I saw a post on Jill’s blog when I visited again after first learning of ‘Forever & Ever House’ when I posted my thoughts on the entries for “Spring green roundup”.

Jill was sharing that her four year old daughter wants a new room color. You can see the entire entry on her blog but here’s how it begins…

There was ONE exception to the “need to renovate” rule at our house and that was my daughter’s bedroom. Seventeen years ago, when our home was built, it was painted a very pretty, classic shade of yellow and it has remained that way to this day. So, when we moved into our home I said to myself “Self…well, at least THERE’S one room that doesn’t need to be painted.”

Madison’s bedding and valance from our starter home even had some yellow in it and with a few strategic placements of art, the nail holes in the walls from previous owner’s art would be covered.

Easy-peasy. Yippy Skippy.Well, you know where this is leading now, don’t you?

My daughter really wants a pink room!

Kate suggests…

Well Jill if you end up painting yet one more room my first thought is to pick a hue that you and your adorable daughter can live with for years to come so you aren’t repainting it again anytime soon.

My suggestion would be to go for a paint color that tends to be softer and more neutral than say ‘Barbie Pink’. Here are some examples from Pittsburgh Paint but similar colors can be found from other brands.

Each of these fits your daughter’s demand for pink but may also appeal to you since as you mentioned on your blog you love natural things and neutral colors.

From warmer pink to cooler pink as you go from left to right

Another natural pink you might consider is Pink Ground from Farrow & Ball. Even non-pink lovers like this neutral pink.

Pink inspired by the vintage French rose called Cuisse de Nymphe

In this month’s House Beautiful magazine they quote interior designer Ann Dupuy as saying the following about this color, “This is a very serene pink, the color of an old French rose called Cuisse de Nymphe, which translates as the thigh of a nymph. So charming. And everybody looks good against pink — that’s why men wear pink shirts.”

You have great style and I think going with a color scheme that suits your little girl now but can morph into a new scheme as she gets older would be perfect.

Pink and brown might be a good place to start. All of the pinks I mention would look wonderful with almost any hue of brown from light tan to deep, rich chocolate.

Stretched canvas design in pink and brown by Kelly B. Rightsell

You can use mostly pink with just touches of brown now but could expand the color scheme at any time. So many other colors could work with this as a starting point. Think green, aqua, sky blue, lavender, even tangerine or the right red.

The color scheme Julie (style expert and editor of our Live In Full Color blog) used in her daughter’s room is a wonderful example. She chose a pink, green and brown scheme with a few blue accents.

The walls are Georgian Green from Benjamin Moore. Like the hues of pink I am suggesting this color is quite neutral. The bed linens and window treatments are a mix of pink, green, tan/brown floral, check and print fabrics plus a touch of blue.

Julie has combined new and vintage items and many hues of each color. This approach has given the room charm and interest that wouldn’t be achieved if all of the furniture, fabrics and accessories were the same style or matched exactly.

I love the touch of blue and Julie said that she likes to always add a bit of blue to every girls room. You can see how she has added the blue in with the mirror, shelf, and in the plaid of the throw.

Jill I hope these suggestions spark your imagination. You are so creative that I feel certain that Madison (and I) will love whatever you decide on.

***Readers if you have other ideas or suggestions I welcome you to add them in the comments. I’m sure Jill would love to hear your thoughts too!***

Resources:

• Type in your zip code for a list of Pittsburgh Paint dealers near you.
• Type in your zip code for a list of Benjamin Moore dealers near you.
• Do you have a color dilemma? Post it in the Makeover Gallery at RoomVues.com and you could be the next reader to have your color question answered on the Color For Your Home blog.

**Please note: Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect the paint colors. Please refer to an actual sample of the paint for an accurate rendition of the color.

I would like to know what color might expand this space visually as I would like to make this room seem larger.

Thanks, Sylvie

Kate suggests…

Small spaces often appear smaller as a result of the simple mistake of having too many contrasting colors present. To help broaden your sense of space in a cozy room, there are a couple of solutions you can incorporate when decorating.

First choose a monochromatic color scheme. That means to choose a main color for the room and then keep the majority of elements in the room in varying shades or tints of that color.

Colors that are neutral or just a shade or two apart from each other will help create an open, airy feeling. For example you may chose a light, refreshing, green color, such as those shown below.

Greens from Pittsburgh Paints

On left top to bottom 209-3 Aloe Vera, 309-4 Quaking Grass, 410-4 Olive Sprig
On the right top to bottom 308-3 St. Augustine, 310-3 Pickling Spice

Another way to make a room seem larger is to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. This allows your eye to expand and flow freely within the space, whereas contrasting ceiling color forces your eye to stop at the edges where the walls and ceiling meet placing more focus on the size of the walls.

Keep in mind, while furnishing your room, that too much texture can also make a space seem smaller. Smoother surfaces help to open up a space especially when they are in the same color family.

Transparent elements and objects add sparkle but “dissappear” into the scheme because their presence does’t totally obstruct the view of what is beyond or under them. This is why a designer often chooses a glass top table for a small dining space.

Resources:

• Do you have a color dilemma? Post it in the Makeover Gallery at RoomVues.com and you be the next reader to have your color questions answered on the Color For Your Home blog.
• Type in your zip code to find your local Pittsburgh Paint dealer

**Please note: Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect the paint colors. Please refer to an actual sample of the paint for an accurate rendition of the color.

Do you have an idea for the accent wall? Please share it with us in the comments.