Update: Holy cow, you guys are full of so many fun ideas today! I’m having trouble keeping up with comments since they’re rolling in so furiously, but please know I’m reading them all and loving all the suggestions!
Happy Friday! We’ve been all over the place this week, painting the walls/trim/ceiling in the bathroom & closet, diving into some basket craftiness, de-wallpapering our biggest room yet (the 21′ long kitchen), and now we have a little Clara-room update along with some photoshop percolating as we plot our next move in there. But first, here’s the tiny (and twinkly) addition:
Things just got a little brighter in here…
Ever since we hung her canopy, we’ve thought about adding lights to it. Both for the magic of it (Clara loves them) and also for the function of it being a well-lit place for bedtime stories. We feared traditional Christmas lights would be too heavy and make the fabric sag in weird ways (plus, they could look a little messy when they were off) so after some hunting online, we came across what are often dubbed “Fairy Lights.”
They’re basically small LEDs (check out this picture for scale – they’re tiny) that are strung on a thin wire. The particular set that we bought was 33 feet long and sold for $14 on Amazon. They’re not longer available but here’s an affiliate link for something similar.
The wire itself is extremely light and pretty moldable, so it was easy to weave it back and forth across the 18″ corbels that the fabric rests on. And by some luck of the draw, 33 feet was just about the perfect length to go back and forth four times on each side of the peak to the side brackets and secure them at each turn with white tape, so they’re not something Clara easily unwind and swing around like a lasso – but they will easily release under her weight, so she couldn’t strangle on them.
The next step was just draping the canopy back over them. The LEDs are so small that they tuck into the folds and are barely visible when they’re off. And when they’re on, well, you can see how they twinkle below. And since they’re LEDs, they’re completely cool to the touch – so we don’t have any fear of them being against fabric. I also love that they’re small resin-ish glowing dots instead of larger glass bulbs that could shatter.
I wish the part that plugs in weren’t big and black, but we were able to plug it in behind the bed and wrap the cord around the bed in a way that it’s able to be hidden behind the canopy most of the time, but easily accessed when it’s time to connect the cords to the power adapter. See how you can see it on the left, but it’s tucked away and invisible on the right? Thank you John, hand model of the ages.
Clara LOVES them. Partly because they’re called “Fairy Lights” but mostly because she feels very special having her own set of secret lights above the bed. We intended just to put them on for story time at night or other special play times, but they actually put off a fair amount of light, so we’ve found ourselves putting them on just about any time we’re in the room and the sun isn’t fully out.
We’ve had them up there for a week or two (didn’t want to sing their praises too soon only to have them burn out or something weird) and so far they have been awesome for our gentle girl. She hasn’t touched them once, but loves gazing up at them. Meanwhile, my best friend’s four year old daughter is nothing short of an acrobat, so we laughed about how she’d probably scale the canopy and hang from the fabric like she was Pink in concert.
But even with the addition of the lights, the canopy is still definitely missing something above it. There’s still so much white on white on white that we’ve been brainstorming which way we want to go. We’ve debated painting just that peaked area under the canopy for a while and then adding something else in there (like a hanging paper lantern or mobile or even a cute little animal head or something). So here are a few ideas, thanks to our good friend Photoshop.
Idea #1: A gray tone on the walls to add drama and a little dreaminess to the canopy, inspired by this wallpaper by Osborne And Little.
Idea #2: Maybe I could freehand some sort of imperfect painterly-ish mural, inspired by this awesome fabric covered lamp shade?
Idea #3: Another hand painted mural possibility could be something like this cluster of colorful raindrops in a variety of colors (inspired by this amazing but sadly sold out print).
Idea #4: Then I saw this picture of a pretty blue-green wall with little birds on it and thought that could be fun.
Idea #5: Since Clara’s quite the animal lover, we thought maybe a friendly giraffe or zebra (like this one from Dwell Studio) peering down at her while she sleeps could be fun with a blue-gray wall.
Idea #6: These little teardrops in a few different colors had my mind spinning with possibilities too.
Idea #7: Then I thought about a colorful fabric hung along that back wall, perhaps something with the same large-scale boldness of this pink and red wall coverings that Jenny shared here.
Idea #8: And then there was the possibility of even darker charcoal paint on the walls and some asymmetrical handmade banners in a few colors like these (which were actually a super cool photo background for this party). Update: since this one looks chalkboard-ish there have been a lot of suggestions to do that so Clara can doodle away, but we worry that chalk dust over her bed might not be the best call (there are chalk markers but they’re not as charming, so we’ll have to see where we end up).
