Q: Please help! I am moving soon and decorating a bedroom for the first time. The walls in my new place are pale yellow with white molding. I am planning on buying a headboard, possibly upholstered. I would also like to put my green chair in the room, which I got for free from a neighbor. I have a shallow (1 ft deep) bay window that I would like to take advantage of... My style is generally more clean-lined and contemporary, but I want this room to feel comfortable and welcoming more than anything else (more pictures after jump)...
Do any AT readers have suggestions regarding color scheme? Bedding? A rug? Best way to arrange my furniture? I could really use some help! Thanks, Cate
Editor: We'd suggest placing the bed against the main wall with the door, facing the opposing window. This should create a nice corner next to the bay window, at the foot of the bed for you to place your green chair. Any specific suggestions from the crowd on fabrics and rugs?
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Comments (10)
If you like that bed, go ahead and buy it. But I wouldn't rush to buy a bunch of linens and such just so you can decorate your room right away. It will be much better if you take your time browsing for things you love!
To take the yellow into a more comfortable soothing feel, I would keep your modern taste with espresso wood and white lacquer furniture pieces and accents. Some nice cool greys will pop against the yellow, and some green accents to add that great relaxing feel and to bring your green chair into the mix. I agree with AT about putting the bed on the wall facing the window with some great bedside tables on either side. I would put the the green chair in the corner next to bay window and put a small table in the actual bay window. Add a small side table and floor lamp to the corner with the chair. Your dresser can go across from the bed, and a wall mirror with a thick wood frame on the wall by the closet facing the bay window. For rugs, it depends on your budget because they can be so expensive. This rug is a great contemporary look that is still warm and comfortable. http://www.allmodern.com/asp/show_image.asp?pr=0&sku=NT1281
I agree w/ the above as a place to put the bed...
...but I'm not confident that there will be space for a chair in the bay window since the bed must be offset into the room towards that window? Perhaps across from the bed in the lower right corner?
I think once you get a couple of small night-tables on either side of the bed with bedside lamps, a tall dresser on the wall to the left of the closet door, and that chair in the corner with another little table and reading lamp, your room will be quite full.
Lizlander, that rug is beautiful!
I don't know what your budget or your style is like for rugs, but I've had good luck on overstock.com and surprisingly at Buidling19 (I go to the one in Burlington) if you have access to a car. Good luck!
it sounds like you already have a nice yellow/grey/green color scheme going on...good combo!
when i saw your headboard and wall color, this bedspread came immediately to mind:
http://dwellshop.com/b2c/ecom/ecomEnduser/items/xt_itemDetailNF.aspx?oFamily=THICKET&siteId=1&itemNum=3520-16-18&bulkexists=0
if it's within your budget, it would tie together your walls/trim/headboard.
to tie in your green chair, i would pick up some grey glazed pots (ikea has them really reasonably priced) and fill them with succulents and gravel to compliment your green chair:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pieknits/3466751428/sizes/o/
if you feel the need for a rug, i would go with a white shag rug...they add the "cozy" factor to hardwood floors (which I'm assuming you have):
http://www.modernshagrugs.com/images/white-shag.jpg
as for window treatments - i always think roman blinds look nice and clean but still add "something more" to a window:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_KIW2f6-wZWs/SgUJYUS2NzI/AAAAAAAADHg/kLHsN7iTbic/s400/3179552077_064fae8dc8.jpg
in terms of bureaus/side tables, IKEA's LACK series makes really clean lined furniture that I think would work.
Good luck!!!
Thanks so much for all of these helpful suggestions. They are all so thoughtful - which is exactly what I was hoping for when I submitted the question. I love that rug and the idea of incorporating grey. My chair is actually kind of big and leather (library-style) so it may have to be banished due to space constraints... We'll see. I will definitely report back with how things go but in the meantime any other comments or suggestions would be most welcome!
-the question-asker
I would place the bed opposite the one single window with nightstands on both sides. For the bay window, you might be able to find a long ottoman (maybe even a storage one) relatively cheap - it would look good there and if you want to change it later, there's many places you could put it.
I agree with ChrisGal on the placement of the bed. The other wall doesn't look long enough, and I don't know that you want to walk around your bed to get to your closet. The bay may give you some room to fit your bed in. Otherwise, a short dresser might work. As an alternative, a shallow table with a smaller, thinner chair would make an attractive desk/dressing table in that bay.
What about using some nice deep purples as complimentary colors, instead of the gray?
Oops, I meant the bay might give you some room for your chair, not your bed.