Making a House a Home

In part two of our look at the feel of bedrooms we take a more in depth look at changes that can help you relax.

Maybe you have a bedroom design that is immaculate, modern, and beautiful. But is it comfortable? It’s important that a room still feels like home, and an easy way to achieve this is by adding some creature comforts. Some personal bedroom decorations add individual character to a space and make it more relaxing. Add some comfy pillows to the bed not only to create an interesting texture but also to add a relaxing impression to your subconscious as you go to sleep. Buy a bookcase and add some personal artifacts, photos and knick-knacks. An item or two of carfully selected artwork or even an original work of your own on the walls can take your mind off the day’s stresses. A mirror can give the impression of space in a small room.   In short, just add anything to make the room feel more complete and personal, and therefore more peaceful as well.

How about the floor? If you have a natural wooden floor you will know how difficult it is to keep quiet when walking about.  If you have to get up in the dead of night, or maybe come in after a late shift, the last thing you want to do is wake your partner. A nice deep pile carpet will deaden all but the clumsiest of footfalls.  If you’re loathed to cover up those beautiful 19th century oak timbers, then a well positioned rug will help.

The curtains you have can make a huge difference.  A good lined set will keep out streetlights and the dawn sunrise. They will also help to muffle sounds, and keep out those pesky drafts.

Finally, a complete solution would be to also replace your bedroom furniture. Metal or plastic covered furniture can look very stylish, but my advice would be to steer clear of them in a bedroom situation as they are often harsh and sharply angular. A much better option would be solid wood furniture, which is natural and has a softer, warmer feel to it.

Hopefully these posts have helped with your bedroom design and you will be sleeping soundly in the future.

In this first part of our look at bedroom ambience we explain why you need a relaxing bedroom and give some tips on quick ways of creating this.

We spend about a third of our life asleep. Is this a waste? How can we fritter away all those precious hours every day? It’s not the waste of time you may think though. We live busy lives: long hours at the office, a family waiting at home, combined with the other burdens of daily living: bills, cooking dinner, shopping, housework, etc. Sleep is absolutely essential. However, recently, people have been breaking this age-old cycle by only getting a few hours of sleep a night, and this sleep deprivation harms you physically, emotionally, and mentally. Many people skimp on sleep due to some form of insomnia, and though this may seem like a medical condition, it is often environmental as well. Which means your bedroom design may have something to do with your lack of peaceful sleep.

Sometimes your bedroom decoration simply needs a change of atmosphere to make it more comfortable. If the room looks a bit unfamiliar it may help to create a get-away sensation: a holiday in your own home. You could add a new piece of bedroom furniture, but the easiest way to achieve this feeling is with a quick lick of paint. Often cool colors are a great way to produce a relaxing feel to the room, such as soft pinks or light blues and greens. You don’t even have to re-paint the entire room to make it look different. Create an feature wall by painting one wall a different shade from the other three. Or simply paint the skirting boards, doors or the molding around the ceiling an alternate colour. Little changes can make a big difference.

Following on from our previous post, here are more tips on selecting the perfect bedroom furniture: Think Space and Storage By now you’ve probably noticed a theme coming through here: even the most beautiful bedroom furniture set can make a room feel cramped and uncomfortable if it’s overdone. The best way to avoid this is to look for furniture solutions that provide both looks and storage. Platform beds, for example, offer ample storage space underneath either in open space or built in drawers. A shoulder height chest of drawers provides more storage space in the same area than a normal dresser. And a bedside chest with drawers and cabinets is always a better choice than a small end table. How about a wardrobe with drawers underneath? That’ll give you somewhere to put those shoes that you keep tripping over! Generally when it comes to bedroom design, more storage in less space is the way to go. It will mean you’ll be able to enjoy the furniture you do have more, and because you’ll have ample storage space for your needs, you won’t be constantly fighting the clutter and inconvenience that is so common when you run out of space to put all your stuff. Take Advantage of Expert Advice When it comes to designing the perfect bedroom for you, there are two resources you’d be remiss not to look into. The first is a good interior decorator. They are more than skilled in optimizing space and beautifying rooms at the same time, and you’d be amazed how valuable their services can be. The second is a good furniture supplier. In my experience there’s nothing better than unvarnished solid wood furniture. It will stand the test of time, need very little cleaning and bring a natural relaxed feel to any room (not just a bedroom). Take care to choose good quality pieces and avoid chipboard or veneers. Both professionals and their services are well worth the extra investment in the end. Other considerations should include flooring, lighting and colours.  These topics will be covered soon, so keep checking back.