CasaSugar

Simple Style: Paint Yourself a Headboard

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:08:30 -0700

A headboard can really be a great focal point for a bedroom, and just because you own a regular ol' bed doesn't mean it can't have a regal backdrop. So if you don't own a headboard, why not try painting one on?

I'm loving this idea from Point Click Home, and it would be very easy to recreate. Simply paint a block of color the width of the bed, and add a small stencil in another shade for a fun bit of detailing. Has anyone tried this at home? If so I'd love to hear about it.

Cool Idea: Painted Stripes Headboard

CasaSugar — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:30:18 -0700

I've written about painted headboards before (and even DIY'd my own), so it's really nothing new. But, I am loving how design firm Shelton, Mindel & Associates made the entire wall behind this sleeping space a focal point with bold stripes, and within that created a focal point above the headboard by painting stripes in a slightly lighter shade than the rest. This look is really easy and affordable to achieve in your own home. And, if you don't have a real headboard of your own as this room does, the rectangle of lighter stripes can serve as a headboard alternative. What do you think?
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Get the Look: Anna's Bedroom in The Invention of Lying

CasaSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:00:34 -0700

The Ricky Gervais comedy The Invention of Lying, which opens on Friday, features a slew of great actors, including Tina Fey, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Rob Lowe, and more. Buzz recommended it as a Fall comedy pick, and I'm definitely enjoying its great set design. In particular, I'm coveting Anna McDoogles's bedroom.

I love the classic look of Anna's room, as well as the muted femininity that runs throughout. To get the look, start by painting your walls a soothing shade of gray green. Sherwin Williams's 6174 Andiron is a close match.

To get the rest of the look, read more.

Ask Casa: Post-Grad Style

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:00:56 -0700

Hi Casa!
I'm 22 and I just started my first job out of college. Unfortunately, I still live with my parents. But I figure that if I have to do so then I might as well have a room I enjoy coming back to after a long day of work. I've been wanting to redecorate my room for a while now. However, I don't have a lot of money to spend on new furniture or décor. Most of my furniture is mismatched, and I've had it all since college. Do you have any tips on how I can update my room on the cheap and make it a place that I enjoy spending time?
Thanks! - Kerry

To hear my suggestions for Kerry, read more.

Hi Kerry,

Congrats! I don't think you're alone in this query. Luckily, there are a few easy and affordable things you can do to perk up your bedroom. The idea is to give your room polish and a distinct style, separate from how your parents may have decorated.

First of all, shed everything! If you'd moved into your new apartment, you wouldn't bring everything you've owned since grade school that's still sitting in your parents' house. So, go through it all and recycle, donate, or toss won't you don't want or need. This will give your room a more grownup, less cluttered feel.
Next, create symmetry. The easiest way to do this is to use matching nightstands or bedside table lamps. You can find very chic, affordable lamps at places like Target and HomeGoods. A nightstand can be just a simple side table.
Get a headboard. A headboard will instantly give your room a focal point, and curb any mismatched feel your other furniture gives off. If you can't afford a headboard, try any one of these 10 cool alternatives to off-the-shelf headboards.
Paint your mismatched furniture in one color - glossy white always works - to give the space cohesion.
Create a designated sitting area for reading, having your morning coffee, or making phone calls, etc., with a chair, small accent rug, and small side table. Then you won't feel trapped on your bed or hanging with your parents.
Paint your walls. Color is an easy and cheap fix for any room!
Give your bed a grownup makeover with white bedding, and add color and pattern with throw pillows or a bedskirt.
Find cheap artwork at flea markets, garage sales, or student art sales, or create your own.
Make the space cozy with a rug.
Go "shopping" in other rooms in your home. Look around your parents' home for furnishings that might facilitate the above. With an open mind, you never know what you may find.

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Cool Idea: Chalk Headboard in 500 Days of Summer

CasaSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:00:11 -0700

As I've mentioned before, 500 Days of Summer is full of design eye candy. One of my favorite décor ideas siphoned from the film is Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character's chalkboard wall headboard. Chalkboard paint, as you know, is quite trendy these days in the interior design world. But being the skilled architect that he is, Tom Hansen (Gordon-Levitt) took it to the next level, drawing a simple, Mission-style headboard, complete with shading and all. The idea is similar to the trompe l'œil headboard I painted on my own wall, but chalk offers the flexibility to erase and start over. Are you a fan of the chalkboard wall in the movie?

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Open House: How Does Your Home Have a Sense of Humor?

CasaSugar — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 05:30:35 -0700

Refinery29 recently toured the home of Vena Cava designer Lisa Maycock and while I did love the easy elegance of her home's "lost and found" look, what struck me most was its sense of humor. In a corner of her living room, she placed a wooden triangle pegged with metal spikes on her Marcel Breuer Wassily Chair. In her bedroom, a poster titled "Just Bone Me" with skeletons in kama sutra poses hangs above her bed.I once had a cocktail party, and lined the shelves of my medicine cabinet with medicine bottles filled with candy. Or, sometimes I'll write silly notes to my guests with lipstick on my bathroom mirror. On most days, though, my house is tame, aside from its playful attitude toward scale and trompe l'œil effects like my painted headboard. How about your home? Do you play tricks on your guests? Do you have any funny posters or artwork? Any revolving doors that go nowhere? Tell all below!

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Before and After: Maebyfunke's Darling DwellStudio Bedroom

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 May 2009 08:00:44 -0700

Two weeks ago, Maebyfunke asked me for advice on painting her bedroom to match her new DwellStudio Regency Bedding. I advised her to try a soft color, such as a cool, blueish green or a warm, pale yellow.

