Just browse the Tumblr users' photo blogs for a few minutes and you'll immediately notice one thing: everyone seems to have the coolest and most creative bedrooms in the world! A cool room is kind of an unwritten requirement to be successful on this social network. Users who post lots of self-portraits or take photos of their experiences usually want a camera to proudly exhibit. If yours does not convince you, stop wasting time on the bulletin board of the site envying the most beautiful rooms! With a little time and effort, it's easy to transform your bedroom too without breaking the bank.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Decorating the Room
Step 1. Add a collage on the wall
Curiously, one thing specific that a lot of Tumblr user photos have is having a collage on the wall. It is a collection of images attached to the wall following a pattern or geometry of your choice. They can be personal photos, newspaper clippings, or even original art pieces you created yourself. As for the size, there is no limit other than the wall, so express your creativity!
- For the purpose of this article, let's take a few useful examples. We assume that three guys, Davide, Chiara and Luis, are trying to transform their rooms, impersonal and anonymous, to make them more appealing on Tumblr. By modeling their decor choices, you can get inspired to start designing your room and come up with some cool ideas.
- Let's start with Davide. This guy has a habit of documenting every event he attends, alone or with friends, using his mobile phone camera. Since he will have to move to university in a year, he decides to develop his large collection of shots from the photographer, so that he can create a collage that summarizes his growth. When he goes to collect the photos, he realizes he has enough to cover an entire wall, and that's exactly what he does, creating a sort of photo album.
Step 2. Buy some nice sheets
The bed is the centerpiece of a Tumblr-style room, so make sure it's presentable. Sheets don't have to be expensive - on the internet, no one can tell just how intricate the texture of the fabric is by simply looking at the pictures. They must be clean, free of stains and well matched with other room decorations. If you don't know which color will best suit the room, try to match it with the walls, wallpaper or other piece of furniture. Neutral colors, such as white, almost always work well.
Let's shift our attention to Chiara. Right now, her bed is pretty dilapidated - she's been using an old and worn duvet cover since time immemorial, a duvet that always sheds feathers, and one of her sets of sheets has an awkward stain of cranberry juice that she just can't get rid of. To liven up the bed without breaking the bank, you could buy a new duvet cover (usually much cheaper than a duvet) with a checkered pattern that matches the nightstand and a set of versatile plain, white sheets
Step 3. Hang decorations
Another trend often seen in Tumblr rooms is the use of hanging or draped items. Users many times use flags, blankets, bead curtains, old clothes, quilts and so on, to create makeshift curtains or room dividers. These decorations add a pop of color to the room and can also give you the opportunity to carve out some privacy.
We peek into Luis's room. He is a Peruvian student who is doing a cultural exchange and is very proud of his home country. The first idea that comes to mind? He could hang a Peru flag on the door frame, as if it were a curtain. As long as it doesn't seem like a disrespect to the flag, it's a fantastic way to advertise the great love of his homeland on Tumblr
Step 4. Use lighting creatively
Tumblr's rooms are often illuminated in a particular way, to great effect. It is not uncommon to see Christmas lights, LED strips or other decorative light sources to illuminate in a unique way and create a welcoming atmosphere. Even ordinary lamps can become more interesting using a decorative lampshade or screen than finding in a cheap flea market or deciding to do it with your own hands.
Chiara's family still hasn't removed the Christmas lights, so our friend borrowed a row and placed it on the headboard of the bed. In addition to having a cool result, she now also has the option of using these lights for reading in bed at night. Also, she could put her aunt's old lava lamp on the nightstand to create a vintage effect
Step 5. Buy retro or antique furniture
Tumblr room furniture doesn't have to look like it just came out of an IKEA catalog. In fact, if you're planning on creating a unique bedroom, old and quirky pieces can give you a certain edge. Antique furniture can be used to give the room a sophisticated air, a retro charm or a touch of irony (especially if you combine it with decidedly simple or modern elements). Best of all, used furniture is often much cheaper (although high-quality antiques can be quite expensive).
