I'd paint the paneling white for sure. In your pictures, the paneling makes it look like an institutional hospital kind of place.

I think all one color including the trim on the bulletin board.
Have you given any thought to embracing the bulliten board and facing the desk to board?

You could go many ways with this, but I would use two colors, one for the bulletin board and one for the upper walls. I would not paint the the bulletin board frame and the paneling. There are products on the market to clean and enhance the color of the paneling.

Have you considered using bulletin board paper? At my school we have fadeless and it looks great. You can change it out easily if you get tired of the color. Of course in our district, we aren't allowed to paint walls or anything...except for the art teachers who seem to be able to get away with it! :)

I agree it looks very institutional, but I think my lovely hospital green has something to do with that. The paneling reads more like the top picture in real life. It's almost grayed.

I would love to paint the paneling white, but it's used in the entire interior of the school. I think I need to have the job awhile before I ask about painting it. I hadn't considered using an enhancer of some sort on it. I could probably get away with that.

I'm thinking of a richer green on the bulletin board with a vanilla-type creamy color above. A green similar to this, which is BM Hearts of Palm. I saved this picture here a long time ago, but I can't remember whose room it is.

Sorry, cyn427, I cross posted with you. This space has been the principal's office for years, but they've moved him out and now it's mine. I'm going to be the head secretary. It's a simple job, but I'm very excited about it.

I'm not familiar with bulletin board paper. Someone suggested fabric, but that would be a ton of yardage. I considered buying curtains and using the fabric.

I start work in two weeks and it has to be done before then, so I'm under the gun.

Fabric would be really cute and most all fabric stores have a clearance table where you could get a nice looking cotton for very cheap. That's where I got my curtain weight fabric for our kitchen, 7 yards was only 14.00.

Hi again. Most schools provide paper to their teachers. I bet if you ask, there is a place where your school keeps it. Ours is on a contraption that thats you roll out as much as you need from the full roll and cut it off. Quick tip-if you have it there, always start with the bottom-paper is usually not wide enough, so you'll need to cut two lengths and overlap them. If the 'seam' is nearer the bottom, it is less noticeable. Also, it is easier with help to get it smooth, but I have done it by myself plenty of times.

wow-secretary-from my experience, you will be one of the most important people in the school! There is nothing our secretary can't help with and I imagine you will be the same! Hope you love it...oh, and practice taking deep breaths :)

I don't know if I would do the BM Hearts of Palm. It seems like the color you paint should be more in the color scheme used by the age kids you are with. The hears of palm color seems like a very grown up color and not something an elementary/high school student would relate to. You said this is not going to be a classroom, but it still seems to me that I would try to do a color the kids would like. I think the wood paneling around the bulletin board would look the best utilizing one color for the board, and another for the wall.

Sarah, no advice to add to the great suggestions, but welcome back! I remember you did a house several years ago, and I loved reading and seeing everything you created.

What a nice surprise to see your username back on the forum. Good luck with the new job. Sounds like you might be a teacher? IMO one of the most important jobs in the world. Actually anything to do with teaching is a noble calling (she said, speaking objectively as a college administrator :).

Ann

Hi there:)

If you want to look into fabric more, I found great bargains in WalMart, if you have on nearby that has the fabric section.
And like cyn427 said, you will be the most important person in the school. Good luck and have fun.

I was assuming you were in your own home - had bought an old school....
Having your back to incoming students and visitors was not the best advice!

I used Hearts of Palm in an upstairs game room, and LOVE it. Fresh and happy. No neon quality to it at all. No harshness either. -I'm thinking it's a SW color though...

I notice there's a medium blue in the hallway and wonder if perhaps that's a school color? Whatever you do needs to coordinate with what else is in the rest of the school so they tie together...not that the green won't, but just needs to be the right shade to do that IMHO. You might even incorporate wall hangings that include the school logo or something similar. Good luck with your new job and hats off to you!

Another BIG vote for painting the panelling in fresh semi-gloss (for easy wiping) white.

I would add burlap to the bulletin board. And then some great prints of herbs around the walls.

Yes -- do have your desk face the doorway.

Add a lamp (or two) to the desk for warmer (and more calming and welcoming) light.

Add old photos of the school throughout the years to the top of the bulletin board -- just for fun!

And don't forget to add a poster that says: "Keep Calm and Carry On" LOL! :) Just teasing! :)

Congratulations on your new job! I like it better with a separate colors on the bulletin board and wall above, but colors that coordinate better than the ones that were there before.

If the paneling is grayish, I don't think I'd go with a green paint.

Another thought if you have the time, would be to starch fabric on the paneling and bulletin board. But it would show every groove so a pattern would hide it best.

What would look really cute (to me, not necessarily to anyone else) would be to decorate the bulletin board with colorful paper picture frames so you can stick things in the frames, either pictures, notices, or whatever.

Good to "see" you again! Best of luck in the new job.

It's nice to be remembered. Thank you. :) I've been lurking for eons.

Well, I took the scary plunge and painted inside the bulletin board green today. It's not Hearts of Palm specifically, but a similar concept. My neighbor has it in her kitchen and poured a little sample into a jar for me. I'm calling it "Neighbor's Kitchen" - haha. The custodian walked in and said, "Oh that's soooo much better!" So I guess that's good. I'm thinking of painting the top half a putty-type neutral. I'm not a fan of tans or light browns, but almost a grayed down version. I can see it in my head and I really hope it's not a huge mistake.

Most of the school is indeed done in blues, but if I have to look at blue all day long I will lose my everloving mind. ;) I'm a color girl and I live in the gray Pacific Northwest, so happy is a must. There are rooms in the school painted purple, brown, etc, and my office is behind a closed door in the back of the reception area, so I'm going green. The principal said any color I wanted. I'm taking him literally. :)

I'll post a picture tomorrow after I get the top half going.

How nice that you have the opportunity to personalize your space with blessings from the principal! Sounds like a lovely start to a new job - congratulations to you. Looking forward to seeing what you do.

SInce you went with the green for the bulletin board, I am thinking an orange for the top....What do you think?

After 18 hours spent painting and repainting, I'm finally happy with the colors. I know this is too much color for many, but I truly love it. The real color is somewhere between the faded out wide shot and the very bright close up. I went with a vanilla-type neutral above, and it's just right.

The little mock-up with the lamp and the plant is just an idea of where I want to take this. I can ignore the paneling for a year. :)

Looks much better. Congrats on your new job!

Much much better. I think you are going to be happy there.

Oh that looks wonderful! I wish we could paint our rooms at school-the district is having them all painted this summer. Color? Um that'd be white. :(

Love the lamp and pictures and plant, too. You will have everyone coming to see you just to enjoy the space!