How to Make Your Room Look Like Emily Fields' Room

Pretty Little Liars: Emily Fields' Room

Emily Fields is the shy, sweet swimmer of the group.  Her room manages to find the perfect balance between vintage country and preppy chic.  At first glance, the room is light, sunny, and airy.  It's any teen girl's dream room.  

One of my favorite parts of Emily's room is her window nook.  What girl doesn't want a cozy window seat to curl up with a good book in or just watch the world pass by outside the window.  The window seat is kept fresh and young with a simple white cushion and cute white pillows embellished with colorful polka dots and flower designs. 

Above, you can see the light fixture that hangs over Emily's window seat.  Its modern silhouette contributes clean lines to the room, while its polka dot pattern keeps things from getting too serious.

I love love love love love Emily's ivory wrought iron bed in all its shabby chic glory.  Next to the bed, a simple wooden wardrobe gives off a down-home country feel.  Abstract art in pale green and baby blue hangs on the wall above her bed.

Emily's bedding is a girly mix of cottagey white quilts and updated gray and yellow floral prints.

Isn't the room soooo beautiful when the sunlight shines in?  You can really see the pale, buttery shade of yellow on her walls and the crisp white trim throughout the room.  A cute antique farmhouse chair, painted minty green, is situated by the window nook.  At far right, a white bookcase compliments the room's trim.

Emily's workspace is really cute.  Wicker basket drawers in an industrial metal shelf keep school supplies and clutter at bay. 

A traditional-style console table functions as a desk in Emily's room, outfitted with colorful picture frames, a metal desk light, and her wicker bins.  An antique chair, painted crisp white and upholstered with deep pink on its seat, is a lovely place to sit down and do homework.

Emily's room is simple, feminine, and fuss-free.  Perfect recipe for a dorm room or apartment right?   Well, let's proceed... ;)

Bed: Hit local antique and thrift stores for a wrought iron headboard and footboard that you can spraypaint white or ivory for a shabby chic look.  Layer the bed in cottage style bedding---white quilts, lace trim, eyelet details.  Add a few contemporary floral pillows like Emily's yellow and gray ones.  

Furniture: Want a country-chic amoire like Emily's?  A good place to start are unfinished furniture stores.  You can leave the wood unfinished or lightly stain it.  For a desk similar to Emily's, opt for a curvy console or sofa table.  Pair it with an antique chair painted white---or mint green like the chair Emily placed beside her window. 

Window Seat:  Just because you don't have a built-in window nook doesn't mean you can't get the same cozy feel.  A simple bench or long storage ottoman pushed up against the window will work just as well.  Add a soft white cushion and a few folksy throw pillows.  In my moodboard, I placed the bench and pillows at the end of the bed instead... but you could definitely move it under the window.

Accessories:  Focus on simple accessories that are fresh and timeless.  Since I loved Emily's wicker storage baskets so much, I dispersed a little more wicker throughout the room---with a wicker nightstand, under-the-bench bin, and basket on the desk. Pick a bedside lamp with a floral, vintage-inspired base and modern white shade.  To get the same look as the ceiling lamp above Emily's window, go for an extended floor lamp instead.  Cover the modern lampshade with some polka-dotted or floral fabric for a fun diy project.  As far as art goes, pick small pieces that depict flowers and nature.  Make the big abstract piece yourself by painting lines across a big piece of canvas.  Shades of blue and green will look most like Emily's, but you can paint whatever your heart desires! (It is abstract, after all!)  If your room doesn't come with carpet like Emily's does, use a neutral rug to add warmth under your feet

How to Make Your Room Look Like Aria Montgomery's

Pretty Little Liars: Aria Montgomery's Room

Aria Montgomery is the artistic, imaginative, bookworm of the bunch.  So it's no surprise that her room has an artsy, historic, romantic eclecticism atmosphere.  Plus, it's full of books.  My two words for Aria's attic space: Vintage Eclectic.  (Those happen to be my two favorite decorating words... so brace yourself for my soon-to-come swooning.)

Tucked away in the upper-story of her parents' house, Aria's room is full of angles, alcoves, and historic character.  In this photo, you can see how her room is mostly neutral (lots of linen white and latte brown).  There's also lots of texture--the wicker, the woven rug, the hardwood underneath, the soft bedding. 

Aria's room, with its angled ceilings and exposed beams, gives off a secret hideaway or tree-house kind of feel that I adore. Well, a tree-house decked out by Urban Outfitters, that is.  It's a little dark, a little moody, but gloomy in a romantic, vintage, novel-reading kind of way.  I love her three windows and the built-in bench beneath them.  Ruffled curtains (sooo Anthropologie) add feminine flair right away.  The colors that pop up most in this room are rich wine and raspberry hues.

