Bohemian Bazaar: A Colorful Bedroom

The switch from a toddler bed to a "big kid" bed is one of those transitions in a child's life that feels momentous. It can be scary or exciting. Suzy, a talented local photographer, wanted it to be an exciting thing for her cute almost 3-year-old so she hired me to create a fancy new space. The best part was that she told me I could do anything I wanted-- a true blank canvas! I knew I wanted to do something with a fun, bold color palette since her daughter is a spunky & fun little girl. I also wanted to design a room with girly flair, but that wasn't too traditional. I thought it would be good to have a style that could transition with her even into teenage years (let's be honest, it's overwhelming to feel as though you need to re-design your children's rooms every few years just to keep up with their age... it can be both time consuming & expensive!). Here are a few tips for avoiding the dreaded full bedroom re-do every few years...

• Choosing a color and/or style with an eclectic feel can help keep things from getting too theme-y or age specific. I felt that a bohemian edge would be just the ticket for jazzing up this space & keeping it practical too.
• Using furniture pieces that are more neutral & solid in color, provide longevity because they're not too age specific or theme related. I used the black dresser, headboard & mirror to help anchor the space & keep it grounded amidst the fun pops of color. The pink drawer pulls & knobs were a nice little accent of color, but could easily be changed out in the future without needing to buy a whole new dresser. Replacing hardware is a great way to change up the look of a piece without much cost. (I am addicted to the Hobby Lobby drawer pull & knob isle!)
• Form + function is always key. There are beautiful pieces of furniture that are practical too. The pops of color for this room were drawn from the upholstered toy storage bench that stole my heart upon first glance. It made the perfect statement piece AND it is quite a useful accessory too.
• Don't paint. If you want to keep things easier for now & for the future, bring your color into the room with decor pieces. Painting walls can make for a great backdrop, but if you want to make life a whole lot easier on yourself, don't paint! Keeping the walls neutral is also an asset for your homes resale (which is always something good to consider, even if you're not moving in the near future).

Both Suzy & her daughter loved the way the space turned out and next I'm doing a room for Suzy's other daughter using the same ideas listed above, but with a completely different style/look. It's going to be fun! All the photos displayed in the space were taken by Suzy. Check out Suzy O Photography to see more of her great work.Oh and make sure to check back throughout this week for accessorizing tips on creating a room like this, a simple DIY project, and for the framed printable you see on the dresser!