I was given the opportunity to convert a bedroom into a creative space recently, and have been planning how I want the room to look and feel. The first task was choosing the paint colour. This is always the most important as colours are certainly mood changers. I found that green is a very good ‘creative’ colour, so investigated the numerous shades available. Eventually, I chose a soft green, which will bring nature in, when we are in the depths of a grey and white Albertan winter. To continue the theme of nature, I found a lovely mural of hanging leaves, which are easy peel and stick.
With help from my youngest, Emjay, we painted the room in just one day, after I had washed the walls and covered the woodwork with masking tape. Then came the application of the mural pieces. Deciding on their placement was the first decision to be made. I didn’t want a straight line on one wall, but just in a couple of places. I think they worked out very well.
In the next few weeks I will gather items of furniture to put in the room alongside my writing desk. I want a long craft table and more storage and possibly some kind of rug. Eventually, the carpet will need to be replaced, as the hired carpet cleaner was no match!
I have been given the opportunity to create a new writing/creative space for myself. This is exciting as well as daunting. There are many factors to consider apart from the placement of the desk.
Lighting – natural and artificial
The room has one window, which is central to one wall, so I want to maximize the natural light coming onto the desk. Added to this there is one ceiling light, which will cause shadows, so I will add a good strong lamp for desk work. Having a nice view is a double edged sword for writers – it is relaxing and refreshes the mind, but can also be a distraction. Therefore, I will place my L-shaped desk in such a way to allow focused work and nature watching.
Paint colours
I have to consider what ‘mood’ I want to convey with the paint colour on the walls. Do I go for a single or double coloured walls, or have a focus wall? When researching colours, I found that green boosts creativity, promotes harmony and is a good choice for brainstorming spaces. So that may be my choice, although there are a multitude of greens to consider! I The carpet is a light sandy earth tone so it will balance the room. I would like to have some sort of wall mural to make the room feel like a natural oasis and might invest in a large mural of a tree or hanging foliage to make the space feel like it is in nature. This will be especially nice when I endure the Albertan winter! I found some really nice ones.
Decor – natural and artificial
I love plants, so will choose air purifying and variegated leaf plants for this space. These include spider plants, English ivy, and pothos, all of which I have already, so it will be a matter of propagating and new pots.
There is also the texture to contemplate – soft and plush and hard and shiny to give the room balance. My floor lamp is silver metal, my desk a light beige, my office chair is a dark blue, and maybe I will invest in a plush rug for my feet. Then there are the other furniture items to think about – another bookshelf, a large armchair, a a crafting table for other creative endeavors…the list goes on!
All of these are just ideas at the moment, things change, ideas come to mind. It is the process that is the joy.
How did you choose to decorate your writing space?
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 