REDECORATING A PURPLE ROOM

Dear Jellybean,

My room is all purple, my used-to-be favorite color, I LOVE frogs and I want to change my room, but I'm a freshman in High School and I'm going to college at Texas A&M. My mom says I shouldn't decorate it because I will just be wasting her money and I won't be in my new room for long anyway. What should I do?
-Decorating Drama Queen

Dear Drama Queen,

A couple of years seems like a long time to me, actually. But I guess your mom has a point too - who wants to be left to redecorate a froggy-themed room, after the frog-lover has left the nest?

There's definitely room for compromise, and at least some redecoration, here. If your mom's not a big purple lover, you could respectfully point out that she'll probably want to repaint that room after you move out, anyway. Maybe she's got her eye on that space for a new home office, or a guest bedroom, or a TV room.

Why not suggest that your mom choose what color to repaint the room now, instead of waiting until after you leave for college? She picks the color, you help do the painting, and you've got a new base color to work with. Plus your mom has one less thing to worry about - and take care of - later. And, no more purple, which you're tired of anyway. Everyone wins!

Then, it's time to layer your frog theme on top - but in a removable way. How about a spring garden theme (that's where frogs are found, after all, in the great outdoors), with froggies as accents? You can make it work with almost any wall color, including white. Here are some quick how-to's for achieving that theme in a cute but temporary way:

Decorate walls and furniture with "Wallies" stick-ups (they're gorgeous, easy to apply, and instantly removable!).

Place a watering can on a small table in the corner, sit a wooden birdhouse on your dresser top, and decorate your night table and other surfaces with potted fabric plants and flowers.

Drape gauzy white material around windows, mirrors, even the bed's headboard to create a light and airy look.

Hang pictures or tack up posters with garden or floral themes. Think misty meadows, garden fairies, botanical prints, even pressed flowers and leaves.

And of course, layer on the frogs! Visit your local toy shop for stuffed froggies that you can pile on the bed, and find cute ceramic or clay frogs at the garden center.

Hey, do a nice enough job with the space and your mom might not even have to redecorate when you move out!