Decorating help please!

[kirstenb]

I need some decorating help for DS's room. Normally I don't have a problem with this but I can't seem to come up with anything good. A lot of his room is done, but we have a completely white wall behind his crib with nothing on it. I don't want to paint it as we don't own the house and I don't want to paint it back when we move. I have a small picture hung currently but it is way to small for the space- I am going to take it down and have it elsewhere.

Here is the wall: http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...2/IMG_2311.jpg

It looks worse in the picture than it really is, but it is still bleak. I was thinking of some shelves and maybe some larger framed prints, but I can't find anything I like. Anyone have any suggestions? Links to great art for kids' rooms? Or, any ideas besides that?

My only requirements: This room will be transitioning to his "big boy room" so everything should be appropriate for a boy's room. Nothing too young please. The colors of his room are primary colors (brick red, blue, navy, and some green and yellow) and I would like anything to be in those colors.

TIA!

[SAHDS]

I m a huge fan of dark reds and blues. Maybe a sports theme? I wouldn't put any shelves over his crib, just in case. Maybe pull his crib out a ways and put up something soft or those Fathead-type stickers football, baseball a basketball)?

I love pics!

[columbusmomma]

I've seen some really cute "mural" paintings if you will. I know there are professionals who will paint a child's room but I've also seen some talented mommas paint their DC's rooms and they've turned out really cute! Usually a theme or characters or a scene from a fave book or movie.

[iowaorganic]

I hung wall quilts behind DD's crib. I made them myself in a farm theme. The first one was a barn with animals and tractor. I hung them from a quilt rack that I securely screwed into the wall. Not gonna fall down.

[kirstenb]

Thanks for the suggestions- keep them coming!

I will post a pic or two of DS's whole room to give an idea about how the rest of it is, provided I can find the camera!

[lightheart]

Is hubby deployed? what about a collage of some sort made with pictures of him, you, your son, some artwork drawings done by dad? All hodgepodge at different angles pasted down on a piece of piece of paper... I'm thinking for the "look" of a bulletin/cork board with things thumb tacked up at random, but without the actual use of the thumbtacks so it is safe for your son. Maybe glue them down on a large piece of cardboard that has been painted a solid color- one of the primary ones you have already in the room, or even striped in those colors or covered in a piece of fabric... I wonder how paper glues down to fabric?

You could use the sway curve of the headboard in the baord/paper to tie that somehow.

What about something that was the shape of a circle? multiple circles?...

Is that a turtle stool over to the left of the crib? what about a turtle/amphibian theme?

[kirstenb]

Originally Posted by lightheart

Is hubby deployed? what about a collage of some sort made with pictures of him, you, your son, some artwork drawings done by dad? All hodgepodge at different angles pasted down on a piece of piece of paper... I'm thinking for the "look" of a bulletin/cork board with things thumb tacked up at random, but without the actual use of the thumbtacks so it is safe for your son. Maybe glue them down on a large piece of cardboard that has been painted a solid color- one of the primary ones you have already in the room, or even striped in those colors or covered in a piece of fabric... I wonder how paper glues down to fabric?

<snip>

Is that a turtle stool over to the left of the crib? what about a turtle/amphibian theme?

I really like the collage idea... I will have to mull that over!

That is a turtle next to the crib- good eye! It's one of the things that was in DS's room before it was his room and never made its way out. It will probably be finding a new home shortly.

Wall quilts are interesting... didn't think about those at all. No way I could make one though! Know of any good sites to buy them?

I will probably stay away from sports themes until DS is a little older and he has some preferances... I, of course, have my own opinions on what he should like! I am looking at some Fathead stickers for my house though... thanks for the idea!

Here are some more pics:

View from the door.

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...03108_0585.jpg
I really want some shelves but didn't think about why they shouldn't be over his crib (thanks SAHDS!). I may take down the wall pockets and put some here. A bookcase will replace the table next to the rocking chair as soon as I find one I like.

Reason I need a bookcase.

Hit me with any more ideas you may have!

[SAHDS]

On one wall, I'd put the 2 dressers, grouped together. I'd get a top for the low dresser and make it into a changing station. I'd hang a quilt rack over the low dresser complete with a pretty quilt (look on Craigslist for toddler/crib quilts - PBKids - or check Etsy for some handmade ones). I'd put up shelves over the taller dresser for knick knacks.

I'd move the chair and small tale to the crib wall. Make it a cozy corner. Put a lamp on the table or hang a pendant lamp from the ceiling.

Then, I'd get a colorful rug and put it smack in the middle with the chairs and tables on top of it.

Instead of a bookshelf, I'd put these in 2 rows under the window for easy access and clean-up.

These are great (and safe) too!

[kirstenb]

OMG thanks for the link to the room! I LOVE those rain gutter bookshelves! I really want to do that in his room now. I hadn't heard of those before.

The short dresser did have a changing pad on top of it but he is never changed upstairs in his room so I recently put it away. Changing him nowdays is very similar to wrestling an alligator so trying to keep him on a changing table would be just about impossible!

His bedding is PBKids so it would be very easy to find coordinating colors and styles to hang if I found a reasonably priced one from there. I'll have to drag furniture around this weekend to see how different setups look.