Design Question #2: painting a boy's room
Hello from semi-quarantine! While we slowly re-enter the world and begin to engage with our new normal, I’m happily still accepting free design questions. I have absolutely loved connecting with you and providing thoughtful advice to all of you. This weekend I’m planning to make my first donation to Global Giving, Coronavirus Relief Fund on your behalf. Thank you so much for submitting your great questions. If you still have additional unanswered questions, don’t be shy, I’m always here to help!
Now, on to this month’s design dilemma. This question came from a dear friend and fellow mom of young kids, who has a question about updating her 8 year old son’s bedroom to something (his words) less ‘baby-ish’.
We are redoing [our 8 year old son’s] room since it’s too baby-ish for him at this point. I’m repainting and he really wants the walls navy blue. I’ve conceded to painting one wall dark (maybe two but it’s the one with his closet so there is barely much actual wall). What do you recommend for the other walls? I was thinking a blue/gray, but a pretty light one so his room doesn’t look like a cave. The dark walls will be opposite his windows (the ones closest to his door so you won’t see the dark color from the hall). Any advice???
Great question! I have LOTS of ideas for you.
My first thought is, instead of painting two walls one color and two walls another color, have you considered doing a color blocking application? You could do the lower half of the walls the dark navy blue and the top half a lighter blue or white. It is a bit harder to execute in terms of prep work, but it is a fun look in a kids room.
Here are a few examples of color blocking:
Design: Lark Interiors
Design: At Mine
If you don't want to try the color blocking option, then you could consider painting all four walls blue versus having one accent wall. With the (re)emergence of wallpaper into the design world, we are starting to see the accent wall trend go away. However, if you do want to stick with the tried and true accent wall approach, then the accent wall should be the wall where the headboard sits versus the closet wall, to make more of an impact in the room.
Here is two great examples of all navy walls:
Design: Sunny Circle Studio
Design: Sunny Circle Studio
Another great idea to try in a kid’s room is to paint the ceiling. Whether it’s an accent color or wallpaper, drawing the eye up to the ceiling is a lovely way to bring color (and height) into the space in an unexpected way.
Here are a couple of examples of accent ceilings:
Design: Decorpad
Design: Von Fitz Design
I hope that gives you a bunch of good inspiration ideas to think over. I can’t wait to see how the room turns out!
