Decorating Making it Yours (MiY)

Making it Yours 15A: Pink Persian-Style Rug

Time for a new edition of Making it Yours! Our tastes change over time and our homes should reflect that, but we don’t chuck everything and start from scratch each time we’re ready for something new. Instead, the things we love get moved around as we reimagine how they might fit into our homes in new ways.

I’ll be using this pink Persian-style rug as a jumping off point for three room designs, showing how one piece can be used in several ways.

Persian-Style Pink Rug, West Elm

So pretty, right? All right. I’m doing this one a bit differently. Normally I pull the whole thing together and only present the three designs, but this time I’m sharing the thought process behind it all. That’s always the part that’s most interesting to me from other people, so I’m hoping you guys are into it too. Let me know how you like it?

First up, I imagined the rug in a fun, girly bedroom with a pink upholstered bed. (I’m thinking this is for a very lucky tween/teenager getting her dream room makeover.)

Pink Upholsted Beds
PINK UPHOLSTERED BEDS: John Robshaw Kerala BedPondicherry Bed with NailheadsNail-Button Tufted Wingback Bed

Between the headboard and the rug, that’s already a lot of look. I would add simple black and white textiles to complement but not compete. A stripe or similar pattern for the window treatments, and then white bedding with a black border and plain white sheets.

Black and White Curtains
Black and White Bordered Bedding
CURTAINS: Emily & Meritt Sweet Scallop DrapesStriped Slate Ikat CurtainsCorben Plaid Curtains
BEDDING: Fieldcrest Classic Hotel Duvet SetThe Linden Black Border Duvet SetHäxört Duvet SetTrio Shale Duvet Cover

Painted black nightstands would be a nice graphic punch amongst all the pink, but I thought the texture of raffia would be a better choice here. The design is already skewing young, and painted case goods can sometimes read as ‘kid furniture’.

Raffia Nightstands
RAFFIA NIGHTSTANDS: Jada Bachelors ChestChloe Side TableRaffia ChestMeade Raffia Side Table

Next, I wanted a wooden dresser to bring in another natural material — something with mid-century lines. As I pulled that into the design though, I realized I didn’t like the raffia nightstands together with it, so those went in a different direction.

Dressers and Nightstands
DRESSERS AND NIGHTSTANDS: Calvin DresserSAIC Sling TableFlynn Bedside TableMatera Side TableGladom Tray TableBexley Nesting Bedside TableTate 9-Drawer Dresser

Yep, better. For lighting, I was thinking white ceramic lamps.

White Ceramic Lamps
LIGHTING: Marlowe Ceramic Table LampFuchsia Ombre LampMerie Table LampSylvia Table LampHerringbone Ceramic Table LampBerkeley Bright White Ceramic Table Lamp

The brushstroke lamp is super cute, but I liked the one with a wooden base here as everything else came together.

Time for art! I don’t necessarily match the art to the room; I look for something that I think the person living with this design would be into. Any of these would be a good fit, and I included a couple of mirrors too.

Art and Mirrors
ART: Floating, Alice GaoPotted Fiddle Leaf Fig, Catherine JonesColorblock, Catherine JonesNina Scalloped MirrorStockholm Walnut MirrorJunius Round Gold MirrorPink Flight, Timothy HoganPierrepont Place Silver FrameHydrangeas — Flowers for Aiden, Lulie Wallace

Then the finishing touches, and here’s how it all came together! The ceiling fan is all about function, and the pink princess phone is all form. Blush pink walls, a pink bed and carpet, and cute accessories make this a pretty girlish room, but there are just enough sleek lines and finishes to keep it interesting. I even snuck that raffia texture back in there as a trio of baskets.

Pink Persian-Style Rug, Making it Yours 14A

  1. Lapa Gloss White Ceiling Fan, Lamps Plus

  2. Striped Slate Ikat Curtains, West Elm

  3. Pierrepont Place Silver Frame, Kate Spade

  4. Trinket Girl Pencil Cup (as a planter), Target

  5. Sylvia Table Lamp, Ballard Designs

  6. The Linden Black Border Duvet Set, Crane & Canopy

  7. Floating, Alice Gao, Offset for West Elm

  8. Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend, Waiting on Martha

  9. Stockholm Walnut Mirror, IKEA

  10. John Robshaw Kerala Bed, Chairish

  11. Pink Tassel Pillow, Kate Spade

  12. Potted Fiddle Leaf Fig, Catherine Jones, One Kings Lane

  13. La Jolla Baskets – White, Serena & Lily

  14. Tate 9-Drawer Dresser, Crate & Barrel

  15. Pink Persian-Style Rug, West Elm

  16. Pink Ground Paint, Farrow & Ball

  17. Pink Princess Phone, Joss & Main

  18. SAIC Sling Table, CB2

Next time, we’ll see a different take on the same rug. I love putting these Making it Yours posts together, but do you like seeing the different items I considered as I worked on it? Is it too much, or do you like the additional options?

Sources & Paint ColorsNeed design help? Let's work together.

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  • Larcrosby
    August 31, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    I’ve always enjoyed these posts, but like seeing the thought process behind it even more. And those curtains…quiet yet interesting. Geez, I love them.

  • Caitlin
    August 31, 2016 at 2:11 pm

    I always love this series! I like knowing the “why” so I appreciated seeing the other options you considered.

  • Andrea Jane
    August 31, 2016 at 3:00 pm

    I love the “why” included in this series. And is it wrong that I kind of want that Target trinket pencil cup even though I’m a few decades past the target demographic of this room design? Ha!

  • Hannah
    August 31, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    I rarely comment, but just had to say THANK YOU for expounding on your choices. I usually don’t take the time to really “take in” a design board that hasn’t been explained; seeing the thought process helps make the design come alive. And that rug! Oh my… yummy.

    • Liz
      September 3, 2016 at 3:55 am

      Hannah stated it well with “taking it in.” I like being exposed to the thought process very much. This reminds me of Emily Henderson’s Style book: you start thinking like a designer by hearing her reasoning for everything. In fact, I’d like this type of commentary all the time!

  • Melanie
    August 31, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    yes yes, thought processes please! I take it all in so much better with more commentary. Beautifully done.

  • Emily Wirth
    August 31, 2016 at 5:06 pm

    Love seeing your thought process and am a fan of all things PINK :)

  • Peggi
    September 1, 2016 at 5:22 am

    I’ll add my “Yes!” to the chorus. I really enjoyed the extra options and thoughts. Informative + pretty!

  • katwachter80
    September 1, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Yes, please! I love the reasoning and analysis! Also, I’m planning on buying a pink, sorta Persian style rug for my master bedroom, which is painted a pale pink, so this is PERFECT timing!

  • sarah1596
    September 2, 2016 at 11:54 am

    The why is awesome! Love the direction you took with this post. :)

  • Mary
    September 2, 2016 at 8:33 pm

    Yes…I like understanding how you picked your items. And I love your final selections.

  • patty blaettler
    September 5, 2016 at 11:27 am

    I love that sofa….source?

  • Jenny
    September 6, 2016 at 1:34 pm

    Yes, on seeing the process! Makes it more interesting:)

  • Kristina
    September 6, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    MiY is my faaaaaaaavorite, no matter what form it takes.

  • Amy
    September 6, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    I love the thought process! So helpful!

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