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A few ideas for the Bedroom

More than a place to sleep and dream your bedroom is a sanctuary and a very personal statement of what you desire in the ambiance and setting.  Do you prefer a bright sunny room where the first ray of dawn in the morning energizes you and sets a cheerful mood for the coming day?  Or perhaps you love to make your approach to the new day in a much slower and subtle way, lazily continuing your dream, keeping the warmth and quiet surrounding you just a little bit longer.  We each have our preferences.

The colors you choose for your walls and decorating have a major influence on the mood you want to create.  So too does the choice of headboard and the bedding you select.  A headboard can often be the focal point of the room so I thought I would share a few ideas with you.

One choice would be to have an upholstered headboard, and there are many, many styles to choose from.  Your selection of fabric can be a soft chenille, leather, linen, printed cotton, velveteen, burlap (a “hot” fabric for 2012) even denim.  What is important is how it feels to you, is it comfortable to the touch.   This is an easy choice, relatively inexpensive and a clever person can do a simple design for themselves.  Many upholsterers and retail stores sell a wide variety of beautiful styles to choose from.

Using a pair of old doors or gates, carved screens and iron fences as a headboard creates a dramatic effect.  The height becomes a strong focal point and the texture of the wood nicely complements soft fabrics in the bedding.  Hanging a large piece of artwork or a textile above the bed will create the sense of a headboard and is very effective.  

In a modern or contemporary bedroom a very interesting choice is to hang corrugated aluminum roofing panels hung horizontally.  Usually just one panel is enough to cover the area with the hardware used to anchor it on the wall becoming part of the industrial design.  These can also be given a finish if desired.  This treatment is also very inexpensive, each panel costs under $20, and again you should be able to do this yourself.  Hang the panel just a few inches above the bed leaving a bit of wall space to frame it out.

As for color think about how you use your bedroom, do you spend a lot of time there in the evenings and prefer a dark enfolding space, one which also works well for those who prefer their mornings to come a bit later.  By choosing a medium to deep shade of color for the walls you can keep the room more like a cocoon, and one that feels quieter.

A serene color scheme using soft neutrals and textures is always a fine choice.  By keeping your bedding, carpeting and window coverings in related colors, you will create a timeless theme.  With a few changes of accent pieces, you can always bring freshness to the room without actually changing the original look.

I strongly suggest that you keep your bedding simple.  You do not need 8 or 9 accent pillows to “dress” the bed, and of course where do you put them each night, on the floor usually.  A much more updated look is very simple.  A tailored bed-skirt if one is needed, the comforter that keeps you warm, a light blanket folded across the end of the bed and just a few pillows used for sleep and to support your head when reading in bed.  This is all you need.  If that is too simple for you, find a lightweight and tailored bedcover that can easily be put aside at night.  Having a bench at the foot of the bed is helpful for this and of course it is always good to have a spot in the bedroom where you can sit.

Include good lighting in your bedroom, with dimmers, and with either wall hung fixtures or lamps on either side of the bed. I’m all for comfort, simplicity, beauty, and practicality too.  We’ve barely touched on all the possible options here, but perhaps I’ve given you a few new ideas.

Mary Courtney has been practicing Interior Design professionally for thirty-five years.  Mary’s work takes her all over the country and she currently is based out of Sonoma.  Mary may be contacted by phone at 707-721-6175, or courtneydesigns@cox.net    www.marycourtneydesigns.com