Tropical Theme Bedroom

Reader’s color dilemma:

I want to do my daughters room with a beach tropical theme. i would like ideas for the paint color for the walls. Thanks Kathy

Kate suggests:

When thinking of tropical colors luscious and relaxing colors come to mind.  I am always drawn to the blues and greens of the sea surrounding islands or the shores of exotic destinations. But colors of tropical blossoms or the lush green of foilage can also be used to create the look.

Palm tree, beach or nautical prints could be incorporated but I recommend keeping these obvious elements to a minimum and using furniture, fabric, textures and accessories that are instead simply suggestive of the theme will keep the room from looking cliché.

For a younger girl I like colors that are brighter as shown in the from from Bungalow Beach Designs.  The walls are soft sandy pink and the accessories are kept fun yet not over done.

If your daughter is a bit older you could go with a scheme that is warmer and not so vivid as shown in this poster or you would even go a bit stronger with some of the colors as shown in the striped pillow.

I adore shells and you could put some in glass bowls or jars, place the on a shelves or tabletops or hot glue some to the frame of a mirror.  There are some helpful instructions on Martha Stewart Living.

Coral prints or embroidered pillows also add to the tropical feeling and give a nice shot of color.

Coral Pillow from Ballard Design

For the furnishings use native dark wood pieces, beach house white or light wood, painted pieces, wicker or a mixture of different styles and materials.

A large plant, especially palm trees, can fit in and accessories in bamboo, wicker and rattan add to the scheme quite naturally.

My Signature Color ‘H2 Ahh!’

Ralph Lauren ‘Tea Rose’  or Benjamin Moore ‘Sandy Shores’

For the walls I suggest either a sandy beige or a blue green that has an ethereal quality like my “H2-Ahh!” from Ellen Kennon’s Full Spectrum Paints.  You might even consider a very soft, warm pink.  A grass cloth might be used for the walls if you are going for a more sophisticated look.

Using one of these colors will create a relaxing resort feeling and a perfect background for your fun and colorful tropical decor.