Help me design 'a room of my own'

[fruitstick]

We now have a spare bedroom. I have decided that, in a house full of boys, this room is going to be my office / guest bedroom.

I have bought a painted white desk and a painted white bed. There are also some white painted cupboards so I think that's enough white!

the room is Magnolia at the moment and has no curtains.

I need curtains, bed linen and (maybe) wallpaper/paint that is feminine but not too flowery, Laura Ashley.

Where I will feel at peace but guests won't think I'm a complete fruitcake.

What are your favourite colours? How much light does the room get? Do you have any pictures/artwork you want to hang in there and is that likely to have an impact on your colour choice? What sort of flooring is there, is that likely to stay?

I'd definitely ditch the magnolia but then I like quite an, ahem, strong pallette.

The carpet is a neutral beige colour. The room is south facing with big windows so gets lots of light.

I think I'm probably just going to have photographs on the walls.

I like blues and greens although our sitting room is going to be green. I love all those teal, turquoise colours but fear they may be a bit naff now. I keep seeing turquoise satin everywhere .

Oh good, I was thinking blue would go well with all that white wood. How about Lulworth blue on the walls (sorry, am another F&B maven) and go for that Swedish rustic style: in my mind's eye that means large checked fabrics in navy or naive embroidery on simple cream backgrounds. The furniture should have strong shapes and white wood plays a huge part in the look. The photographs could be mounted on white card and put in white wooden frames. It's feminine without being at all flouncy or girly.

We have something similar in our spare room - square, lots of light, painted white double bed and magnolia walls - but Dulux magnolia which is much more buttery than cheapo stuff.

I did this room on a complete budget hence why it's pretty plain but I jazzed it up by rummaging in curtain exchanges for 70s american floral prints - sounds vile but it's really pretty. I also added a beautiful handmade quilt from Etsy and some lovely handmade cushions also from there. We have shaker style pegs on the wall and a really beautiful arts and crafts beech wardrobe with a rocking chair - it's not overly girly but pretty feminine.

In terms of your space, you need to make it functional so you have a reason to go hide in there... Study space sounds good, can you hide storage for files or laptop in there? Also I'd suggest a lock on the door (this probably makes me a bad mummy but frankly I need some peace sometimes!!)

Ooh, lala I think that might be my favourite colour

That looks lovely.

I like the idea of vintage prints too. Seventies might work. Can I ask what a curtain exchange is?

It will have room for a double bed and a desk in the alcove. I'm thinking of building some shelves above the desk for files, books etc.

I ummed and ahhed about a sofa bed or day bed to give myself more space but then realised I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about guests finally having a proper bed to sleep in, after years of having to crash on our scummy futon in the sitting room.

Fruitstick, a bit off topic, but does this mean that you have bought a home or are you making your rental more homely?

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!!!!!!!

We sold when noone in their right mind was selling and have now bought when only a fool would consider it.

The property market now has permission to plummet like a stone

I'm so pleased to hear that you bought a house - when did you move in? Is it really fab?

If it's any consolation we sold in Summer 2009 and bought Sept 2010. Hopefully because it's a forever house it will be worth what we paid for it by the time we come to sell it!

Curtain exchanges are where people can swap curtains - hunt hard because they are hard to find but incredibly useful!