Friday, November 6, 2009

Bedroom Dilema


I grew up in a family of 7 kids.

The house I grew up in was a 3.5 bedroom/1 bathroom.

I loved it!!!!!!

I never thought it was small or that we were cramped.

That is what gives me comfort.

Small and cozy spaces.








How did this happen??

I have a big bedroom with 22' ceilings.


It's so hard to get that small and cozy feeling.

I really don't know how to bring the ceiling down.

Do you have any suggestions???


This is the reason I haven't taken on the project of the bedroom.
I need serious help.....I need YOUR help.

Do you have color suggestions, bedding suggestions, accessory suggestions or any other suggestion for that matter?

THANK YOU.....I can't wait to hear all your ideas. You are all so inspiring~

29 comments:

Hildie said...

I had a bedroom like this too. I tried painting it a dark color with made it a little cozier, but it still wasn't right. My husband ended up getting a job transfer or I would have tried my next idea: putting moulding around the wall at about 9-10" high and wallpapering the lower part. Then I wanted to paint the upper portion of the wall the same color as the ceiling. So it would seem like I had one gigantic ceiling, but the lower part of the walls would be patterny and cozy like I wanted. Still kind of wish I could have seen how that would have turned out.

Amber said...

Could you make a "false" ceiling? I would try to get someone to frame out a lower ceiling, then sheetrock and hang trim. No one would ever know that big giant ceiling was above it! I don't really know another option that would make it have the cozy feel. It might cost a little at first, but I think you would be much happier in the long run. It would also keep you from having so many angles in the room, which I would think would be hard to arrange furniture around. Let us know what you decide to do. I'm interested in seeing the finished product!

Loralee and the gang... said...

Bigger furniture would work wonders to fill out the space, but a really inexpensive thing to do would be to paint the ceiling a darker shade of whatever wall color you choose. That will bring down the ceiling and give the room a cozy feeling instantly!

Another treatment I have seen is to drape sheer gathered fabric at the level you want the "ceiling" to be. You wouldn't even have to do the whole room; just draping a section of the room would do wonders to fill it out.
Good luck, and be sure and post (with photos!)on what you end up doing!
:~D

Jeanne Oliver said...

I would bring your lighting now low from the ceiling and I would add old barn beams across.

Jackie said...

I like Jeanne's suggestion of the barn beams - I'd also paint the ceiling the wall color or darker - I think white makes it seem higher and larger. Crown molding around the edges might help too. A large and lower light fixture and some big art would help too!!

southerninspiration said...

yep, everything I"ve read says paint your ceiling darker to bring it down. I've also seen crown molding about 2 feet from the ceiling with the part above it and the ceiling painted a darker color. That is one big room. I hate to say it, but bigger furniture really does make a difference. Not as cozy, but it will fill the space and make the space cozier. So maybe put your bed on risers, or get some massive furniture for this room. Good luck!
Suzanne

Anne Marie said...

wouldn't it be great Amy if you could build like a loft up there? where you would create, maybe blog, read........

pillows and all your favorite things?

with 22' ceilings - maybe??
I know it would be a little cramped, but your bedroom ceiling just has to be 8 or 9', so leaves quite a bit up in your new loft

either that, or add more texture - that always does the trick....
like barnwood walls or a huge barnwood door -

Oh! and designate more spaces within your room.....sitting area...'bed room'.....even a great harvest table or something like that........

have fun!! how exciting!!

Prancing Pixie Studio said...

Yep, I would put a loft in there. If that is a no-go then I would paint the ceiling the same as the walls or a shade darker.

Melissa Miller said...

~Wow! That is a tough call. I really have no idea on this. The ceilings are gorgeous!

Free Art Printables said...

I think you need to add a floor ;)

T said...

I love Jeanne's beam idea and totally think you need some massive furniture in there. Anything little will just get swallowed up by the room. I think you could totally have like a couch and overstuffed chair in there like a little private living room. Maybe go with a darker color too. But I'm no professional, I just play one on t.v. :)
Have a great weekend!!

LuLu said...

I'm liking the beam idea as well and the color on the ceilings with molding very wide molding. That is a hard one.... if i see a picture i'll save it and send you it i always love a reason to read magazines,
xo,
LuLu

Lisa said...

A canopy bed or bed hangings would help. Also you could make small closer groupings of your furniture to give you little spaces to enjoy separately. Have fun finding your new cozy bedroom!
Hugs, Lisa

Julia said...

