Interior Design: Make It Your Bedroom

Much more than just the place you sleep, today’s master bedroom should function as a truly personal in-home retreat. The private nature of this room invites the indulgence of sumptuous fabrics, heirlooms and collectibles or an exquisite oriental rug, which might be in jeopardy in other areas of the home.

Filling its role as the room’s focal point, the bed may be dramatically sleek or elaborately festooned and should make a strong statement in the rooms’ interior while imparting an ambience of luxury and leisure to the homeowners. Nothing says custom grandeur more than exquisite bed coverings with lavish accent pillows. And contrary to what every ‘bed-in-a-bag retailer’ would have us believe, beds with varying frames, box springs, and mattresses are not standard sizes. Custom design includes custom fitting. And here’s a gender-friendly tip: men are usually more comfortable in strong jewel tones rather than pastels, and with paisleys, solids and stripes rather than florals'.

Canopy beds with side curtains were originally designed to deflect chilly drafts in the days before homes were well insulated. Luckily, we’re now left with the legacy of this exquisite and intimate bed treatment. The lack of a real canopy bed is not a deterrent since the bed curtains can be hung from the ceiling, from a carved corona, or from ceiling mounted drapery rods. Even a small bedroom can enjoy this romantic treatment by draping only the head of the bed.

Possibly more than in any other area of the home, window treatments here need to be both beautiful and functional. Providing there is a nice view, the window treatments should be designed to completely clear the windows when opened. Styles, fabrics, trim, hardware, and fabrication techniques can vary tremendously to satisfy both function and beauty.

A small love seat or chaise positioned at the foot of the bed can serve a dual role as a comfy nest for reading and as a rest for folding back the bed cover at night. If space is at a premium, try two easy chairs facing each other with an ottoman between a beautiful armoire will serve to encase the master bedroom television and will need to be carefully situated if the bed is draped and canopied so that the side drapery doesn’t interfere with viewing. Ideally, the television will be equipped with remote headphones so that the viewer will not disturb the person reading or sleeping.

Side tables for the bed are growing even larger to provide storage and table top space for the accessories of this user-friendly ‘nest’. The two bedside tables needn’t be identical, but should reflect the personal needs of the individual sleeper. In fact, current styles don’t call for the traditional ‘bedroom set’ at all, but invite creativity and better functionality with individual pieces that work well together.

Deep, rich wall colors create a sense of tranquility as well as a hint of drama in a bedroom. Rugs, draperies, tapestries, upholstered walls, furniture, and plants all can act as important sound absorbing elements to provide an intimate setting or solitude. A large, custom framed floor-length mirror can add interest as well as serve for dressing purposes. Lighting must also be carefully selected. Lamps with fairly heavy shades and three way switches allow for reading and task lighting while offering a low setting to soften the mood.

A wonderful master bedroom, even with minimal extra square footage, should be used as an integral part of your living space. Make it personal, cozy, functional, and private and you’ll find yourself retreating there more often than ever before.

Interior Design: Make It Your Bedroom

About the Author

Related Topics

Other Related Topics