Storybook Living: Sara Crewe's "A Little Princess" Bedroom

STORYBOOK INSPIRATION:

A Little Princess, with Tasha Tudor Illustrations. $6.99 on Amazon

Should you ever wish to decorate your bedroom like a Victorian-era privileged child's playroom in a fussy British boarding school, here are several decor ideas for you!

COLORS:

THEME:

Warm, cozy, rich, plush with a rosy glow. Think British: teapots, teacups, lemon curd and scones, chintz and florals, a well tended fireplace.

HOME DECOR:

Victorian Walnut Bookcase, at GoAntiques

Brewster Wallcovering Pink and White Striped Wallpaper, at Lowe's

For the bookcase: leather bound Classics of Enchantment, from Easton Press

Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, from Easton Press, on eBay

Sara was to be what was known as "a parlor boarder," and she was to enjoy even greater privileges than parlor boarders usually did. She was to have a pretty bedroom and sitting room of her own; she was to have a pony and a carriage, and a maid to take the place of the ayah who had been her nurse in India.

Sheraton Period Arm Chair, at Ruby Lane

Or if you really can't stand an overstuffed armchair, how about substituting The Grande Duke Chair, still period, comfy looking and fits into the color scheme.

Floral Sofa Slipcover, at Target

"Is it true," Ermengarde whispered, as they went through the hall- -"is it true that you have a playroom all to yourself?"

Tea Table, at Furniture Butler

Pink Tiffany Style Lamp, on eBay

"Yes," Sara answered. "Papa asked Miss Minchin to let me have one, because--well, it was because when I play I make up stories and tell them to myself, and I don't like people to hear me. It spoils it if I think people listen."

Pink Cosmos Oil Lamp, on eBay

Victorian Style Fireplace Hearth Set, on Amazon

...Then Sara suddenly turned the handle, and threw it wide open. Its opening revealed the room quite neat and quiet, a fire gently burning in the grate, and a wonderful doll sitting in a chair by it, apparently reading a book.

So the younger children adored Sara. More than once she had been known to have a tea party, made up of these despised ones, in her own room. And Emily had been played with, and Emily's own tea service used-- the one with cups which held quite a lot of much-sweetened weak tea and had blue flowers on them. No one had seen such a very real doll's tea set before. From that afternoon Sara was regarded as a goddess and a queen by the entire alphabet class.

Malika Persian-Style Rug, at Pottery Barn

Sara's comfortable sitting room seemed a bower of luxury to the scullery maid, though it was, in fact, merely a nice, bright little room. But there were pictures and books in it, and curious things from India; there was a sofa and the low, soft chair; Emily sat in a chair of her own, with the air of a presiding goddess, and there was always a glowing fire and a polished grate.

French Fashion Doll, on Amazon

... Becky saved it until the end of her afternoon's work, because it rested her to go into it, and she always hoped to snatch a few minutes to sit down in the soft chair and look about her, and think about the wonderful good fortune of the child who owned such surroundings and who went out on the cold days in beautiful hats and coats one tried to catch a glimpse of through the area railing.