The best room in my apartment is my bedroom, and I spend more hours there than I care to disclose. Because my place is kind of wonkily laid out, it’s the biggest room I’ve got by far, and I like the way it turned out, design-wise, the best. There are many examples throughout my home of the fact that I have no original ideas when it comes to decorating, and the color palette of my bedroom is definitely one: like a thousand billion other bougie women just like me, I became fixated on Jenna Lyons’ Brooklyn brownstone when just about everybody everywhere did stories on it. I especially liked the black walls, and did my own (far more wussified) version of them. Picture this, but the exact inverse: in my bedroom the fireplace is black and the wall is white.
Stick with me while I describe the rest:
My beds’ got a custom headboard upholstered with material from the design studio Eskayel: this is my favorite thing in the whole place. If were I a different kind of blogger, I’d post a shot of my bed, all prettily art directed and propped, but the only time my bed looks photo-ready is right after the cleaning lady leaves, and she hasn’t been here in some time. So I will simply show you an Eskayel pillow whose print is very similar to mine.
(It’s also worth noting that Eskayel is having a sale right now, and you can pick up the pillows for quite decent prices. Eskayel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the rorscharch-y/ethnic thing they’ve got going makes my predictable old heart skip a beat.)
Also: I’ve got one of these, which apparently in home design circles makes me a bit of a follower and very three years ago at least, but I’m willing to take that hit.
Everything aside from those little riots of print (and the headboard actually comes off more quietly than it looks like it does here) is very quiet and clean. So here’s my thing. I keep feeling like I need some meaningful pop of color to bring the whole enterprise together. The easiest way to accomplish this would be with bedside lamps, and I like the ones with glass bases I’ve been seeing all around. They’re ever-so-slightly midcentury, and provide a nice, sharp counterpoint all that print. I need your help, ladies. This stuff does not come naturally to me. Do I go with yellow, since I seem so fixated on black and yellow lately? Or will this turn out to be a passing fancy?
Or even maybe red? Such a rich, blood-orange-y shade.
The purple isn’t quite as extra-bright, but it feels like it’d be kind of nice and possibly unexpected with the white and black. What thinks?
Purple
Yellow. Unless you’ve only been obsessed with it for a couple weeks I think it’s a beautiful contrast.
Honestly, I saw go with whatever makes you happy right now. They are all very lovely, you really can’t go wrong, and there is no way to tell how you will feel in a few years.
In my bedroom I have crystal lamps (floor and table) and the shades are RED, with a small design. The bed has white bedding with red trim. Makes me happy. So, I say go with RED.
I am by no means a home decorating guru. I do however reference Houzz.com. The designers who post their work will give opinions and answer questions. It is a lifesaver. It saved me during a kitchen renovation and gave good resource information. With that said…I vote purple. You will not be tired of it quickly.
While I agree with DK that in the end, you should go with what you love most, MY personal favey crockett is the yellow. But then, I have a thing for yellow, so there you have it.
That yellow lamp is tiny IRL. It may look like a jelly bean in your ginormous bedroom.
Lighttrends.com has huge selection. It’s my go-to for projects.
P.S. Beni rugs are classics, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The peoples of Morocco have been using them for centuries!
Oh Raina, I was hoping you’d weigh in! Love your blog. xx
I have absolutely NO decorating instincts and I usually just go with what I like with no idea of how it will go together. I do really like that purple lamp..seems more unexpected then the other colours.
Black and white and red seem very eighties-in-a-bad-way to me, so I say go with the purple. I feel like it gives you the pop of color without being all “Look! I’m a pop of color!” about it.
I think I am in love with the eggplant lamp.
It’s just such a rich, luxe, delicious color!
Perfect for the boudoir me thinks.
I don’t want to be a non of the above voter, but I prefer this lamp in most any color – http://www.lampsplus.com/products/s_robert-abbey-delta/. The amethyst could be spectacular. Or the Marine color is very hot right now. Smokey Taupe could be a nice subtle choice. Whatever you do, listen to Raina, she’s a genius!
I vote purple. It is unexpected with black and white. It also seems smolderingly sexy whereas the red is more obvious.
I don’t know. We have very different tastes. I think you should get the one that makes you happy.
For some inexplicable reason, looking at pictures of Jenna’s beautiful home makes me sad now. It’s disheartening to imagine her living there, having all that she has, and yet still being unhappy. I suppose that’s the take-home lesson, no?
I did paint my dining room black after those pics first came out, though, and it turned out great. So at least there’s that.
Purple. I’ve been told it’s a compromise color but I’ll pick it every time.
Purple for a long term buy… yellow if it’s really budget friendly. Purple is a neutral masquerading as a color, so it has nice staying power. A current obsession with yellow is likely to fade, but it’s ok to go with your passion and switch it out next year. Red is a no go- black/white/red is chic for an outfit, not so much in your house.
