

DEAD THREAD - Aug, 2013 - poster never responded