Q: I've got a guest room that consists mainly of Ikea 'pine' furniture - bed, small sofa, table. I intend to use it as a studio and want to add a bit of pizzazz to the room. The carpet is mainly maroon red with a bit of taupe, grey, white and navy in the pattern. Any ideas, suggestions would be appreciated.
Asked by Stefanie
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White Enamel Flatwa...
First of all, let me say I think you've already done a fine job accenting the room with linens and accent chairs in bright red and the rug is great. I don't see an Ikea room when I look at it.
As far as helpful suggestions go, if you're looking to eliminate all traces of the Ikea, paint the pine! Complimentary or sharply contrasting colours would be great...(is that a light blue and yellow in the carpet?)
A brightly coloured or black and white (think antique photograph) above the bed would be nice to keep your eyes moving around the room as well.
Since you have a nice theme of natural and red going, why not take it onto the wall and do a cool typography print in red instead of the black framed one. Single initials or a poem, you can probably find something you like, print it out and frame it for not too much. The room does seem to be full of hard edges, maybe an upholstered/tufted ottoman with somewhat matching pillows for the sofa, you can stick with a neutral there, like a vintage flour sack style. I would also find alternative lamps as these draw your eye to the middle of the empty wall. Another thought is to overlay the rugs, maybe another one in the middle to get rid of that weird line. Sorry if it's too much, I think at least one thing will make it pop a little more.
Forgot to add, you can use that chair next to the bed as an end table, and put some books and a reading lamp on top of it! Also if you own then http://www.2jane.com/jenny-wilkinson-paint-by-numbers-wallpaper-border-floral-funk-blue or any of the other ones would be super cool in the middle of the wall instead of art!
oh oh I know this one! it's...it's.... got it !
you have HUGE BLANK WALLS! get big graphics up in there! Pictures, Framed or in a colage hang fabircs frame the desk with said fabrics canopy the bed. look UP! that is a great space enjoy all of it. Then any concern of Ikea-esqeness will disappear intoa support roll. last bit- turn up one of those lanp heads to illuminate the height and size of the room. that is your space CLAIM IT!
Good Luck!
I love what you've done with the room so far. I will second the suggestion for wall art. The only other thing that stuck out to me was the futon. I can see why you're sticking with white there, as it's a nice balance with all the bright spots of colour surrounding, but I would be tempted to use a white textile that's a bit more luxurious looking and more textured, and maybe finish it with a throw pillow that isn't red. But again, I really like what you've got going there.
paint the wood!
I agree with the others who say it's already a very cute room! I love it! The two things I would also echo are 1. big graphics on the wall, and 2. do something with the white futon... add texture and colour.
I'd probably paint the table or futon too, a bright blue or yellow?
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I do have a large print that a friend made and will definitely put it up.
I totally agree you need something on the walls above the bed, but what bothers me is the red border of the carpets cutting the room into two. If the floor is pretty, I´d go for a smaller carpet in the middle.
I love the rugs and red chairs. Since you don't use that sofa often, I would fill it up with a variety of fun throw pillows. Etsy has an endless supply or you can make them yourself with upclaimed fabric from a thriftstore.
The first thing I saw also was the futon. If you don't want to spend much money, you could move the quilt from the bed to the futon, tuck it around the cushions and add a collection of colorful patterened throw pillows, and find a simple neutral blanket or spread for the bed.
eternalvoyageur is spot on about the rugs. I suggest using only one of those rugs so it sits under all of the furniture- the sofa, front legs of the desk and just under the bed. you could try either orientation to see what fits best. Throw pillows on the couch are a must. Graphic art, rather than what is up there. Love lenzai's idea about dressing the chair-as-nightstand and switching/ditching the tall lamp. I would also put a small table in front of the sofa on the right side for some visual balance. Bringing in a lighter robin's egg blue as an accent will also bring some of that requested "pizzazz"!
So many great ideas. Thanks everyone - I've already started working on some of the suggestions.