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homebodymom

bouncing around ideas- want to help?

16 years ago

My 13 yr old daughter has definite ideas on how she wants to redo her room this summer. I am more that happy to assist, but I am entering into unfamiliar territory!!!! My home is traditional with a bit of english country....

Here are her choices so far- she put this "board" together herself :) This decorating gene is surley in the blood



We have agreed on the bedding,lamps, and other non posted ideas- repainting her desk, her and her friends painting something decorative on 1 wall, art,etc. I am here to bounce some ideas around about the paint choices. She wanted to paint the entire room teal/peacock blue. I think the color is too much for her small room, so we have agreed to do the 1 wall with the bed on it the BM Caribbean Azure and the other 3 a light gray ( she likes BM Gray Sky).She has a very non descript bone carpet and an antique walnut chest of drawers that will stay. I have never used an accent wall before and am wondering if I am getting this right. Should we go with a darker gray, maybe a bluer gray? Any ideas, or input would be appreciated! I have always used warm colors in my home and the teals and grays are totally out of my comfort zone!

Thanks!

Comments (29)

  • 16 years ago

    I love the color choices!! Another thought would be to paint the bottom part of the wall in the teal color and the top in the gray. You could also do something like the bottom teal, followed by a stripe of gray, a stripe of teal and then the entire top portion of the wall gray.

    BTW Target has some lamp bases very similar to your picture that are on clearance for $12. They also have wall decals that would match the decor your DD has chosen.

    Where is the bedding from....looks like something my 16yo DD would like.

    I'd love to see the after pics!

  • 16 years ago

    Hello,

    Here is my guest room. I used SW Steely Gray, it is a blue/gray. It is a fairly dark color, but with the large window, it isn't too dark. This room is fairly small, I also have a beige carpet.

  • 16 years ago

    mom2sethe...that is such a cute room...you really got some pizazz going on there. Love the mirror.

    homebodymom...those are really nice options she has picked out...I say go for it!!!

  • 16 years ago

    I would have to see the room but an intense accent color with a relatively lighter wall and floor color elsewhere may actually make the room appear smaller than just committing to the Caribbean Azure for the whole room. (By having a sharp boundary and cutting the room at the corners)

    It will be shocking when you first put it up but with white bedding, white trim and a light floor and ceiling it should work out. I have a near black stairwell and hallway (White trim and doors) and it actually looks bigger than it did when it was off white--feeling the room get darker as I rolled it on was a little unsettling but I am very happy with the results.

  • 16 years ago

    An accent wall in a small room can make it seem choppy. Accent walls in small square rooms also look (do I dare speak this.....) dated. Since the accent wall idea is a compromise with your daughter I would skip it and let her paint the room the color she wants. If she hates it she can't blame you.

    It's only paint. Nothing permanent that can't be changed down the road when she moves out.

  • 16 years ago

    I think painting the whole room in the Carribean Azure will be fantastic. As a teen, I had black walls in a medium sized bedroom and it looked fantastic. A white ceiling and black and white tiles on the floor kept the room from feeling closed off. I think your daughter will love having that beautiful dramatic color on the walls, so go for it.

  • 16 years ago

    Count me in w/ the camp that suggests doing the whole room in the darker color.

    I agree for the same reasons that an accent walll in such a vivid colro in a small room will only draw attention to the fact that it is a small room.

  • 16 years ago

    I don't like the accent wall idea, but feel that all that teal blue would close the room in, seem suffocating. How about doing beadboard or a chair rail? Do white below,then the blue above. That would be the best of both worlds.

  • 16 years ago

    My neighbor painted their bedroom in a color similar to the teal color your daughter picked out. It's not a huge room and it has little light. The color looks fantastic..very jewel like. They have a Moroccan theme going and it looks great. I think with the white bedding your daughter picked it will look great. Do the whole room teal.

  • 16 years ago

    ok,ok,ok - We are going for the Teal on all the walls. My DD LOVES "The Decorating Ladies On GW"! I ordered the bedding today and it is full speed ahead.

