Military Housing Decor: Creating Color Within White Walls ~ Bedroom

Military housing isn’t always pretty. It’s a fabulous option that we have as military dependents, especially in the crazy So Cal rental market, but I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s basic and bright and it’s usually white. Very white.

So, since moving into our rented space I’m on a mission to make our white house a home. And this post is just the first in a series about how I’m putting a little color back into our lives! You won’t find big expensive overhauls or all-consuming rennovations. With a full-time job, 3 kids, 2 dogs and a hubby who’s often gone I get to decorate in realistic way and hopefully it will inspire you to spruce up your own humble abode.

So, back to how I’m creating color. I’m using paint. It’s the obvious choice for many, and at $20 a gallon it’s a pretty cost effective option. However, when home is where the Navy sends you slapping that Bayer up on the walls is not always on the list of approved actions. And even if it is allowed where you are it’s not always worth the hassle of getting your paint approved, nor is it exactly the best choice when you know you could be moving on again in the not so distant future. Instead, I’m painting everything else.

The first project I tackled was our master bedroom. My husband didn’t get a chance to see our new place before leaving on deployment and I wanted him to return and find color and comfort, instead of a simple sterile space. So I got to work on my furniture and fixings.

I found two wood & iron wall hangings in the clearance aisle of Homegoods. Reddish pink and sky blue weren’t really what I was going for, but the shape, feel and size were perfect. For about $20 they were worth the investment, even though some changes had to made.

They’re meant to hang vertically, but turned on their sides and covered in just ONE coat of grey spray paint and hung together they became a headboard!

Clearance aisles at discount stores and hardware stores are great for these sorts of projects, the garden department can yield great finds too! Remember, colors and purposes can be changed. All you need is the right shape and size and ANYTHING can be a headboard. I’ve seen curtains, mantels, doors, painted plywood, shutters and more. What did you do to add visual interest to your bedroom?