Well, Maebyfunke made quick work of repainting her bedroom. Here's how her bedroom looked before she started painting. Curious as to see what color she ended up with? Find out when you read more.

Maebyfunke explains, "I ended up going with a pale grayish blue (this is after I tried a pale mauve which turned out bright lavender up on the wall...think girl's nursery lavender - not what I was going for). The shade is called Yarmouth Blue from Benjamin Moore. I think it really makes the inside of the design on the bedding pop."

Regarding the rest of the room, Maebyfunke writes, "I got the headboard from a rummage sale for $12. It's a room divider/screen with removable picture frames. I removed the picture frames that slipped into each square hole and spray painted everything silver. Then I decided to put the frames up on the wall instead of back in the screen. I had two lamps from ikea that I just mounted to the headboard - instant reading lamps."

I love the Yarmouth Blue, and the screen looks very cool as a headboard. Nice work, Maebyfunke!

Found It! Romantic Bed From July Free People Catalog

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:00:27 -0700

While flipping through the latest Free People catalog, my eye wasn't drawn to the clothes. Instead, I couldn't stop looking at this graceful wrought iron bed frame. The dual color tones here, with the gold on the interior of the headboard, and the rest of the frame covered in white, create a lovely effect. I also love how the model's androgynous clothing in the photo contrasts with the bed's overly romantic look.
Want to know where you can find it? Then read more.

It's the Anthropologie Iron and Brass Bed ($1,998-2,198). The bed features trompe l'oeil painted brass and a white patina, and is made of brass and iron. You'll have to order it online though; it's not available in stores.

Is the Anthro iron bed a little out of your price range? Check out some of my other picks below.

Collier Bed And Headboard - $399.95	Rawlins Daybed - $499.95
Oak Park Daybed - $599.00	Claudia Bed - $549.00
Aston Bed - $1,030.00	St. Augustine Bed - $499.95
Nottingham Bed - $1,185.00	Celia Bed - $799.00

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How-To: A Trompe L'œil Headboard

CasaSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:15:02 -0700

A headboard can create a stately focal point for even the most meager of spaces, and just because your mattress sits on the simple bed frame that came with it doesn't mean your bed should be ignored. Whether you can't afford to buy a headboard or simply want to try something unique, you can paint a trompe l'œil headboard to achieve the same, if not more interesting, results! Inspired by the Brocade Home Open Carved Headboard, which is an all-time favorite of mine, I decided to transform one wall into this Rococo style headboard, with just a small can of paint and a Sunday afternoon. To learn how to take on this project yourself, and to see photos of the steps, read more.

Measure the width of your space where your headboard will go.
Unfold a large paper bag, and cut it to half of that width.
Draw one-half of your headboard design onto the bag, and cut out the shape.
Tape the bag onto the wall above your bed.
Trace the outline of the shape with a bit of chalk.
Then, flip the bag over horizontally and tape it onto the other half of the wall.
Trace the outline of the shape again with chalk.
Paint in your "headboard" with two coats of your paint color of choice. Sleep tight!

View 7 Photos ›

Room Therapy: Help Me Make My Bedroom More Livable!

CasaSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:15:01 -0700

Hi Casa,

I'm a student who recently moved into a huge four-bedroom apartment with four other girls. We converted a den into a bedroom, which also means that my room opens into the sunroom. While there is a lot of space, there isn't closet space anywhere. I have questions about making this space more liveable.

How do I get hanging space on the cheap? I only have one more year of school to go! And don't want to spend too much money.
I inherited a really old bed (no headboard) and was wondering what's an easy/cheap way to make it look nicer?
The sunroom has huge windows that overlook the street. I love the sunlight but the lack of privacy makes me nervous especially since it's on the first floor. Any way can I create some privacy while still maintaining sunlight?
Thanks!
Princessjaslew

To see my suggestions, and to leave suggestions of your own, read more.

Hi Princessjaslew,

Back in my college days, I once lived in a house with six, yes, count them, six roommates, in a house where the laundry room was converted into a bedroom, so I sympathize. I think that most college students have had to deal with similar issues to yours, and even if my suggestions aren't perfect, other Casa readers will provide you with a wealth of ideas for your space.

Let's look at solutions for each of your issues:
- Hanging Clothes: Since you're in school and want to spend as little cash as possible, I recommend buying a couple Riggas ($19.99) from Ikea. My sister would use them at her sewing studio to hang up clothes she made, and while they're pretty bare bones, they will do the job. You can always spring for a more expensive wardrobe unit that has a space for hanging clothes, but for a college student on a budget, the Rigga is a good choice.
- Sprucing Up Your Bed: Start with beautiful linens that reflect your style, and some fluffy, comfortable pillows with matching or coordinating shams. In place of a headboard, try painting a trompe l'œil headboard. One of the Su Casa members also created an awesome illusion of a headboard using curtains. Framing pretty photos in matching frames and arranging them above your bed (as long as you don't live in an earthquake-prone region) is also an easy, cheap option.
- Privacy and Sunlight: When I lived in my college rental, we turned the second living room area in our Victorian apartment into a bedroom simply by hanging floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains in the open, eight-foot space between the two rooms. Would this work as an option for you? That way you can keep the sunroom cheerful and bright, and you can also choose to open the curtains when you want to welcome some sunshine into your bedroom, and then close them again for privacy. Otherwise, a combination of pull-down shades and a more light, pretty curtain could be used in the sunroom itself, with the same idea of using both for privacy and one for letting the sunshine in.