The following post is from Lindsey M. Roberts, a design & décor writer:
source: West Elm
The bedroom is the foundation for how the rest of your house feels, and even for how you sleep and how you start your day.
And even though I knew this, my husband and I still worked on the public rooms first. I’m here to tell you, don’t do this! Why? Because you are worth it.
Your bedroom is the heartbeat of your home.
1. Choose the best bed frame for you
If the bedroom sets the tone for your home and your stress levels, the bed sets the tone for the bedroom. Choose a style for your frame that goes with the rest of the house, and a frame that centers the room—whether that’s a metal frame, bed skirt, and headboard, or an all-in-one wood or metal bed.
2. Maximize your layout
Center the bed against a wall, away from the flow of traffic, and in a way that maximizes windows and views. Also consider symmetry—two matching nightstands and lamps create the kind of serenity that makes for good sleeping.
source: Pottery Barn
3. Light for multiple tasks
Lighting is challenging in a bedroom, because it should be able to be both functional for tasks such as folding laundry and reading in bed, and soft and dim for naps and winding down for the evening. So make sure that you have direct overhead light and direct light for reading, but also shades that diffuse light softly for a nice glow. Dimmers can be useful, too. Multiple points of light is ideal.
4. Think about comfort
Textiles mean so much to a bedroom, from crisp sheets to warm blankets to soft rugs underfoot. And these items are the main source of comfort in a bedroom. Make sure that your mattress, sheets, and pillows are comfortable to you. I think that’s more important than rules about thread count and pillow thicknesses. And a large rug under part of the bed does wonders!
source: CB2
5. Declutter and accessorize
To declutter and accessorize sounds contradictory, but the goal is to find that balance between overcrowded and bare. Clear the surfaces and make sure that everything has a place; consider storage boxes and baskets to tuck things away. And then attend to the accessories: hung art, jewelry arranged deliberately, water carafe on the nightstand, throws and pillows to pull in the color palette and style of the room.
Underlying all of these tips is the goal of choosing what you like and making your bedroom work for you, to make it a place where you can be restored.
What do you find are the challenges in decorating a bedroom?
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Lindsey M. Roberts has covered design, décor, and homes from Washington state to Washington, D.C., writing for publications such as Seattle Homes & Lifestyles, Apartment Therapy, The Washington Post, Preservation and Architect magazine. |
