Bedding for Grown ups – Mix & Match

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Last week I featured the Octavia Headboard by Serena & Lily in a girl’s bedroom setting.  This week I want to highlight how that headboard could be used in an adult or teenager’s bedroom.  Depending on what style of bedding you select. a room can exude a playful personality or subtle sophistication.  It’s all about the mix and match.   

First option:  The classic Octavia headboard in Navy Linen with nickel nailhead trim is given a fresh, modern twist with graphic prints. Dwell Studio’s Labyrinth duvet set in Dove reminds me of a snake charmer, and their Masala sheets in Citrine provides a pop of unexpected color against the neutrals.

Option2: Here I played the greek key inspired detail in the nailhead design against a loosely drawn Greek Key duvet set by West Elm. I was feeling playful when I chose the Red Star sheets from Serena & Lily to complete the look.  It feels a little like the stars & stripes with all that navy, white and red. Or maybe it’s conjures up a bedroom that feels like you are in Greece and looking at the stars in the expansive sky over the ocean.  What feeling does it inspire in you?

Option 3:  This is a softer look than the 2 previous combinations, but the stripes keep it graphic.  The Pewter Linen Octavia headboard is not as bold as the navy version. I wanted to use Dwell Studio’s Draper Stripe sheet set in Poppy with a duvet cover that might be a bit of an unexpected pairing. So I first chose the Parachute Duvet set in White from West Elm (upper right corner). The ruching of this airy cotton creates a lot of volume and a relaxed feminine effect. White sheets with a colored edge or subtle dots would be a more obvious pairing. But I like how the poppy stripes anchors the floaty duvet and makes it more guy friendly.

I couldn’t resist including another version with West Elm’s Stripe Duvet set in white and feather gray.  The width of the stripes on the sheets in narrower, which allows the two stripes to work together.  Can you tell I like a pop of color against neutrals? 

Option 4:  The headboard remains in Pewter Linen but a new combination of bedding provides a very different look.  Here Dwell Studio’s Peacock Duvet set in Dove has a more traditional styling than previous selections, but the color palette and scale keep it modern in sensibility.   Pairing this duvet with Dwell Studio’s Gate sheet set in Azure has been a favorite combination of mine since they introduced it.  But I wanted an alternate option for sheets since it is always nice to be able to tweak the look of your bedding.  I selected the Dot Print sheet set in Mushroom from West Elm to pull out the soft browns in the duvet cover. Without seeing the two sets in person I’m not positive the colors are right together, but this is illustrative people, so don’t kill me if they don’t work, ok?!

Option 5: Finally, switching up the Octavia headboard to Antique Gold Burlap with Brass nailheads creates a more classic traditional style.  The Bativa Duvet set in Citrine by Dwell Studio is a modern update of the Ikat pattern that is so popular in interior design right now.  The soft color palette keeps the room from feeling too formal.  The coordinating  Masala sheet set in Citrine blends in here rather than serving as a pop of color as it did in Option 1.

I’m sure I could create an alternate option for the final headboard color option… but I ran out of energy.  So why don’t you create one and show it to me?

So which option would you choose? Or do you prefer something completely different?  Bedding shouldn’t be intimidating to select and it should definitely be washable. Beyond that, anything goes. A duvet cover is often the largest expanse of a pattern in your home. It can be switched seasonally or whenever the mood strikes, unlike a the upholstery on a sofa or chair (though slipcovers can serve the same purpose). So don’t be afraid to go for something bid, bold, unexpected or just a little out of your comfort zone.  

Photo sources: All product shots from each company’s website. See links for more information about each product.

Tags: bedding, bedroom, duvet cover, Dwell Studio, Octavia headboard, Serena & Lily, sheets, West Elm
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