Davide doesn't have a big budget to invest for the bedroom furniture, so he goes to a thrift shop and for 20 euros he buys an old chair with an eccentric look: it is from the seventies, with the edges of the seat in a bright orange. He decides to put it in front of his modern-style desk, the one where he keeps his computer. Obviously he knows that the two pieces do not match, he does so precisely because they clash so much that they remain etched in the memory
Step 6. Arrange the furniture for maximum impact
It's not just what you have in your room that matters - how you use it is also important. Try to position the furniture and decorations so that they are visible from the corners where you will be taking the photos. The arrangement should make an immediate impression. Also, for your own sake, you need to be sure that the location you choose will allow you to move around easily (there's no need for the room to be beautiful if you continually stumble between furniture).
If you are unsure how to proceed, you may want to research the main theories of interior design. For example, Feng Shui is a Chinese furniture system that explains how to carefully arrange furniture for a pleasant balanced effect
Step 7. Consider a new wallpaper or a work of painting.
If you have the time, money and willpower, changing walls can completely transform the look of your room. However, these projects are very demanding; it means that not only do they require the right knowledge to make them, but permission from your parents or owner is also required. If you hate the walls you have now, but can't change them, don't worry - you can just cover them with decorations.
Luis wants a creative solution to give a touch of personality to the walls of the room, which are white. After thinking about it for a long time, he decided to divide one into thirds by creating a vertical and double red stripe on each side. Once finished, it will look like a huge Peruvian flag
Step 8. Take a cue from Tumblr's coolest rooms to get an idea
While there are trends shared by many rooms on this social network, there is no single correct method to create one. Since each room has its own peculiarities, one of the best ways to find ideas is to simply open the site and get inspired by the images you see. Don't be afraid to imitate the creations of other users, even the best artists have their own source of inspiration. Here is a blog to start with:
https://tumblerbedrooms.tumblr.com
Part 2 of 3: Customizing the Room
Step 1. Stick quotes on the walls that have special meaning for you
When it comes to decorations, a trend that has caught on on Tumblr is pasting phrases on the walls of your room. These quotes are often sentimental or are intended to motivate, but there are also funny or bizarre ones on the site. To make the room reflect your personality, choose a sentence that is meaningful or profound to you.
Davide has always loved a quote from Vince Lombardi that was said to him by his football coach: "Perfection is not attainable, but if we pursue it, we can aspire to excellence". In any case, having decided on the collage as great as the wall, he realizes that he has no more space for the quotation. Our friend thinks creatively: he cuts the photos attached to the walls creating the necessary spaces to glue the letters and write the sentence, managing to create a breathtaking design using the space available
Step 2. Include memories from the past
Over the years, with all the experiences that are lived, it is normal to accumulate trinkets, memorabilia and other small but significant symbols of the moments lived. By taking a picture of your room for Tumblr, highlighting some of these objects in particular, you can give it a unique and lived-in look. Plus, from a simpler point of view, it's a great way to show everyone your coolest stuff.
- Beware of items that could give personal information about you. Do not display items that indicate your real name, address, phone number, or bank details, unless it is a problem for you to show this to strangers who hang out on the site.
- For example, Luis wants to put on his desk an old handwritten cookbook with a leather cover that his grandmother gave him: it's a way like any other to show his love for Peruvian cuisine. However, it would be better to avoid showing the cover, on which it is possible to read the dedication "Para Luis Quispe. Te quiero, Abuela Flores". Having her name on the photo could reveal her identity to anyone who sees her, so she decides to fix it by keeping the book open to a random recipe.
Step 3. Attach posters to showcase your interests
Posters are a way to show everyone what you like, proudly and directly without exposing your identity or having to carefully arrange all your personal memories in the room. Also, as they are usually quite large, they can be used to cover gaps on the walls, which would otherwise look monotonous.
Chiara loves almost all the classics of rock music, so she is spoiled for choice when it comes to posters to hang. On a day of online shopping, he manages to find some old posters on offer: soon, his walls will be filled with images of Led Zeppelin, Allman Brothers and Chuck Berry
Step 4. Proudly display what you read, see and hear
Books, albums, movies, and other entertainment products can show your good taste if you decide to include them in your photos. Try leaving some of your favorite 33 spins on the side of the bed, or take a close-up photo at the bookshelf to proudly show what you love to read!
