Stickybeak of the Week: A Mood-Lifting Girl's Bedroom
From a blank white canvas to a space filled with colour and pattern – step inside Scarlett's bedroom
Transforming this once bare bedroom into a little girl’s dream retreat was a task assigned to interior designer Jacinda Malloy of Hide & Sleep Interior Design. The brief was to create an eclectic space for three-year-old Scarlett, that also worked with the rest of the home’s decor. “It had to be fun, girly with touches of vintage and modern elements,” says Malloy. Each of these components have been met with flair, and Scarlett now loves spending time in her special space.
The project commenced in April 2016 and was completed just three months later in June. The space was previously a blank canvas, but it had good bones to work with, notably the ample natural light that filled the space. The only pre-existing furniture Malloy worked with were the bed and chest of drawers.
Amber and Daniel Yates, the owners of the home, asked Malloy to create a fun and eclectic space for their little one, but it was also fundamental that Scarlett’s dollhouse was integrated into the decor as it’s one of her favourite toys. “Scarlett received the dollhouse for her third birthday and loves to play with it, so both parents are happy that it was a feature of the room and works with the colour scheme,” says Malloy
Cherry Tree Hall Dollhouse: Little Lola Boutique
Cherry Tree Hall Dollhouse: Little Lola Boutique
The wallpaper is one of Malloy’s favourite elements of the room. She had been wanting to use this design, called ‘Kaleidoscope Dreams’ from Mr Perswall, for some time, but hadn’t yet found clients brave enough to clad their walls in it. “As I walked through Amber and Daniel’s home, I could see they were daring with their interiors and knew this wallpaper would be perfect for Scarlett’s room,” says Malloy.
One of the biggest challenges Malloy faced with the design was convincing Daniel that the hanging chair seen here would be safe. To compromise on this, the chair was hung at a low height to avoid any potential accidents. Decorated with a soft and cosy pink hide, a pillow and one of Scarlett’s dolls, the chair makes for a perfect reading spot.
Coco Mini hanging chair: Byron Bay Hanging Chairs
Coco Mini hanging chair: Byron Bay Hanging Chairs
When it comes to giving advice to other parents currently decorating their kids’ bedrooms, Malloy says to stick with your own style and to avoid trends. “Monochrome kids’ rooms are really popular, but if you love colour, ignore this trend and go with your heart and use lots of it!” she says.
Artwork: Pete Cromer
Artwork: Pete Cromer
“Use Houzz as a tool and save your favourite ten kids’ rooms [in an ideabook], then take a look and see if you can find common threads. This will help you discover what you like,” the designer adds. If you try this method, you may find that all of the saved rooms have blue tones through them, animal themes, or sweet and girly looks. Malloy insists that this will help you will eventually find a theme you like.
While Scarlett will most likely develop her own style as the years go by and want to add some of her own flair to it, for now, she simply loves her fun and colourful bedroom.
TELL US
What do you like best about Scarlett’s bedroom? Let us know in the Comments section.
TELL US
What do you like best about Scarlett’s bedroom? Let us know in the Comments section.
Who lives here: This room belongs to three-year-old Scarlett Yates
Location: Bayside, Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 11 square metres
Scarlett’s bedroom is the first room you see as you walk up the staircase to the home’s second storey. Malloy says that the bright and happy wallpaper acts as an instant mood lifter.