It's absolutely beautiful! No wonder you wanted it. It's going to look so welcoming and warm. You can use any color that's in the set, from the pale yellow to the gorgeous blue and any of the neutrals and it will look fab. Fear not!!! lol

Small doesn't mean everything needs to be small. Trying to do small could end up being too busy. I love the colors and print. There are so many options for colors, art and furniture to tie all in. Make your bed the center of attraction. You mentioned the birds, just don't add any more birds. I see color and flowers, not so much "birds". How funny the the designer tried to steer you away from this.

I think it's gorgeous and I love the colors. If the pattern seems too big, when you make the bed, fold the top of the duvet cover down before placing the pillows and/or put a throw across the end of the bed...it'll keep the colors and the print, but break it up a little. Solid colored, textured pillows will also soften the print.

{{!gwi}}

Thank you all!! I had checked out images on Houzz and none off the beds in the small rooms had a pattern.. let alone such a big pattern.

Annie.. that's brilliant to put the solid pillow cases on top and the shams in the back. What a simple solution to breaking up the pattern.

Do you think it matters what I do on the walls?

You can go with any color in the spread that you want, but I think the blue background is absolutely lovely.

Thank you, Annie. I really love the colors too. I am really torn between the blue/green and a light gold (there's gold as well as yellow in the pattern). I plan to do one of the bedrooms in a blue/green and one in chamois gold so I guess I can select the colors that will allow me to swap the duvet between the master and spare room. I love options!

I use a silvery sage silk quilt on the bed too so that may affect what color i choose for the master.

I am just thrilled to be able to use the duvet/shams. It's all the more perfect for my grandparents' house because they both loved birdwatching and they used birds in their decor.

I think it's really pretty.

Just so you know, I just got this email from PB a bit ago today. Lots of comforters/duvets/quilts on clearance in case you want to look.

Here is a link that might be useful: PB Sale

Thanks, Mpmg! I saw the PB sale too.. but I have way too many duvets and quilts to justify buying another (no matter how drawn I am to a bedding sale!). I do have others to use if this pattern is too big but I think using Annie's suggestions and choosing the right paint color should help me to keep it at the center of a beautiful new room.

What color would you paint the walls-- blue or gold? something else?

i think i would paint the walls the blue color of the quilt background...(it really is pretty!) ... i think if you match the paint to the backround color the bed won't 'pop' so much and will make the room seem bigger (or not as small!) ---i'm not an expert, but that's what i would think/do.

I love the bedding print, too, and think you will have a beautiful room when all is said and done.

Just a small caution, based on my personal experience in my itty bitty 3'x7' powder room. I chose a beautiful pale blue, dutifully painted a foam board w/ it and viewed it in my powder room at various times throughout the day, for a number of days, just knew this was The Color. But, once the room was painted, it was significantly brighter than what I'd envisioned. The walls reflected the paint stronger than I realized it would, and I wish I had gone down to the very lightest shade on that color swatch.

Later, when I remodeled the Master Bathroom, I chose a pale blue and cream color scheme, and I made sure to go lighter, even though the blue looked practically white on the swatch card--till it went up on the walls, when it looked perfect :-) (Still makes me smile whenever I walk in there.)

Also, in your case, I would be afraid that the bedding would blend too much into a blue wall and thus wouldn't be showcased enough.

So, w/ those things in mind, I think my vote would be for a very (very!) pale creamy yellow/gold- one shade lighter than the shade you really like ;-) -for the walls.

I can't wait to see what you decide to do; you have such a beautiful palette of colors to choose from.

I love it. With any other fabrics, use small patterns and solids taken from the colors in the bird print.

You could do the walls in so many colors, from the obvious pale blue or yellow to the cream, taupe and fawn, or even the deep rust. Depends on if you want rich and dramatic or light and airy.

I think the bedding is beautiful, too. Depending on the mood you want to evoke you could either do a creamy yellow or pick up on the background color (lots of other options, but those would be my choice), but I heartily agree with jbrig about going lighter than you think you want.

Thank you all for your thoughts! I definitely want a cozy and relaxing vibe to the room.. that translates to light and airy in the summer and cozy and cocoon like in the winter.

I have this rug in my current bedroom.. but it's a much larger room. I hope to be able to use it in this room also but I am not sure the 6' round size will work as nicely in the new room.

I have long white tie-top voile linen curtains that I'd likely use in the summer (with or without the ties). In winter, I'd try to add a layer in the same color range as the wall. I am looking for a chair to recover in a coordinating fabric but I am not even close to this project as yet.

I have NO idea what furniture I'll use. I currently have an antique bed with a custom finish that I'll likely retire to the spare room or refinish in antique black.

I'll definitely retire my birds eye maple dressers... but it's very likely that dressers will go into another small room I'll use as a dressing room (until I knock out a wall). I don't know what I'll use for bedside tables yet but I have a number of options either in warm medium woods-- or to be repainted.

Not much help huh? Lots of options and few decisions. Arrgh.. and this is only the first room of many throughout the house. I am following the advice from this board-- get one room done first as a refuge from the others.

Everyone here has been so sweet and helpful but it seems like many are as split on the color as I am. Is it flip a coin time?