I didn’t want to be that mom.
That mom who never let her kid have the kind of room they wanted.
That mom who didn’t give her kid any creative freedom when it came to decorating their room.
I really really didn’t want to be that mom.
This is where not being that mom got me…
A bright red room I’m not quite sure what in the hell to do with.
The Circus insisted on having a red room at the farm. Absolutely could not be swayed any other way, folks.
So I will say that the 1st photo above was taken in very bad lighting, so that picture might be making it seem a little worse than it actually is. And nothing is really on the walls yet. And everything else is just thrown into the room haphazardly.
But still.
It’s a whole lot of red. And I love red. It’s one of my favorite colors. But this red, y’all. I just don’t know.
I’m trying though. I’m putting forth an effort to make this red work because this little girl loves this red. So here’s what I’ve come up with…
Disclosure: Affiliate links may be included in this post. Minted provided me with the art for this room. All opinions are 100% mine.
Chandelier / Horse Art / Lucky Girl Art / Bedding / Curtains / Blue Paint / Purple Paint / Coral Paint
I’m calling it a Colorful Boho Cowgirl Bedroom. I need something that sounds halfway legit to keep me going here, folks.ย
My general thought is that I need to make that red paint the backdrop, instead of the focal point, much like I do with the black walls in the living room and dining room at The 70’s Landing Pad. In this case, I figure the way to do that is to add in other colors that work with the red, some white and eye catching patterns.
Light Blue Color / Purple Color / Coral Color / Bedding
I found this colorful floral bedding from Target and the red that’s on the walls seems to go well with the red in the bedding. Since the bedding also has so many other colors, I figure I can pull multiple other colors from it as accents throughout the room that will also work well with the red. I matched up Velvet Finishes colors to some of the colors in the bedding, so I think I’m going for using the Boheme (light blue), Stately (purple) and Exotic (coral) as those accent colors. I’ve got to paint her toy chest and bookshelf in this space, plus a few other odds and ends, so hopefully those colors will work with some of those things. I’m actually thinking that what I might do is create a plaid sort of pattern with those three colors plus white on her toy chest. We’ll see….
Bedding / Tassel Trim Curtains
I had already let her pick out curtains for her windows and she chose these tassel trimmed ones from Target and they go perfectly with the bedding so there’s one win at least.
We’ve already got our art for the space too – she chose Desolate and I chose Lucky Girl for her room. Both came from Minted, so we were able to customize the size and frames. We got both frames in the rustic-y indigo color you see around the horse print above. The horse print is large, so it will definitely help with taking some of the attention away from the red too.
This isn’t the actual light fixture I’m going with, but….wait for it….I’m going to attempt to DIY a similar version of this one. Yes, I’m crazy, and no, don’t hold your breath on this one. It may not work at all, but I’ve got a plan, so I’m going to give it a whirl. This one is beautiful, but out of our budget, and I’d prefer it be a little more playful for the Circus’ room anyway.
Marty Oravetz says
I am sure it will look fabulous. I remember when my daughter had to have an orange and pink room with orange walls.
Jenna says
Thanks, Marty! I hope you’re right! When they know what they want, they know what they want, right?! haha!
Olivia says
I say….”good job mamma!!!” As a kid…..my mom was totally that mom….my bedroom looked like a magazine, not even a shoe could be left in sight. It drove me crazy!! Now I have three daughters….ages 3,7 and 9….their rooms are aqua blue, pink and lavender (each chose their own favorite color.) Yes….it’s a lot of color going on upstairs. ? Kinda like a rainbow. But they love their rooms and I know it is after all just paint. I love it when a kid’s room looks like an actual kid lives there…..not mini adults. I love the bedding and curtain colors you picked out!
Jenna says
I’m with you – it’s a kid’s room, so it should look like a kid lives there! The only thing I’ve ever steered her away from is the complete character bedding sets and that’s just because she hops from a new favorite character every week! hahaha! Instead, she gets character blankets every now and then, so I don’t make a huge investment on My Little Pony bedding when she decides she likes Shimmer and Shine a week later. haha!
