Archive for the ‘Bedroom’ Category

Ideas for Decorating a Contemporary Bedroom with Bright Colors

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Contemporary design is a perfect choice for decorators who love bright, dynamic colors. While some contemporary design elements focus on clean lines and minimalism in a neutral or black/white color scheme, there is plenty of room for bright splashes of punch color. The bedroom, long seen as a room, which needs to be decorated in soothing, pale colors, can actually be a great place to experiment with bold color. While we all use our bedrooms to relax and unwind, bright colors can help us brighten our moods in the mornings and energize us to face the day. In this article, we will look at five fun and funky contemporary bedrooms, which have used bright, fun colors to create awesome sleeping spaces.

Sleek and Understated
This gorgeous bedroom is a wonderful example of the power of color in minimalist design. Without the painting over the bed and the bright cerulean stripe, this room would be boring and feel bottom heavy. The flash of blue is both a surprise and a delight to the eye; as a result, it makes the room feel lighter and balanced. Waking up in a bad mood in this room seems impossible.

Lighthearted and Funky
This room is an experiment in contrast. The solid white walls, ceiling, bedding, floor and furnishings create a perfectly blank canvas. The decorator has added layers of shades of green, gold and blue to create a very contemporary space with a sense of humor. The mix of old and new materials in the décor above the fireplace, as well as the hodgepodge of styles of fabric used on the pillows and throws in the room create mini-juxtapositions throughout the space. Note the deep turquoise sari fabric on the bed and the black, white and yellow French toile on the bedside lamp. The butterfly mirror, the Eames chair in the corner and the miniature fireplace add a hint of quirkiness and fun to the space as well.

Lofty Ideals
As many individuals and families continue to move into refurbished loft spaces, many decorators are faced with the beauty and the challenge of decorating around open brick. An open brick wall can add so much texture and character to a room, but it can be difficult to keep it from becoming dominant. In this photo, the teenage room owner has created a bold color palette to compliment the brick. Sticking with red, orange and beige with accents in black and white makes the whole room work together. Notice how few patterns are used – brick has a bold pattern already, the solid colors do not compete.

Trendy Chic
This room features an up to the minute color scheme. Apple green, pumpkin orange, chocolate brown and charcoal gray in combination are very hot right now. It is a very crisp, fresh color scheme, which pops against basic black and/or white. The individual who decorated this room made a wise choice about using trendy colors and confined the use to the bedding. Replacing a duvet and sheets when this palette goes out of style will be simple and relatively inexpensive. Adding lots of light keeps the room bright and functional for many purposes.

Shapely Chic
This sitting area demonstrates how to add splashes of color and shape to a contemporary space. The rounded backs on the loveseat and chairs, as well as the bright and cheery round rugs and the fun hanging lights add softness to the hard, square lines of the room. Even the utilitarian light fixture in the center of the ceiling has several circular elements. This room is a great example of how a little color can go a long way in creating a fun, unique space with lots of visual interest.

Online contributing editor for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, Jessica Ackerman has extensive design experience, using tree of life wall hanging and wooden wall hangings.

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Planet-Friendly Bedroom Ideas with Exotic Flair

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

The master bedroom suite is one of the most important rooms in the home.  Determining the best décor theme for the bedroom can be exhausting.  Many homeowners are getting on the “green” bandwagon and going with trendy new planet-friendly bedroom options that yield a bedroom that is not only good for the environment but that is also exotically styled.  The tips that follow can help you plan and implement earth-friendly ideas with a wild and exotic twist.

Texture to the Nines

An exotic bedroom calls out to be touched – whether it is running your hand down the walls of the room or feeling the textures and fabrics used in the linens.  You can add exotic texture to your bedroom walls by using a textured or even a faux finish to provide visual interest and the illusion of depth.  Choose low odor, low or no VOC paint in the bedroom; this will produce less indoor pollution while being good for the environment too.  Not looking to paint? Choose wallpaper instead.  Many homeowners think that wallpaper is an eco-unfriendly choice, but in reality, there are quite a number of very environmentally-conscious wallpapers on the market.  Choose a natural paper like natural grass wallpaper for an exotic flair and untold natural beauty that is touchable and gorgeous.

Tree-Hugging Flooring

No sector of the décor industry has grown as much as flooring.  You can find lots of eco-friendly flooring for an exotic look in the bedroom.  In lieu of traditional carpet, opt for cork flooring or bamboo flooring.  These are two wonderful and exotic choices that are a viable alternative to hardwood flooring that is not sustainable.  Bamboo is particularly durable and a big hit with designers right now.  Be sure that you also bring in some delightfully natural grass area rugs to complete the look as well as natural grass furniture pads that can protect your bamboo or cork flooring from the typically heavy furniture that is used in the bedroom.

