DECORATING ADVICE : Let Red Rev Up Black-and-White Bath

Question: I’ve installed black-and-white Art Deco tile trim in my bathroom, and I want to show it off. What should I do with the window treatment and wall colors? I live in an old bungalow-style ranch house.

DIXIE KEELEY

Answer: Here’s how to pep up the rest of your room: Remove the valance over your window--you don’t need it. Paint the window trim white. Hang a wall covering of a simple design, perhaps small white dots on a black background. If the dot comes in the reverse (black on white) cover your ceiling with that.

Your towels can be a mix of flame red, white and black. Use a black shower curtain with a white liner, and sparkle up the setting with bright-red shower curtain rings. A series of black glass Art Deco perfume bottles would add a touch of glamour.

Q: I am expecting a baby in February, which means I have to transform the second bedroom of our two-bedroom house from a study to a nursery/study. The room is 13-by-12 feet. Do you have any ideas on how to incorporate a computer work area into this one room? I would devote most of the room to the baby.

SANDRA GORZEMAN

A: In today’s world, many rooms do double duty. I often combine the study with the dining area in small efficiency apartments.

In your case, combining the nursery with a computer work station study will be easy if you keep the colors light and bright. Choose bright yellow for walls, a good color for a baby and a good color for a study.

The work station, files and wall storage area for the baby can be made of white laminate. For flooring, try 18-inch yellow and white vinyl tiles, laid on the diagonal. The changing table should be white also, and your work station chair should be a happy color, maybe bright red or rich blue. For the crib, choose a festive print fabric--maybe carnival stripes of soft blue, yellow, orange and red. At your windows, place bright-red louver shutters.