Software
Houzz Logo Print
kickycar1

Stumped on Decorating

8 years ago

Dear Houzz Readers,


I'm stumped on decorating the bedroom I share with my husband. I'm not a decorating sort, but I want to give it a try. Some of these may be stupid questions but please be kind!


Okay, here goes. We have Juniper Berry Sage walls from Glidden and slate blue bedding. The only request my husband has made is that the green wall color stays. I cannot figure out how to tie these two colors together or what patterns would work well. I've read about using sage green as a neutral, but does that mean I shouldn't try to match anything to it?

We have a farm in an area with both rolling hills and prairie. I'm really trying to make our bedroom reflect our unique location. We're aiming for a "minimalist American heartland" look, which is inspired by our lamp choices. Anything white is out of the question and we are not fans of the show Fixer Upper. That look is pretty (and popular, holy cow!), but horribly impractical for our lifestyle. I'm also trying to avoid a look that is overly feminine. We are also on a tight budget as we are in the process of building a house. I have tried gray as an accent color and we found the look to be too cold. Does anyone think blue ticking might work or is it too French farmhouse? My husband wears shirts similar to blue ticking while working on the farm and I'd love to incorporate that pattern. I don't have confidence in my decision to do this though as the ticking would not tie the walls and bedding color together. (Does such a thing even matter?) I have an idea for art, but I don't know the rules about posting the work of artists. It has both blue and greens in it with a little bit of barn red.

I have included my mood board, but it feels like I'm missing something. I keep questioning my vision. Is a quilt enough pattern? What would work for curtains? How about throw pillows? Do I use the barn red in the planned artwork as an accent color? Will the color palette I have included even work in a bedroom or is it too busy? Will the green and red remind us too much of Christmas? Should I scrap everything and start over? (This thought distresses me.) I don't know what to do at all and it is really bumming me out. I don't even know if the look we're aiming for is possible as I have yet to find an example that I really love. Thank you to anyone who is able to help! You're a lifesaver. (I apologize if I used any images owned by anyone as these have all been pulled from Pinterest and Google searches)




Comments (13)

  • 8 years ago

    I think you can definitely use the existing colors together! I would add another quilt to your existing blue bedding, that ties in a bit of the wall color and adds some more pattern to the room--layer the bedding together for more texture! Something like these would be adorable:

    https://www.houzz.com/products/peyton-queen-quilt-set-prvw-vr~73030531

    https://www.houzz.com/products/amazingly-red-quilt-luxury-king-120x106-prvw-vr~38595526

    https://www.houzz.com/products/concord-king-quilt-set-prvw-vr~82816025

    As for the drapes, I agree with @Rina and think a beautiful set of sheers would compliment the decor without drawing too much attention from the focal points in the room.

    I think you can still definitely incorporate a deeper red if you want, but I would recommend finding a bedding that might have a small amount (like the first 2 bedding choices pictured), and then bring out that color as an accent with pillows and/or a nice throw.

    My biggest piece of advice would be to not get discouraged! Whether you're decorating or redecorating, it's all trial and error. I would start by choosing your bedding/drapes, and then visit local TJ Maxx/HomeGoods and look for inspiration there. Purchase decorative items and take them home to see how they look--worst case, you have 30 days to return them!! I, personally, have had a lot of luck finding decor items on Letgo, an app-equivalent of Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. I've found lots of really nice decorative trinkets, frames, art, etc. for really cheap.

    I hope this helps--best of luck!

    kickycar1 thanked Lauren Davidson
  • 8 years ago

    Can you post pictures of the room so we can see furniture colors, etc? I think you can definitely use the quilt folded at the end of your bed. Find an accent pillow that pulls from the quilt colors, including the barn red. IMO, the simple farmhouse style is not fussy, so you don't need 16 pillows on the bed. The galvanized watering can with baby's breath could be a pretty accent on a dresser. I don't know if art like this might be too literal for you.

    https://www.greatbigcanvas.com/view/beautiful-red-barn-and-garden-in-the-palouse-washington,2242323/?s=GrWVSyRonB83RPYXo4A7DClYpk1AMrEDO57NnsjHdbYqKy3zeSoiaRumavxHk
    https://www.greatbigcanvas.com/view/barns-on-greenbrier-v,1110879/?s=5yEAWUSNyLUcQFRF8ri6tWJbhIAk88tTBDeyUiFD2WsTpWFkGNTZIBYZGGE

