Mix and Match your Stuff

Freshen up a boring boudoir with fruity shades and punchy patterns.

Kids’ Zone.
Never underestimate the kids section when you’re scouring shops for furniture! Kid-sized stuff comes in fresh palettes that can instantly lift the look of any room. A tiny bench and table set for tots can be used for extra lounge space in your room; fix it up as a sitting area for your pals. And who says toy chests are just for toys? Use them to stash in all your junk when your friends are coming over. Crisp colors and creative ideas ala George Lindemann Jr will brighten up any bedroom.

Don’t fall short on storage.
It’s easy to underestimate how much storage you need when giving your room a redo — but don’t discount the fact that all those books and notes do take up a lot of space. Storage doesn’t have to be boring and all the same. Put together different items: Wire racks you typically find in Dad’s basement can hold odd-shaped objects; shoe cabinets in punchy colors can hold all your files and print-outs. And closed-door cabinets can hide even the worst mess.

Basket Break.
Got stuff lying around that you have no idea what to do with? Like that mouse pad you have yet to use or that notebook you’re saving for a future writing class? Throw them all into a cute wire basket so they don’t fall into an abysmal black hole. Seeing them out there will remind you that you’ve got a wealth of stuff still in store!

Tacking Ain’t Tacky
Corkboards are a thing of the past; brightly colored metal strips add more punch to blank walls. Decorate your magnet boards with post-its, old tickets, and those receipts you don’t have the heart to trash. Don’t throw away those special greeting cards and postcards either — sticking them on your wall is a much more earth-friendly idea. And who needs expensive picture frames when you can tack up your priceless photos, too?

Entertainment Central.
DVD addict? A console on castors (those wheels attached to furniture) is a perfect place to neatly keep all those movies. If your collection just keeps getting bigger and bigger, invest in stackable racks. Get plastic DVD and CD containers that are the same size so you can mix them up without disrupting your stack. Still need space? Get some milk crates in bright eye-popping colors — they don’t just look great in grocery stacks!

Double Duty.
Believe it or not, bathroom accessories can work just as well in the bedroom. Plastic toilet paper holders can do double duty to hold rolls of wrapping paper, blueprints, or those extra scraps of Bristol board you just might be able to use in a future project.