I love the paint color. I think what might be the problem is that the room needs to be balanced. You might start with chunkier lamps, a mirror/art work with a heavier frame, hang curtains on a fuller rod and maybe a bit higher. I understand your dilema because I had the same problem with a couple of my rooms with vaulted ceilings. I hired a designer who helped me with the scale of the accesories and furniture. Good luck! I am sure that you will do a great job.

Julia

rachel blazer said...

i agree with painting the ceiling a shade or 2 darker than the walls- i've seen it work! you have a lovely room- i know you'll find a way to make it cozy.
happy weekend,
rachel

Unknown said...

Paint the ceiling the same color as the walls.

Anonymous said...

I love the look of belle notte bedding. but i don't have it cuz it's expensive. What about a fake tree?? Is that dorky? I think they can look nice. I had that problem high ceiling in my family room and I just ran into that large picture at pier 1. The cost wasn't bad. Z gallery had really great large art. I am not great at giving decorating advice because i just run into something one day and know it's right.

happy weekend amy! are you well?

Dogwood said...

Oh my that room is really a challenge. I do not have any suggestions but am sure lots of your other readers will have lots of good ideas. I will enjoy following what comments you get and then what you do.

Have a fun weekend.

Loralee and the gang... said...

How is it going with your project?

Hey, I just want to show my appreciation for all of the great posts you write!
I have a "One Lovely Blog" award for you over on my blog as a little thank you- just hop by at http://careysgang.blogspot.com/
:~D

Christina said...

Do you have a wall that is big enough to hang a quilt on, a Queen size quilt? That might give it a cozy feel. Also, warm colored bookshelves filled with your favorite books and picture frames. You could (this is more extensive, obviously) put beams across just to break up the enormous space, and leave it open in between the beams. I haven't read anything else here, so I'm just throwing this out...a long time ago I knew a woman who grew up in a rowhouse and ended up in quite a mansion in Fl with her husband. She hated it...it was so big and it felt so overwhelming. She went through the house and prayed over it, that God would make it small. And I can testify that He did! In the sense that it was the coziest, homiest place I have ever been, while also being one of the biggest homes I had ever been in. I remember it was full of color, just enough knick-knacks, and shelves. Anyway, hope that isn't weird to put on here...just your saying that triggered that memory. :)

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

Hmmm...that's a tough one! If it were me, I would pick one wall and put a piece of art, salvage, clock, etc. that is BIG. Or a large collection of items. Something huge that goes vertical and makes an impact in the room. It might help take the focus off the height?
~Michelle

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

Hi Amy, I think painting the ceiling is an excellent idea. I know some mentioned a shade darker than the wall, but it would be much easier just to do it the same colour as the walls (no need for careful painting of all those edges). I agree with the suggestion of going big, with big furniture, or a big piece of salvage on a focal wall. A nice big tree, as someone suggested would be really nice (I think you have enough light for a real one :) You're really lucky you have so much space - I would consider a seating area with a couch and a couple of chairs. And maybe a really nice area rug. For the windows, I think you should go bigger too - my suggestion would be black iron curtain rods with those absolutely gorgeous printed linen curtains from Tracey's shop French Larkspur (they would look gorgeous in your bedroom!). Oh, it's so much fun to help friends decorate...

Sarah Bradford-Burton said...

You could create a tent effect, like a big top of the circus around the bed.
I saw Nate on Oprah last year create this effect with gorgeous fabric and it hid all the imperfections of the room (studio apartment makeover).

I love everyone's ideas...esp the beam idea.

Lemonade Makin' Mama said...

My mind is a blank canvas of non help. Yet here I am. Go figure.

Farmgirl Paints said...

We have a giant bedroom with vaulted ceilings too. It is hard to cozy up. I think maybe painting the ceiling a dark color...even black would lower it. I see that in restaurants alot and always wondered what it would look like in a home.

littlebyrd said...

I wish I could help! I don't know. Jeannes suggestion was great!!

Victoria said...

I too think painting the ceiling the same color as the walls (or darker) would make it cozier!

Brittney said...

Paint the ceiling! You will be amazed at what it does!

Dandy said...

I agree with paint the ceiling, something moody. Also, bigger furniture that takes up more space. The furniture should be to scale with the room size... not that I can see all your furniture but you know.