    Do you happen to have any local artists that paint landscapes from your area? That may be worth exploring for something more personal.

    kickycar1 thanked katinparadise
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Amazon.com: McAlister Heritage Large Pillow Cover Case | Wool-Textured Flannel P · More Info

    Amazon.com: Oil Painting Hundreds of Birds Cotton Linen Throw Pillow Case Cushio · More Info

    Amazon.com: Axe Sickle 18x18 Inch Van Gogh Painting olive tree pillowcase,Cotton · More Info

    not for you to take them all, but if you like one for on the bed they are usually under $25 and a great way to bring the colors together. they are for you to get some ideas of other colors and ways to have patterns without being feminine, there are several of those grand chickens.

    kickycar1 thanked havingfun
  • 8 years ago

    Thank you so much to everyone! I really didn't expect to get answers. Yet I got such wonderful ones. :) I sat down and played with Canva and actually made a proper photo collage. The result strays pretty far from what I had in mind. The duvet even breaks my no white rule. I find myself liking this a bit better though. My hubby went nuts (in a good way lol) for the collage and to me that is a ringing endorsement. Any thoughts?



  • 8 years ago

    What furniture do you currently have?

  • 8 years ago

    You put together a wonderful, collected looking storyboard. My only thought is that you might want larger nightstands so there's more room for a lamp, some decor, clock, etc.

    kickycar1 thanked katinparadise
  • 8 years ago

    er612 the furniture is being replaced, as it all hand-me downs that are not in nice shape. I'm basically working from a clean slate with the exception of the green walls. We don't have a headboard as our bed sits against a bump out. I'm shy about putting pictures of the room itself up. Our living arrangements are temporary as we're building a house. As such our current digs are pretty hideous. Thick brown shag carpet, crappy windows, etc. etc. At this point I'm trying to put lipstick on a pig so to speak and feed my urge to decorate. I told myself I'd wait for our new house to do this sort of thing, but I'm not a very patient person! Everything I do now is 99.9% likely to follow us to the new place.


  • 8 years ago

    Very pretty board. Yes, well, don't spend significant money on things you are not going to want in the new place. In other words, put your money into things you can see taking with you wherever you are (within reason). But make now prettier and you will be happier. Nothing wrong with a pretty pig.

    kickycar1 thanked Rina
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I like the patterned quilt in your first mood board.

    Oyster Pond Estate · More Info

    Farmhouse Bedroom · More Info

    Snowman Farm · More Info

    Halpert at the Vineyard · More Info

    My Houzz: A Pre-Revolutionary Home for a Modern Family · More Info

    kickycar1 thanked er612
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Window Treatments Page 2 | Bellacor · More Info
    sheers should go to the floor, can't tell if yours do. you can buy anywhere of near identical quality for under $10 depending upon width of window. Ikea used to have 84" wide for $5.
    Better Homes and Gardens X-Leg Accent Table with Drawer, Multiple Colors - Walma · More Info
    for the other
    Sites-athome-Site · More Info
    orhow about this at baseof bed or somewhere.in other spots for storage


    let me know what you want to ditch. i am off to check on them.

    kickycar1 thanked havingfun
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Hi.

    I'm wondering if you're in the process of building a house, whether you want to spend any money on this at all? If it's just for a year of so, why not enjoy making plans for the future, instead, and just pretend you're back in college for a while...

  • 8 years ago

    If it were me, then I would take this building year to invest in the bedroom furniture that I want for the long haul and invest in very full (2.5 times) the window width, semi sheer floor to ceiling curtains, and call it good....in the meantime just shop your home for accessories in the meantime. Then....... maybe....... pull up your floor carpet and replace with a remnant that you have had bound to fit the room, but one foot in all around then paint the floor boards in a fun deep red and put the bound carpet on top and call it good for any new items ....The bedroom furniture and the curtains and the rug can find a home in your new home when it is done.....by the way, love your mood board!

    Here is a sage green room with white elements at the window and wood bed and night stands and a dresser....note that the mirror DOES NOT MATCH anything in the room but does relate to the black lamps and the black frames on the art work on the wall....so get a different mirror please that relates to the lamps and the art work frames......could be gold, silver bronze etc. And if you order your bedroom furniture it can take up to three or four months to order etc. Love your ideas!

    Oakland Hills Mansion · More Info