apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Our neighbors growing up had an Egyptian themed bathroom. Lots of the colors you mention, but they also stuck with some traditional colors: the toilet was black, the tub was rough travertine tile - imitating sandstone. They also painted faux columns on the wall with a soft green color, in the shape of papyrus leaves.

I think you could translate some of these colors into the bedding - maybe soft green comforter, sandstone sheets. Or dramatic: Black comforter with green/sandstone sheets.

You could also modify an existing comforter with some edging - maybe blue and gold striped edging, or green and red.

I would choose a neutral cream / beige for the wall color and accent with bedding and curtains.
You can mix and match anything with white, brown, blue, green and red, and add the golden accent by getting a gold framed mirror.
If it was my room, I would get some sort of blue green patterned curtains, white bedding with brown borders, and red and orange accent pillows.

none of those colors seems hard to find in solid-colored bedclothes. What about a mixture (sheets red, comforter gold? or whatever combo you like) and accent with trim or throw pillows? Any graphic motifs that scream "egyptian" can go up as wall paint and artwork. That might help keep it from turning too Epcot-Center "Egyptland," too. GL, and have fun!

White, with a white mosquito netting or sheer half headboard, and drape the bed with a gold lame throw.

It's springtime...The Ten Commandments will be on TV soon. There's inspiration!

Here's a Crocodile motif - What could be more Egyptian than Crocodiles?

http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod20030037&parentId=cat000075&masterId=cat000074&index=35&cmCat=cat000000cat000072cat000074cat000075

You could mix it up with some embellished bedding:
http://www.wshome.com/products/p4000/index.cfm?pkey=csheets%2Dbed%2Dsheet%2Dsets

http://www.horchow.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=cprod29270038&parentId=cat3750734&masterId=cat000079&index=15&cmCat=cat000000cat000072cat000079cat3750734

I would go for a light linen or cream duvet cover. See if you can't make it a little bit safari/expedition -- dark wood trunks, dark red kilim pillows with wooden and leather buttons, sisal rugs. Pretty!

I always have a good chuckle when I spy the old pillow cases my boyfriend won't throw out and that rotate into our bedding on laundry days. They feature a classic Egyptian motif of pharoahs, priests, and gods in profile. It's a bit unnerving to nod off while nose to nose with Anubis.

The print and product info on the tag has long been worn away, but that's probably a good thing. I agree with the above commenters - texture or bold color pairings will help you get your look. I'm all for that "croc-skin" bedding!

Emily---you are going to have so much fun, and this could be the start of something very special for you.

1. Go to a huge fabric store and see if you can find a bolt of material (or two bolts) that reflects your Egyptian theme idea. You will use it for draperies, hangings, and throw pillows. To calculate how much fabric you'll need to cover a window horizontally---figure 2.5 or 3 times the width you want to cover---this is for a simple panel that you will push into gathers on a curtain rod.

2. Use your fabric swatch to choose paint colors for your walls. Pick at least two colors, and use a small amount of a third color for accents.

3. JCPenney carries a full line of bed linens in solid colors (and lots of dark intense colors) that can be bought as coverlets, full spreads, duvets, sheeting, etc. One or more of these colors should match something in the fabric you bought, and coordinate with your paint choices. Remember, you are still looking at paint samples at this point---don't buy the paint yet.

4. When you have decided on bedding colors that blend with your fabric, it's time to tweak your paint color. You may want to change your mind, or lighten or darken your choice.

5. You can buy gold and silver metallic thread, both for sewing in a machine and to embroider with by hand. Find a book on embroidery from the library and you will find some easy, but ethnic-looking embroidery stitches that you can use to dress up your purchased linens, or pick up on the colors in the fabric you choose.

6. If you do not have access to a sewing machine (you could push your luck and ask for an inexpensive one, which you will never regret, and neither will your parents) you can construct your draperies and other hangings by using the cross stitch. It is a sturdy, time-tested stitch and dead-easy to use. Adjust your stitch to the depth of the folded edge of your fabric. You can also use a blanket stitch which is another easy hand stitch. You can use a thread color that blends, or contrasts, or one of the metallics. You can also use iron on tape for making hems and finishing raw edges.

7. The library will have books on how to make all kinds of pillows, so you will use the rest of your Egyptian fabric to make pillows for your bed and floor. Finding other accessories will be great fun. Consider Pier 1, World Market, for inexpensive choices. Ballard Design for better quality, more costly ones.

Plan all you work before you start, double-check your calculations, and HAVE FUN! Best Wishes :)

Years ago, I had white mosquito netting over my bed, a white-on-white embroidered bedspread, and a multicolored throw. It was actually an Indian-inspired bedroom, but the look could easily be applied to an Egyptian room.

Note: unless you are cursed with hideous bed legs as I was, avoid a dust ruffle/bed skirt. Egypt is hot...fabric retains heat...skipping the ruffle will keep it looking light and airy.

Get some books on King Tut from the library and take a look at the tomb furnishings, that might give you some ideas about the type of furniture that would fit in a modern version of the theme. (Like a low wooden platform bed with a not terribly thick mattress and covers wrapped under the mattress, not hanging down... )

Dont forget lapis blue and turquoise blue, with carnelian red and jade green and metallic gold, that's what a lot of Egyptian jewelry were made from and the colors are great together, especially with wood tones and white as neutrals.

You might get some more ideas from episodes of the tv show Smallville, since the Talon coffee shop in the show has an over-the-top Egyptian theme decor.

If your folks agree, I'd suggest painting a mural on at least one wall, either in full bright Egyptian colors or in faded archeology Egyptian colors... maybe you can borrow a projector for computer images (or for slides) of Egyptian art from books. Trace the images in pencil and fill in with acrylic paint. No framed art.

A few museum replicas of Egyptian dieties might be fun to add...