Shirley says
Well she certainly knows what she wants- she’s an artist!! Love the bedding & the curtains.Wish we had Target in England. I can see that lovely cowboy blanket you have in there. Or is it in her other bedroom?
Jenna says
Oh man, you guys SO need Targets in England – they are the best! Right now, we actually have the cowboy blanket in the living room at the farm – it is the best blanket to cozy up with, so for now, we all agreed to put it in there!
Ellen Shook says
You have a budding decorator on your hands! My parents always let me have a say, and although I never got a red room, I once got pretty close to purple. I think it is a very good thing for a child to express herself in this way, with some guidance from Mum, of course. I love the colors you pulled from the bedding print, and the result will be wonderful. In my last house which was much larger than where I am now, I had three red rooms at one time: the library, the den and one of the bedrooms. They were respectively Oxblood, Raspberry, and Chinese Red. The BR had Chinese furniture in it — so — of course it was. The Raspberry den had a lot of white in the ground color of the fabric and the trim and some of the furnishings. The Oxblood library was dark woods with Imari colors. It all worked out, and I loved it, but when I got ready to sell the house, everything was painted white on the advice of the agent. I actually liked it, and in my current house, I do have some white spaces. First time in decades!
Jenna says
Wow, those rooms sound beautiful, Ellen! You know, I do like a white painted room sometimes because then all the other colors in the room just bounce beautifully off those walls!
~Monica~ says
I can’t wait to see the finished product! She’s such a rebel and an out of the box thinker…kinda like her mamma (black walls ring a bell?). Love the picture of her painting! She going to be one handy girl as she grows up!
Hope your renos continue on smoothly!
~M~
Jenna says
She is most definitely a rebel! hahaha!
SHeila Moore says
Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I have an idea so lets see if it’s what I’m thinking you will do.
Jenna says
I hope I can pull it all off!!
heidi simpson says
I’m endeavoring on the same activity with my girls. They gave me colors, I picked the rug but it kind of a free for all after that. I’m calling it solar system bohemian star wars chic in pink, purple and white and sequins.
Jenna says
Oh man, I love that name!! hahah! so fun!
Deb says
LOVE THE BEDDING.
If anyone can pull this off you can!!!
Jenna says
Girl, I hope you’re right! Thanks!
Pam S says
For someone who doesn’t have a clue….looks to me like you’ve got this in the bag!! You’ll have that chandelier up in no time ๐
Jenna says
Here’s hoping, Pam!!! Thanks!
Brigitte says
I think this is going to come together beautifully! I LOVE the bedding and the paint colors you chose to use along with the red. I think you’ll need some white to balance the riot of color, tho. Are you going to do the chandelier in white or color? I think you can totally pull off making one, it looks like it’s concentric circles of tassels (they’ll be the hardest part, honestly, it looks tedious!), I’m thinking those wire wreath forms would work, right? They come in all sizes and you can paint them any color you want. Maybe the chandy forms could be the accent colors you’ve chosen and the tassels white? Or vice versa…..altho any color that the lighting will filter through is going to change the colors in the room, too. That red is pretty….is it a true “blue” red or more of an orange-y red?
Jenna says
So for the chandelier, I’m thinking mostly white tassels/fringe with maybe one of the blue colors sprinkled in randomly as accents on it. Wire wreath forms might work – I hadn’t thought of those, I had just thought of those embroidery hoops. I’ll check out both now though! It’s definitely more of a blue red than an orangey red.
Brigitte says
Ooooo, I hadn’t even thought of embroidery hoops. Those might work even better, depending on the weight of the tassels. The wreath forms are kinda flimsy, they might not hold up well for the biggest ring. I love your idea of sprinkling the accent colors throughout, that’ll be SO CUTE! You can totally pull this off, I have full confidence. The Circus is following in the footsteps of her momma, independent and knows what she likes/wants. I say GOOD JOB! ๐
Leialoha says
Jenna, I think you did an awesom job on that bedroom…oh my goodness! I would be at a loss for sure, I love red, but I wear red, I don’t paint walls red. You are amazing! Wow!
