When our guests arrive to stay a night or perhaps a weekend, it’s the greatest compliment they can give when they say, “Man, I feel like a hotel guest here!” It is them telling us they realize we put thought and care into their stay.
We’ve all heard the rule of keeping out fresh towels, but I like to take it a step further. A framed picture of our wifi network and password. A basket with linens, shampoo, conditioner, even facial wash and lotions. Now, they feel pampered!! I find this often makes them return the room with such courtesy: sheets stripped, ready for as an easy clean.
The Goal
By now, you know I’m a fan of blue serving as my primary accent color! You may have also read that I like to stick to a color scheme. I wanted the palette of this room to pull in navy, a lighter blue shade, whites, creams, and gold. Easy enough? Wrong! I so wish it were as simple as just “light blue” that complimented the navy, but I quickly learned only a “chambray blue” or a “french blue” would do!
So now as you peruse the pictures, you will appreciate hours of online searches and trips to Home Goods in search of the perfect shade of chambray blue accessories!
The Design
We painted the accent wall a navy blue, in anticipation of adding the contrast of a white upholstered headboard. I also love how the white shades and chambray blue lamps play against the navy wall. This is an inexpensive way to create high impact in a room.
There are two interesting “blank canvas areas,” as I like to call them, in the room. One is this little nook in the wall that called for a perfectly sized bookshelf. Secondly, a barren corner that needed warmth. I fell in love with the candy cane stripe French country accent chair, and decided it was missing only a side table and floor lamp for nights you wanted to curl up and read a good book. Instead of opting for art work behind the chair, I went with the antique vintage gold leaning mirror. Loved how this pulled in the golds on the nearby bookshelf.
The Details
Once I’d found the perfect bookshelf to fit inside this interesting little wall nook, it was time to stage the shelves. The only litmus test? It must stick to the palette of navy, chambray blue, cream, and gold.
I swear, don’t you always have better luck finding the perfect bookshelf piece when you’re not looking?! When you hit up your favorite stores, just remember to keep an eye out. My favorites for decorating shelves: plain books, candles, decorative boxes, lanterns, picture frames, vases, small bowls. We will soon have a blog post on how to stage clusters so your bookshelf flows—stay tuned!
