apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Before & After: Inexpensive Re-Do on the Blue Room

070108after3.jpgIn my new (old) house, there was a very, very blue room: blue carpet, blue walls, blue ceiling (the photos here don't show how blue the paint actually was). With stepkids in the house part-time who needed their rooms to be a little less "old lady," we went for an overhaul on the cheap. Shown here (and below the jump), our quick and easy results: a light, bright fun room with lots of further possibility. Read about our problems, process and products below the jump:

070108blueroom.jpg

 
 

070108after1.jpg
070108after2.jpg

The problems:


  • Plywood pieces under the carpet (no nice hard wood here)

  • Awkward angles

  • Small budget

  • Only a few days to get it finished

The process:

  • Pulling up old blue carpet and all of the staples that held it down
  • Removing a big, old, energy-sucking a/c window unit
  • Paint the ceiling (the angled challenge), then walls, then floor

The products:

  • Leftover ceiling and light grey paint from our newly painted master bedroom
  • Leftover bright yellow paint from old apartment
  • Purchased white floor paint
  • 2 twin beds, side tables newly purchased from IKEA. Old IKEA Lack shelves from our last apartment.
  • New IKEA rug from as-is section for $1! (because it was "dirty," said the IKEA employee)
  • Red plastic lamp from our home's estate sale (before our move-in)
  • Old world map saved from a dumpster
  • Hubby-made yellow console, previously in master bedroom but now wouldn't fit.
Before Pics:
070108blueroom1.jpg 070108blueroom2.jpg 070108blueroom3.jpg 070108blueroom4.jpg

Tags

painting, fixing & repair, Look!, Before & After

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Comments (4)

what a great transformation, heather! i never would've guessed those floors were plywood from the pictures, either!

posted by closertotheocean on 2008-07-01 12:32:20
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Agreed. Really nice. Maybe you can faux stain those floors!

posted by MuffinGal on 2008-07-01 13:05:40
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Not trying to be overly critical, but the combo of the yellow paint, white floors, wood closet doors, and sparse furnishings makes me feel like this is a hospital room. It kind of makes me cringe. However, I applaud the effort, as it certainly is not worse than before, and I'm sure any attempt I made would not have come out nearly as well.

posted by trisarahtops on 2008-07-01 13:28:08
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I think you should change the bedding add some lovely throw pillows because right now they(the comforters) just blend right into the carpet color. And hang a nice art piece (or collection of small pieces) above the bed!! :)

posted by witchbaby on 2008-07-01 14:37:06
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