Mad for Striped Ceilings

Stripes on the wall have been popular for quite awhile but ceiling stripes are the latest trend and I love them. I gathered a few pics to share - funny how every single one I found had a yellow element!

image from Nursery Notations

image from Project Nursery

image from Hollywood Housewife

This is definitely a treatment I am keeping in mind for my own space one day!

Show the Ceiling Some Love!

Recently, a friend of mine told me that whenever he paints the walls in a room, he also does the ceiling. Really? I have never painted a ceiling before but I know how messy I am and I just imagine paint dripping all over my head. He said it was easier than worrying about getting paint on the ceiling - just paint over if. Whatever!

That did get me thinking, however, that I have been seeing more and more ceilings painted with accent colors. We decorate the floor with rugs, but I think the ceiling often gets neglected. Here are a few shots to inspire you to pick another paint color (I know, more decisions!) for the ceiling. After all, doesn't Baby look up quite a bit? Why not give him something to smile about!

Stripes - cute but definitely not for beginners!

image from here

Interesting picture molding where the color continues to the ceiling

image from here

Scalloped edges add a super girly touch

image from DecorPad.com

Notice how many of the painted ceilings also have crown molding to separate the 2 colors

by Kristin DeMarco, featured on DesignDazzle

This color reminds me of my favorite Baskin Robins flavor, Daiquiri Ice

image from Younghouselove.com. To learn more about their nursery, click here

Big Impact with a Bold Accent Wall

Go big or go home is not just a silly saying on a bumper sticker. Bold, graphic walls are a way to add huge impact to any room. Whether its paint or wall paper they make a room look super "decorated" and I love them! Here are a few of my favorites, all from Lucy and Company - a great decorating firm and shop in Charlotte, NC.

Graphic Floral

Whimsical Floral

Preppy Argyle

Bold Stripes

Wallpaper

Geometric Pattern

How to Paint an Argyle Wall

I get lots of comments on the argyle pattern I often use for my monogram canvas sets - its a big hit. But painting it can by quite a challenge. If you are interested in doing an entire wall Jump on over to DesignDazzle.com, one of my favorite decor sites, for step by step instructions on how to paint your own argyle accent wall.

Perfect for a boy or girl but best in small bits. The entire room would be too overwhelming. This technique would also look great in a study or library room - very classic and Old English!

Paint Your Walls Post Four - Create Your Design

If you are just starting to read, this is the last in a series of posts on ideas for painting your nursery walls:

At this point, you've selected your paint design and its time to paint. There is no shame in hiring someone to do this for you (and you can get some pretty good rates right now) but if you are going to do it yourself there are things you should know:

• First, be sure to choose a low VOC paint. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds and the EPA suggests using low VOC paint results in a better air quality. Most major paint stores now carry selections that are better for baby and the earth, but they are sometimes not available in all colors, so be sure to select a color that is available in this type of paint.

• Next, TEST IT OUT. There is nothing worse than walking into a room and flinching because the color is all wrong. You are going to put time and money into painting the nursery so you want to make sure it is the right color. It is definitely worth the $15 for 3 paint samples and an extra trip to the paint store to make sure the shade is right. Paint a sample square on the wall and test it in natural day light and night time light. Make sure the shade compliments furniture and the flooring.

• Preparation is the key to success. You need the right tools and you need to tape off everything. Taping baseboards, windows and doors takes almost longer than painting but it is so worth it!

• For more tips, check out this article from HowStuffWorks.com. I am not going to pretend to be an expert! I personally painted about 1/2 the rooms in my house, but I had a pro do large areas and the kitchen. It was so worth it!
  

If you have highly textured walls (like I do) and are trying a technique with painters tape, you make have some issues. Even if you press that tape as hard as you can, you are going to have paint seep under the tape and ruin your perfectly straight line. Professionals suggest you put down the tap, then paint a clear coat over the top. Let that dry, then put your colored paint over it. The idea behind it being that something is going to seep, so it might as well be clear coat that will fill in those little gaps before your paint does. I haven't tried it but if you do have heavy texture, you might have to choose a paint technique that doesn't rely so heavily on painters tape for the design.

Hopefully this series of posts inspires you to step it up and try something different on your nursery walls! I would love to see pictures of what you've done!

Paint Your Walls Post Three - Detailed Designs

If you want to take your nursery design to the next level, detailed wall paint patterns are the way to go. Like a piece of art for the entire room, they make a huge impact. If you go this route, you can keep other accessories to a minimum so it doesn't look too busy. Here are some of my favorite design ideas, all courtesy of DesignDazzle.com, the BEST sites for design inspiration!

1. Argyle - Done here in this "Moroccan Princess" room by Jack and Jill Designs, it can also have a preppy vibe. But, painter beware, taping off argyle stripes it alot of work. This one might best be left to a professional!


2. Go Grid - a great example of what you can do with painters tape! As along as your walls aren't super textured, painters tape is an easy way to create a grid design. You can leave the white walls showing through, or paint a light background color to show through a darker top coat. The design below was for a teen boys room and the grey and green are a great color combo.


3. Wall Paper Baby! - wall paper is not just for your Grandma's kitchen! It can be a super cool design element as well. In this design, birds were cut from different wall paper squares and arranged in a pattern. Its a simple shape, but the colors and patterns add an awesome texture. This idea is simple, just make a template, trace and cut!

In the design below, they did a grid accent wall and the canvas features a wall paper monkey - so cute!

These are just a few ideas for wall decor that can really take your nursery design to the next level. Stay tuned for tips for selecting paint and painting once you decide what you want!

