Bom Chicka Wah Wah Inspired

I've been thinking, the first room in my new home that I want to decorate is the bedroom. Yes, that's right. The bedroom. Before you get all hubba hubba on me, I'm not trying to sex things up in an effort to inspire baby making, we need no help in that area thank you very much. :) But I do need help when it comes to decorating my bedroom -- it's always the LAST room in the house that I decorate and I really think that is such a shame.

so you can see it...

And it's not just me, lots of people save the bedroom for last or worse, they never get around to it so the bedroom is never quite right. I believe that a bedroom should be a sanctuary, a spa-like room where not much happens outside of rest, relaxation, getting dressed, undressed, and lots of cuddling, an occasion breakfast in bed, a little late night reading and of course - plenty of bom chicka wah wah!

Currently, our bedroom is this sort of transitional space, it's an office by day, sometimes an office by night and then it happens to be a place where we sleep. But it's not a zen den, a love cave or a moan zone. It's this sort of boring bedroom with way too much computer equipment (and I hate it!). I don't even like going to bed because of all of the red lights that I see once it's dark, I feel like I have a row of droids watching over me at night!

And my husband hates it too, so we're on the same page there thank goodness. But what to do when you only have two rooms? The only solution was to put his office in the bedroom and mine in the living room. But then you have no separation of work and play. You have no separation of day and night. You have no separation of work week and weekend. It's just groundhog day, every single day, and it's annoying, draining and we are SO OVER IT.

Thankfully, a moving truck will be the magic carpet that we'll ride out of here in less than 6 weeks. And then, well then my friends I shall have a lovely bedroom with only a bed, tables flanked on each side of it, some lamps, a dresser and a closet -- and okay maybe a chair or bench and definitely a nice little radio to play some cd's because there is nothing like listening to Turkish groove sounds after you've taken a lovely fig and olive oil bath and slipped between the sheets as candles flicker on the windowsill.

That's lovely, that's magic, and that romantic sanctuary of a bedroom will soon me mine. No more computers that look like droids staring me down at night. No more humming of hard drives. No more lulling by laptops. We are reclaiming our sleep space which is why the bedroom will be the first room that I'll decorate upon moving in.

This photo shows some wallpaper that I purchased a few years ago that has been waiting for me in the cellar. It's by Cole & Son and is called Cow Parsley. I'm either hanging it or one of two papers from Ferm Living: Fairy Flower or Wilderness in our bedroom. What do you think?

(image: holly becker for haus maus)

Comments

I agree that the bedroom should be a sanctuary. Nothing beats a great night's sleep. And when you wake, if you are surrounded by inspiration, the day is off to a great start.
Sam said…
That paper is so pretty! Good for you for decorating the bedroom first. My husband and I have been married 14 years and for the first time, put ourselves first and have side tables, lamps, etc. and no electronics at all. It makes our room such a great sanctuary, which you will need once the kiddos come :)
Alicia said…
I think you are so smart to start with the bedroom! Think how well rested you will be while decorating the rest of your spaces.
I have always loved the Cow Parsley wall paper, and think it would make such a happy room to wake up in.
Cheers! -A.
Laura said…
Great choices for wallpaper! I love Cow Parsley. The color is cozy and warm and the curves of the stems are relaxing. Whichever way you go, it'll be a sight better than red beeping lights! I don't even like seeing the alarm clock's lights, so I put my husband on that side of the bed! Congrats on the news digs...hope the 6 weeks go by fast for you.
Citrusandorange said…
The wallpaper is lovely, I love yellow and I love the way you write.

:-)
Susana
Mer said…
Creating a new home is such fun isn't it! I have long loved the Cow Parsley...it is a pattern that seems to be everything, even opposites, all at once (classic and contemporary, Asian and Western, Playful and sophisticated, lighthearted and dramatic, a backdrop and a statement look ). I can picture it looking stunning with so many different items and styles! I can only imagine how fabulous your room would be after YOU create with it. But ultimately, choose the one that makes YOUR heart swoon! WHich one would you love to see first when you open your eyes in your new bedroom each beautiful morning?
julie said…
I do have a real soft spot for the Cow Parsley wallpaper, especially in this colourway. Wilderness is really pretty too - a little more glam for the boudoir.

It will be much better for your health when the electronics are no longer in your bedroom and it should help you sleep a lot better as there will be less positive ions in the air.
Brigitte said…
This is hands down the funniest post you've ever written. I am still chuckling about "moan zone." And I completely agree! The bedroom is so important but often neglected.

I love all those papers, but I think the one you already have is best for the bedroom, because it's so soothing and romantic.

Ps...what are these Turkish groove sounds you mention? Recommendations?
maja said…
brilliant idea! maybe that will be our goal for our next place.
Kalessin said…
Decorating the bedroom first is definitely a good idea. The rest will be easier if you are well rested :)

I personally would go crazy in a room with such loud wallpapers, but I'm a bit strange there. I can't stand things with too much patterns on me and in my sleeping place.
But away from the bedroom, this is a very nice wallpaper!
i really like the wallpaper - it's nature-inspired and soothing but also uplifting (i love yellow).

i'm like you in the sense that our bedroom is completely un-designed and doubles as another space. (in our case it's used for storage. ick) it's quite awful and i was telling my husband just the other day how much i hated our bedroom. ;) but i'd probably wait until we've moved to fix it up.

i look forward to seeing your new room. :)

btw, "moan zone" - hahaha! i've never heard that one before; hilarious.
raina said…
Funny I always thought it was just our bedroom that was the last to be finished.
Sherri said…
I think if you love that wallpaper (and your husband at least likes it) you should use it. I think it speaks more birdie tweets and gray mare whinnies than boom chicka wa wah, though.
Anonymous said…
That sounds wonderful! Now I want to do something about our bedroom too!