    The bedding and the lamp she chose IS from Target, and yes we already bought some of the decalls!!! Target has a HUGE selection of bedding that is only available on line and this was one of them.

    I was afraid about the accent wall looking too "80's", but was scared the teal would be too much on all the walls.

    Her room currently has a chair rail with 2 colors, and she wants to get a new look.

    We are going to paint the desk, and nighttable white. We are going to leave her dresser unpainted. When I saved it from the trash 20+ years ago it had 10,000 coats of white paint on it. It was my first refinishing project, and I refuse to paint it :( Since we are going to leave the dresser unpainted do you think I could leave the desk chair unpainted as well? If not, I will get her another chair that I wouldn;t mind painting. What does everyone think?



  • 16 years ago

    I would think about painting the desk and nightstand black. I think it will be a more sophisticated, less young girl look. Spray the hardware in silver.

    As for the chair, I would look for a parson's chair, and then get a chair cover for it. This one from IKEA might be perfect, with the black/brown legs and the black and white cover:

    henriksdal

    Then suggest to her that she might think about an accent color for some small touches around the room - a deep orange/coral would be smashing, I think!

  • 16 years ago

    I think the saturation may not be too different than whats above the chair rail now, so it may not be too big a leap.

    I would consider some trim around the window or painting a nice white frame around the window.

  • 16 years ago

    I would get a white chair and cover it in a black fabric to pick up on the other touches of black in the bedding. Yes to the desk and nightstand in white with updated silver toned hardware.

  • 16 years ago

    I would get a chair that matches the style of the desk and the theme of the room and use the Victorian chair in another room. You can probably get a curvy feminine chair on CL and paint it. I would not do stark white with the furniture. Pick an off-white or creamy color or there will be too much of a jar against the dark blue walls. You could also reupholster the chair seat with a pop of color or something funky like fake fur.

    The dresser is gorgeous and leaving it natural will make it a great accent piece so that everything does not seem matchy-matchy.


    Since there is a chair rail and you are doing the room all in one color maybe do a tone on tone, or a matte vs. eggshell print finish on the upper part of the wall to add interest. Of course if your daughter likes to hang her own stuff all over the wall this would look too cluttered. If she does posters and things just find nice frames for them. Fancy hooks on the wall for hanging purses could look nice too.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Cyrus Bedroom Walls

  • 16 years ago

    thanks everyone
    I could see the desk and nighttable painted black or white- I will let her decide that one! They might look very sofisticated painted black. Thanks for the idea!
    She wants to put panels on the windows, if we can find something that wont hide the mouldings- they would look nice too
    We will replace the chair- now I have an excuse to find something funky on CL on search local thrift stores!! Love the idea of interesting hooks on the walls for the bags and hats that are always hanging on her desk chair and making me crazy ;)

  • 16 years ago

    Check the lamp out in person at Target. Their table lamps tend to be wobbly and cheap. Make sure it will take the wattage bulb you desire for the right light. Some of those little table lamps they sell are more of a night light than a reading lamp.

    You could find a sturdy, cute lamp at a thrift store and just cover the shade with damask fabric for a the same look you are going for, yet with unique and individual styling. It won't say "Target 2010". Maybe even cover the cushion in front of the window with the same damask fabric.

    Check the dollar stores for scrolly, metal, decorative hooks. I got some large size, nice ones for a buck each.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Damask Fabric

  • 16 years ago

    Saw the lamps today and dilly you are right. Will be checking out the thrift stores and craigslist. She would like something with a clear or silver base.
    Anyone cover a lampshade with fabric care to share the "how to's" ?
    :~)

  • 16 years ago

    Found this headboard for $39. What do you think? I really like it, but my DD thinks it might be too much?

  • 16 years ago

    I just painted my son's room Intense Teal by Behr
    It does not close in the room at all. In fact it seems to
    make the room look larger. He loves this color. I think it
    is darker than the color you are looking at.
    I do understand what one poster meant by closing in on you
    but this color reflects so nicely and seems to give
    a feeling of water, sky expansion. I love it. I say go for
    the paint in the entire room. This is a fantastic gift
    to give your daughter. Freedome to express herself and
    enjoy her space. What a great mom you are!!!!