Air Purification

Surrounding yourself with eco-friendly products in your exotic bedroom feels even more lavish when the air that you breathe is pure and clean.  After all, the bedroom is where we spend more than a third of our lives, resting, sleeping – and breathing!  Clean air can be achieved by installing a quiet-running air purification system, and then augmented by the installation of living, exotic plants.  Small ferns and potted plants are a wonderful way to clean the air the natural way as they provide fresh oxygen for the space.  Plants not only bring a beautiful ambience to the space, but they are also eco-friendly and make the bedroom “greener” literally.

Earth-Friendly Bedding and Accessories

Finish up the look of your eco-friendly bedroom with earth-loving bedding and accessories.  Choose organic cotton sheets, pillow cases, and comforters.  Organic cotton is ideal because it is grown using methods that don’t involve the use of toxic pesticides. This makes them better for your health, the health of growers and workers in the field, and for the environment in general.  Many, many companies now offer organic cotton bedding and accessories, which makes finding the style that you like just a matter of preference.

Now that the bedroom looks perfect, direct your attention to the kitchen walls and make them look equally great with kitchen wall decor or trendy cafe style restaurant wall art.

Photo credit to hotel_kursaal_ausonia.

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Trendy Themes for a Teen’s Bedroom

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

When redecorating a teen’s room, it is a good time to leave the trappings of childhood behind and embrace a more contemporary style room. Creating a more modern design in a teen’s room can be a wonderful way to add an updated look and feel to a young adult’s bedroom.

Enlist the Teen’s Help

Before settling on any particular style or design, it is probably a good idea to check with your teen first to see what ideas they may have for decorating their room. By allowing them to inject a little of their own personality into the space, it will be a comfortable place to hang out with friends, do homework and listen to music. If the room is large enough, add some fun by giving them a cool seating area where they can play video games or watch movies.

Basic Black and White

Some themes can be classic and modern at the same time. Take a black and white theme for example. Creating an entire room in black and white is a great way to bring a fresh look to the room. Add a splash or two of color throughout the room, and this accent color will add energy to the room.

Another theme that works well in a black and white room for a teen is a music theme; or for a girl, a wild zebra print is fun and hip. Decorating a room in black and creates a really contemporary feel that any teen would love. Add a platform bed with a bold patterned comforter to complete the contemporary look of the room.

Somewhere in Between

Sometimes by the time a child reaches the teen years, they have had enough themed bedrooms to last a lifetime. In this instance, it is probably time to take a little more adult approach to the room’s design. Since a teen is somewhere between a child and an adult, it may be time to design a room that speaks to their more mature interests and tastes. It is important, however, to still keep a youthful feel to the room, maybe by introducing a collegiate flair to the design. Another idea may be to offer a nod to their interests like favorite hobby or sport. A teen girl may love a shabby chic look that features painted furniture, french wall art and garden style landscape art decor. It is not necessary to have a theme for a successful room design for a teen’s bedroom.

Go Green for Teens

Many teens are environmentally aware, and may be interested in having their bedroom designed in a planet friendly way. Finding furniture created from recycled material, like paper or plastic, or bedding made from sustainable materials like bamboo is becoming easier than ever. Adding LED lighting to a bedroom not only offers cool lighting, but it is environmentally friendly too. So, for the teen who wants to help save the planet, decorating a ‘green’ bedroom may be the best way to go.

Designs for a Teen Boy

Remember, if decorating for a teen boy, to keep things as simple as possible. Find basic, modern furniture pieces that provide enough storage for him to keep his room picked up, while allowing him to kick back and enjoy a video game with his friends. While the style of the room can be very simple, make sure that the fabrics and furnishings are comfortable and functional.

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When Kids Play in the Bedroom

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

It is not uncommon for a child’s bedroom to also be their playroom, so it goes without saying that your child will be spending a lot of time in their room. Some of the time may be spent playing alone, and other times they may enjoy playing with friends. So it is definitely worthwhile to create an room for your child that is fun for them to hang out and play in while still allowing enough room for them to get a good night’s sleep.

For a Special Child

Since every child is different in what interests them and how they play, think specifically of your child as you are arranging their play area. Undoubtedly your child has interests and hobbies that they enjoy, so try to incorporate these things into the room. For example, if your child enjoys drawing and coloring, then you may include a small art table where they can draw and store all of their art and craft supplies. You may even be able to add a small easel to the corner of their room for them to enjoy. While you might choose decorative crosses or garden wall art to decorate the walls of your own bedroom, in a kid’s room, hanging their own original art is a lot more colorful and fun and it also recognizes the uniqueness of your child.

