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allison_gulka

Help accessorizing office/guest room

4 years ago

Looking for advice on how to make this room work better on a low budget. I tried to work in the existing carpet and wood trim with pillows and a newly painted accent wall (BM Hunter Green), but I’m not loving the room as a whole. Ideas for pillows, art, rugs, etc. that could help pull the room together better? I was thinking of a light brown leather desk chair. Otherwise the furniture is staying. Gentle advice appreciated, I realize what I’m working with isn’t the greatest.

Comments (27)

  • 4 years ago

    A darker colored covering for the mattress will dress up the bed...perhaps in the same dark green as one of your pillows...Change current window treatment to a simple wood blind.

  • 4 years ago

    Great, suggestion, thank you. I’ll look around and see if I can find something dark for the day bed covering.

  • 4 years ago

    I love the color of the accent wall. But I'd chosen gray for the mattress covering to match it to the color of the other walls, as you already have green pillows. And speaking of the leather desk chairs, I don't consider them comfy because the best part of my body is sweating like hell. :D This chair color is great, but you need some kind of a cushion, maybe white-colored.

  • 4 years ago

    Thanks for your suggestions! I’m just using what I have around to try different things currently- I tried a green and didn’t love it, I may have a dark gray cover somewhere I can try. We do need some sort of comfier chair, as my husband and I use this as a home office some days. Any thoughts on a rug over the carpet? Or decor for the accent wall?

  • 4 years ago

    While I had the dark green cover on, I also found a crocheted bedspread that my great grandmother made and tried layering it on top. Maybe the day bed is still too busy/white? Kind of like the idea of incorporating some texture though.

  • 4 years ago

    With the exception of the crocheted coverlet and the valances, this seems to be a masculine room. I'd stick with that direction; it will be easier to follow through with.

  • 4 years ago

    When I am a guest, I need a small nightstand or table for my Puffs Plus, my phone, and my eyeglasses. As much as I love your grandma’s crocheted cover, I would be terrified someone would snag it with a suitcase or purse. Because of my cat, I don’t use any of my quilts or coverlets on our beds although it makes me sad!

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I love your space! It is really warm and cozy. Fantastic choice for accent wall. I love deep greens. I did a mock up just for fun showing some ideas and just colors. I do not mean to say to use any one item... I just thought a visual can help lead you to what you may want or not want.

    I hope you do not mind but I placed a wood woven roman shade in place of your valence. I think it looks great. The bedding I just stole from some photos for color ideas. I know it looks weird.

    Hope some of this maybe helps!!


    AFTER



    BEFORE




  • 4 years ago

    Thank you all for your suggestions! Yes this is a masculine tending room, since I’m trying to make it a comfortable office space for my husband as well as a guests room. We have a corner near the door (right) that I’ve been thinking of putting a small side table in for guests. Should I take out the crocheted bedspread? I love the mock-up aktillery9! The Roman shade and floor covering warm up the space, and I even like the green bedding you added- I have trouble finding tones of the same color that aren’t TOO matchy but still “work” and add complexity. But I think the army-green/brown bedding helps pull in both the greige wall color and the accent wall? The pillows also pull in some of the warm tones from the guitars. I think it works. Since I’m on a tight budget, I’m trying to work as much with what I have or can acquire super inexpensively, but I’ll keep playing around with some of these ideas.

  • 4 years ago

    Love Ak’s mock-up!

    HD and Lowe’s have very inexpensive woven shades (I’ve purchased from them both in the past). And rug places are having awesome sales right now.

  • 4 years ago

    Garden, I would check marketplace (facebook) and Craigslist. Also, offerup,com is great.

    You would not need a large rug. I would measure and look around at Home Goods, Ross etc.


    Ross also has super inexpensive pillows and bedding etc. I always find great bargains there.

  • 4 years ago

    Garden, what are the sizes of your windows? Particularly width?

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Just some tweaking; bedding will have a major influence, as well as rattan blinds and a natural fiber rug; Ikea will be a great source. Suggest adding some earth toned cushions (avoid feminine patterns).






