As our laundry room adventures continue (priming, painting, and tile prep are in progress!) I thought it might be fun to share some virtual options that we tried on in the office (we tested out some wall ideas in Clara’s bedroom last fall and checked out a few looks for Teddy’s room about five months ago). Remember when I photoshopped some curtains and a rug into the last picture of this post about our new light and chairs? And I mentioned in the comments that West Elm had a rug sale (making the one we liked $100 off) so we pulled the trigger on it?
Well, said rug has shipped and is on its way to our house as I type this (cue the celebratory rug-welcoming drum line!) – which got me all hyper about nailing down a window treatment idea. Especially since you guys had some fun suggestions (everything from roman shades and other colored/patterned curtains to no window coverings at all but a deeper accent color on that back wall). So let’s play around with a window fashion show for a second, shall we?
This is the original rendering from the end of that post:
Next I tried curtains that are less emerald and more leafy green.
Then I went sort of taupe-gray with them, just to see how that would look.
Next I tried a soft blue-gray color to tie into the rug.
Then I added subtly patterned roman shades (found here), which I thought I would LOVE but they seemed a little busy with the rug.
Next I tried making that back wall a deeper color while leaving the windows completely bare.
Then it was back to roman shades, but I tried to make them look more like simple white ones to get an idea of how those might feel.
I also tried on some curtains against the deeper back wall, but that felt like too much going on.
So I took the back wall back to its original color, left the curtains, and added bamboo blinds. Ooh. Something started tingling. It felt layered and warm (the blinds tied into the cream light in a nice way).
See how much of a difference just a rug and some window treatments can make?
I also tried the same bamboo blinds + curtains combo with blue curtains instead of gray ones. We like both options (we might lean slightly more towards the gray ones, but aren’t 100% sure) so the deciding factor might be what kind of fabric we find.
We’re going to wait to pick the fabric until the rug is actually here and rolled out on the floor, just so we can compare them in person, but we definitely feel closer to a solution than we did a few days ago when roman shades, curtains, and dark back walls swirled through our heads.
Do you guys have any tricks for envisioning things in your house? Do you use Photoshop or a free service like Gimp? Do you just slowly bring things in that you love without much planning beforehand? Do you make mood boards? Sometimes we’ll fall in love with a piece of furniture or a wall color (in person or in an inspiration image) and we’re 100% sold, and other times I find myself making a mood board or virtually trying things in the room if we just can’t picture something well enough to commit.
Kathryn says
Do you have any emerald green curtains already picked out? Are you getting the color ideas based on what you’ve already seen in retail?
YoungHouseLove says
Those were just an image I saw on Pinterest (from Wayfair) that caught my eye a few weeks ago, so I dragged that into the first rendering to picture it as a possibility.
xo
s
Lynn @ Safebeauty says
So I know it’s been beat to death but I still like talking to you guys about fashion shows at lunch. ;) My favorite mock up was the dark wall with the bamboo and coming in close second was the dark wall with a neked window. It seemed so seamless and simplistic. Things are happenin’ at your house and I like it!
My best, Lynn
jenn becker says
You guys crack me up! LOVE kelly and now Mindy, of course. I really love the energy of the emerald green curtains. They make the room come alive. The grey/bamboo choice is beautiful too. I just love the feel of the bold color. I can’t wait to see what you do.:)
Shey says
I like the look of tortoiseshell roman shades from Lowes. Pair that with drapes–have you thought of a linen that would match your lamp shade, or maybe the cream in the rug? Something lighter instead of darker. My living room is a light baby blue, and I have an oatmeal silk drape in there, and it looks great. My LR window also gets really cold in the winter, so I bought a white thermal drape from JC Penneys that hangs on the same hooks– it gives it a fullness without being visible.
Blake says
Can you do a tutorial on how to superimpose rugs/curtains/wall colors into pictures of rooms? I am curious to know how you get them to look so real and dimensional. My PS skills leave me with flat-looking renderings. :)
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
That would be fun!
xo
s
Erica says
This may have already been answered, but are you running your curtain rod straight across? It looks like a bay window to me, so when the curtains are pulled, are you intending that there will be a little secret space for kiddos to hide, etc.? I hope that makes sense…I’m dealing with a similar space in my dining room.