Add plush floor pillows and a soft area carpet so that your child can enjoy playing with his or her toys on the floor. If your child is a rough and tumble kind of kid, make sure to leave wide open areas with rubber play mats so that they can rough house and tumble and not get hurt. If you have a child that goes crazy over video games, then you may want to add a gaming corner to their room for them to enjoy with their friends.

Keeping Toys Neat

In any toy room, storage is an issue, so make the storage easily accessible if you want your child to pick up their toys. Add shelving along the entire length of a wall, and then line it with storage bins. Store toys in the bins by type, and then when your child wants to play they can easily pull a bin off of the shelf and take it to the floor the play with. When they are done playing, they can simply pile everything back into the bin and put the bin back on the shelf. By keeping the storage system simple, you increase the chance of your child actually using it. Another great storage technique is to add a corner storage net that can hold all of their stuffed animals. The great thing about the net is that it is also quite simple to use, and you can even make a game of putting the toys away by shooting them into the net from across the room. If you need more space than one net offers, you can hang several nets in the corner, just like shelving.

Organizing the Closet

Another very important component of your child’s bedroom is their closet. Make sure that clothing rods and shelves are low enough for your child to reach. You can either devote the entire closet to clothing, or you may prefer to allocate part of the closet to toy storage. If your child has a dresser, then you can store underwear and socks there, otherwise you can place clear plastic bins on shelving in the closet and store underwear and accessories in this fashion. There is no one right or wrong way to configure the closet. Just set it up in a way that works for your child.

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Bedroom Colors that Refresh and Renew

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Your bedroom is the place that you go to unwind and relax, and that is hard to do if it is not a peaceful and relaxing room. Part of what makes a room feel calming is the color palette that you choose when you are designing the room. By incorporating soft and cool colors into your room’s design, you can create a room that will help you shed the stresses of a long, hard day.

Singing the Blues

The effects that colors have on a person have been studied for years. Even the ancient art of Feng Shui employs certain colors to evoke certain moods. It is generally believed that cool tones are best used in the bedroom to promote peaceful relaxation, and blue is an excellent choice when you are designing a room to help you calm your spirit. While researchers are not entirely sure if a person’s reaction to color is cultural or learned behavior, the cool colors of water are used by many institutions, like hospitals and prisons to create rooms that are soothing and calm.

Going Green

If you are a talk show fan, you have undoubtedly heard of the ‘green room’ where guests of the show can take a minute to calm and focus their thoughts before walking on stage. Green has been shown to sooth and calm the senses, and painting your bedroom in a shade of green evokes the beauty of nature and lets you tap into this energy to renew your senses. If you keep the tones soft and muted, the space becomes even more tranquil. Look for tones like sea foam, olive or mint for delicate soothing greens to use in your bedroom’s decor.

Neutral Notes

Another great way to create a soothing and rejuvenating space in your bedroom is to create a room using an entirely neutral palette. Select colors like beige, cream, sand or ivory, and even a palette including light gray would still be neutral and calming. If you create a room with neutral colors on the walls and floor, you can easily change your room’s design by changing the décor of the room. The beauty of this plan, is that you can completely redecorate your room without ever having to repaint your walls. You can bring in a throw rug to add a spot of color to the floor, or you can change your bedding to lighten, brighten or simply change the mood of your bedroom.

Soft, Muted Tones

You can successfully employ just about any color that you wish to create a soothing feeling in your bedroom if you simply use a very pale and muted version of the color. For example, while orange is unarguably a high energy color, if you tone it down to a shade of pale melon, you now have a beautiful shade for a bedroom design. The same would be true for yellow. While in its bold form it tends to bring a room to life, if you mute it down to a soft, butter yellow, it can create the perfect backdrop for a soothing, bedroom sanctuary.

Once you are happy with the color of your walls, choose a beautiful metal wall cross or tree of life wall decor to add serenity and peace to your bedroom.

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Choosing a Bed Size that fits You & Your Bedroom

Sunday, July 11th, 2010

When choosing a bed, your major concern is comfort: Much of that hinges on finding a mattress that is the correct firmness for you and the way you sleep. The other component in determining comfort entails the size of the bed you choose. We all love to stretch out and while you want to choose a bed that is large enough to be comfortable, it also has to fit in the room without overcrowding the space.

