Pimp my room!

[SanderH]

For some reason, I'm starting to find that my room looks very plain, boring..

Below are some pictures of my room. I don't know if this is the right place.. but I'd like to have some advice on what I could do to make my room look "nicer".


http://i26.tinypic.com/dr8mes.jpg

http://i29.tinypic.com/fm2x69.jpg

http://i32.tinypic.com/wwdq29.jpg

http://i31.tinypic.com/30mtniv.jpg

[guydude193]

Lucky... you have an external monitor. :p
Second thing I noticed, right after your MacBook/Pro. :)

[Mr. lax]

Buddy, thats a nice room already

[pb1300]

1. I would take the stereo off of the shelf, and place it on that shelf by the window. The speakers could go on each end of the shelf, then have the receiver either in the middle, on the side, or on the corner of the desk. Either that, or place the speakers on top of the shelf.

2. I would move the desk to the right just a bit, so the PC can fit to the left side of it, and have the right side open.

3. Some type of artwork over the bed area. Overall, just some color in the room.

4. Long mirror on the back of the door.

[akutad]

Paint would do wonders. But that's me. Grey is a dull depressing color. Looks like an institution. Going with earth tones might cheers things up. $30 of paint would make wonders.

[bbotte]

I would put one of these USB devices on the desk and plug it in to the PC.


http://sale.images.woot.com/Candi,_The_USB_Pole_Dancer8z1Detail.jpg

[Heilage]

1. Get rid of everything you have now, your bed, cupboards, closets and such. You gotta lose the wooden look.

2. Buy new of said items, preferably all in the same color so it all matches. White could be an idea, it would give a nice contrast to the deep red and spike up the gray parts of the walls. Also, a white desk would problaby go nice with that cool chair, which I think you should keep.

3. As for computer devices, take some time to hide all cabling, tuck it all away where it can't be seen. A lot of desks now have built-in or optional cable management systems which makes it look a whole lot nicer.

4. Get some pictures of the walls. Buy some nice art, maybe a painting or if you're into music, buy rare vinyl records and frame them. It would look really nice on those plain walls. Remeber, if you buy something, frame it properly. Everything looks better with a proper frame.

5. Loose the horrible stereo and buy something decent that looks nice. It doesn't have to cost that much, actually.

That's my point of view. :)

[Frosties]

From your pictures the first thing in my mind is to get some plants, any green plants. Too sterile if you have no life in the room.

[ghostee]

- Plants
- Art / Posters
- Get rid of stereo (it's ugly)
- Get desk arm or wall mount for monitor

[jessica.]

I agree, paint. That color is terrible and sad looking.
I would also look into some plants.

[jshelton]

I would put one of these USB devices on the desk and plug it in to the PC.


http://sale.images.woot.com/Candi,_The_USB_Pole_Dancer8z1Detail.jpg

Shut up! They sell these? Where? I will have one.

[SanderH]

I'm afraid painting is not an option since I've just completely repainted my room last summer.

I think i'll look out for some nice plants. Still need something else to decorate my wall with tho..

[Berlepsch]

"Nice to see you again, Mr. Sander. Please take off your shirt and lay down on the couch. The doctor will be with you in a moment."

This is roughly how I feel about the room. Too sterile. In fact, from the pictures, the only thing I can learn about you that you like computers. Aside from that, there is no trace of individuality in your room.

If you are against re-painting, put some large, colorful prints on the wall, gray color alone doesn't work. Also, there is too much fake wood around. At least, spread some carpets on the floor, or even better, put in some good quality laminate floor that will look and feel like real wood. The curtain should go, too. Use a pair of full-length curtains in a warm colour instead to cover those ugly wooden boards next to the window.

On a positive note, keep the chair, the MacBook and the desk lamp, they are cool.

[bc008]

I'm afraid painting is not an option since I've just completely repainted my room last summer.

I think i'll look out for some nice plants. Still need something else to decorate my wall with tho..

A big wall mural on the wall the bed is against would look cool.