  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Would the bed fit across room? That might open up the space quite a bit. I love cognac as a accent color with your green wall.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    You might be able to pick up simple metal mattress frame and reduce the size and volume of the bed? Then use pillows for headboard feel for sleeping? Could you post sketch of room with widths if walls and windows. Then I can help with scale drawings. 😊

  • 4 years ago

    Flo - the baseboard heat might preclude placing the bed across the room. I think the old "rule" of fabrics and textiles first my come into play here as she tries to match green to the wall color rather than matching wall color to the green fabrics available. I would remove the crocheted coverlet and valances. The masculine fabric shades will work well. Here's an idea to increase the masculinity.


    https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=black+and+green+buffalo+check&atb=v181-1&iax=images&ia=images&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.bespokepost.com%2Fmedia%2FW1siZiIsIjIwMTcvMDgvMDEvMTcvNTEvMDUvNzBjYzc3ODctOTlhYS00NTE1LTg2YWUtMmE0Y2FjMWQ1Mjc1L25zLTMtZ3JheS1GYXJpYmF1bHRfQnVmZl9HcmVlbi5qcGciXSxbInAiLCJ0aHVtYiIsIjE0MTB4MTQxMCMiXV0%2FFaribault_Buff_Green.jpg%3Fsha%3D1f6d05461c56f45e

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Yes, I noticed the baseboard heat and with a less large and solid frame pulled some from wall, leaving room for heat to move forward would work. An option to explore at least.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    This is a pleasant cozy room. Try bringing in each of the coverlets and blankets you have already. Fold them to show a foot wide swath, placing each swath on the bed to try out the colors. Put the pillows away while you are doing that. Then take the white valences down. Take some new photos.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago


    Nice room!

    Room darkening shades or curtains for the windows is the main thing I'd want in a guest room. I still recall the terrible times I've had trying to sleep when visiting others because the rooms were so bright with no way to darken them - not to mention privacy.

    That and definitely something to pull up next to the bed for incidentals as mentioned above. It could double as a stool or ottoman.

    And a simple folding luggage rack that can be stored away would be nice so people don't have to put their suitcase on the bed or floor.

    And where do the pillows go when someone is sleeping in the bed? On the floor - or are the drawers meant for that?

    Ikea ican be a good source for textiles.

  • 4 years ago

    Thanks for weighing in everyone! I love the suggestions for masculine textiles/accents and natural toned shades. The window width to the outside of the frame is 46 inches, and there are two windows in the room. FYI, we currently have blackout accordion-style (?) blinds on the windows that provide darkness/privacy for guests. They’re hidden under the valences, inside mounted.

    I know there has been some discussion about changing the furniture or moving it, but unfortunately this is the furniture and arrangement we are using for now. The day bed (IKEA) pulls out into a king size and we have a second mattress that goes on it. We need this for when my in-laws visit, which is seldom, even if it does take up the whole floor. This is the only furniture arrangement that will allow the day bed to pull out and not hit the door.

    I can try some different things and take more photos.

    If I missed addressing any big suggestions or questions please let me know :)

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    A tailored valance would look better and more in keeping with the masculine look.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    If there is no ceiling light, consider moving that corded wall lamp right of the door so one can turn it on before entering the room at night, unless there is a closet (or no outlet) there.

  • 4 years ago

    And these are in artificial light- so that changes the look a bit. We do have a ceiling light, you can kind of see it in the window reflection. It’s dated and needs replacing, but probably not in this round of updates. I wouldn’t be opposed to a lamp on a table on the near right corner which is currently empty.

  • 4 years ago

    I like what you’ve done! Really like that rug.

    I think the antler is cool, I vote it stays. :D

  • 4 years ago

    Looks great!!! Nice job and great rug. I love the windows without the valences.

    The only thing I suggest is a lamp for on the desk. Mid lighting in the room will provide such a cozy and more interesting atmosphere!

  • 4 years ago

    Also I like the first photo the most. Love the way you used those lovely pillows and the color of the bed covering and that is a great throw! Perfect!