Help me decorate my daughter's room, please!

[RooRooDog]

I need some help decorating DD's room.  She is only 18 mo., so this isn't really a pressing issue :) but I want to have some sort of plan in mind so I don't pass up any bargains. 

Here's the story: we recently bought a new house, and her room came with this HUGE map of the world glued to the ceiling.  It is so big that parts of Western Europe, Western Africa, and South America don't even fit.  Probably half the people that see it think 'Cool!', and the other half think 'Ugh'.  I am of the 'Ugh' opinion, but we tried to take it down and it is firmly attached.  To make it work for me visually, I will need to decorate with it.

So, help me out, please!  We have hardwood floors, and there is a tan/ beige rug that covers most of the floor.  Her furniture is either wood, white, or purple.  The window shades are beige.  I am planning on white/ off-white curtains, but maybe someone has a better idea? What color should I paint the walls (trim is white)?  The colors in the map are, well, standard map colors- light to dark green, yellows/tans, light to dark violet-blue, and bright pink latitude and longitude lines.  The walls are light blue now, and I don't like it.  Also, we are moving DD to a big girl bed soon, and I need to buy a comforter.  But all of the cute girly bedding designs clash with the giant map...

Help me out, I know someone has some GREAT ideas that I haven't thought of :)

TIA!

[aratiaw]

First, I'd get some professionals in to quote for removing the map. If you don't like it, I think it's probably worth spending some money to get you to the blank canvas stage. You'll have so many more options once that's done.

[ChristyMarie]

I would also get quotes on removing the map.  You could probably do it with a wallpaper steamer and by scoring it and applying wallpaper remover goop.  But, on the ceiling?  That would be a royal PITA.

I mean, right now she might not care but no 13 year old girl is going to want a gigantic map on her ceiling.

[woodchick]

Originally Posted by ChristyMarie 
I mean, right now she might not care but no 13 year old girl is going to want a gigantic map on her ceiling.
 

I had my ceiling covered with maps from National Geographic from 5th grade until college. (well, the slanted ceiling, not the tiny flat part with the light)

But I get your point!

OP, is there any chance that several coats of quality paint would cover it?

[RooRooDog]

I was trying to not have to remove it as it is really glued on.  I don't think they used wallpaper glue because I've taken wallpaper down before and this is... different.  Also, they did a pretty awful job and there are bubbles and wrinkles all over, so painting over it isn't really going to work.

Unfortunately, paying someone to remove it is definitely not in the budget right now.  We have a gift certificate for the paint.  And I totally get what you are saying about when she is older- I doubt she will like it.  I certainly don't like it!

But the paint in her room is really dirty and I hate the color-  should we just paint it white until she is older?  At what age will she want it changed?  I was hoping we could redecorate a little 'older' than her age now and have it last until middle school-ish.  I have no frame of reference on this, I had the same decorations in my room from birth to age 16.  I know I hated how it looked as long as I can remember

I guess the easiest thing would be to just let it be for now!

[ChristyMarie]

If you have a gift certificate for the paint and you see it as a temporary fix until you can really address the issue then just paint over it using flat paint.  I would probably pop any big bubbles with a needle, smooth and maybe even spackle/sand

How big is the room and how creative are you?  I can see doing a few things to hide it:

1. I'd paint it white and do a fabric ceilingg of sheer curtains from IKEA.  Those are really cheap and for a small room it wouldn't be much.  It would be totally girly and cute.  Cheap molding strips could be used to make it drape nicely.

2. Bead board ceiling.  Cheap.  No skill needed.  Just find studs, hang and fill nail holes.  Add pre-cut crown molding and it could look really cute.  Lends itself to an island or beach decorating theme.

How handy are you?  It wouldn't be expensive to put 1/4 inch drywall up and tape/mud/sand a new ceiling.  But it does take a level of skill, especially on the ceiling.

[chattyprincess]

Don't paint it. I have heard so few good stories about painting over things that I don't even think it anymore. If you take it down, you will probably seriously damage the drywall/whatever is behind it so you will have to fill holes, sand smooth etc. I do not mess with ceilings myself since so much can go wrong and its such a horrible angle to work at.

 I would try hiring someone to do the work including painting the whole room, You could prob get someone to do it for around $300... I love the idea of the bead board though, that sounds really cute, besides the cutting for around the light fixture it could be really simple too.

http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=75758 

or

 

 

[rere]

Originally Posted by RooRooDog 

But the paint in her room is really dirty and I hate the color-  should we just paint it white until she is older?  At what age will she want it changed?  I was hoping we could redecorate a little 'older' than her age now and have it last until middle school-ish.  I have no frame of reference on this, I had the same decorations in my room from birth to age 16.  I know I hated how it looked as long as I can remember

We bought a house when our daughter was about 1.5 too.I painted her room green with big polka dots.She asked to paint over it at age 5.When I painted her room I was fully aware that I could be repainting within a few years but I was fine with that.

I would do something really neutral unless you want to either paint again in a few years or tell her that's what she has to live with.You can really change up the look of a room with just changing out the accessories(or even just recovering or painting them).

If you plan to leave the map for now,how about some rainbow accessories?My daughter has a rainbow blanket that,I think,is pretty girly but would totally match with a map.She also has some little shelves in her room that are swirly(for lack of a better word)that help fem it up.

[RooRooDog]

Wow, thanks for the ideas!  I really like the idea of beadboard, but it seems a little spendy right now.  I'll definitely file that away for later.

For the time being the map has to stay.  It is over drywall, and it seems like removing it will probably ruin the ceiling.  And we are NOT going to re-drywall the whole ceiling.   No more home remodeling!  That's part of the reason why we moved.

Rere, I love rainbows, what a great suggestion- this might be the answer!

[HeatherAtHome]

Another idea for the ceiling: textured wallpaper. I know that Debbie Travis has a line of textured/paintable wallpaper that you can put on ceilings to imitate the look of old tin ceilings. It shouldn't cost very much at all. I remember it being $20/roll but can't remember coverage. (Possibly D. Travis is a Canadian line but I'm sure there are similar products out there). 

ETA: Here's the wallpaper I'm talking about. Supposedly bubbles and seams wouldn't show. 

Edited by HeatherAtHome - 3/9/11 at 12:14pm

[bezark]

The only problem with painting over wallpaper is seeing the seams and bubbles through the paint.

I would (and have, all over my house) scrape off any bubbles or peeling seams and spackle and sand the heck out of it, then paint over it rather than trying to decorate around it.

[zebra15]

I second and third the idea of beaboard (sp).  Id save up for the b'board then install it.  Sounds like the best option if you ask me.

[AnneReid]

Hi!

Try getting something like this done (http://www.childrensfunkyfurniture.com/blog/10-stunning-children’s-bedroom-ideas/), it would be great and there's a range to choose from! Got my DS David's room done from here too!

[chel]

My oldest has gone through lots of room fashion changes. I vote for a neutral wall and decorate with pictures and/or wall clings- target has some really cute ones. If you can cruise an ikea, there is lots of interesting ideas.

[kanani]

if you're set on keeping the map for now and just want to repaint: i'd go for a light lavender color on the walls, one that isn't too saturated, but would set off the blues and greens of the map.