Paint Your Walls Post Two - Add Pizzaz

If you choose to paint your nursery walls a solid color, or you do an accent wall or a chair rail, you will still need something on the walls. Ideally it would be my artwork (hey, I gotta plug it!), but I know there is more than one wall and plenty of options out there! Here are some ideas for things to paint or add to the walls:

1. Wall Monogram - A little different than the traditional name letters, why not put a monogram right on the wall? You can paint on on, or you can buy a stick on type like the one below from Pottery Barn Kids. Jazz it up by painting a shape behind it like they did. You can do the first letter of the first name, or initials in a monogram style with the last name in the center. Monograms are timeless and not at all "baby" so they can last well into the toddler years.



2. Paint Behind a Picture - So I looked everywhere for a picture of this idea but can't find one. I am currently doing this on a wall in my bathroom, so when it is complete I will have to post it. If you find some artwork you love, but it needs some punch or is a little too small for the wall, try painting a rectangle or square behind the picture in a different shade than the wall. It will add interest and make the picture you hang appear larger.

3. Wall Decals - If you want the look of a mural but aren't an artist, try wall decals. They come in 2 versions, a vinyl type you can stick and remove, and a wall paper type that is permanent. I suggest the vinyl type if you will want to change it in the near future. They come in tons of different designs from entire trees to circles you can place in any arrangement you want. Check out this tree from ModernNursery.com. They have a ton of different ones to choose from.
4. Murals - This idea takes some talent but murals are not as intimidating as they seem. It just takes some patience and measuring. One trick is to find a design you like, and copy it. If you have a picture of something you want to create on the wall you can use this simple grid trick to replicate it:

• Draw a grid on the picture you want to copy onto the wall
• Then, use painters tape to create the same number of grid sections on your wall
• Copy what is in each square one at a time
• That way you copy the original picture in perfect proportion

Or, if you have access to an overhead projector (do they even still use those in school?) you can always project the design you want on the wall and trace it.

Also from DesignDazzle.com, this was designed by Diane D for her daughter and featured bedding and decor from Pottery Barn Kids:


5. Frame It Up - This is a great option for those of you that have big kids. Get a large, old frame and paint it a solid color to match your decor. Then, attach a string with a clothes pin to the back so you can hang art suspended in the center. Its an easy way to let your child display their creations and still be decorative at the same time!


Hope this tips help. Next post in the series will feature more complex ideas for painting your walls. Have a good night everyone!

Paint Your Walls Post One - Colors & Complexity

Wall paint is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact in your nursery. Whether it is just one wall or a complicated paint pattern, paint adds color and interest to any room. If you are thinking about painting the nursery there are a few things to consider.

• Boy or Girl? When I worked at a baby store, people often came in looking for bedding after they had painted their room. That never made sense to me. What if you fall in love with a set and it doesn't match what you already painted? I know it is hard to wait to work on the nursery until you find out the sex, but you just might have to. You can always have 2 options already planned out, on for a girl and one for a boy. Then, when you find out which one it is, you don't have to go shopping or start making decisions.
• Neutral - If you are waiting till the baby is born to find out the sex, or if you just want a nuetral theme, you can start considering paint colors right away. Shades of brown, tan, green and yellow make great nuetral choices.
• Baby vs. Big Kid - Don't want to paint the room again in 23 years? Chances are you are going to upgrade to big kid furniture at 3 or 4 and your little one may want to help choose the decor. Just keep that in mind before you paint baby bunnies all over the room.
  
• Simple vs. Complex - Never painted before? Not too crafty? Its probably best to do something simple. Solids and stripes can still add interest. Below are some of my favorite ideas for simple paint techniques:
  

1. Accent Wall - If the nursery is already painted a nice neutral shade other than white, you may not need to paint the entire thing. An accent wall is an easy an inexpensive way to add interest. This is a great choice if you are not a master painter. Below is an accent wall from my guest room:

For the tan shade, we used left over paint from another area of the house. We only had to buy a gallon of the chocolate brown shade so it was a super cheap makeover with big results. Accents walls look great on the wall the crib is going to be placed.

2. Half Height - With or without a chair rail, painting the room this way adds a lot of punch. Traditionally the darker color should be painted on the bottom and a lighter color on top. This helps make the wall look taller. A good starting place is to choose a bottom color you like and then go up 2 or 3 bars on the paint strip sample to choose the top color. Or, you can choose 2 totally different colors.

Design Dazzle Featured this room painted Benjamin Moore Calypso Orange from Domino Mag:


For a more traditional look, add a simple chair rail to divide the 2 colors. Molding comes in different widths and designs and is in inexpensive way to add interest. I recently had one installed in my breakfast area, and I hired a handy man to install it for just $40.

3. Simple Vertical Stripes - Fairly easy to paint with the help of some painters tape, vertical stripes can by done in many different ways. I love the look of tone on tone stripes, with equal widths of 2 different shades of the same color. Or, you can add stripes at the bottom half ot the wall like this Jack and the Beanstalk design by Heather Sanders from Pink Giraffe Design.

Vertical stripes can also be added to an accent wall like this modern design:

4. Horizontal Stripes - A little more difficult than vertical stripes because they really have to be level. But, if you can get them right, vertical stripes really add interest to the room. Below is a sample from Pottery Barn Kids. The name letters add another dimension and are a really neat effect.


If all this sounds a little too complicated, it is perfectly ok to hire a painter (or enlist your dad!) With the economy the way it is, you can get some really good rates right now. Just make sure to get 2 quotes. When we had a large paint project in our home we got 2 quotes, one for $1800 and one for $750! BIG DIFFERENCE!

All this sounds like a piece of cake? Check back later this week for some ideas on adding wall art and murals to your walls!