Aria's room is bursting with character, even in the tiniest details.  I love the gold-plated light-switch cover and the vintage sconce above it.  Butterflies and scenic photos adorn the wall behind Aria's big, beautiful, antique desk.  A retro chair bridges the gap between the ancient desk and 2012.  And a metal waste basket lends its galvanized gleam to the space.

As I mentioned up above, Aria's room is full of books.  Books everywhere.  Stacked on the bench.  Lined up in the window sill.  Held on shelves hung over the bed. 

Here, you can see Aria's artwork and easel on her desk... right next a stack of hefty books, of course!  Simple materials and neutral colors---like the linen lampshade and beige bulletin board frame---fade away beautifully in the background with understated sophistication.

In this photo, you can see that the base of Aria's desk-top lamp is the Eiffel Tower.  It's an unexpected and totally whimsical touch. 

Not so dark and gloomy here!  The colors really come alive.  Her bedding is an almost iridescent champagne.  The pillows range from purple to red to pink---but all being lush, juicy jewel tones.

I love the wallpaper in Aria's room.  It's a muted grayish beige damask-style pattern.

 

Now's a good time to mention what I really like about Aria's bed.  It's definitely not a daybed.  It's a regular bed with a beautiful vintage headboard and footboard, but by pushing it up against the wall horizontally... it gives the impression of a daybed.  Lots of pillows lined up against the wall adds to this daybed/bed-nook feel.

I can happily imagine myself dwelling in Aria's room with the damask wallpaper, ruffled curtains, and stacks and stacks of books. But let's talk how you (and I) can bring Aria's unique taste into our domains.

Wrought Iron: Scavenge antique and thrift stores, garage sales, and Craigslist for a vintage wrought-iron headboard and footboard.  (Even if you can't get both... a headboard is better than nothing!)  As usual, be open minded and creative.  Just because it's the wrong color doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it.  A coat of spraypaint works wonders---and you can definitely get spraypaint that looks coppery metallic.  In this room, you could even getting away with mix-and-matching two different headboards.  Push your bed up against the wall horizontally and deck it out like a daybed---lots of pillows, luxurious bedding.  

Furniture: Aria's room features lots of dark woodwork that your dorm or apartment might not have.  So bring in the dark wood with furniture.  A big, dark brown bookcase to display all of your tomes.  Instead of a desk like Aria's, I chose a desk that included a hutch.  The shelves provide extra storage and contribute to the lots-of-dark-woodwork theme.  Don't feel the need to match wood tones... just keep the wood dark and rich.  Pick out a MidCentury Modern chair for the desk---one with curves will contrast nicely with all the masculine angles of the room.

Textile Textures:  Texture adds dimension, coziness, and interest. Bring in a woven rug, neutral in color, to add texture to the floor.  A wicker ottoman provides great texture, plus it can double as storage or additional seating.  And let's not forget the gorgeous ruffled curtains.  Ruffles are showing up everywhere right now---especially in our favorite online shops: Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters.  

Accessories:  While it's probably not feasible to do wallpaper, I still love the Victorian mood Aria's vintage wallpaper gives off.  So instead, wrap a big canvas or foam board in damask wallpaper or fabric for a similar look.  Go for something muted and gray or beige.  The more books you can bring into the space, the more it will resemble Aria's room.  Hang some butterfly artwork.  Incorporate some industrial-style accessories, such as a metal floor lamp and that galvanized waste basket.  Hunt through junk stores for old beaded chandeliers or pendants.  It doesn't have to work--just hang it from the ceiling and enjoy its beauty.  Shop online for an Eiffel Tower base lamp (Target had some for a while).  I threw in a typewriter because I think that's one thing Aria's room should definitely have. ;)

What do you think?  Is Aria's room the perfect hideaway?  Or is it too gloomy or overwhelmed with books?

How to Make Your Room Look Like Spencer Hastings' Room

Pretty Little Liars: Spencer Hastings' Room

Since Spencer Hastings is the wealthy, competitive, intelligent, overachiever of the group... how could I not choose two big words to describe her style: Provincial Contemporary.  Her space combines the antique patterns and provincial furniture of French cottage style with the abstract art and modern furniture of contemporary taste.  

