The Pink Room

When your daughters start flying the nest you end up with redundant rooms in your house. Ten years ago, when they were little, I used to dream of this. 'Imagine having the house to ourselves, husband'.... A room for everything, and everything in its room - rather than everything all over the house. But when it actually comes round to it, when they actually leave, it feels a bit weird. It took me a good few weeks of wandering in to the empty nested room and just sitting in it, staring blankly at the walls....

However, I'm over it now. And we have officially regrouped. Husband and I deliberated over possible uses for empty nested room for some time - games room, pool table, office, laundry, dressing room. There were clearly pink possibilities and blue possibilities. Worlds apart. But I'm pleased to announce, empty nested room is now officially, The Pink Room. Small win for me. Here's what I came up with...

And when I say pink.... as you can see, it's proper pink. There has been compromise. But, I am very lucky. When you reach milestones in life it often impacts on the house and how you live in it. Homes have to be flexible and the best ones will grow with you. We've been very fortunate with ours. Since we moved in nearly 8 years ago it's comfortably accommodated Tweens and Teenagers. It's lost a garage (in exchange for a shed), but gained a 400 square foot extension, granny, grandpa and an annex. Most recently it's been all of the above, plus my daughter's fiancé living here part time while they completed and finally moved into their own freshly renovated home. It really has covered all bases.

So my oldest daughter and her fiancé officially left in November last year. My daughter's stuff is taking considerably longer to vacate, and is still in the process of leaving. However, we're down to the last few boxes of shoes....thank the Lord.

Then came the room reshuffle and re-jig. My youngest daughter then moved into her sister's newly vacated room. She's painted it black and will be quite happy in there until September when we're all hoping she ventures out of it to go to University. So youngest daughter's old black room was left empty. And very black.

At the same time, my husband decided he needed a bigger office and his own space, somewhere to get away from girls. So my old office downstairs is now earmarked for that. And I moved my office upstairs into the black room. However, no longer is it the black room. It's been transformed. It's now lovingly referred to as The Pink Room. And not only is it my office, it's also the spare room and my dressing room. With an actual dressing table in it - something I haven't had for over twenty years. And I love it. I wanted it pink in every way. Pink to look pink, but also pink to feel pink - warm and cosy.

Now, there's nothing black left in here. No cold lino floor, only fluffy carpet, fabric roman blinds, cushions, throws, yellow glowing neon signage, warm white lamps and a raspberry red dressing table. The room is perfectly zoned and tucked to one side with it's wonderful cosy pink backdrop is my work area. Clearly defined in EXP blue. With a hint of Nest & Feathers yellow and a pink chair and lamp. Perfect.

If you fancy recreating your own Pink Room at home, here's a list of all the pinkness I used and where I got it from....

Paints all from B&Q

Wall colour Valspar Classic Matt Emulsion in Fearless

Pannelling cut to size by My Cut - literally measure the area on the wall you want to cover and they supply all the pieces cut to size. Then just stick them to the wall with No More Nails.

Pannelling paint Valspar Classic Wood & Metal in Pink Cocoa

Blind Next Made-to-Measure Roman Blind in Sarah Miller Bamboo Pink

Desks x 2 both Remi Dressing Tables from the Dunelm in colour Natural - one painted Valspar Multi-Surface Furniture Paint Chic to Chic and the other in Midnight Sonata. No priming required. Just 2 coats on each. (Would probably benefit from a third). New classic brass knobs too also from B& Q - pack of 6 £12.00

Mirror - the one I really wanted was beautiful but over my budget. The one I used was one I already had that I painted in the same red Chic to Chic to match.

Bedside Table Dunelm's Remi range again, this time in Clay - no colour change here, I thought it blended in nicely as it was. Just a new knob to match the others.

Velvet accent chairs also from Dunelm - Elsie in Rhubarb. I just love these. Although, from a practical point of view, as a desk chair, sadly Elsie Rhubarb is a little low as my ever practical husband did annoyingly point out. However, I couldn't resist them and I'm very happy with my cushion booster seat, husband.

Duvet Set & Cushions the very jolly Tallie design at Dunlem mixed with brushed cotton pillow cases in red, yellow Pom Pom velvet cushion and Cranberry red velvet cushions also all Dunelm. Finished with pink pom pom cushions from B& Q.

Surf Artwork also from B& Q and the Barbie illustration 'Real girls are never perfect - Perfect girls are never real' I think I bought this from Etsy years ago for my oldest daughter. One thing I'm happy hasn't moved out yet.

Lighting from The Range - Battery operated 'Hello' slogan lamp, Abstract table lamps, Let's Stay Home Neon Sign and Lemon and Strawberry Reed Diffusers.

A few little accessories and bits from TKMax like wavy picture frames and pictures of cows with party hats on finish the look.

I'm super happy with it. My pink room. But if you'd like help designing or imagining a particular room in your house, or in a house you'd like to or are about to buy, click the button below. I'd love to hear all about it and I promise it doesn't have to be pink, we can go for whatever colours you'd like!

The Design Room

Now onto designing my husband's room downstairs. The Blue Room. No gender stereotypes here.