I just found your blog through Young House Love…and I just swoon!! I’m a huge color fan and have always been into Interior Design… 
We were thinking of a deep orange. We are going for a mildly themed safari/African vibe. I attached pics of our rug and pillows.
My question has to do with our new home. We are moving in a few weeks and while we had the builder paint the kitchen and living room, we are going to do the bedroom ourselves.
I am thinking creme colored bedding. We aren’t 100% sure on the orange….all of a sudden it seems overwhelming to me! Any help would be appreciated!
Dear Gentle Reader,
Of all the adventures possible in one’s bedroom, I had no idea that going on safari was one of them. Thank you for expanding bossy color’s horizons.
I agree that orange might not be the best choice for the wall color, but I’m having a hard time articulating why. Too expected? Too African sunset-y? Too bold for a bedroom?
If “safari” is what you’re after, let’s make it a grown-up interpretation. Remember when Banana Republic stores were travel-themed, complete with jungle vines, vintage luggage with stickers on them, binoculars, jeeps…
This is NOT an appropriate look for your bedroom.
Instead, let’s think about…
- Neutral, earthy wall color
- Your zebra rug
- Natural woven shades on the windows
- Shots of color – green or orange
- And a bonus suggestion if you just can’t stay away from the whole safari thing.
WALL COLOR
How do you feel about dark brown? Dark brown walls with cream trim and bedding – and your zebra rug – would be stunning. You may recall that Benjamin Moore’s HC-67 Clinton Brown is a “best of bossy’s colors” color.
Green accents, as in the picture at right, add spunk to a brown bedroom.
Or you could bring in your orange through bedding and accessories.
The other wall color I recommend is a taupe, or tan – a safari-reminiscent khaki, if you will. Something that works with that gold-y wall color shown in the picture you sent.
Take a look at Benjamin Moore’s HC-90 Crown Point Sand or the appropriately named OC-8 Elephant Tusk, which is lighter. Both have yellow undertones.
I’ll let this sink in. Tune in tomorrow for windows, accent recommendations and the bonus suggestion!
Vintage Banana Republic catalog pages from the blog Street Etiquette. Brown bedroom with green dresser picture is from Zimbio. Bedroom with orange quilt is from xJavierx’s Flickr photostream, as is the taupe bedroom.Annie Elliott – aka bossy color – is an interior decorator and design blogger in Washington, D.C. She has been quoted in publications from The Washington Post to The Seattle Times and is considered an expert on color, residential space planning, and telling people what to do in the nicest way possible.