YoungHouseLove says
Our bay has a straight wall above it where a curtain rod could hang, and since the bay is super shallow (the side window are only slightly angled) the curtains would just rest on the flat side walls on either side (it wouldn’t create much of a secret cove or anything since the bay isn’t deep).
xo
s
Janelle says
It is literally impossible for me to encounter the phrase “fashion show” without breaking into my best Kelly Kapoor imitation!!!
Momlady says
This is a toughie. I agree the bamboo shades help tie the overhead light shade in with the rest of the room(sort of). But my biggest concern is that you have so many unrelated things going on. If the bamboo only makes the lamp shade work but doesn’t relate to anything else in the house it kind of tells me it’s time to rethink. While I understand the desire to not have a “matchy matchy” thing going on you do need the colors and textures to harmonize, not only in the room itself but the rooms that are adjacent too. I love the rug, and the chairs, and the wall color, and the desks/books shelves, and the overhead light shade…but so far none of them really relate to each other (at least not on my computer monitor) or the flow of the rest of the rooms you have made progress on. I’m concerned that you may end up chasing that elusive “thing that will tie it all together” and it will bug you(a lot) in the one room you really need to be soothed and inspired in…your workspace. :)
YoungHouseLove says
I know what you mean about bringing in too many things to tie in other things! Clara’s big cork bulletin board isn’t that clear from this pic, but it’s a giant natural element that relates to the light, the woven texture in the new rug, and the future bamboo blinds, so we think they’ll be a nice happy family :)
xo
s
Susan says
I’d go for an accent wall (leafy green or deeper aquamarine?) with bamboo (to help the ceiling light blend in) roman shades mounted ABOVE the windows, without additional curtains.
Lauren Nicole says
Love where you’re at with the curtain/blind solution! From these renderings I prefer the gray curtains.
Kathleen says
It’s odd but the thing in these pictures that looks most photo-shopped to me is the plant in the corner.
Brennan Heating says
Yes, that’s a lot a work and a hard decision; I really like the taupe-gray and the bamboo curtains. Maybe the bamboo curtains alone or the way you have it arranged with both. Can’t wait to see what you go with.
Sarah says
EVERY TIME I come home with a clothing purchase my husband says that! We love The Office :)
I love looking at all the different window treatments you come up with! You’re so talented!
Lake Washington Windows says
There are so many good options here. I think the bamboo curtains look the best.
Jess says
I love the bamboo blinds…did you think about having them without any curtains?
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the suggestions guys! Will keep you posted for sure :)
xo
s
Mammaw03T says
Love the emerald green curtains. Love the bright primary color thing going on over there. But know I will love whatever y’all end up withal Enjoy!!!
Jenny says
The bamboo blinds look great in your windows. I have wanted to go that route or wood blinds. But I have stained woodwork and can’t figure out what color is appropriate with stained wood. There just aren’t that many photos out there…seems everyone has painted woodwork.
Megan says
the first roman shade rendering is AMAZING!!!! like, “this is amaaazzzing,” anna and elsa style. whatever you decide – kudos for getting on it!
Caroline says
LOVE the reference, especially since you used it when talking about your own office! If only you could’ve thrown in a “nook” reference as well! Definitely digging the bamboo shades/layered look.
Emily @ Life on Food says
I use pinterest for each room to keep ideas and furniture pieces I like. Sometimes though I immediately make a purchase. I have to say those are the things I like the most in our house.
Nicola Han says
Lol love the title and adore the greyer curtains with the bamboo, very soothing, not in your face, perfect but then you always do get it right every time. Ok quick question related to other rooms…you have a mix of white and brown furniture pieces and it looks just right, when is it ok to fo that? We have white ribba frames but oak dining table and lower table for tv could I bring in white kallax storage from ikea for along the side of the wall or would that be wrong? Ah dilema:-) you have probably posted about this before and I know your book talks about it just dont want to make the wrong £90 move!! X
YoungHouseLove says
That sounds perfect! I always say that if you have a few things in white and a few more things in a wood tone, nothing will look like the odd man out, and it should be a nice balance. Good luck!
xo
s
Tonianne says
When I saw the grey I immediately thought “very YHL”… (for what it’s worth!)
