Thank you for all of your kinds words about Xander’s room last week. I can’t begin to express how much your comments mean, whether they be on this blog or social media. I really cherish every one of them. You might remember that I was having trouble finding a desk for Xander’s bedside. I had kind of settled on the idea of buying one from Target, but as luck would have it I found something secondhand.
The day I posted about my conundrum I went to visit a client on the Kansas side and stumbled upon this Parsons desk at a consignment store for $25. It had a dark veneer but was solid as could be. I stopped at Michael’s for some chalk paint because you don’t have to do any prep and I can always trust Martha’s colors and I am really happy with how it turned out. The blue feels fresh but is still calm among the plethora of color within the space.
Because I don’t have any training in design, I often struggle to explain why I do what I do when it comes to decorating and styling. The easy answer is that I just like what I like, but I know there’s more to it than that. While I don’t have a magic formula, I thought it would be fun to break down this space a bit today to see why I think it works. These are elements any space or vignette can benefit from having a balance of, not just a desk.
TRADITIONAL: Xander’s bed is traditional and even skews a bit coastal cottage feeling. I like that, but I love a mix, so I knew I wanted the desk to be the opposite. The bed has curves in the finials and a bit of a distressed finish.
CLASSIC: A Parsons desk or table is a classic. It’s something that will never go out of style but still feels clean and a bit modern next to the bed.
MODERN: The lamp is what brings a ton of style to this. The more I study design, the more I see how important lighting is. A good lamp will always go a long way. I found this one at a thrift store for $4, and I know it will be a piece I wish I could use in every room. It instantly takes the coolness factor up about ten notches.
COLOR: I love bold color, which that Rainforest Canopy is definitely giving. There’s so much strong color in the opposing wall’s gallery that I wanted to keep this end of the room a little bit more calm, so the wall color is really the star here.
SOMETHING OLD: When a room is filled with all new things it feels a bit flat. You need something old to bring a richness and a history to the space. This milking stool adds character and warmth.
TEXTURAL: If things are still feeling a little flat, you might want to add some natural texture. Baskets are great for this, and they’re also my favorite storage solution for kid’s toys. Clean up is quick and all of those legos are corralled.
ART: Your space isn’t complete without it. Art and accessories are what make a room yours. Art should feel personal, whether it has special meaning to you or you just feel a connection with the piece. These hulk pictures happen to be one of Xander’s favorite toys more on that in a post to follow.
SCULPTURAL: This artists mannequin brings movement and life, and Xander loves to play with him.
HANDMADE: The ceramic bowl was a thrift find, but someone made it. The shape isn’t perfect and that character plus those black spots brings another layer to this desk. And it’s perfect for keeping pencils and remotes handy.
YOUR PAST: Family photos are the ultimate in personalization, and I love using them in kid’s rooms. They not only look wonderful, they help teach kids about where they come from. This photo is of Xander’s great, great grandfather whom he gets his middle name from.
PERSONAL: In any space, but especially a kid’s space, it’s important to surround yourself with things you love. From the minion to the McDonald’s bag that Xander takes to the library every week with my dad it’s actually mine from the 90’s, these are things that are special to him.
This isn’t a surefire way to decorate every space, but these seem to be my main go-to’s time and time again.
What did I leave out? Do you have a method for your decorating madness?
Jennifer@The Chronicles of Home says
A great breakdown 🙂 This is obviously a magic formula since it makes the Hulk and a McDonald's bag look cool!
Whitney Muncy says
Great! I love your "rules". I love the room, too. Emerald is my favorite color. I can't wait to see close-ups of the gallery wall.
Donna Powell says
Such a great mixture of traditional, modern, and playful. Love the wall color too!
Laurie from Laurie Jones Home says
So funny I just did a breakdown last week of my desk in our room, I don't think everyone thinks about all the little details there is when it comes to making a room work! Love Xander's room, it's awesome!!
tnic says
Gwen, you are super awesome! I love this post and feel like I got an answer to my own question in a full blog post!! Hope Xander loves his room as much as the rest of us:)
Nkem Okechukwu says
Xander's room is awesome. I love how you took out time to explain every details and what they mean to you and Xander
Tabby says
I was just wondering where you got the white dresser knobs?! This room is simply amazing!!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Tabby, they're from Hobby Lobby! Thanks so much!