Don’t just walk into a furniture showroom and select the biggest bed you can find. You may end up not being able to open and close your closet doors or walk through the room without stubbing your toe. Measure the room before you go and measure the footprint of other furniture that will stay in the room, such a dresser or highboy. Now you have a realistic idea of the amount of space available for a bed.

Mattress and box spring sets come in six basic sizes:

  1. Twin
  2. Extra-long twin
  3. Full
  4. Queen and California Queen
  5. King
  6. California King (longer and narrower than a standard King)

Take your room measurements with you when you shop for a bed and mattress set and use some common sense when making a decision. You want to leave enough space in your room to walk around the bed, open drawers and doors and be able to function comfortably in the room. Also, even if you sleep alone, don’t feel like you have to buy a twin or full size bed if you have enough room for a queen.

Bedding should also be consideration because bedding for a queen bed is more expensive than a full bed, and king bedding is the most expensive of all. If you’re on a tight budget, and you have room for a king bed, you may be better off with a queen because it will give you plenty of bed space but bed linens won’t cost and arm and a leg. On the other hand, if you or your partner is tall or has a large body frame, a king may be the most comfortable choice.

If you already own good quality bedding in a size that works for your room, and it is in good condition, of course you can select a bed in the same size. However, don’t buy a bed that is too big or too small for your needs just to save some money on bedding.

Your final consideration is your budget. In addition to the added cost of linens, blankets, comforters, pillows and decorative accents for the bed, the cost of the bed, mattress and box spring will depend on the size and the brand you choose. Mattresses come in a wide range of prices depending on the brand name and quality and some may include free delivery and pick up of the old mattress. The price of the bed itself can vary widely as well, depending on the frame, the head and foot boards and the type of wood or material that it is built from. You can find a luxurious designer bed that costs thousands of dollars or buy a simple bed frame and make a creative headboard out of an outdoor garden wall art grille, a collection of framed tropical wall art prints or even an old door.

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Beds, Bedding and Creating a Gorgeous Bedroom

Friday, July 9th, 2010

The bed is always the focal point of the bedroom and to create a gorgeous bedroom, you have to start with the bed, bedding and bedding accessories. The incredible variety and styles of beds and bedding means that you can create any look or style that appeals to you, from minimalist and modern to frilly, floral Victorian. However, you have to know where to begin.

Here are some guidelines and considerations to keep in mind when creating the bedroom of your dreams.

The Furniture: Deciding on Style

If you’re starting from scratch and creating a new bedroom, the bed will define the style of the room so shop long and hard before making a final choice. Furniture stores, home decor magazine and websites, and decorated model homes are great places to get ideas. Are you drawn to the sleek lines of a glossy black platform bed with minimalist lines, or are you a sucker for a deep cherry wood four post bed? Narrowing down your style preference will automatically make your choice easier because you can eliminate those styles that don’t match your ideal.

This size of your bedroom and the amount of furniture you need will determine the size of the bed you should choose. Most couples prefer a queen or king size bed and even someone who sleeps alone will be more comfortable in a queen size bed if there’s room. Whether you need just a dresser and mirror or that plus a bureau or high boy depends on your storage needs and the size of your closet. If you have a large, efficient walk-in closet you won’t need as much furniture storage as someone who has a small closet.

While it’s easy to buy bedroom furniture in “suites”, designed sets of furniture have a very predictable, showroom look. To achieve a designer look, try to mix furniture choices with pieces that are compatible but not perfectly matched. If you’re not confident enough to totally mix things up, you might choose a bed and dresser from the same set but add night tables that are different from that furniture and maybe even different from each other. Coordinate pieces by wood type or general style to create your own designer style.

Building on the Style

Once you’ve chosen the furniture, turn your attention to the walls and think about colors that will support the style and color of your furniture. Cool blues and greens or sedate gray are good choices for a modern look; or you can add traditional warmth with a warm caramel color; or add casual flair with sunny yellow and white accents. Once you’ve chosen your wall color, you can begin shopping for bedding that coordinates with your wall color and introduces accent colors that you can repeat in other accessories. For example, if you’ve chosen traditional dark cherry furniture and have painted your walls in a rich taupe shade, you might choose a comforter and bedding in shades of cream and taupe with burgundy accents. Pick up the burgundy again in lamp shades, a throw for the foot of the bed, and in a metal tree art, flowers and grapes wall decor or other wall art. You may want to mix these colors again in an area rug or upholstered chair for the room.

Bagged bedding sets make it easier, but they can look too regimented. A better approach may be to choose a comforter and mix and match other bedding accents to create an individual look.

Creating a gorgeous bedroom is not difficult if you start with the basics – the furniture – and then build your color palette, style and decor from there.

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