Beat the Heat: Make a Bedroom

Hi everyone! It's  next installment of Beat the Heat. 

While hanging out in a tree house is plenty of fun, there are times when you just want to relax in a place with some air conditioning. A while back, Claire asked for some advice on putting together a paper doll bedroom, so today we're going to beat the heat by creating a comfortable space in which you can chill out.

A good idea before you start is to make a board in Pinterest or Polyvore to get a general color scheme and an idea of what you like in the room. If you're as indecisive as I am, this will really help you figure out what you're going for.

So, what are the basic elements of a paper doll bedroom?

1. A bed

Look for something in bright colors - think blue, yellow, pink, orange, green. You want the bed to be bright enough to bring summer into your room, but not too bright that you can't wind down. I like to browse human bedding for inspiration, and AG's latest bedding is nice too. Some fun prints to try are tribal and southwestern, but don't use too much in the room or it'll get overwhelming. Also, accent pillows in contrasting colors can add a really fun touch to the bed. To make the bed itself, here's a tutorial.

From Pottery Barn

2. Wall decoration

You can get really creative here when decorating your walls. Some ideas: windows with beach views, colorful summer posters, mirrors, and shelves to store a seashell collection. If you have a ceiling, try making a string of lanterns. I personally love these posters below, also from Pottery Barn.

3. Carpet

A simple, small carpet can add the perfect touch to a room, plus if you have pets it makes a nice bed for them. Use it to tie the room together or as an accent color. It's a great way to brighten up the otherwise monochromatic floor! Alternatively, you can skip the carpet altogether and make a fun tiled or mosaic floor.

You can add so many other features as well, such as an armoire (draw doors and drawers on the outside of a closet) and sofa. Get creative!

What's your favorite way to beat the heat?