A Vibrant Room Transformation: Celebrating Sherwin-Williams National Painting Week with a Purple Paradise

We’re excited to share our participation in Sherwin-Williams National Painting Week! This annual event is a fantastic opportunity to witness talented bloggers and designers create stunning spaces using the transformative power of paint. We admire the creativity and inspiration that emerges during this week, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. Before diving into our project, we encourage you to explore some of the amazing makeovers from previous years. Check out Thrifty Decor Chic’s walk-in closet transformation and Recycle Consign & Design’s incredible chair makeover for a dose of inspiration.

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For the past few years, we’ve tended to gravitate towards neutral color palettes in our design projects. While neutrals are timeless and versatile, this year, we felt a strong urge to embrace something bolder and more vibrant. Inspired by Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple,” we decided to venture into the world of purple! Choosing such a bold color felt a bit daunting at first, but we were determined to find the perfect room and create a space that truly showcased the beauty of purple.

As luck would have it, our three-year-old niece and her parents were looking to refresh her bedroom. She had recently transitioned from a toddler bed to a vintage iron-framed bed, and her parents were in the early stages of planning a new room design. When we suggested incorporating purple into the space, our niece was immediately thrilled! Her mom, Deborah, who happens to be a talented interior designer (but also a busy mom of three), loved the idea. This project became a wonderful way for us to connect and collaborate on creating a beautiful and inspiring space for a little girl we all adore.

Before we unveil the stunning transformation, let’s take a look at the “before” photos to appreciate the full scope of the project.

The room had great potential, with good “bones,” but it didn’t quite capture the playful spirit of a three-year-old girl. Deborah had already acquired a vintage iron bed from Craigslist, which she wanted to incorporate into the design. However, the bed’s off-white color was a bit uninspiring. We initially considered painting it a bright color, but the cold winter weather made spray painting an impractical option. Another challenge was the bed’s size; it occupied a significant portion of the room, leaving limited floor space for play.

Despite these challenges, we knew that a new color scheme would dramatically improve the room’s overall ambiance. We began exploring the Sherwin-Williams “violet” color family, eager to find the perfect shade of purple.

Sherwin-Williams

To streamline the design process and facilitate collaboration, we created a dedicated Pinterest board. Deborah and I began pinning our favorite images and ideas, eventually settling on a color palette inspired by a gorgeous rug from Land of Nod.

Land of Nod

The rug served as a crucial guide in our search for the ideal purple hue. After testing several swatches on the wall, we finally discovered the perfect shade: Wallflower (SW 6281)!

Sherwin-Williams Wallflower SW 6281

Wallflower proved to be the perfect purple because it strikes a harmonious balance between warmth and coolness. Its subtle mauve undertones complement both the warmer and cooler purples present in the rug, creating a cohesive and visually appealing aesthetic.

The room’s dimensions are relatively small (8 1/2′ x 13 1/2′), and it features a chimney bump-out along one wall. From the outset, we envisioned highlighting this architectural detail with a vibrant accent color. The beauty of Wallflower lies in its versatility; its soft and muted tones allowed us to pair it with a bold and energetic color, Ruby Shade (SW 6572), without creating a jarring contrast. The two colors worked together beautifully, enhancing the room’s overall charm.

Here’s a snapshot we captured on our cell phone after the paint had dried:

The difference is truly remarkable! The power of paint never ceases to amaze us. Even with less-than-ideal lighting, the transformation is undeniable. The room immediately felt brighter, more cheerful, and more inviting.

With the paint colors chosen and the rug in place, we were able to focus on the finishing touches that would bring the entire room together. We discovered that simply rotating the bed 90 degrees solved two problems simultaneously: it minimized the bed’s visual impact on the small space and concealed its less-than-desirable color.

When working with vintage pieces like the iron bed, it’s easy to become overly influenced by the piece’s inherent style. We wanted to ensure that the room felt fresh, modern, and distinctly youthful. To guide our design choices, we created a mood board that captured the essence of our vision.

Using a visual aid like a mood board is incredibly helpful because it informs every subsequent design decision. It serves as a constant reminder of the desired aesthetic and style, ensuring that all elements contribute to the overall vision. For example, we initially fell in love with a gold-tiered pendant light, but it was unfortunately out of stock. After lamenting the loss of those beautiful tiers, we decided to explore vintage shopping options. Ultimately, we discovered a stunning vintage orange pendant light with captivating lines that perfectly complemented the room’s color palette.

Given the abundance of color and pattern in the room, we opted for simple and classic window treatments. We chose a classic roman shade from Blinds.com in Lexi White. To ensure our niece’s safety, we selected the cordless version of the shade. The soft-fold style of the shade adds a touch of feminine flair and creates a gentle, flowing movement at the windows.

The room turned out absolutely beautiful! It’s a purple paradise, and our sweet niece is completely enamored with it. Here are the “after” photos, designed to inspire you to embrace the transformative power of purple paint in your own home:

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Source List for the Purple Room Makeover

For those who are curious about the specific products used in this project, here’s a comprehensive source list:

• Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams’ Wallflower (SW 6281)
• Accent Wall: Sherwin-Williams’ Ruby Shade (SW 6572)
• Roman Shade: Classic Roman Shade in ‘Lexi White’ (soft fold, cordless) from Blinds.com
• Rug: Aztec Support Rug (purple) from Land of Nod
• Pendant: Vintage find from Succotash
• Artwork: Coco de Paris
• Frames: VIRSERUM from IKEA
• Duvet: In the Mix Duvet (pink) from Land of Nod
• Throw Pillows: A mix from Target and HomeGoods
• Book Shelving: RIBBA Ledge from IKEA
• Iron Bed: Craigslist
• Mirror: HomeGoods
• Desk: MICKE from IKEA
• Desk Drawer Pulls: Jardin des Plantes Knob from Anthropologie
• Schoolhouse Desk Chair: Vintage find from Hunt & Gather
• Modular Shelving: EXPEDIT from IKEA
• Bedside Lamp: Tripod Metal Table Lamp from Target
• Boxed Display: Geo Wine Rack from Target
• Bench: Threshold Woven Jute Bench from Target
• Basket: Threshold Woven Jute Basket from Target

A huge thank you to Sherwin-Williams for including us in National Painting Week! We are honored to be a part of this inspiring event.

This post was sponsored by Sherwin-Williams. All opinions expressed are our own.