Do you ever feel it’s time to color outside the lines?
Do you go to the store to buy paint or curtains or your next set of couch pillows and end up bringing home pretty much the same thing you bought last time and then wonder why you’re not excited about it?
Or, have you taken that step into Willy Wonka’s world and gone crazy with color? Or style. Or texture?
I always wondered why people were so in love with animal prints. I SMH over hot pink painted bookshelves and pillows that look like exploded rosettes.
But… change is in the wind.
The time to plunge into adventure and throw caution to that wind is here.
Color Choices
It’s time to crawl out of the brown/white/beige cave and look for something different.
A new lease on decorating life started with a new bed set. Yep. A bed set. That was a defining moment. My daughter texted an advertisement of a bed set she was considering and it leapt out of my iphone and grabbed me by the collar and said, “Buy me or you will regret it.” I bought it and she didn’t.
Here is the old bed set that has made its way into the guest room.
Oh, it didn’t go without a fight! That old conservative voice tries to drown out all creativity and adventure with, “You’ll get tired of it! Don’t replace me! You’ll have trouble finding accessories. You’re painting yourself in a corner because you have narrowed down your options with this bright color!”
NOTE: Hopefully the fact we have put a king size bed in there will make up for the boringness of the bed set that you just inherited. My deepest apology.
That boring bed set purchase was provoked by our realtor who said it was time to take the leap out of the quilt squares box and into the 21st century. It was a stepping stone to modern style but it was still “safe.” You know. “Safe” as in “not too bright, easy to match, neutral colors and a conservative pattern.”
“Safe.”
“Hi, my name is Val and my decorating style is conservative.”
I have finally put one toe into “Boring People Anonymous,” or BPA. Will you meet me there? Or are you too occupied with deciding between cream and tan?
Herein lies a milestone. A new bed set – stolen (with permission) from Jillian. 
One must suspect she didn’t end up buying it because it didn’t have glitter on it. Jillian is the president of BPA. She’s the one buying pink glitter jeggings and animal print tops for her pre-born niece. Anyone can look through the future-baby box and pick out which outfits she’s responsible for.
I want to be just like her when I grow up. She has a reputation. She’s the cool one.
So do I (have a reputation).
So do you.
What’s your rep? Are you a play it safe, go neutral or go home? Or are you adventuresome and have a “Wow factor?”
Decision time. What color paint would be best for the nightstand? Bright orange to match the dust ruffle or light peach to play it safe and keep all eyes focused on the wild new bedspread?
I await your response. My future in the BPA rests in your hands.
17 thoughts on “Color Choices – Go Bold or Go Home”
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Without seeing the colors…I would choose the the light peach.
Katie, I expected you to go bold! Will wonders never cease…
As a conservative decorator myself, I would paint the end table to match the headboard and then find a peach or light orange candle holder or kleenes box. Something to tie in the theme. I think the bright orange end table would over take the beautiful quilt. Just my take.
Diane, My first thought is to go with a conservative color – as always. I too am ALWAYS concerned about too much color – which has kept me in my tidy little box. That's two so far choosing "conservative". I'm anxious to see what everyone else says!
Light Peach for Sure!
I thought for sure you’d go bold, Jillian! Aren’t you the one who said, “Those look like mom colors?” I did think to put bold on the first coat, add crackle paint and then peach or white over that so the cracks would be bold. Let’s see what everyone else says. I’m leaning toward conservative, of course!
April – I love white too. We are redoing our doors and trim white, so maybe white is the way to go to bring that into the room. Ok, now I have three choices – white, peach and bold orange! This is getting harder!
I would paint it white. Your walls match the brown, and I like the idea of the white nightstand. I love white furniture. And then the bed set remains the bright cetner piece. I would add accents of orange on the night stand…and candle, and picture frame…maybe even a drawer knob in orange?! But I guess I have a some of that conservative decorating in my genes. 😉
Is the headboard black, grey, or pewter? Hold on to your horses – this is way out. I would paint it either to match the headboard – or – here it goes – BLACK! Then accents with peach or orange! BLACK furniture is very "cool" so it doesn't blend in with the walls. If that doesn't float your boat, then I'd go Orange!
The headboard is pewter, but I’m not sure it’s going to stay because it doesn’t go with the rest of my house which is mostly in browns. Pam, you’re the second one to suggest black. I do love black furniture but I don’t have any in my house – all brown! I so want to be brave enough to go ORANGE but I don’t know if I have it in me! Hence, the survey!
Definitely turquoise. It is the contrasting color.
Paula, I thought about turquoise too but I’m not brave enough to do it!
I love the idea of a crackle paint effect and would go with turquoise underneath (that way it's not so in your face bold) or a hunter green:)
So many ideas! How will I ever decide?
I think the bed spread is like at color changing dress. I thought it was hot pink and khaki! My phone is clearly playing tricks on me.
What does the night stand look like? I also thought black. Or how about mirrored? 🙂 My friends whose decorating style is so wild and fun and I admire it greatly have this massive mirror that she spray painted the frame a patent orange and then she hung it at an angle in their wall. It's absolutely fabulous! I think you should do that!
but that didn't answer your night stand question…. How about orange patent?
(Says the one hunting for turquoise paint for amaras walla to match her turquoise and orange bedding)
Sarah, the nightstand is an antique, practically a square box on small legs. I’ve posted a picture of it on my facebook page. It has a narrow drawer with two doors below opening out. I did consider bright orange to match the bedspread, but most are saying it would detract from the bedspread. Others suggested black, taupe, white, light orange, bright orange, two toned etc. I think I will turn whatever color I go with into a chalk paint, so that would be the opposite of the patent, though I have considered that too! I still don’t know which way to go! Black wouldn’t go with my house or that room. Dark or light brown would since the walls are a med tan, a khaki.