Teenage Dream: A Bedroom Refresh for the Ocean Enthusiast
Is your teenage daughter dreaming of the ocean? Copy our design and transform her bedroom into a coastal paradise with a refreshing Japanese waves theme. Over the past few years, we have had the pleasure of refreshing our daughter’s bedroom with stunning oceanic elements that brought the sea right into her personal space. Here's how we did it:
1. Peel and Stick Wallpaper: We started by installing a beautiful peel and stick wallpaper from Spoonflower.com featuring a Japanese waves motif. The process was fairly easy. It did take two people to hold the wallpaper and line up the seams, but the end result was worth it. The waves added depth and movement to the room, creating a serene and calming atmosphere. And no need to worry when you want to do another “refresh” to the room — this wallpaper is damage free. Simply peel it off when you’re tired of it! :)
Japanese Waves Peek & Stick Wallpaper from Spoonflower.com ($129 for a 2’ x 12’ piece — try to take advantage of one of their sales before you purchase!)
2. Air Plants with a Jellyfish Twist: To add a touch of whimsy, we incorporated air plants that were cleverly designed to look like jellyfish. These unique plants not only brought life to the room but also tied in perfectly with the ocean theme. They were purchased on Amazon, from 2 Dirty Birds Boutique. The packaging they arrived in was adorable. While I had considered making these ourselves, I felt great supporting a small business and there’s no way my version would have been as cute (or as affordable). The attention to detail is amazing… check out the various colors of sea glass and the Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls. Seriously adorable! To keep your air plants happy, you may want to also purchase one of these cute glass spray bottles to mist them with water. And we also have this air plant fertilizer mist.
2 Dirty Birds Boutique: Handmade Hanging Shell Jellyfish Air Plants with Sea Glass, Swarovski and Freshwater Pearls ($39.95 for set of 4 at time of purchase)
3. Bright Graphic Wall Art: More recently, to celebrate her upcoming birthday, we decided to hang a set of three bright graphic wall art pieces featuring beach cities to add a pop of color and energy to the space. The set comes with nine (9) 8x10 prints and we hung the ones she liked best. The vibrant hues complemented the wallpaper and paint color beautifully, creating a fun, lively look. Don’t forget to purchase your frames, too! We purchased 11x14 frames with white matting for a 8x10 opening.
Set of 9 Preppy Beach Travel Colorful Wall Art Prints, unframed ($13.99 at time of purchase)
4. Glimmer Paint by Sherwin Williams: To enhance the oceanic vibe, we painted the walls with Glimmer by Sherwin Williams (SW 6497). This paint color has a subtle teal undertone that perfectly complements the wallpaper without overpowering it. The result was a soft, inviting backdrop that made the room feel like a tranquil beach retreat. The trim in this bedroom is a slightly off-white, which made this color really work for us. See image below for Glimmer (top left) and a few other close options.
We painted the three non accent walls Glimmer by Sherwin Williams. This color worked perfectly with the wallpaper without overpowering it.
5. Neon Wave Sign: As a recent final touch, we hung a neon wave sign above the bed. This eye-catching accent added a modern flair to the room and served as a perfect complement to the Japanese wave wallpaper. Plus, it’s very “teen” and gives her room an awesome glow at night.
Neon LED Wave Sign from Amazon.com in Ice Blue ($15.99 at time of purchase)
A few things that are still on the WISH LIST:
A new headboard to replace her upholstered headboard with nail head trim (which quite frankly, just doesn’t go with the new vibe). We have our eyes on this one, but we might end up making our own soon. For nearly $500, it’s hard to justify the price. Plus, we aren’t sure how well this intricate design will hold up in a teenager’s room (let’s be honest!). But, it is adorable, isn’t it?
A new ceiling fan to replace the one that’s been here since we bought this house 13 years ago. I light this Boho one and my daughter isn’t so sure. What do you think?
20” Boho Flush Mount Ceiling Fan with Lights ($153 from Wayfair at the time of this post)
According to my daughter, this bedroom refresh was exactly what she wanted. She was very done with her light pink room! By incorporating elements inspired by the ocean, we created a space that is stylish and soothing. Whether your daughter is a surfer girl or simply loves the beach, this ocean theme is sure to make her feel like she's on vacation every day!