    Here are some ideas that can be done with things around
    your house. Paint an old light fixture Blk, or teal
    or white... Paint some vases, furniture, or even canvas
    for pictures. Let the creativity flow and grow to be
    beatiful!

    ~boxerpups

    I will try to post pictures tomorrow.

    Meanwhile here are some inexpensive ideas...

    ~boxer

  • 16 years ago

    thanks Boxerpups!
    I would love to see some pics of your son's room when you get a chance.
    The chandalier is a great idea too!

  • 16 years ago

    A girlie room can NEVER be too much! The headboard would fit right in with the look she's going for....and $39? Go for it! ;o)

  • 16 years ago

    I thought I'd commented on this before, but I guess not. I love the black and white with turquoise. Just gorgeous. If you are leaving the lower half the walls painted a lighter color I would think about doing the night stand and desk something like this...
    {{!gwi}}
    I know I have a better photo colorwise, but I can't find it for the life of me. If I do I'll post it later.

  • 16 years ago

    The head board is nice. The bedding on the 'wish list' is nice. I think together they will be too much with the bedding detracting from the beauty of the headboard. Does your daughter love, love, love the bedding? Then I'd go with a simpler headboard. That scrolly metal headboard with a solid bedspread and a mix of printed pillows and patterned dust ruffle would look balanced.

  • 16 years ago

    Well I have been admiring your venture and have to jump in and say justgotabeme's latest photo inspiration with the turqoise dresser and brass -- is drool worthy.

  • 16 years ago

    Sheila, isn't that a gorgeous piece of furniture? I'm not one to paint good wood, and I didn't paint this one, but this baby is definitely drool worthy in my book too.

  • 16 years ago

    Wow, I love the refinished dresser. And I love the poster above's idea of painting some of the furniture teal. If you do this, I would leave the chair the way it is, maybe change the cushion? You don't want to overdo the teal, esp if it is on all the walls. Myself, I probably wouldn't paint the furniture teal, but it does look nice in her photo.

    I know you may be in a rush to complete everything, but sometimes you have to leave things for later, see how the room is coming along and what it needs. With painted items, remember you can always cheaply and quickly make changes. if you decide to paint the nightstand and desk white, and later decide that even more teal is necessary, you can re-paint then. Or vice-versa - you may do the teal, and decide it is too much. Decorating is not an exact science!!

    Also, with accent colors, extra pillows, pictures, etc, those things it is best to wait to see how the room turns out and then decide on what other colors you want to bring in. Don't put yourself under too much pressure to decide all that stuff right away!

  • 16 years ago

    Jen, I agree. As I mentioned I'd only paint the furniture teal if the lower walls were left light in color. I'm not sure I'd do them with the same paint as the walls either. Though it might work out well, if it didn't one could always do a white wash over them to lighten them.
    I also agree to wait on the accessories until the rest of the room is finished. That way you'll be able to see just where color is needed. It's going to be such a pretty room!

  • 16 years ago

    justgotabme- that nightstand is amazing! However, my DD did convince me - with the encouragement of the wonderful folks here- to paint the entire room teal. We got the headboard today, and are patiently waiting for the comforter set to arrive before we start to paint. The desk, and nightable will probably be black ( maybe creamy white) but we wont decide that until the walls are painted. The desk chair will not be painted. It will replaced with something else since my DD doesn't like it, and I dont want to paint it anyway :)
    Will keep everyone posted on our progress. PLEASE keep sharing your ideas- we love them!
    Paula and Emily

  • 16 years ago

    I'm happy for your daughter. I too am one that let our daughter, our son let me do whatever, decorate her own room. My Mom did that for me and those times are some of the best memories I have. She was an awesome Mom and always encouraged me to be me. The best thing one can do for their children in my opinion. I'm looking forward to seeing this rooms progression.