Thanks for sharing!
Jenna says
That’s usually me – I LOVE red – on my clothing, even on home accessories, but in an entire room, I’m a little scared! haha!
Debbie Reynolds says
Jenna, if anyone can pull this off, you can! You are fantastic with bright, intense colors! The bedding and curtains will be gorgeous withe red!
Jenna says
Thanks, Debbie! I hope you’re right!
Susan the Farm Quilter says
You totally have the right idea to have the red walls be the backdrop! I am excited to see you make this (or similar) lamp – I can picture it in my head with you making the tassels mostly white but with a colorful tassels sprinkled through so the lamp matches the bedding…using brass (or copper, silver, gold or even the inside rings of wooden embroidery hoops) rings in three sizes that are held in position with strategically placed wires. Can’t wait to see the room when you get it finished!!!
Jenna says
Susan, you are reading my mind. That is exactly what I was thinking with the tassels on the lighting – sprinkling in some color with mostly the white!
Debbe Brackett says
Make tassels out of yarn that is the same colors as the ball fringe on the curtains. White bookcase with accent colors on the shelves.
Jenna says
Oh, that is perfect for those tassel colors, Debbe! Thanks! And I love the idea of accent colors on the bookshelves!
ash says
I LOVE this…. can I have this room? haha so fun!!! i think because i’m so colorful and OUT THERE that my kids have the most boring taste in the entire world… up until last week (when we inherited an amazing canopy bed with custom curtains and the whole 9 yards) my daughter had a completely white room. like wouldn’t even let me paint her desk something fun… :\ you’ve got a wild one but ya know what they say- boring ladies never made history… or something.
Jenna says
Oh she is definitely wild! I’m sure that’s going to cause me a lot of headaches in the future! hahahaha!!
Brigitte says
Heh. Yeah, it’s those independent ones you gotta watch out for, especially when they turn about 11 or 12! I have one of those, too…… Thank goodness! ๐
Patty says
I have never had to decorate a red room, thank goodness because I would be stumped, but you got this so under control.
The Circus is going to have the best decorated red bedroom ever. I love those sheets and everything you have chosen. and those curtains are perfect The Circus did great on those they are perfect.
I can’t wait to see it completed, I know it will be adorable.
Jenna says
Thank you, Patty! You have so much faith in me! haha! Here’s hoping I can live up to it!
Debra Bartels says
With the two of you working together it will be darling. She’s following in her mom’s footprint I believe.
Jenna says
Thanks, Debra! I’m not sure if her following in my steps is a good thing or a bad thing sometimes! haha! ๐
Helen says
You have SO got this one. You are right, if you can swing a black living room what is a little red bedroom. Stay strong.
Jenna says
Oh girl, you have so much faith in me!! haha! Thanks!
Stephanie S says
I see where you are coming with on this room. Interesting at her age the red has caught her enter mom bug.
Love the other colors and prints. To cute and fun.
Jenna says
I was really surprised she wanted red! It’s usually blue everything!
margie cooper says
I love where you are going with this. Just wondering if you are going to spring for another set of curtains for the windows? That will help! You have so many cute ideas it’s going to be darling. I cant wait for the finished product. I am waiting on the edge of my seat.
Jenna says
Thanks, Margie! I’m not sure on the curtains yet – we may get another set, but I have an idea for doing just one on each window. We’ll see how it works out….
Wendy says
YES, YES & YES! I am so excited to see how you help finish off your daughter’s choice colored room! Red room 2x, well one was more burgundy(90s). My now 18 year old had 2 red walls in his room as a newborn- what was I thinking, no idea though Babar the Elephant “decor” was behind the choice.
The chosen art work, the bedding, the painting of beloved pieces all sound good, an looking forward to see what lighting fixture you try to create.
Jenna says
Thanks so much, Wendy! Hoping I can pull it off!
Marie says
I’m excited to see how you pull it all together. I think the neutral accessories with pops of color will juxtapose beautifully with the red walls. I have never pulled off a red room but I have no doubt yours will turn out fabulous. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday this week!