What do you guys think? Any favorites? Or combos? I think we’re leaning towards the gray background tone in Idea #1 or the dark charcoal color in Idea #8, but we’re not sure if we’ll stencil stars or something else – and we might just combine it with something 3D (like a little felt circle bunting or a hanging paper lantern or something). We’d love for Clara to weigh in on things too, and then I’m hoping to work on it this weekend (along with stenciling the bathroom floor and helping John finish that sunroom tile). What are you guys up to this weekend?
Update: Clara weighed in on these photoshopped pics as well as some more that we made based on people’s suggestions and then we made one last photoshopped picture for her, since she wanted to combine a few ideas (we even video-taped her reaction, which was pretty funny). Can’t wait to get it done and share what she liked best!
Pamela says
Oooh, I wonder if those lights would work on a Christmas tree? I have been looking for something different.
What about something like the idea #3 or #6, but outside the canopy on the wall, so as to mimic rain in a magical sort of way? Combining that with something textured under the canopy could be really cute. I love the banners, and I love the idea of an animal head, which could be an item that Clara could pick out herself.
YoungHouseLove says
I bet they’d work awesomely on a Christmas tree!
xo
s
Susan says
What a magical spot for Clara to enjoy. Lucky girl!! LOVE option 1. The painted stars work well with the fairy lights, the grey goes nicely with the rug, but I especially like how the grey allows the colorful pillows to pop. All of the ideas shown are inspired, but the first option seems head and shoulders above the rest to me. Everyone’s tastes are different, so it will be fun to see what others think.
Emily says
I agree… Idea #1 or 8. I like #1 for its girliness and the stars will look great at night with those fairy lights on. But #8 could be fun and changeable as her tastes change.
Marin says
I’m in love with the first one of the raindrops (like the out of copy print!) Like seriously in love. I’m now thinking of ways to convince my husband it’s his idea to put them in our bedroom so I can get away with it….
Susan says
I love the first idea with the gray and the twinkly stars. The lights are such a lovely idea. I’m thinking now about how I can get away with something similar in my son’s room!
Jessica says
I like the raindrops, or either of the grays. However, I think that until you add an extra length of fabric to the canopy, it won’t really matter. The canopy is too short and skimpy. You won’t even need to add pom poms. Just get a longer corbel, push the pom pom layer forward, and add the extra length of fabric behind it.
Jessica says
I think you’re wrong! I don’t think it’s too short or skimpy! I think it’s sweet, light and pretty! Plus, whatever Clara loves is what really matters!
Jessica says
You think I’m wrong, lol!? Perhaps when your style matures a bit, you’ll see I’m right.
YoungHouseLove says
I think you’re both right. Different strokes for different folks!
xo
s
Caity says
I vote for raindrops (either #3 or #6)! Maybe you could even do bright, colorful raindrops against a charcoal gray wall if you wanted to incorporate both!
Amanda B says
Could you do something with the bunting you’ve made and used at her birthday parties?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a fun idea! I’ll have to see if it’s long enough!
xo
s
Elizabeth Tavarez says
AWW I LOVE #4!!! The blue wall and birds work so well in the space! and its so calming!
Carrissa says
I love option one! The giraffe bust is great but I know if I were clara I would knock the darn thing over all the time. I also worry that the raindrop one might be a little too bright and busy to go right next to a bed. Plus the stars in number one would go great with the fairy lights :) just my 2 cents.
Sherry says
My first thought was #1. I don’t like the animal head or the seagulls. But #8 is also good, unless you have real chalk to use on the chalkboard paint; that would rub off on the bed linens. My very favorite is #1. Have a great day!
Misty says
#1, #4, #8!
Danielle Purtle says
Ooh I love #4! Or maybe you could origami all types of flying things–fairies, dragons…! Or maybe you could glitter-fy the birds so they catch light off her new twinkle canopy!
Kaesey says
I like the grays, and I’d lean towards the bunting. You could swap the flags for other shapes, or flowers or butterflies to go with the fairy idea. =)
T says
I love #8! #1 is sweet too, but I like that #8 incorporates some color… and you could change up the banners over time if you wanted. Thinking about this just made me imagine changing them up for special occasions — you could have a “Happy birthday” banner that would (“magically”) appear over her bed on birthdays, a “first day of school” version… (so many possibilities!)
Tricia S. says
The fairy lights are great! What about using magnetic pain below the canopy and then giving Clara an assortment of objects with magnets that she could arrange herself? I recall you had something similar in your first house. Maybe magnetic letters and numbers? Also, have you considered painting the wall around the canopy but not below it? Decal trees perhaps?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a fun idea!!
xo
s
Christine Armstrong says
I think number 8 is my favorite. It has colors perfect for a young kid but I feel its also mature enough that she can grow into it.