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0092486_PE229065_S3.JPG
Click (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70152655)

http://www.pbteen.com/ptimgs/ab/images/dp/products/200929/0001/img94m.jpg
Click (http://www.pbteen.com/products/p3972/?pkey=x|4|1||6|wall%20mural||0&cm_src=SCH)

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/65394_PE176597_S3.jpg
Click (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20114901)

[Mr.Noisy]

I'm afraid painting is not an option since I've just completely repainted my room last summer.

I think i'll look out for some nice plants. Still need something else to decorate my wall with tho..

What about getting a nice decorative reading lamp like this one this guy is putting together, must be from ikea......:)

[Heilage]

I'm afraid painting is not an option since I've just completely repainted my room last summer.

I think i'll look out for some nice plants. Still need something else to decorate my wall with tho..

Allposters.com is a great place for that. You can get framed prints of thousands of classical artworks, drawings, photographs, movie posters... The choice is endless, and you can order to your own specifications too. :)


"Nice to see you again, Mr. Sander. Please take off your shirt and lay down on the couch. The doctor will be with you in a moment."

This is roughly how I feel about the room. Too sterile. In fact, from the pictures, the only thing I can learn about you that you like computers. Aside from that, there is no trace of individuality in your room.

Why would anyone want a room that isn't sterile and impersonal? :eek:

[spillproof]

2 large pictures and/or a wall mural on the wall w/ track lighting illuminating each on the wall where your bed is, tree-ish plant in the corner behind your bed, long fat mirror behind the door. I'm not quite sure what I would do with your computer wall at the moment, as I like it now; maybe a medium sized clock would look nice. The red is bright and has some weird color contrasting going on with the bookcase (as does the closet but we can't do much about that). So, I say chuck teh bookcase and get any one of these awesome shelves (they are in order of my favorite). Or you can keep the bookcase and do some shelving on your computer wall.
ODDA (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10120573), LJUSDAL (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30140037) (which is a frosted glass, goes good with the red or bluegray wall), Lack Strait (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20151309), Lack Wave (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20105628).

[SanderH]

Changed some minor stuff, update pics coming this afternoon!

edit:

http://i30.tinypic.com/eqr2mc.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/r1n0yf.jpg

http://i32.tinypic.com/2jea8w8.jpg

Already looks a bit better, still thinking about the other walls :p

[Firen]

I love simplicity <3

[Heilage]

I applaud your cable management. :)

[Pixellated]

I applaud your cable management. :)
Me too - Because of this thread I am going to remove every electronic item from my room - then put it back again with cable tie galore. :)

[bbotte]

Shut up! They sell these? Where? I will have one.

woot.com will sell them again, be patient, check every morning.

[yoyo5280]

Lights lights lights, and maybe add a colorscheme rather than pale blue and whatever else happens to turn up.


But still miles better than my room in this teeny apartment :)

[dontwalkhand]

Your new setup is much improved! Thank god you got rid of the ricer stereo and the ricer computer ;)

[Heilage]

Me too - Because of this thread I am going to remove every electronic item from my room - then put it back again with cable tie galore. :)

If everyone had their cables sorted properly there would be no war. <3


:p

[doubleohseven]

I love the simplicity too, but now it's time to add the finishing touch.

I recommend painting the walls in a beige colour to add warmth to the room... and depending on the type of beige you pick, it will go nicely with your wooden furniture.

But... if you can't get your hands on a paintbrush, then I recommend buying a motif or decorative stickers to put on your wall. They're simple yet effective. Ikea have a few different styles of decorative stickers; you may like this (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70151000) one, or maybe even this (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00120007) one if you're into floral prints.

Then again, you could buy or frame some photos, but don't clutter up your walls too much! Oh, and depending on how heavy your stereo is, you could have it on a wall shelf to free up some bookshelf space.

[cleanup]

As much as I love hard floors, I like bamboo/hardwood floors with loungemats/nice carpets on them. Not crappy, synthetic ones. Get a nice bamboo loungemat and it'll make everything feel quite a bit more cosy.

Get a lamp, for God's sake.

And a keyboard and mouse, if your MacBook is your only computer now.

Plants.

More things on the wall.

A girlfriend would also make things look a bit "nicer", although that bed doesn't look terribly big. :p

[SanderH]

K, so I definately need some plants :)..