Nicola Han says
Thank you so much appreciated x
Sarah @ Just The Bees Knees says
Obsessed with the Emerald green curtains!! They are by far my favorite option so far. Layered with the bamboo blinds, they would look amazing! After seeing your virtual moodboard, I’m inspired to even try the same combo in my living room. Quick question for ya….how do you change the curtain color in photoshop? I’ve tried before, but can never seem to get the color right. Maybe you have a better way then how I’ve been doing it?? Thx!
YoungHouseLove says
I bring the curtains in on their own layer, then I play with the saturation and darkness and the color balance.
xo
s
sarah @ Just The Bees Knees says
Thanks Sherry! I’ll give that a try.
Lexxi says
Hey Guys,
Have you thought of painting that wall maybe a Navy Blue so as to pick up and balance the chair color on the left? Then you can keep the curtains sheer white and even keep the Bamboo shades? When I looked at the pics that is what I saw for some reason. :) You guys rock.
YoungHouseLove says
That would be fun too!
xo
s
JoDi says
Those bamboo blinds really look great and tie in the light fixture. I wasn’t totally sold on the cream light fixture, but with the bamboo blinds, it definitely makes sense now.
I love the curtains the way you’ve done them too. All the pictures with curtains give that wall much more visual impact and make the windows appear bigger. The pictures with just blinds or shades look blah in comparison.
Can’t wait to see what you end up picking! My only suggestion is to try some curtain colors you haven’t tried already – yellow? navy? (don’t think you tried those in the last post) raspberry? You might find you like something you never thought would work in there!
Liz says
Okay, the Bamboo shades are a hit here, but I am really digging the grey patterned roman shades for OUR house.
Were those photoshopped from a real product somewhere?
YoungHouseLove says
They were from here! I’ll add a link to the post too :)
xo
s
Ellen says
I would do the first green with the bamboo blinds definitely
Yalanda @ Laugh Anyway says
I GET IT! I GET IT! Oh, I love The Office!!!!!
Marcie says
I love the layered look with the bamboo blinds, but I feel like the curtains in the pictures are too big and heavy. What if you went with something a little narrower and less stiff looking? Or do they just look that way because it is so hard to get an accurate representation while playing with the photos that way? I personally like the grey and/or blue best, but the green could be cool too.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, a lot of it could just be photoshop (usually whatever base curtains you use to manipulate will determine the shape/crispness/width/heaviness that comes through when you change the colors, etc :)
xo
s
Brenna says
Totally has nothing to do with this post – but I just saw these this morning and thought of Sherry:
http://scoutmob.com/p/Gangsta-Letterpress-Cards-Pack-of-10?ref=cat_art_cards-and-stationery&sort=new
Um, awesomesauce?! Why yes – yes they are.
Brenna
YoungHouseLove says
So much fun!
xo
s
Hanna @ Soulfulceramics.com says
One little trick can make the entire room feel cozy and more ambient. Wish I have your decorating sense. (I like the blue soft-gray the most)
Catherine Crandall says
I recommend the last photo. I think, the soft blue-gray color of your curtain is great. Plus, it matches the furniture and decorations you got there. The room appears to have a neat and quiet ambiance, which makes it better since it’s your home office. I’m confident you’ll pick the right choice!
Laura H> says
My husband and I say that to each other all the time when we buy something new and reveal it to the other.
Love “The Office” (miss it)
lh
Paige says
Check out Serena & Lily, silk shantung malachite curtains!
http://www.serenaandlily.com/Rugs-Windows/Rugs-Windows-All-Window-Panels-Silk-Shantung-Window-Panel-Malachite
YoungHouseLove says
Pretty!
xo
s