PS Is Clara sleeping in her big girl bed now? How’s that transition going since I imagine said “bun” will utilize the existing crib?
Lots of love and prayers headed your way!
YoungHouseLove says
She’s almost there but not fully transitioned!
xo
s
Stephanie says
I was going to ask the same question. How does she get out of the crib if she needs to use the bathroom in the middle of the night? Our daughter rarely gets up in the middle of the night, but she always runs to the bathroom when she wakes up in the morning. She’s a year older than Clara, but has been in a big girl bed since she was just over 2.
YoungHouseLove says
She is potty trained through the night, so she goes before bed when we put her in, and after bed when we get her out.
xo
s
Blakely says
They’re all so darling. I love dark colors in the bedroom; it’s so cozy at night! Also, your first two links to Pinterest didn’t work for me.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no! Anyone else having issue with those links! Pinterest images move so much lately!
xo
s
Isabel says
Oh wow, love the lights! There’s something really magical about them :) I really like Idea #1 and to a lesser degree Idea #7 because the colors tie into the cushions and ceiling. I think the other ideas are nice but I fear too much color might compete with the rug and the cushions and the curtains. Ultimately, everything’s changeable but I dig the charcoal in #1 the most (you guys have really turned me on to grey!).
Deena says
I think the idea of doing something under the canopy is cute in concept, but one of those things with a great chance of becoming a pain as the canopy sinks / sags / shifts over time and a bouncy preschooler scoots the bed an inch or two this way or that. You’ll constantly be scooting the bed or adjusting the canopy to fit what you’ve put on the wall. Would it be as cool to do the whole wall as an accent? I love, love the concept, but the mom in me is going “maintenance nightmare!”
YoungHouseLove says
We thought we could just add some velcro to keep it in place along the back wall if that happens, but we both think an accent wall with a big ol’ door on the right side might feel unbalanced, while painting just the area under the canopy could be really cozy.
xo
s
Erika says
I am a big fan of the lights super sweet. I like option 1 and 3 but really they all look super cool. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
liz says
Ok… hold the phone. You mention that because they are LED, they don’t get hot. I love this product if that is true… because that will mean that that system is being way “under-driven” (wattage / amp). And I hope they really aren’t getting hot… but I’m a lighting designer… and we see LED products ALL.THE.TIME and more often than not the products DO get hot (really hot)… in fact a ton of LED products require huge heat sinks in order to get the heat away from the LED, because heat causes them to fail quickly and not “last forever” like their claim to fame. Anyhow… and I know you said you’ve had them up and in use for a week or so… but that comment just shot up a red flag in my book.
YoungHouseLove says
Weird! No these don’t get hot at all. We can leave them on for two hours and I can squeeze one between my fingers. Nothing! I’ll definitely keep you posted if they burn out on us next week or something, but so far they have been great and we’re using the heck outta them!
xo
s
Erin says
Definitely option 1 or 8! Love both of those with maybe 8 getting a bit more love since you could easily change out the banners for something else… like a Happy Birthday sign on her birthday or a twist on an Advent calendar at Christmas time. The possibilities are endless. Super cute either way! Love your blog and your style!
Josh says
Have you seen wall flowers?
http://www.amazon.com/Umbra-Wallflower-Wall-D%C3%A9cor-White/dp/B0015TI1RE
They’d look great against a darker paint on the wall and lend some 3-d texture. Google images has some nice inspiration.
YoungHouseLove says
We used those in our first house! So much fun!
xo
s
Ashley says
The chalk markers are awesome but I have found that they do not wipe off. The imprint is always there. I had a large chalkboard in my kitchen that I did a Julia Child quote on and after awhile it was no longer “the bread to my butter” if you know what I mean- and I tried to wipe it off to do something else and it wouldn’t come off. And your right about real chalk- too dusty!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, that’s good to know! Definitely won’t work then!
xo
s
Sapphira says
I love Idea #1! I always use twinkly lights in our room and I’ve found that they look amazing against a darker color, like in Idea #1 (it gives it a nice background to “glow” against if that makes sense). It would even look adorable if the stars stenciled/painted/whatever-floats-your-boat were a little smaller to “match” the fairy lights more since those are so small. BUT it would be adorable to see what Clara’s opinion on it is! Looks great!
Lakitia A. says
I really like it without anything in the canopy. I feel that it would take away from it. But of course I would say that, I like very simple decorating.
Lisa says
I really like #3, but instead of hand painting them, you could use vinyl wall decals cut out in those shapes, and then change them up whenever feels appropriate. That way you get a mix of color without it being a static/permanent fixture.