Which size are we looking at? Just some little plants to place on a shelf, or a pretty big one to place on the ground?

[jcrazyjj]

Me too - Because of this thread I am going to remove every electronic item from my room - then put it back again with cable tie galore. :)

i want through like 50 cable ties doing my setup and i can still see alot of cables cause my desk sucks. i dont have any place to have cables i have to zip tie em to the legs and cross bars. it cleaned it up alot but still not to my standards.

[vansouza]

Like your changes... Why are PCs so huge and ugly?

[SchneiderMan]

1. Get a new non white chair
2. New modern desk, maybe from ikea
3. Change the floor, if you cant do that get a nice thin carpet
4. Put some non white curtains on
5. Get a floor lamp for the corner
6. Put a nice colorful non white border picture up.

[jcrazyjj]

1. Get a new non white chair
2. New modern desk, maybe from ikea
3. Change the floor, if you cant do that get a nice thin carpet
4. Put some non white curtains on
5. Get a floor lamp for the corner
6. Put a nice colorful non white border picture up.

so essentially you want him to buy a new house.

[SchneiderMan]

^ no?

oh let me add one more thing, first thing you should do is get a little bamboo plant :D

[bc008]

^ no?

oh let me add one more thing, first thing you should do is get a little bamboo plant :D

QFT!!! IKEA mini bamboo FTW

[waloshin]

Change out the desk for a white one or get a very natural wood colored desk:

Light like this one: http://i.treehugger.com/files/yhst-28355172338643_1864_128151720.jpg

For a plant: The bonsai plant!

[alexlovesmacs]

+1 for the bonsai:p

If you want to save some cash I suggest painting your desk black it would look great. the buy lamp and a nice rug.

[JacobC1983]

I can't believe nobody in this thread told this kid to get a TV.. a wall mount TV is an awesome way to spice up a bedroom as well as spending money on something you actually want.. instead of a stupid plant or some chinsy furniture you are going to end up throwing away anyway.

[SchneiderMan]

I can't believe nobody in this thread told this kid to get a TV.. a wall mount TV is an awesome way to spice up a bedroom as well as spending money on something you actually want.. instead of a stupid plant or some chinsy furniture you are going to end up throwing away anyway.

A tv for the room? thats overrated.. i watch my tv on my mac with a good screen size, that is all you need.
he does have a nice external display thats all he need i think.

[JacobC1983]

A tv for the room? thats overrated.. i watch my tv on my mac with a good screen size, that is all you need.
he does have a nice external display thats all he need i think.

whatever you say.. I will take my 42 inch LCD in my room laying in my bed watching movies over my two 30 inch computer monitors any day, but to each his own I guess. Also, when I think of pimping out my room, I think of best buy, ultimate electronics and audio dimensions, not queer eye for the straight guy

[SchneiderMan]

whatever.. best buy is for electronics not furniture.. have fun wasting your money paying full msrp and tax at best buy..
i have a living room with a sony lcd i dont need one in my room too..

[JacobC1983]

whatever.. best buy is for electronics not furniture..

lol exactly

[Harmless Abuse]

whatever.. best buy is for electronics not furniture.. have fun wasting your money paying full msrp and tax at best buy..
i have a living room with a sony lcd i dont need one in my room too.. =\ I like Best Buy sometimes. For things like televisions, they're awesome. Plus, I went to buy a refrigerator there yesterday, they knocked off $100 and gave me free delivery and haul away of my old one.

Sometimes they're quite nice. For small things like RAM and stuff, they're horrible, but televisions and appliances are good there.

To the OP: I would look into maybe a fern or something. Something easy like a peace lily, or aspidistra, because they're a little different from the bonsai and bamboo, which are really nice, but always in rooms, including mine. Peace lilies and aspidistras are very tolerant of indoor lighting situations, and need little maintenance.

I like the idea of a carpet or rug of some sorts. Something to make the room seem a little more fun.

Am I the only one who maybe thinks red curtains? Something to bring that one red wall over to the other side of the room? I don't know, perhaps I'm being silly because I'm really not good with these things actually.

[Ryan1524]

You need to get more modern looking furniture to fit the paint scheme. And since the paint is a little subdued, you need big, colourful artworks or posters to liven it up a little bit. Add halogen lighting to showcase the pieces. And use table and floor lamps instead of the ceiling lamp.

