The boys’ bedroom has one of those fun little nooks around the only window in the space. Since my oldest really wanted a desk, we decided to make it his “office” area. The room is long and narrow, except for this one nook, so I painted it a dark navy to make it feel like a separate little space. (It’s the same color I used here.) And, when it was time to hang something on the walls, I initially thought of framing nautical flags. My 10-year-old suggested World Cup country flags instead. Sold! (And, it makes way more sense, since he’s a soccer player and not a sailor. . . )
I bought several inexpensive flags from Ebay sellers (I think the total was around $35), and put most of them in IKEA Nyttja frames. No fancy framing job here. I simply flipped the paper frame insert over to the solid white side and taped the flags right on top.
I also found a campaign desk at a friend’s yard sale last summer. It’s not in perfect shape, but I have no plans of painting it. I love the wood against the navy. The metal desk chairs used to be in my office.
I had a simple roman shade made (to soften the look of the blinds) in this Ikat fabric.
I’m going with the colorful flags as inspiration for the rest of the room. In the next few weeks, I’ll show you some other ways I’m adding color.
cassie @ primitive & proper says
March 12, 2015 at 8:28 ami LOVE this! it looks fabulous!
Robin says
March 12, 2015 at 8:49 amAs a soccer mom myself, I love that you used World Cup countries’ flags. They look awesome in the IKEA frames. I love Ikea. This room looks awesome.
Robin @ http://www.designbyrobinsnest.blogspot.com
Holly Thornton says
March 12, 2015 at 9:36 amLove it-especially the framed flags! I re-decorated our oldest son Carter’s room when he was 13 with a paint color very similar to the navy you have here. I also ordered a massive black and white vintage football print (similar to the ones in PBTeen) to go on the wall which looked Ah-Mazing. Sadly all my efforts and time have been thwarted by a now 15 year who has taken over the walls and shelves with all his other sports memorabilia and posters. Not a part of my decorating scheme but I figure I only have a few more years with him here (sniff sniff) so I can let him make is room his own.
Emily Clark says
March 12, 2015 at 10:41 amWe do what we can :) The room sounds great!
Claire walsh says
March 12, 2015 at 9:59 amLoving the navy and flags. The desk is beautiful and a little old English scratch cover will fill in some of the scratches and will bring the desk back to life.
Laurie Jones says
March 12, 2015 at 10:18 amLove that you chose to use the World Cup flags! I’m also glad you didn’t decided to paint your son’s desk I love the worn look, it looks great in his space!!
Michele says
March 12, 2015 at 10:49 amI love the desk just as it is, too! I love a vintage/industrial vibe in a boy’s room. The flags look fantastic. I’m continually amazed by what you do on a budget, Emily. Which brings me to those gorgeous roman shades–are they custom? $300 each? Please don’t dash my hopes ;)
Emily Clark says
March 12, 2015 at 11:02 amI had them made by Windows by Melissa. Not $300, though :) Plus, fabric was really reasonable.
Michele says
March 12, 2015 at 12:37 pmThanks, Emily. I’ve heard great things about her. Saved to my potties! Errrr, favorites ;)
Emily Clark says
March 12, 2015 at 12:42 pmHa! I’m obviously too tired to be multitasking today :)
Rachel O. says
March 12, 2015 at 12:38 pmYay for the Colombian flag! :)
Kelley says
March 12, 2015 at 1:26 pmEmily, this is great! Just started following your blog (can’t believe it took me this long to come across it. btw – our son plays on the other U11 team, so I’m sure I’ll meet you at some point!) I’m in the process of redecorating our son’s room, and the World Cup flags idea is perfect. Thanks for the inspiration!
Emily Clark says
March 12, 2015 at 2:17 pmYes, looking forward to meeting you soon! Keith was telling me he talked to you not long ago :)
Mallory S. says
March 12, 2015 at 1:43 pmWe did the same thing with flags from my BF and my home state. I love it! Your version is PERFECT for a little boy’s room!
http://sledgehammerwithstyle.com/house-tour/#jp-carousel-3767
Carrie says
March 12, 2015 at 2:18 pmThis looks amazing! In our old house my son’s room was decorated with maps. When I went to parent/teacher conferences the other night I learned that one of his favorite subjects is social studies. I totally credit the décor for that. ;)
Natalie says
March 12, 2015 at 2:59 pmI love this Emily! My boys share a room and I’ve been wanting to do something that was meaningful in their room. My oldest son is currently living in Bolivia and my husband lived in Spain for a couple of years. I am thinking flags will be a great way to remember the time spent in those countries. Thanks for sharing your talent and ideas!
[email protected] says
March 12, 2015 at 2:59 pmThis is so fab Emily. I love it. And I love the roman shade and the desk. So awesome!!
Larissa says
March 12, 2015 at 3:17 pmIt looks fantastic as always! But awwh, does that mean you’ll be scraping the lovely cowboy pillows on his bed? Love those, too! (But I’m probably bias as my son’s room is cowboy-themed.) The desk was a wonderful score and looks great for now, too. :)
On a slightly different note, I’d love to see/read more about how you work with shared bedrooms. My girlies (aged 1 and 6) share a room, and will until we have basement bedrooms. With no “toy room,” I’m always struggling to make their room function better. And when the little one decides to hop out of her crib, we’ll have to find a different arrangement (Twin beds? Bunk beds?). I’d absolutely love to hear your thoughts and see more detail in the processes you’ve gone through with yours! Thanks, Emily!
Emily Clark says
March 12, 2015 at 10:48 pmThat’s a great post idea. For now, we have the oldest girls together in bunks, the twins in twin beds (pushed together) and the oldest by himself.
Holly Irwin says
March 12, 2015 at 4:46 pmHi Emily, Love it, you are so creative!! It’s cheerful and perfect on that dark blue wall!
xo
Holly
Ana says
March 12, 2015 at 8:15 pmLoved seeing the Brazilian flag there! I am a loyal reader and from Brazil!!
Beverly says
March 12, 2015 at 11:16 pmlooks great! and thanks for assuring me that you can use a roman shade with blinds! I’m not sure why I thought you couldn’t. I guess all examples I recall show a plain window behind the roman shade, no blinds. anyway, what a lucky boy – his room is the coolest!
Jody says
March 13, 2015 at 7:18 amLOVE the flags! I’m an adoptive mama to two beautiful Congolese littles that we brought home a couple of years ago. My son also loves soccer. This would be a great way to bring a little of his home country into his room as well. Thank you for sharing easy, inexpensive ways to help make our homes a little more beautiful!
Ashley Burse says
March 13, 2015 at 8:53 amlove the color blue on the flag wall…do you mind sharing?
Emily Clark says
March 13, 2015 at 9:49 amYes–it’s by Colorhouse. Link in post :)
Shannon [Our Home Notebook] says
March 13, 2015 at 8:58 amI love the framed flags. Such beautiful, meaningful art!
Gwen, The Makerista says
March 13, 2015 at 12:39 pmLove the color and crisp white against the dark wall!
sherry hart says
March 14, 2015 at 7:21 amHa…what don’t I love about this room:) The color of those walls with the flags and that desk….gurl…..you just have “it”!!!
Beth Barden says
March 18, 2015 at 7:48 amI LOVE this!! I wouldn’t touch that desk either!!
emily says
March 21, 2015 at 7:41 amfantastic idea. i love the graphic style and the mini size of the flags. what a fun corner!