Sally says
Gray one with stars! No. 1! It caught my eye right away.
Laura says
I love both grey options. I don’t know why. I think the one with the bunting is fun and cozy at the same time.
Becca G. says
Ohhh I like #1! My second fav is #8. Maybe you guys could use glow in the dark paint, etc. so the stars will glow at night?
Jules says
Oooh, I like the raindrops, but what about doing them OUTSIDE of the canopy?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a sweet idea too! You guys all have the best suggestions!
xo
s
Stephanie says
That’s cute – Like the canopy is her personal refuge from the rain!
Mallory says
LOVE idea #8, but #4 with the birds is also very cute. These are fantastic ideas! Maybe I’ll have to incorporate a cute canopy and background like this into our daughter’s room. Thanks for the inspiration!
Malissa says
I like the rain drop/tear drop ideas! It might be cute to paint them on the larger part of the wall, kind of like the canopy is protecting Clara and the bed from the “rain”.
Pat S says
I love the lights. Option #1 is my favorite. What if the stars were smaller and more of them and they glowed in the dark so at bedtime with the lights out, Clara would have her own private skyscape.
Chloe says
Those fairy lights are so awesome! Thank you, 2013.
All the options were pretty but I audibly ooo-d when I got to #8. It brings in the charcoal and blue tones from the rug and curtains while also tying in the pink from the ceiling. It’s also not so busy that you couldn’t add a hanging lantern later on.
What about that magnetic paint you used in your old office? You could have fun with 3D magnets again!
Danie says
My vote goes for the birds!
Lulu chin says
They are all great. which one does Clara prefer?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re planning to ask her this weekend when we can dive in and get started on something (we hate to talk about something a few days before doing it because a few days = ten months to her! Haha!).
xo
s
Raeann says
Number 3!! That one gets my vote, but I really like all of them.
Dawn says
Idea # 1 !!!!
Taurie says
I LOVE #8! Maybe it’s just my fascination with garlands and bunting, but I think it would look so cute with her canopy! I like the triangles in the inspiration photo, but circles would be calmer and sweeter, like Clara :)
I like everyone’s idea about chalkboard paint, but agree with you when you say that chalk dust might not be good right over the bed. Markers, though might be the solution! Then you could change it with the seasons or complete Clara’s fairy vision, or draw more garlands of your own! :)
BHH says
Wonderful project for the wonderful Clara — #1 is my favorite. Would you consider changing the deep gray to a deep blue/navy/gray (i.e., color of the night sky) and maybe painting stars “accurately” (constellations, big and little dippers, etc.)? You could even use glow-in-the-dark paint! Easy for me to say, but you guys can execute anything :)
YoungHouseLove says
OOH I LOVE THAT IDEA! Thanks to everyone who’s sharing such fun thoughts today!
xo
s
Amy says
We sort of did that in my son’s closet. I painted stripes in the four shades of blue with the darkest at the top, then I found removable glow-in-the-dark star stickers and put those all over the dark blue paint.
Aimee says
Definitely #1, & I agree with the night sky concept with accurate constellations. Never too early to teach a kid science concepts.
Vaguely recall seeing something that Clara’s BD is in the spring? A large Aries or Taurus constellation up top would feed both the twinkle twinkle little star thing and the animal head thing without it actually being a 3D animal head casting scary shadows.
Sara B says
I love #8! I want it for my own room. ;)
Jess says
I don’t know why, but I am totally loving #4! It’s fun that you guys put so much thought into this. And how fun for Clara to be able to have a say, too :)
jr says
Idea #5 – zebra head or Idea # 7 colorful fabric would be my picks.
Jessica says
I like #3! That is so cute!! I like all the color it adds! We decided to add more color and whimsy to my daughter’s room, so we made big tulle flowers and painted stems on the wall. It was so fun and cute! I like all of these ideas!
Tara says
Love 4 and 8. And the zebra :) I want one for my girls room!
Nicole says
Idea #1 or #8 would be my pick..think I might like #1 just a tad better!!
jenn @ beyond the stoop says
oh the last one for sure!!! I might even steal the idea for my 26-year-old self :P
I’ve been trying to dream up a “fairy lights” idea for my own bedroom at the house we’re buying, but also hated the idea of hot Christmas lights behind fabric. these are prefect!
thanks, as always, for the inspiration :)
Shelby says
I like the first option and the one with the birds. I love the LED lights in the canopy- I could never do something like that for my very active and curious 3 and 5 year old boys. This weekend I will just be trying to survive until my husband gets back home on Sunday night- we all miss Daddy! Hope you enjoy your weekend!