Vivez Bien * Live Well

Monday, January 9, 2012

Bedrooms for Boys

One of my readers asked me for some ideas for her son's bedroom. Having 4 sons of my own, this is probably one of the very few subjects I can talk about with any authority. 



Decorating for boys is not the easiest thing to do. Boys are boisterous. Boy's feet are always dirty. Boys will lie upside down on their beds with their feet against the wall. They will spend a large amount of time throwing a dirty tennis ball against the wall, over and over and over. Boys will regularly use their beds as a trampoline. They will draw or write on their bedlinen or their walls (depending on your reaction, they might only do this once!). Boys will empty their collection of dusty stones, crusty fossils or rusty nuts and bolts on their freshly laundered duvet cover. They will play with their pet snakes, lizards or rats on their beds. I could go on and on, but I'm sure you get the picture. 



So boys bedrooms need to be pretty hard wearing, robust, practical and not too precious. But we also want them to look nice. Hopefully these pictures can provide some inspiration.


Red, white a blue has always been a popular choice for boys bedrooms.



A fridge in the bedroom would be a big hit with my boys.












I am not a fan of superheroes or Disney characters on bedlinen, but these are subtle enough not to offend.


If they are sports fans, use that as a basis for the decor.





A nautical theme is an enduring classic. If deciding to follow a theme for a bedroom, try to stick to the items that are easy to change later when they outgrow the theme. A boat-shaped bed won't work for a 13 year old!



I like the idea of using solid antique furniture rather than mass produced kids furniture.




Maps on the wall is one of my favourites. They look good and are educational at the same time.








These unusual headboards painted with a scene from a favourite story is a great idea for younger boys.



A wild west theme will probably appeal to most boys.








Shades of green are a good option.




If you prefer a paler or more neutral palette, these rooms below might provide some inspiration.



Soft blues are perfect for younger boys







Shades of brown are more masculine and work especially well for older boys.






Maybe you don't even need to bother with a bedroom at all. Just give them a pillow and they'll make themselves comfortable anywhere!!





Till next time


Sharon x


Image sources: 1, 3, 7, 8, 9 Garden and Home mag  2  Country Living Mag   4 Room Envy blog  5 Pottery Barn   6, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20  Unknown     10  Furniture Point Blog  14,15,25 Truelock equals Truelove Blog   16 Decorpad    18   Leila Bird Nest Blog 21   Design Sponge 22  Houzz 23, 29  Tumblr  24 Pinterest  26, 28 Restoration Hardware    27 Smitten Design Blog

Thursday, January 5, 2012

The Calm after the Storm

After the Christmas decorations are taken down and packed away, I like to leave the spaces bare and the surfaces empty for a while. The lack of adornment after the abundance of Christmas is quite soothing.

These images give me the same feeling.


Via Tumblr



Via Tumblr


Via Tumblr


Via Passione Helena


Via Tumblr


Via Tumblr


Via Decorpad


Via Tumblr


Via Tumblr


Via Under Spanish Moss


Via Pinterest
 
Via 1st Option


Via Homes-design


Via Eclectic Revisited



Via Indecorat


 Do you feel the calm?


Till next time

Sharon x



Monday, January 2, 2012

Looking back before looking forward...

I have had a break from blogging for a couple of weeks to spend time getting ready for Christmas and holidaying with my family.



 I also spent some of the time reflecting about blogging; why I do it and what is so appealing about it. Let's face it, it is a time consuming hobby, and I sometimes wonder if I can really afford the time that it takes. It occasionally leaves me feeling a bit upside down, and not as on top of things as I should be.



After much soul searching I came to the conclusion that I love it and will continue to do it for a number of reasons. The first is that I love the creative process that is involved in coming up with new ideas for posts and then finding the pictures and words to support the post. I very happily spend hours looking through blogs and photo files to come up with the perfect picture. It is like therapy for me!




 The second reason is that I am an intensely visual person and get so much pleasure from looking at beauty in its various forms. Through the world of blogging I am continually being confronted with one beautiful image after another. I get so excited when I see that one of my favourite bloggers has posted something new (and lucky for me, you are mostly more prolific with your posts than I am).





The final reason, and probably the one that keeps me coming back most of all, is the relationships I have formed with fellow bloggers. Most of you live a thousand miles away and I will probably never meet you in person, but I love getting to know you through your blogs, getting to know a bit about your families, your likes and dislikes, your obsessions, your quirks and your sense of humour. I have found the blogging community I have joined to be so supportive, so encouraging and so accepting. It also makes the world a much smaller place and makes me realise that our lives, regardless of what continent we live on, are fundamentally so similar. When it boils down to it, what most of us really want, is to live a good life and to make the world a better and more beautiful place for ourselves and our loved ones.


So, on that reflective note, I wish you everything of the best for a wonderful 2012!

Till next time


Sharon x