This reader has a charming home, with arched doorways, hardwood floors and a chair rail throughout the house. I particularly applaud the bold choice in color. The deep navy blue is at once dramatic and classic. However, our reader is ready for change and I say, let’s bring this house into the light!
Here is the current room with deep navy walls and matching couch.
I think chair rails can be great. They are an easy way to introduce multiple colors onto one wall and also add a hint of architectural detail. I chose to leave the chair rails in place and take advantage of multiple colors and textures. Wallpaper from Hang & Paste is the perfect choice for a chair rail. The pattern isn’t overwhelming because it only covers half of the wall. It also sets a sweet and friendly mood in pale blue combined with Pratt & Lambert paint in Dried Moss. I also de-cluttered the side table by moving the family photos to the wall, in an arrangement from the Design Mom blog.
How about something bright and bold? The couch is such a dominant color in the room, a contrasting yellow wall really makes it a part of the palette. Pratt & Lamber paint in Golden Laughter and Dove White are a great backgdrop for a nautical theme. Accessories include a rustic beach print, an organized photo display, and a bright white lantern.
Lastly, a neutral room with a graphic touch is both modern and relaxed. I adore Pratt and Lambert’s Swiss Coffee (above the chair rail) and Taupe (below). So tasteful and calm! And of course, I can’t resist the wall decals. These Anise flowers from Blik are one of my favorites. For a slightly vintage feminine feel, a grouping of beveled mirrors completes the look.
Light and bright colors can have as much impact as dark and saturated ones. Don’t be afraid to lighten up!
Continue reading about Transforming a Room from Dark to Light
Back in August, we asked our readers to vote on a wall decal for above our bed. Finally, last night, we installed our new piece of wall art! I admit that we didn’t choose the #1-voted design, but I think you’ll like what we did. Drum roll please…
It’s the African tree wall decal from Surface Flik on Etsy. We just adore the added drama above the bed and like to think that we are now sleeping beneath the trees.
Here’s a little step-by-step breakdown of how we installed the wall decal. Surface Flik provided us with some clear directions and installation went pretty will. The extra large surface area of this particular decal gave a us few problems with creasing and bubbles. For smaller decals, I suspect it’s not much of an issue.
We have received over 200 votes so far and the results are in! The top three wall decal choices from our group design poll are:
(1) Birds
(2) Plum Blossom Branch
(3) Tree
My personal favorites are the tree and the gerbera flowers. Birds were such a big hit, I’ll have to do some thinking about my final choice. I’ll be sure to post the end result.
Thanks so much to everyone who voted! And if you haven’t voted, please do, as I’m still tracking the results. It’s so much fun to see what other people like. Afterall, home decor is just as often for the pleasure of friends, family and guests as it is for ourselves.
We’ve got the perfect (well, perfectly blank!) wall in need of some design love. Though it’s hard to tell, I’ve already painted this wall a most perfect subtle shade of green-gray, Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore. To finish the room, we think a simple design on the wall will add a nice touch, without being fussy.
So, which wall decal do you think we should choose? Scroll through photos and then vote on your favorite!
1) Bamboo found on Etsy from Single Stone Studios.
2) Birds from Orque Shaw’s Wall Decor on Etsy.
3) Plum Blossom branch from Surface Flik on Etsy.
4) Damask from Expressing You on Etsy.
5) Eames squares from Blik.
6) Flourish of flowers from Orque Shaw’s Wall Decor on Etsy.
7) Gerbera from Blik.
8) African tree from Surface Flik on Etsy.
9) Quote from Studiojk on Etsy.
I actually like all of them for different reasons, but I won’t tell you which one (as not to sway the vote!) So, which do you like?
Continue reading about Group Design: Help Choose a Wall Decal!
I’m excited about this fun assignment for Mochi Home. A reader asks us to visualize some new colors for their teenage son’s bedroom. Teen rooms can be such fun and are a great opportunity to showcase a kid’s hobbies, talents and unique personality. Currently, the room is a cheery yellow with navy blue curtains. Check out the great bedding in a fun retro pattern and also that rockin’ drum set in the corner.
Before adding color and other accessories, I made a few general updates. In order to open up the room, I removed the curtains to reveal shuttered windows and the interesting angles of the room. This gives us much more wall space to play with. I also removed the top wallpaper border, which seems a little too fussy for a teen room.
In each of the visuals, I pulled colors directly from that fun bedspread. It makes a great palette for instantly coordinated walls and accessories. Here is a two-tone blue room. The dark lower-half accents the wall structure and also has a retro feel. A little rock-n-roll wall decal from Blik adds a bit of flair.
With such interesting angles, this room lends itself well to an accent wall. With the rusty red from the bed spread, the wall behind the drums really pops. Even though the windows already have wooden shutters, perhaps the original blue curtains were used to block out light for a teenage boy who likes to sleep late. Instead of bulky curtains, I suggest a low profile blackout shade, like the Flocke series from The Shade Store. Blackout shades actually come in a variety of colors, so no need to sacrifice style for function. Finally, why not have some fun on the walls? Classic rock album covers are just one way to let a teen’s personality shine.
One of my secret home decor indulgences is Pottery Barn Teen–even for adults! It sounds crazy, but PB Teen has some very fun pieces and their accessories and textiles always inspire me to add a little energy and color to any room. Of course, PB Teen is really great when you are actually designing a teen’s room! I found some wall murals that would make great accent walls. Check out the two images below for the London mural and the Play My Music mural. These are great because you can have your teen pick out their own wall art.
Lastly, here’s an option where the original yellow becomes the accent wall. Offset by deep navy, the yellow suddenly looks fresh and fun. And of course, I couldn’t resist the little 8-bit critters from Blik. Wall decals, posters, and framed images are great way for kids to express themselves and can also be a fun project to work on together.
This room comes to us from a reader in Europe, who inherited some red stripes in the living room. While I applaud the bold paint job by the previous tenant, I also think this particular scheme overpowers the simple room and clean Ikea-style furniture.
One simple move is to cover the room in cool neutrals. Gray walls and a black accent wall blend nicely with the existing curtain and neutral furniture. A couple of toss pillows from Etsy shop Nena Von adds a little personality and contrast.
Another way to spice up this muted color palette is to flip it! Try a dramatic black ceiling with gray walls and add definition with a thick white border. I love how these standard colors turn into something unexpected. As a finishing touch, add some playful wall art such as “Mona Prankster” from Blik.
This option is inspired by the original red striped walls. The clunky red panels have been replaced with a more sophisticated retro wallpaper from online wallpaper shop DesignYourWall.com. Add an accent wall in Molten Lava from the Pantone interior paint collection, and you’ve got one hot room. Also note the retro vase accent from hi+lo modern glass
This last option adds color, but still keeps the space cool with Pantone Federal Blue. I couldn’t resist more Blik wall decals-these from the Eames office collection. An oversized deco pendant from 2modern.com adds a focal point over the dining table.
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