For starters, her bed is dressed-to-the-nines in provincial style.  Her creamy toile duvet is oh-so-French-country.  So are the floral and toile pillows.  Mixing up the color scheme between cream-and-navy and cream-and-red brings an eclecticism to the pastoral vibe to keep it from getting too prim and proper. The art on the wall, being abstract and rough in texture, contrasts with the richly-illustrated toil. 

Spencer's bed is a clean-lined, sleek take on the traditional four-poster canopy bed.  Sheer white curtains soften the stark edges.  The wallpaper in the room is a busy vintage floral, but ends up looking pretty subdued due to its subtle neutral tones of pale taupe, sage green, and ivory.

 The lamps combine two different styles just like her room does: the bold red base reflecting contemporary taste, while the lampshade is a fresh, updated take on vintage.  The bedside tables maintain modern lines, while the mirror surface and shining hardware add a hint of glamor to the space.  A black vintage-inspired alarm clock, floral-patterned box, and color-coordinating picture frames accessorize the nightstands.

This corner of Spencer's room leans more toward the modern spectrum of her eclectic look, but it has tradition at its roots.  For instance, the red leather chaise-lounge is undeniably 21st century... but its structure is the descendent of the centuries old fainting couch that appeared heavily in Victorian times.  The chrome side table is sleek and shiny, but its silhouette is antique for sure. 

To put it nicely, Spencer's desk area errs on the side of creative chaos.  Her priorities are all in full view, and kept a little neater---you can spot her textbooks stacked on the bookshelf and trophies in a line up high.  This space also shows off her artistic side.  A huge fabric-covered inspiration board is jam-packed with paint swatches, magazine clippings, and wallpaper samples.  (Does our Spencer have a future in interior design?!)  All the furniture in the workspace is clean, sharp, and modern. 

 I think Spencer likes to keep two things within sight: her accomplishments and her inspirations.  Here we have some of her awards and ribbons, plus a whole bunch of magazine scraps, paper samples, and fabric scraps.  

Despite the inspiring chaos around it, Spencer keeps school stuff uber-organized on a whiteboard.

A peek at her artsy side.  Lots of color pencils---perfectly stored and perfectly sharpened.  I reeeeally love the paint can with the paint swatch inside of it.  And the photo cube displaying patterned paper instead of photographs---great diy idea, Spence!

Spencer pushes all of her personal and sentimental objects into the desk area of her room.  Here we have photographs and knickknacks surely close to her heart.

Alright! Time for the fun part.  Here's my guide on working Spencer's contemporary-meets-antique style into your dorm or apartment.

Bed: The focal point of Spencer's room is her four-poster canopy bed.  So if you can at all get your hands on one, do!  Check out antique stores, thrift shops, and garage sales first.  (I used to have a vintage cream four-poster I found on Craigslist...)  Be open-minded.  You might find a wooden one that can be painted white.  You might find a plain four-poster rather than a canopy.  Maybe your dad knows how to build one.  If you live in a dorm and have a loft, consider turning your loft into a canopy bed by following the instructions of this furniture hack.  As a last (more spendy) resort, shop online.  Hang sheer white curtains on the canopy bed and on the windows.

Mirror Finish: Mirror-finish furniture can be expensive.  For a while, Target was selling small mirror nightstands at a decent price.  But if you want the luxurious mirror look of Spencer's bedside tables without having to spend a fortune, you have a few diy options.  Spraypaint a plain nightstand with mirror spraypaint (like Looking Glass by Krylon).  Glue small, unframed mirrors (available at hobby and party stores) to the trim of a white nighstand.  Or simply set a plain piece of unframed mirror on top of the nightstand for a mirror finish top.  You could also integrate mirror accessories (or just lots of mirrors) throughout the room to get a similarly inspired look.  

Florals: Since you're probably not allowed to apply wallpaper (thanks to landlords and dorm directors), try to integrate an antique floral pattern elsewhere in the room.  A big rug featuring vintage flowers would be great.  Other ideas would be large pieces of art, floral patterned paper, or draperies.  

Desk: As far as the desk and bed go, strive for clean, modern lines.  Nothing too fussy.  Use a chair that features shiny metal if you can.  The simpler you keep the furniture in this area of the room, the more you'll be able to bombard it with your personality and creative chaos like Spencer did.

Toile: Toile can be difficult to find, especially as a comforter, but the bigger problem is that if not done correctly... too much toile equals granny style rather than French cottage style.  So instead of risking overwhelming a small dorm or apartment with too much lovely toile, I dispersed it throughout the room.  One good option is to cover your big inspiration board with toile fabric.  A toile throw pillow is a good option.  Or even small accessories such as a journal or lamp shade would word.  A little toile goes a long way.

