Yesterday I made the grueling trek into the northern wilds, home of Ikea. Land of milk and honey. Or so I thought. See, I have long been incubating radical plans to radically update our completely unradical bedroom — our bedroom that is now headboardless, directionless, and a complete mess (if you don’t have kids, judge not lest you be immediately impregnated).
Before I headed to Ikea and was completely destroyed by the juggernaut that is ubiquitous Swedish decor, my plans to revolutionize sleeping through the power of psychedelic design were maybe somehow inspired by these rooms:
Minus the barfy dress.
Minus the funny face.
As I stood in front of the racks and racks and racks of duvet covers (while Ike melted down t-10 seconds to naptime), I thought about how I’m supposed to buy a blanket instead of a duvet cover, because duvet covers are so fall 2010. But all I saw were duvet covers. About 5237866 of them. And I know I probably should have gone home and bought a blanket off the interwebs, but I was under pressure from fluorescent lighting and toddler tantrums. Plus I’m tired of looking at the stupid mauge comforter (suspiciously close to this color) on our giant bed. So there I stood — endlessly, painfully pondering the duvet cover conundrum.
First I picked this up:
And then I put it down, because it had flowery flowers on it and I suspected it would not play well with the giant black panther picture hanging beside our bed. Or the Oriental nightstands. Or the chrome bench. Or pretty much anything in that room.
I bought a white duvet cover. It’s not even worth picturing. It’s white.
How did my technicolor dreams turn to dust in the wind? Damn you, Ikea, for overwhelming me with your conspicuous overstocking. Whatever. I’m moving on, and I think things are headed in this direction:
Just kidding. It’s pretty, but I have too much stuff to live in here.
I have a new plan. It has elements of crazy, but also supports the new white duvet cover theory formula corollary.
Alas, we’ll have to discuss it ad infinitum later because I have to go to a biggo photo job right now… someone has to pay for all that crap I bought at Ikea.
Have a good Monday. Do some psycho shopping for me.
[Desire to Inspire, Elle Decor, Magnus Marding]
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Are the duvet covers from Ikea soft?
Anyway, I like an all white bed….can’t wait to see the plan to psych out the rest of the room.
I LOVE the wallpaper behind the headboard in the first photo. I also love white bedding.
can’t wait to see what you come up with
The Elle Decor room, above, is scrumptious — the perfect snuggle-in space. Minus the too-too traditional artwork, natch.
I don’t do Ikea, except for the occasional square picture frame. I’ve been there twice, and am still dealing with the ‘Swedish mass-produced design-inspired’ nightmares.
My general policy is something like “never decorate with anything you’re likely to see in a friend or relative’s home.”
Or with anything white. Unless you can bathe, wash your hands, or go potty in it.
I’m down with white bedding. In fact I’m planning to get some of my own. Don’t know why I didn’t think of Ikea. Curious to hear your crazy idea!
And good luck at your shoot!!
Yes infinity on the first room.
Man I hate when I can’t make decisions in stores and end up with something weird, which is pretty much every time I shop. I know you’re done, but did you check the urban outfitters bedding? they always have psychedelic crazy shit. Ok, I know you did, what am I thinking?
You could dunk Ike in paint and do some sort of mod 60s body print on the white duvet… I dunno, it seemed like a good idea in my head for a second.
Our bedroom (and house in general) is a big mash of prints and I’m a bit sick of looking at it these days so I’m leaning towards the clarity end of a revamp. Therefore I’m supportive of a white duvet (but I am dreaming more of charcoal Belgian linen, maybe…)
I can’t remember Whitney’s last name, she was Karly’s apartment-mate several years ago. Is that pillow in picture 1 one of hers?
Whooo, I love a plan with a little bit o’ crazy! Love the needlepoint pillow and the lamp and spread in the second photog.
Hope to see the realization of your crazypants bedroom!
I like it! Although I have an irrational fear of sponge painting….so the first one looses some points on that one! Love that we are using Mauge so freely now!
Ikea and I have a troubled relationship…….every time I see someone walking out with one of those GIGANTIC rose photos, a part of me dies…..thankfully there are Swedish meatballs to fill the void left in my soul!!
Can’t wait to see the final bedroom!
p.s. I wish I could spell – I MEANT ‘LOSES’!
Yes to white duvets! I was hoping for a mayo sandwich recipe, tho…
Rob, the coiner of mauge can spell however he so chooses. You are a genius.
Thanks for the support, y’all! ok. Back to work for me
I love my white duvet. Its a good base for the orange pillows and red coverlet thingy and navy bedhead & side tables.
Im a tart for Egyptian cotton though. I had enough of cheap sheets in my youf! (usually at some randoms!!!!!)
just sayin!
you know i’m just as color crazy as you, but for bedding, i usually stick with plain white. ok, so i toss on a cheap zebra blanket to hide the pet mess over the white most days (and i admit to having a chic gray flannel coverlet for when i’m feeling fancy), but basically, i like *plain* beds. sometimes too much really is too much (‘cept when it’s not enough, of course).