Katy Perry is as sizzling as a hot summer night (musically, inspirationally, visually and conceptually). She’s been everything from a Prom Queen to a Vamp-Goth to a sexy “nerd”. Her promotional images for her Teenage Dream album really captured her style perfectly. The “California Gurls” pop-star wore a Bettie-Paige style purple wig, a multi-coloured rubber bikini (avec candy adornments) and her feet were encased in a pair of chunky haute designer heels. So what does that say about a Katy Perry inspired bedroom design? Well, it’s all about colour, colour AND more colour, especially “feminine” colours like bubble gum pink, honeysuckle, fuchsia, lavender, and cream (just like the whipped cream that tops off a delicious Katy Perry sundae from her music video!).
One thing that Katy can’t get enough of are animal prints, whether it is a leopard print, cheetah print or zebra prints (just to name a few). In the spring, Katy ventured out in New York City wearing a yellow cheetah print D&G dress with black lace on the trim (that is not available to buy anymore!). She also claimed that her favourite present that she ever received was a leopard-print coat. But although leopard and zebra prints can be trendy, overdoing it on the prints can make your room go from elegant to cheap very quickly. You’re designing a room with Katy Perry in mind, not a bedroom for one of the cast members of InStyle’s hit show Jerseylicious, so keep the tacky for “The Shore”. As well, why not use something that is a little more trend-forward? Ikat patterns are an interesting and colourful print that can add an unexpected touch to your home décor. You can find these designs in almost anything: chairs, bedspreads, blankets, pillows, or curtains. They add an exotic feel and an element of fun to any space and when someone asks where you got that hot cheetah print, you can say it’s an ikat pattern, not cheetah, “honey”. They will certainly spark up a conversation or two in your new Katy Perry Bedroom! However, you can add the animal prints through a sexy LUX faux fur throw for the end of your bed and leopard silk ribbon to edge your lampshades.
When creating a Katy-themed bedroom, don’t forget about pretty florals and splashes of colour, just not traditional floral prints, think outrageous colours and bold and zany prints. Remember the overall sense you want to achieve in your Katy Perry inspired space is a warm and wicked sense of whimsy. One thing that comes to mind is the cover of Perry’s Teenage Dream single where she is every boy’s teenage dream perched upon a fluffy bubble gum-coloured pink cloud. For paint or wallpaper colours, I would suggest warm shades of lilac, coral, and of course, bubble gum pink. These colours are sexy, feminine and flirty – all words that describe Katy very well. Try mixing them all in your space by doing one wall in each colour and the 4th wall in cream, then take a thick chunky stripe of the cream (about 3ft thick) and take it across the other 3 coloured walls horizontally about 1/3 below the ceiling to unify the room and ground the bubblegum palette.
I was also inspired by the outfit that Katy wore on the July 2010 issue of Billboard magazine. On the cover, Katy is covered with flowers from head to toe. So why not follow Katy’s lead by incorporating gifts from Mother Nature into your design scheme? For example, a vase full of pink peonies will make your bedroom feel warmer and more inviting – especially since cold weather is just around the corner and fun/flirty Katy would approve of adding pom-poms in vivid colours of yellow, light blue and pink. Think an Easter basket…but more chic! You can create an arrangement out of the Pom-Poms by grouping them enmasse in a bold sculptural vase. For wall Art find your favourite Katy photo, poster or print and cut it into a dozen or so random sized pieces and frame each piece individually and then group them together on the wall to create the look of modern Art.
Now, Let’s talk about adding even more theatricality and drama to your space through the creation of a canopy. They will add needed verticality to the space as well I think it’s every little girls dream (and many boys) to have a canopy bed (although some may not admit it, it’s probably a dream of many “grownups”). If Katy Perry is one thing, it’s definitely a Princess (she did marry an Englishman, after all!). To top off your Katy Perry inspired bedroom add a canopy over your bed with 10 yards of fabric – find something silky and shimmery to really finish off the look. I prefer a solid colour in your palette and then add some lurid floral and zany animal print cushions. A canopy is very easy to achieve: just put a nice stable hook on the ceiling at the centre of the bed and then let the fabric halves billow from the centre down. If you search online, there are even more detailed instructions for creating your own canopy effects, just type it into your browser! While you’re at it, add a plush headboard that really finishes off that princess feel. I prefer something tufted and overly tall (between 5 to 6 feet in height) and make sure your bedding is sumptions and very tactile with various forms of texture both visually and physically. Teenage “California Gurls” can be princesses too, right?
So next time someone asks you where you spent “last Friday night”, hopefully you’ll say it was in your new Katy Perry inspired bedroom!