Are you familiar with Tapettitalo, a Finnish company that sells vintage wallpapers? If not here's the link!

http://tapettitalo.fi/english.html
Juliette said…
Every time we move my husband insists we make the bedroom nicest first. I was annoyed when he said this the first time, but now I see he's totally right (so are you!). When the rest of the house is still looking ugly or in transition, you can always retreat to your bedroom. You'll have a place to relax and sleep well. Yet, you're in the other rooms enough to want to get them ship shape, so it all eventually comes together. btw- I have always loved that yellow Cow Parsley and am looking forward to your photos once it's up...wherever it is (but the bedroom? love that!).
Amanda said…
Love that wallpaper! Your idea of starting off with decorating your bedroom sounds perfect - I too think this room should be reserved for sleeping/relaxing etc. I have just started a mini-makeover on my bedroom and every time I snuggle under our new quilt cover at night it makes me smile :) Can't wait to see how you decorate your room x
Shrinkie said…
I am madly jealous of that divine yellow wallpaper!! I have been trying to work out how best to work some citron yellow into our bedroom and that paper would be perfect. Can't wait to see the new Moan-Zone (giggle) when you are done!
Anonymous said…
i think the cow parsley would look divine in a nursery ;) and maybe you could get lost in the wilderness in the bedroom....:) enjoy!
love the wallpaper! Cole & Son is a favorite... along with Graham & Brown. Gorgeous prints! I vote for Fairy Flower for your bedroom.

alas our bedroom remains the one room in the house that has yet to be tackled since we moved in a few years back. i managed to take off the navy ditsy floral printed wallpaper, but there it still sits in wait of a little remodeling love.

best of luck!
Coco said…
After we redecorated our kitchen/dinnerroom (its the same room) we moved our decorating wishes to the bedroom... But, its almost a year one and we still haven't finished it. The wallpaper is on the walls, we have same kind of romanblinds (but we feel we still need curtains to add something to the room), we have a new floor and cow-rug but we I still don't have any decent lighting, a little table for next to my bed and these other little details!!!
In the mean time i did decorated more and more our living room, we got a new sofa, new cushions... I don't know whats up with the bedroom ;-) why, don't i finish it? Why is it the last room we want to do?

Although writing this i must admit that my last room to decorate is the bathroom.. probably because its expensive to get a new bath, shower, toilet, tiles and other things... its such a big project and really nobody is seeing it only you are. Probably the same thing with the bedroom - only you see it. You don't invite people to come and have a cup of tea or dinner for that matter in your bedroom or bathroom. Maybe we need to do THAT. Have an old fashioned payama party in your bedroom and a spa-day in your bathroom with some friends! I bet if that is getting popular soon everybody will decorate their bedroom and bathroom just fine :D
Valentina said…
You're soooo right! I'm living with my boyfriend for over a year and we still haven't finished our bedroom!

And I love the Cow Parsley wallpaper. I'm crazy about wallpapering too and that colour is just perfect.
The Wilderness is lovely too. Very difficult decision. I'm waiting to see which is your final choice (It would be great anyway).
"Wilderness" to my opinion is more suitable to the kind of room you describe in your post. But maybe not on all walls? it might become too "girly"...
and yes I totally agree about the feeling of your bedroom being an office room too... we are in the same situation and I hate it too, although I love working in the same room as my husband with a king size bed nearby ;) hehehe...
N. said…
I always decorate all rooms at the same time. Just jump with my ideas from one room to an other an then back. But the bedroom is defenetly an important room!
I would prefere the yellow Cow parsley wallpaper. I could imagine it with a nostalgic white or black metalbed. Yes, maybe a black bed and the rest of the furnitures white? And definitely the wallpaper not on all walls!!!
Do you already have a colour concept in mind?
Anonymous said…
I was planning on decorating the kitchen and living room first, in my new home. This post changed my mind and I might do the bedroom first now. :)

That wallpaper would also look lovely in a light wooden (oak?)frame against a white wall!

-Kirsten
marichucky said…
I love the wilderness paper, though only for one wall or two maximum.
Congrats for your future only-one-use-bedroom, I don't have a big space at my home but fortunately my bedroom is just this: my bedroom.
I'm eager to see your new space and how you are going to decorate it.
Chloe said…
The wilderness wallpaper is definitely my fav., but I agree with someone else that said it should only go on a wall or two (but I think that about most wallpaper). The Fairy Flower seems just a little to "young"...for a couple's bedroom (it would look better in a child's bedroom imo)
Stina said…
Oh yes, computers in the bedroom. Bah. You'll find that you'll sleep much better once you move all those blinking electronics out, believe me, I speak from experience! :-)
ASHLEY said…
I really like the yellow from Cole & Son. I am the same way with our bedroom! You have inspired me to get on with it!
Anonymous said…
I vote Wilderness with Robin's Egg Blue accents. The Cow Parsley is cute but not restful.
Anonymous said…
we have the same wallpaper in the yellow in our hallway and love it! i've sent you a picture via email. had it for 3 years and have yet to tire of it.
jja said…
I usually finih my bedroom first, right after the kitchen the reasons you mentioned were also mine too, I need to eat good and sleep and relax good in order to work good.
Unknown said…
I've just popped in from your other blog Decor8 and love your work. This house is such a blank slate, you will have so much fun filling it and making it yours. I can't wait to see it all in the process. A fan/follower already! xx

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