Any interior decorators in the house?? [re-painting my room; need theme help]

[Nyaricus]

Hi all Long time no talk.

This summer has become a busy one, and I've currently on the path to re-painting my room, but I'm still undecided and could use a nudge in the right direction, me thinks.

So, here are the stats: I live in an upstairs bedroom of a decent size, just under 17 feet long and 11 feet wide, with a door and a large window at either end of this long room. Below is a quick paint job to whet your tastes.

Although there's a lot in it, it feels cozy, not crowded. The room is decidedly "barn-shaped" though, with the walls going to a height of about 5'3" or 5'5" and then making a horizontal junction to the roof, rather then a normal 90 degree angle.

Outside of my window is a fair-sized tree, which lets the light in and the neighbors eyes out.

My room as of now is a fair dull cream/white colour, not at all to my tastes. I'm looking for something a little more edgy.

Since a decent decor is dependant on the habitant, you should know I have a bit of a mish-mash of styles. I'm a metalhead, first and fore-most. I have a variety of posters (which I've been taking down in anticipation of painting) which I'll likely be keeping down. I want something a bit more... mature for my room, I would gander to say. I love mythology and history, and I've been slowly gathering some small pieces, here and there, to fill my room with. I have one of those beautiful Mayan sun calenders, well over a foot in diameter, I bought in Texas in a Mexican market. I have another "grim reaper" style figure, also imported from Mexico, which is very impressive at over a foot high. Incense burners, candles, a few different plants, all contrasting the newer items, like a slick looking computer, TV set and bass guitar (on it's stand) and microphone stand w/mike. The theme is a mash-up of the ancient and the futuristic, I would say.

I would like the colouration of the room to reflect that. I adore the colour black, but I think it would make the room too grim - and indeed, me being upstairs, the summer's oppressive heat would make it unbearable. I was thinking that of a minor theme though - perhaps accentuating the rest of the room, at door jams and on the recessed shelves on the bottom of that map of my room, at the bottom of that MS Paint picture above?

I've also always enjoyed the cool colours more then the hot colours; green and blue always being a favourite. I particularly like either striking, lightning bright shades, or darker, somber shades of either colour.

However, if someone suggests something that, given the above, they think would mix in better, please do speak up. I'm quite open to other options

Thanks for your time,
--N

 

[Mycanid]

There's good old Nyaricus! Where ya been you vicious Canadian?!

Dark evening blue came to mind first when i read your post.

You skilled at painting?

First thing that came to mind was to keep the cream white and then to paint on top of it like a canvas. Perhaps you could create "frames" for the posters and such with fancy decorations - like the old viking and Celtic script by painting them directly on the wall if you are good with a brush....

I had also though of painting the forms of dead trees along the cream colored walls in dark blue with twilight on the western side of the room with the sky covered with the constellations and maybe even a crescent moon?

Maybe not realistic ideas, but I thought I'd try at least.

 

[Aurora]

If you go with Mycanid's suggestion, here is some info on the color blue.

Calm and Cool : Blue is calming. It can be strong and steadfast or light and friendly. Almost everyone likes some shade of the color blue.
Nature of Blue: A natural color, from the blue of the sky, blue is a universal color. The cool, calming effect of blue makes time pass more quickly and it can help you sleep. Blue is a good color for bedrooms. However, too much blue could dampen spirits.
Culture of Blue: In many diverse cultures blue is significant in religious beliefs, brings peace, or is believed to keep the bad spirits away.

Blue conveys importance and confidence without being somber or sinister, hence the blue power suit of the corporate world and the blue uniforms of police officers. Long considered a corporate color, blue, especially darker blue, is associated with intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism.
Just as seeing red alludes to the strong emotions invoked by the color red, feeling blue or getting the blues represents the extremes of the calm feelings associated with blue, i.e. sadness or depression, lack of strong (violent) emotion. Dark blue is sometimes seen as staid or stodgy — old-fashioned.

In Iran, blue is the color of mourning while in the West the something blue bridal tradition represents love.
Using Blue: A deep royal blue or azure conveys richness and perhaps even a touch of superiority. Navy blue is almost black and is a bit warmer than lighter blues. Combine a light and dark blue to convey trust and truthfulness — banker's colors. Although blue is a year-round color, pastel blues, especially along with pinks and pale yellows suggest Springtime while deep blue is a colder weather color. Create a conservative but sophisticated look with subtle contrast by combining light and dark shades of blue.

 

[Aurora]

Take a look at the things in your room and come up with 2 main colors. You mentioned black and if you have a lot of black things.....black audio components and speakers, black throw pillows and a black blanket tossed over the back of a chair etc, black may be a good secondary color. If you want to use it with paint I would use it in blocks. For example, I know you said you probably weren't going to hang up a bunch of posters again, but let's say you have a couple you want to hang. Map out where they are going to go on the wall and then paint a black box on the wall that extends out say 3 inches on every side around the poster, thus giving it like a black frame on the wall. Do the same for other things you want to hang on the walls. If you are going to paint accent blocks with black, be sure your other color is also quite bold.

Group like items together, it just looks better. Don't go overboard on accessories. Too many things jammed together make it so the pieces lose their individuality.

Picture hanging rules:
1. Pictures and items hung on the wall should first and foremost be an extension of your furniture. Always center things above furniture pieces. Don't just go for the "middle of the wall".
2. Items should be hung so that the center of the item is at the average person's eye level view. So, when I hang pictures I put the pic on the wall so that at my eye level I am looking at the middle of the picture, and then I raise it a few inches because I am short. LOL
3. Rule 1 trumps rule 2 though. If say, you have a very low backed couch, you don't want the pic floating 3 ft above it. In this case you can lower it. Use your best judgment.

 

[Aurora]

And just so that you know. If the big square on the bottom right is your bed and the foot of the bed is towards the door like I think it is, according to Feng Shui, your bed is in the death position. If you are into that kind of stuff.

 

[Mycanid]

And just so that you know. If the big square on the bottom right is your bed and the foot of the bed is towards the door like I think it is, according to Feng Shui, your bed is in the death position. If you are into that kind of stuff.

No, no Aurora. He has it like that so he can sit up in bed, grab the shotgun and point it immediately at the zombies coming through the door....

 

[Aurora]

No, no Aurora. He has it like that so he can sit up in bed, grab the shotgun and point it immediately at the zombies coming through the door....

Hey, gotta have a zombie plan.

 

[Aeson]

No, no Aurora. He has it like that so he can sit up in bed, grab the shotgun and point it immediately at the zombies coming through the door....

Can you turn zombies?

 

[Mycanid]

Can you turn zombies?

Hmmm .... never tried come to think of it.

Anyway - enough of the thread jack (Apologies Nyaricus!) ... anyone else got ideas for Nyaricus' room?

 

[ssampier]

Depending on "dark" you want it, I've always loved the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos. I think this would go well with your Hispanic/Aztec theme you have established.

I would cover your bases, making sure you have enough light in the room. If you wanted to get really ambitious, I have seen a number of people use low watt LEDs to establish "accent lighting".

Other than that, I find "less is more" in decorating/design.