Best Paint Colors

October 7, 2011

Ask A Designer: Warm Principal Bedroom

Q. I am having a difficult time decorating our principal bedroom. The headboard wall is papered in a subtle silver and white pattern, and the furniture is dark brown oak. I recently installed drapery hardware but I have no idea what colour or pattern of drapery to hang. I would love to hear any suggestions.

— R.P. (To submit your own question, see our Ask A Designer™ page.)

A. Add botanical drapery.

Drapery panels will certainly add some colour and pattern. Choose a fabric like Romo’s Amaia in Wasabi (7359/04) (shown) — it’s a large-scaled botanical with taupe, green-grey anda nice accent of yellowish green. Have the drapes sewn with an inverted pleat heading and hang them on dark metal rings.

Break up wood tones.

Your wood furniture is quite nice, but all of it together seems a bit heavy. To vary the look, paint your bedside tables in Bone White (516-3) by Pittsburgh Paints (shown). A new wall colour, like Pittsburgh Paints‘ Light Sage (409-4) (shown) will pick up on the new drapery.

Update lamps.

Your current lampshades are too traditional, so switch them out for a drum or round tapered style in black linen or paper. Move the floor lamp by the chair to the other side of the chair — its current position crowds the bedside lamps.

Bring in texture.

A new coverlet on the bed will add interest and texture. House & Home’s Hotel Diamond Pique? coverlet in Chocolate or Latte (shown; at Home Outfitters) has a nice quilted pattern and the rich browns will harmonize with your bed frame. Add a pair of accent pillows from House & Home’s Hotel Crest collection (shown). The contrasting border will work well with the botanical-print drapery and brown coverlet. An area rug will also help soften the look. Try Madeline Weinrib’s Platinum Westley cotton rug (shown).

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1. Madeline Weinrib Platinum Westley rug, Y&Co. 2. Amaia fabric in Wasabi (7359/02), Romo. 3. Paint in Light Sage (409-4) (left) and Bone White (516-3), Pittsburgh Paints. 4. House & Home Hotel Monogram pillow, The Bay. 5. House & Home Hotel Diamond Pique? coverlet in Chocolate and Latte, Home Outfitters.

Author: Cameron MacNeil
Photographer:

Michael Graydon (inspiration room); Jessica Lin (fabric, pillow, coverlets); John Cullen (paint).