Purple. While it seems weird to say it, purple is calming, at least that purple is. The yellow and red are cool but seem a little jarring for the bedroom.
I am will Raina on the Moroccan rug- this thing is and always will be a stunning addtion to any room.
The beauty of black and white is you can introduce almost any color, and it doesn’t have to be a loud color. You could do a textured ceramic / pottery lamp, in the colors of Heath Ceramics (do check them out if you are not aware of this awesome company) Out of all of the choices you listed, I favor the yellow, but you may get tired of it after awhile, as it is a pretty bold statement. I hate to be the odd one out, but I am definitely against the purple & red.
What about an soft blue, like an aqua, or even a sea green?
i was just going to say you needed a pop of color..i so go saturated..a cobalt blue, teal even…and then a rug that’s simple, no pattern…you don’t strike me as a crazy pattern girl. have you considered a chandeleir?(sp)
I’ve been eyeing the lamps on this site:
http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com
They aren’t bright but maybe for another room?
http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/bond-lamp-clear-1827.html
I love the twisted cloth cords!
Definitely the purple, its so classy!
And because its more subtle, I cant imagine becoming bored with it the way you might with yellow or red.
Might just buy it myself!
Yellow.
moody purple but prefer Jonathan Adler platinum nelson lamp
The purple is so understated, and rich, and a beautiful color. My vote.
I like this orange shade with the chrome base: http://www.amazon.com/Lite-Source-LS-21797C-ORN-Orange/dp/B004RTHN3M/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1345823500&sr=8-11&keywords=orange+table+lamps. I think it might work better than the base being a color.
I agree, it would be easier to get a lamp that you love that’s metallic or neutral, and just play with the shade. A red or pink shade would bring some of that romance someone above was talking about.
Sorry to rain on the parade but that purple doesn’t seem purple enough to me. Too subdued!!! (Unless you’re into that.)
But as always, get what makes you happy. Just as a note, you can often find great lamps in thrift stores. It is weird how expensive they are now.
And really, the thing to worry about is *what kind of bulb* to get!! This is no easy matter, and might determine the lamp anyhow.
Red for romance, according to Feng Shui…if that’s what you want.
Ooh, I like the purple (even though my entire house is different shades of bright blue!)
I think the purple would look beautiful, enough color that it makes you smile when you come in the room, but not enough to remind you in a year that you bandwagoned something again (btw don’t worry so much about bandwagoning when it comes to design, that’s how you find out what you like). What about a bright yellow or Kelly green throw as well, both look great with black and white and purple.
Purple please. Yellow is too on-the-nose NYC (“Taxi!”) and while I do like the red, it’s a tough color to sleep near. But if you are a White Stripes fan, go for it!
I think the purple will be unexpected, but a nice touch without it being too “look at me!”. It reminds me of that purple room in Steven Gambrel’s place in Sag Harbor that was featured in his new book, but doesn’t require Super Bold Decorating Genes needed for the Total Purple. Good luck!
The purple. For every reason.
I find the purple one wonderful. Love your homepage
Where did you find the purple? I want that purple!
This might not be something you like in design, but Land of Nod (yes, I know, the kids’ version of Crate and Barrel) has fantastic lamps (according to me) that are new for the fall. I especially love the glass bases where the colored cord is inside the clear glass. It gives a room the subtle hint of color in a very unique way. But you seem much cooler than me so I’m not sure if you’d think it is as awesome as I do…
I would go w/ Yellow – it’s a small pop of color – you won’t get sick of it and you can put it in the living room when you do finally tire of it and want something different
Purple – especially that purple. It’s much easier to live with and work with. After all, it’s a combo of red and blue. And, it’s really pretty!
I vote for the yellow. It looks really chic with black and white.
I adore orange as a pop of color. Especially if you’re color is leaning toward a grey/black instead of a blackboard black.
But, outta the options you posted, I would love that purple!
Yellow.
Turquoise or a similar rich blue (see color scheme here: http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=4200). I agree about red looking too dated. Although that coral-y/blood orange isn’t bad. I like the purple lamp but that palette might be too somber. And the cute yellow lamp is too much lemon meringue—too light in “weight.” A free-range-egg-yolk tone might work better. At least with lamps you can bring them home and see what looks good. They need to balance out the rest of the room with the right “weight.”
I read once in a decorating book that EVERY room should have a touch of yellow, since it’s a reminder of the sun and, thus, a natural lift to us homo sapiens. I’ve followed this advice with every hue from light-butter to marigold (though not in the same room) + it has never failed me.
I just realized I put my comment under the wrong post. So, here it is again –
I love the yellow, but since it is in a bedroom, I would go with the purple. I think I’m growing tired of the yellow/black/gray color scheme. The purple is more sophisticated, which is how your bedroom sounds.
- Meredith
http://www.findingsoulbalance.blogspot.com