I also suggest moving your desk next to the window, and have your back face the wall. This will give your work area more natural light, and make you not face the wall when working. Ideally, you should half-face the door. So if people come in, they see your face, not your back.

The bed will then have to be relocated accordingly. It's a weird layout, I know, but I've used this for many many rooms and people have always thought my room looked cozy and welcoming. Mainly because when they come to see me, they see me. And the side effect usually is that my bed is across my desk. And people can sit on my bed as I talk to them from behind the desk.

Here's an example, my room two years ago:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2362/2073840249_ce4ec88f12.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2318/2073839843_937d4248a2.jpg

I know it looks very bland, but I never got around to painting the room or decorating it. Too busy with work. But in General, this is the layout I was talking about.

Here's a better one. The door to the right is the entrance to my room. The bed is behind me (taking the picture).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3464152543_6489826b12_b.jpg

Sorry for the mess, that's what engineering school does to people. I can quickly access my chair and desk from the door, and I also have easy access to my bed. When people come in, they can sit on my bed and still talk to me while I work - instead of having to turn around.

[MattZani]

SNIP SNIP SNIP

Slightly OT, but that Decks xray poster, where? :D

[Ryan1524]

I got it from a visiting poster sale on campus, called Imaginus. But a quick glance at the corner of the poster revealed 'GUSTOIMAGES' and Google found me THIS (http://www.allposters.com/-sp/X-ray-Decks-Posters_i2914416_.htm).

[SanderH]

Already changed some things, also planning on attaching the stereo subwoofers against the wall with these things:

http://tweakers.net/ext/va/159821.jpg

To fill up the blank space on the other wall i'm thinking about adding some stencils myself since i'm just a student and those ikea murals are quite pricy.

I"m thinking about something in this style:

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/17/2009/08/504x_3763530792_eea99ca3a9.jpg

Or maybe I could do something with the "think different" posters.. I don't know why but I really really like the slogan. It just inspires me. The original posters look a bit dull so maybe I could make a stencil of them.. don't know yet :p.

Since it's a pretty big wall I'm gonna need something which is pretty wide. Or I could just hang several paintings next to each other like in the example above.

I'm far from a second picasso so I'm a bit scared of messing up my wall :/

[Perrumpo]

Don't get white furniture. That is the most boring ever, and will not add anything to the room. Also, beige must be the most boring color to paint a room... your paint is fine. If you can replace the furniture, dark brown or furniture would go best in that room with those paint colors, etc. That would really help. The only problem would be the closet. If you don't like dark brown furniture, go with medium/cherry.

Then, some things other people mentioned, like:
plants
area rug
curtains with color
warm lighting
artwork

I'm finally able to revamp my room, too, with replacing the furniture, even, but I'm not allowed to paint, so that sucks.

[benthewraith]

<snipped>

I would complete the red by expanding it throughout the room. Get darker furniture and a queen bed. I would get either red, white, or very dark curtains. But that's just me.

[Perrumpo]

I would complete the red by expanding it throughout the room. Get darker furniture and a queen bed. I would get either red, white, or very dark curtains. But that's just me.

The problem with boldly-colored walls is that you often can't use your boldly-colored accessories. By extending the red throughout the room, you couldn't use red accents on the walls. And imo, red accents on the gray would turn out much better than going with full-out red walls.

[SanderH]

Anybody else who has an idea how I could be creative in some way with the think different posters?

I"m thinking about a stencil.. or something which ressembles the picture I posted a few posts above.

[bc008]

Anybody else who has an idea how I could be creative in some way with the think different posters?

I"m thinking about a stencil.. or something which ressembles the picture I posted a few posts above.

Maybe (http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/gallery.gas?6699) a (http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/faq.gas) Rasterbation? (http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/) :)

[SanderH]

Maybe (http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/gallery.gas?6699) a (http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/faq.gas) Rasterbation? (http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/) :)

I'll give it a try tomorrow :), using this image:

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h184/khemist49/Think_Different__by_Paradise_City_S.png

If I only I could get it installed properly -_-