With her love for rock and roll, Chiara has many albums in her room, which she puts in random order in all the photos, showing off her musical culture. He goes even further: he hangs the covers of his favorite records on the walls
Step 5. Show off your fashion taste by leaving clothes out
Showing off your highlight pieces can be a way to show your personality, but it's also a way to show off your latest purchases. People often use fashion to change the opinion that others have of them or to express their emotions. Sometimes, though, it's just a matter of having nice clothes that fit like a glove. Make sure the clothing you put on display is clean and tidy.
Davide is proud of his style, so he puts a vintage 1970s shirt on a chair before taking a few shots. When you can, leave the closet open as well - there's no better way to showcase the entire wardrobe
Part 3 of 3: Taking Room Snapshots
Step 1. Position your camera or webcam for the best perspective
If you take pictures for Tumblr with an external or built-in webcam on your computer, the trick is to choose the right angle. You don't have the freedom to move around and take pictures as you please with this type of tool, so all the coolest furniture and decorations go behind the desk on which you rest your computer. Laptop cameras offer more freedom, but you still have to adjust to the angles you can photograph through the built-in lens.
Working with these cameras is limiting and difficult, so you'll likely have trouble getting the whole room into the lens. On the other hand, it can work to your advantage if you're willing to put in a little extra effort - trying out different arrangements with the furniture and decorations allows you to create interesting combinations
Step 2. Open the curtains to let in the light
If the sun is shining on the windows in your room, try to open them wide to let in natural light. Daytime shots can transform a gloomy bedroom into a clean, open space. Either way, sunlight can also brighten up less flattering details that aren't visible when it's dark, so be sure to clean and tidy up before taking photos.
Pay attention if you take shots when the room is lit directly. If the light is bright, it can be difficult for the camera to catch detail in the rest of the frame. In this case, placing it sideways or diagonally is preferable. Try taking close-up shots with the object being photographed against a shaded background, not with direct light behind it
Step 3. Use a lamp or decorative lights in the evening
When it's dark outside, make extensive use of decorative lamps and lights. Try to brighten the room enough to catch a good amount of detail. The room doesn't have to be so bright that it loses the soft and warm quality of a suffused space, but it doesn't have to be so dark that the contrast between shadows and lights is unclear. To get the right effect, you need to experiment.
Do not use the flash when taking pictures in the evening. Often, this can result in an intense and uneven effect and bright objects would end up dazzling. Unfortunately, without a flash the camera's shutter has to stay open longer to take the image, which can lead to blurry images. If you can't get clear shots without a flash, try brightening the room more, or use a tripod, so that the camera is perfectly stable
Step 4. Make the most of your space
The bedrooms are sometimes narrow and claustrophobic. Are these the adjectives that come to your mind to describe yours? Try using visual tricks to increase the volume and make it look as big as possible. With the right color choice and good arrangement, your little room will look much bigger. Here are some tips for achieving this effect:
- Use light colors: white, pastel and other neutral shades that can create an illusion of large and open spaces.
- Avoid leaving too many things on shelves and tables: it will create confusion.
- Add mirrors to reflect both light and colors; the room will look much bigger.
- Space the furniture apart to create open spaces on the floor.
Step 5. Use a high quality digital camera for tiny details
To take good quality photos, it is better not to use webcams, cameras built into your computer or mobile phone. Better to focus on a high quality digital camera instead. It's hard to beat the clarity and detail of a good fixture, but keep in mind that it will portray any kind of detail, even crumbs, blemishes and other ugly imperfections. Consequently, you have to keep the room clean to avoid it.
With digital cameras, the ISO setting should generally be below 800 when shooting indoors. Usually, you can manually adjust this configuration. Read the instruction manual to find out more
Advice
- Make sure the room is unique and reflects your personality. Most of Tumblr's rooms are intriguing because they have a touch of originality. Choose quotes that are meaningful to you, images that make you smile, prints that you really like, not just the things you think are good. The room will reflect you a lot more if you use elements that you actually want to surround yourself with.
- The items you have in your room should reflect your interests and talents.
- Use brightly colored or printed pillows.
