Style Lush Cribs: Emily's yellow and gray bedroom

by Emily

For my birthday a couple of years ago, I made my husband agree to repaint our bedroom so that I could redecorate it. When we'd first moved in, I'd painted the entire room a bold, deep red, and while I still loved the color (and our bedding), I wasn't loving the fact that we needed about sixteen lamps to make sure the place wasn't as dark as a dungeon. I will spare you the details of how I finally picked a paint color, but should you ever be in the market for the perfect yellow, GOOD LUCK. It was BEYOND difficult to get the shade right.

I wanted our room to be lighter and fresher. We have a small bedroom and only one window and it was going to double as our workspace and I didn't want the darkness to put me to sleep when I was supposed to be writing. Dave was afraid that the yellow walls would make the room look girly, but I wanted to offset all the potential girliness with a soft gray duvet and curtains.

Before:

 

After:

What frustrated me when I originally put the bedroom together, though, was that I had a hard time finding items that matched my vision for the place. I ended up kind of settling for a duvet that was more purplish-gray than steel gray, mostly because it was all I could find that I could also afford.

But spring has brought a bazillion home catalogs to my doorstep and lo and behold, I have found a wonderful assortment of yellow and gray pieces. Here are some of the ones I would have loved to have access to, if they'd been available. Oh, and if I'd had about six times as much money to dedicate to the cause. Dream with me, people.

Marimekko Madison Yellow Bed Linens, Crate and Barrel

Ruffled-Circle Quilt in platinum, West Elm

Jardin chair in Aegean, Crate and Barrel 

 Upholstered slipper chair in flower dot, West Elm

Marrakech print, Crate and Barrel 

[photo credits: crateandbarrel.com, westelm.com]

Comments

[Brenna]

I would have never even considered yellow and gray for our bedroom, but after this post, I want one of everything you have pictured! A fact I'm sure my husband won't be too happy to hear.

[Christina]

I'm IN LOVE w/ this color scheme right now. I really like what you've done! It's an awesome base to grow on, add what you can over time and you'll end up with a perfect space.
If a bag of money landed on your porch today I'd get the ruffle circle quilt, the WE slipper chair and that Marrakech print.

[Maura]

I love gray and yellow, too. I went with gray and purple in my bedroom, but I think splashes of yellow would be a nice accent. You know what I need? A gray bed skirt. Difficult to find... if you only look in Target every week. Maybe I should branch out. Anyway, lovely room! Hope a bag of money comes your way.

[auntie]

wait...are bags of money just falling on people's doorsteps these days, and if so, how do i get on that list??

[thecoconutdiaries]

I've been stalking that West Elm Circle quilt for awhile. I've clicked my heels and said "sale! sale! sale!" aloud but that duvet is still $100...

[Jen]

Nice job! I recently re-did my bedroom in this same color scheme, except I painted the walls a light gray, and went for yellow bedding (similar to the C&B set, but from Target for cheaper) with dark gray sheets. I wish the C&B print was a little cheaper, because it'd totally pull the rest of the look together. I love gray and yellow together in clothing, too.

[A'Dell]

I have that same Marimekko print in light green/white in our bedroom and I love it - even several years later.

And, gosh. Isn't there SOMETHING about wildly printed occasional chairs that makes our eyes light up? ROUND-UP PLEASE.

[moby wrap baby carrier]

I have found a wonderful assortment of yellow and gray pieces. Here are some of the ones I would have loved to have access to, if they'd been available.

[Rbelle]

I love the change - it's such a refreshing palette. I really, really wanted to do our impending baby's room in yellow and gray (stuffed elephants!), but then someone lent us a reddish-brown crib, and since I'm not allowed to paint it white, I think I'll have to pick something else. Probably American Hand-Me Down Eclectic. Sigh. I really wanted one room in our house to have an actual decorative theme, but it looks like it's not to be.