Name: Sparkle
Location: North Hollywood, CA
Type: Two bedroom, rental apartment
Why I use color:
When you're sharing an apartment with a roommate (who isn't a significant other), compromise and settling on "safe" colors and design tend to come with the territory. While it's good to expand your creative tastes and try new and different ideas, it's also important to have at least one place that is 100% your own; a place that just fits you. That's what I've created with my bedroom.
I chose colors that I respond well to, both physically and emotionally, and turned a room that's mainly viewed as a place of rest and peace into a place where I have complete and absolute freedom. The freedom to be bold and expressive, or creative and focused, or completely relaxed and calm without having to worry about how it might affect my roommate.
2 Good color tips:
1. Everyone always says "don't be afraid of color!" I prefer to say "stop pretending!"
There's usually a good reason for thinking that you're afraid of color, but it's usually not a bad fear. It's best to assess your apprehensions in order to determine exactly a.) WHY you are afraid of color and b.) WHAT the best way is to incorporate color into your life, while removing the fear of it, instead of just ignoring it.
2. You won't know until you try. In fashion, they say you'll never TRULY know if you like something until you "try it on." The same goes with color. If you think you like a certain shade of pink, but are wary about designing a whole room around the color or even just painting one wall that color, find a decent size decorative object (preferably one that you like/can use) in the same shade of pink and place it in that room or on/against that wall for a couple of weeks and see how much you like it, how well it gets along with the surrounding objects/area, and most importantly how it makes you feel.
Favorite type and brand of paint:
I'm used to painting rooms with plain old flat matte paint, but we just painted our entrance hallway with a satin finish paint and I'm in love with it! It's a great alternative to flat matte when you really want a wall to hold its own in a room. As for brand, I'm not too particular. I'm more concerned with finding the exact color that I want.
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Nice! This room makes me want to eat sherbet. I'm glad that you explained why you're showing only one room for the color contest.
view quercus's profile
Love your color scheme.
view Lady J's profile
I can see your light fixture reflected in the fourth picture...is it an upside-down parasol? I'd love to see a picture of it...looks very pretty.
view alisong's profile
however nice one room is, i would like to see more than just one.
view elizabet's profile
Thanks everyone!
@alisong
It's not a "real" parasol, but more of an upside-down parasol-like shade. I got it at Urban Outfitters a while back, not sure if they sell them anymore.
But I now prefer the idea of modifying a real parasol into shade.
@elizabet
Oh if only the rest of my apartment could be as colorful as my bedroom! But alas, I live with a roommate who prefers an abundance of neutrals to color. :/
I am slowly trying to change her ways though... we very recently painted our entryway and kitchen teal!
view sparkle's profile
Anyone else concerned about the stuff above the bed during an earthquake?
view chowbaby's profile
@chowbaby
Eh, no worries, I'm a deep-sleeper, it won't bother me. :)
Though, didn't originally have the bed under the shelves... but then the ants came, and I needed to move my bed away from their direct access point. Stupid ants.
view sparkle's profile
hey, it's nice to see more of this room than what you put on the blog - it's pretty cute. :)
view Mella DP's profile
Well thought out use of colour. I love pink and orange (though I couldn't live with them) and I think you've done a terrific job.
view Alana in Canada's profile
in southern california, the shelves would above my head would definitely scare me! but the look is great!
view clemoni's profile
I would've expected an orange/pink room to be UBER girly-- I think you did a good job of keeping it hip to your tastes. Only thing? The frames painted orange and pink? I might've put them on a contrasting wall or chosen a different color.
Thanks for sharing. :)
view SoutheastPDX's profile
Some colour at last.
view hrhprincessfiona's profile
this is downright awful. If only there would be an earthquake to do away with this crap.
view Edina Monsoon's profile
I don't know how people sleep or sit in peace with shelves of things above beds and/or sofas. Why is that ever done??
This room has very exciting and lively colors though. It looks like it makes the contestant happy. Good for her!
view orangejuce's profile
If only a monsoon would come along and blow away all the stinkers.
I love that you have created a colorful sanctuary for yourself and that you are inspiring your roommate to indulge in color, too. I'm sure the pink and orange seep into your sleep and give you joyful dreams.
view LolaDanger's profile
I guess I disagree with SoutheastPDX - this IS super-girly to me, but that's exactly what I like about it.
In the third picture, I wish there was more contrast in the picture frames. They match the walls too closely - I prefer the thin black frames/white mats you have elsewhere in the room. They might also be more interesting if you painted them a darker or lighter version of the pink and orange.
Wonderful job - love the pink! Your roomie is lucky to have you.
view mmadden's profile
WEATHER REPORT:
MONSOON STRIKES AGAIN. DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS DISASTEROUS STORM WE CALL EDINA.
view colormyworld's profile
Sparkle, your room is amazing. I thought I was a colour queen but you take the crown!
Another good way to find out if you like a colour is to paint a sample pot onto a large piece of lining paper and moving it around the room so you can see how it looks in different parts of the room. Fold it into the corners and see how it looks when it is at a right angle to itself - often more intense. You can see how it looks in the darkest areas of the room. Just pin it up in different areas, moving it from time to time and live with it. If you still like it after all that then you know it's for you.
view Battling Betty's profile