Chaise:  While I wish we could all fit a modern, red leather chaise lounge or couch into our dorms... that's simply not the case. I could have plopped one into my decor board for fantasy's sake, but I decided to share an alternative instead.  You can get the same look and vibe in a smaller package by giving up the chaise for a red leather ottoman.  Plus, it offers storage.  

Etc.: Hang a big piece of abstract art over your bed.  Don't go out and buy this, ladies!  Take a good hard look at Spencer's art.  It's a square canvas (or piece of wood) with stripes painted across it.  Hit your local craft store---the supplies will cost you less than $10 and set you back about 30 minutes. Vintage-style alarm clocks are always around; you can find 'em at an antique store or even Target.  For lamps, focus on a contemporary base.  Don't spend too much for a red one when you can simply paint one red.  A basic white lamp shade will do fine.  Accessorize the room with picture frames, neatly stacked books, your craft/art supplies, and all of your awards and trophies.

How to Make Your Room Look Like Hanna Marin's

Pretty Little Liars: Hanna Marin's Room

Hanna's room is definitely the most feminine and fashion-forward of the four... which isn't a surprise considering Hanna Marin is the popular, fashionable, girly girl of the clique.  Her bedroom fuses sleek modernity with fashionable luxe with perky charm... making for a Cheerful Glam look.

Hanna's color scheme brings together lots of white, beige, and gray... with a bit of pink and red, and then splashes of sunny yellow.  Her bed includes an upholstered headboard and lots of patterned throw pillows.  Her nightstands are shiny, white, and sharp-edged modern, accessorized with feminine lamps and girl favorites like pictures, magazines, and a colorful phone.

Here's my favorite item in Hanna's space: a dress form used as an inspiration board for fashion magazine scraps and clippings.

Hanna's desk doubles as a vanity.  Filled with perfumes, nail polishes, and cosmetics---all kept tidy on pretty trays---Hanna probably does more primping here than homework.  Another (smaller) mannequin inhabits the array of accessories.  A glass lamp gives light.  Flowers freshen up the desktop.  And a funky, ornate mirror tells Hanna who the fairest of them all is.  Nearby woven wicker boxes add storage.  And I love her white chair with its yellow cushion.

Hanna's room also features a second bed---a daybed that she often lounges on.  A huge canvas painted yellow hangs on the wall above as bright, cheerful artwork.  I love the pairing of pink and yellow all over Hanna's room.

Speaking of bright yellow... check out that lamp!  Its base adds a bold pop of color and visual interest to that corner of the room, hanging out among metallic picture frames.

A black and white photograph of the Eiffel Tower hangs on Hanna's wall.

Here's a close-up shot of Hanna's desktop/vanity.  She organizes perfumes on an antique mirror-top tray and keeps track of smaller cosmetics on a square lucite tray.  Just goes to show how organization can be glitzy and glamorous!

The other side of Hanna's desk features another square lucite tray, plus a lily-inspired jewelry stand.

Furniture: Hanna's room is a bit less eclectic than the other girls' rooms... all of her furniture is clean, white, and mostly modern.  For the bed you'll want to go with a headboard upholstered in a white, cream, or beige fabric.  (If you can't find one, there are tons of tutorials for this on the web.) Keep the bedding itself light and neutral.  Opt for nightstands that are sleek and white---same goes with the desk.  Rather than adding a daybed to my moodboard, I went with an armless chair for extra seating.

Pattern & Pillows:  On the bed, add a pink blanket.  Hanna's was a tie-dye floral design, but I love this hot geometric throw.  In your array of pillows, include a pink one, deep red one, and gray and yellow one.  Go with white curtains that have a bit of a pattern to them, like these trellis-printed panels.  If you can't have floral wallpaper, add floral patterns in other ways---for example, a rug or floral-printed furniture like the armchair I used.

Accessories:  Vintage dress forms aren't hard to hunt down if you really look. Antique stores, thrift and vintage shops, and Craiglist are great places to start.  Check those same places for a great, ornate mirror that you can paint pink, silver or lucite trays for your perfumes and cosmetics, plus bright colored vintage telephones to display.  Look for lamp bases that are clear glass or bright yellow.  Keep the shades simple and white.  Bring in some natural texture with some wicker storage bins or baskets.  Hang a statement-making Eiffel Tower print on your wall, as well as fashion-inspired art sketches.  A vase of flowers, pretty pink candles, and your favorite pair of pump amp up the feminine factor.