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Small guest bedroom - getting it right!

by Elizabeth
(Scotland)

Hi Charlotte,

I'm back again. Have changed a few ideas from my original design query, so I will start from the beginning.

Have now got 2 white leather sofa bed chairs, will put each one on either side of the wall and a black mirrored bedside table in between.

Have painted the walls a warm neutral, the wall behind chairbeds has a window, and I was thinking of papering this one wall with black and white paper, what kind of pattern should I go for, stripes? large pattern? small pattern?

Also this wall has a dado rail, so would the paper look silly broken up with the rail.

Now for lighting, will put a small lamp on bedside table, what about ceiling light, can I go for a showpiece or keep it plain, it would also be in black.

I will add red rug, red cushions and red picture.

The flooring is light pine wood.

One last question, what color of blind should I go for, remembering the window is the same side I am thinking of wallpapering black and white, should I go for red, or keep it neutral what color would you think.

I know this is a lot of questions, but I do so hope to get it right.

Thanking you
Elizabeth


.............

Comment
By Elizabeth

22 October 2011

Hello again Charlotte,

I just love your web page it is fantastic for people who don't really have the design skills.

Forgot to add in my last post, the 2 bed chairs also have silver legs.

Thanking you for your help.
Elizabeth




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Small guest bedroom - getting it right!

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Oct 24, 2011
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Some ideas to help....
by: Charlotte

Hello Elizabeth

It's lovely to hear back from you with an update of how your room is developing. It sounds like you're getting on very well and have got a lot done, already. Well done.

Thank you for your very kind words about my website. I'm very glad you've found it helpful.

Yes, a lot of questions! But that's fine. I'll try and help...

Wallpaper

Don't worry about the dado rail. Aside from the added bother of wallpapering around it, it shouldn't be a problem.

I think a black and white wallpaper would be nice and suit the warm neutral color you already have in the room.

As I think you said your room is quite small, try to keep the main color in the wallpaper as the pale color. Pale colors reflect light better, and this will help your room to feel light, airy and more spacious.

Dark colors can tend to absorb light, and make a room feel darker and smaller. But don't worry, used in small amounts, they can be great accents.

As you have a nice, light and warm neutral color already on the walls, rather than a stark deep black and bright white, you could also consider a softer look with black and creams, black and beiges or with charcoal greys.

At the moment, I'm loving floral and foliage patterns, and those lovely swirling rococco or damask designs, too.

There are lots about as they are right on trend at the moment. They are fantastic choices for feature walls, even though they might be a bit much to paper a whole room in that design.

For a small room, small patterns are generally considered best - but very small and overly delicate patterns can seem very fussy. They might be great for decorating a whole room in wallpaper, but if you just want one wall to be a feature wall and make an impact in your room, a slightly larger or bolder pattern can be a better choice.

Don't go too large though - in a small room, or if you don't have much wall-space (eg with a window in the middle), you need to be able to see enough of the design to make sense of the pattern, and to make it look in scale with your room.

If you can only see part of the design repeated twice on your wall, it can make your wall-space seem overly small. If you used a slightly smaller design you might get to see the pattern 4 or 6 times and it would seem more in proportion to your room.

I hope that makes sense?

Continues on below comment...

Oct 24, 2011
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Continues from above comment...
by: Charlotte

Continues from above...

Definitely get a few wallpaper samples. Try to get them as long/large as you can manage, and pin or prop them up on your wall to see which suits your room best.

Here are some suggestions which I liked and which you might like to try to find something similar, depending on which suits your tastes:




I think this one (below) is gorgeous - a nice modern and unusual design:





The one below is not strictly black and white - a nice mid-tone which might go nicely with your warm-neutral walls. But it does have touches of white/cream and black to go with your furniture and scheme...



This one (below) is one of my favorites (although I've not yet found anywhere to have it in my home yet). It's great to add a more old-fashioned feel (but still modern)

Click here to see it

Continues below...

Oct 24, 2011
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Continues from above comment...
by: Charlotte


Another nice floral design:

Click here to see it

It also comes in a 'Stone' color way

Similar but with a pretty, nostalgic feel:

Click here to see it

Gorgeous, but might be a bit 'busy':



Continues below...

Oct 24, 2011
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Continues from above comment...
by: Charlotte

You could also try adding a bit of red into your wallpaper, to pick up on the tones you are planning to include elsewhere in the room.

Here are some I like that might work for you:

'Eve' design

'Rapture' design

'Juliet' design


If any of the above wallpapers from Amazon.co.uk recommended interest you, please support my website by using the links on this page to buy. There is of course, absolutely no obligation to do so.

The price to you is always the same, but I will earn a small commission.

This allows me to continue to provide you with the information on this website, all for free.

Thanks for your continued support :)



There are loads of lovely wallpapers about in any of these color themes that could all work really well for your room, so take a look online and especially in local shops, where you can get a sample to try at home first (the bigger the better).

Continues below...

Oct 24, 2011
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Continues from above comment...
by: Charlotte

Window covering

I think for your window covering a simple blind in a neutral color would be best.

If you choose a beautiful and striking wallpaper for this wall, you want this (the wallpaper) to be your feature wall and your focal point.

As you want attention to fall on your focal feature wallpaper, I think it's best to keep your blind or window treatment simple and in a neutral color, such as cream, light beige or white.

Red is a very strong color - it 'leaps forward' at you as you look at it. This means it is perfect for focal points - the ones you want to draw attention to. It also means you don't need very much of it at all to make a big impact in a room, especially a small room.

If you choose a paler wallpaper, and you wanted to make a big splash of color with your window instead, then choose red, it would be perfect for this.

Lighting

The simple table lamp sounds great.

A great idea to have a mirrored bedside table, by the way - it will reflect light around the room really well, and help keep it feeling light and spacious. Glossy and mirrored surfaces are always a good choice for a small room.

Either something simple or a show-stopping statement piece would look great as your main center light - whichever you personally prefer.

I do think a statement piece always adds an extra level of interest, though, and is a great 'finishing touch' to your room.

I do hope I've answered your questions and given you some more ideas for where to go next with your design.

Please ask if anything isn't clear, if I've missed anything out, or if you just need to ask any more questions - feel free.

Good luck with it all - I'd love to see how it turns out.

If you have a digital camera, and if you'd like to, you can show us your finished project, here...

Best wishes

Charlotte

Oct 24, 2011
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Small guest bedroom
by: Elizabeth

Hello Charlotte,

You have been amazing to help me out with all my ideas, off now to have a look at the wallpapers and if I decide to buy of course I will buy through the link on your web page, it's the very least I can do.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, without your help I would have made a complete mess.

Elizabeth

Oct 24, 2011
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You're welcome
by: Charlotte

You're very welcome, Elizabeth. It's my pleasure. Glad to have helped.

Please just ask if you have any more questions.

Good luck with the choosing!

Charlotte :)


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