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Designing a Guest Bedroom

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

I have a friend who once joked that she’s reluctant to spruce up her spare room too much in case her guests won’t want to leave. That may be a common underlying fear, but the reality is you want to make your guests feel welcomed and at home. Anywhere you can make improvements (even if it’s the guest bedroom) increases both the esthetic and monetary value of your home. Having a fully functional spare bedroom also makes your living space more functional. Since it’s the one room in your home that you will not be decorating just for yourself – it will be designed with company in mind – you can have some fun with it.

Treat the space like a hotel room. You will want to keep it somewhat generic – not too flowery, too stripy or too busy. Choose a theme that focuses on local area attractions or the area you live in especially if it’s by the ocean, near the mountains or a park.

If you plan to paint, select colors that are tranquil and soothing, such as gender-neutral pastels or earth tones. Various studies on a variety of subjects have emphasized the impact that color has on the human psyche. To create a guest room that will be a restful sanctuary after a busy day of visiting family and friends or trekking around the local tourist attractions, the color should be restful and calming.

Guest Bedroom Furniture

Any furniture you choose for your guest bedroom should be as multifunctional as possible. All pieces of furniture in the room should add to the comfort and well-being of your visitors.

See what you have on hand that can be reused, repainted or repurposed. If you intend on purchasing furniture specifically for the guest bedroom, then make a budget. Deciding first how much the project is worth to you will help you stay on track (and not break the bank). Since you don’t really need a lot of bedroom furniture, plan on the basics: as large a bed the space can accommodate, nightstands, a dresser and a mirror.

Especially if the guest room is small in size, a dresser mirror or a floor mirror is an ideal way to make the room appear larger. It will also give your guests the opportunity to check their appearance before facing the day. If you don’t have the space for a freestanding mirror, add a full-length dressing mirror to the closet door or mount one on the back of the door of the room.

If there is room under the bed, consider including under-bed storage drawers, ideal for storing extra pillows, blankets, etc.

A bed bench with hidden storage is a great asset to a guest bedroom. Not only is it an ideal place to sit when putting on shoes, it can be used for storing linens or tidying items away.

Shelves, either bookshelves or floating shelves provide your guests with a place to put things.

An arm chair or accent chair, if you have the space, not only gives your guests a place to sit and read, it makes the room feel welcoming, as well.

If the room has a closet, don’t forget to incorporate it into the room’s design by adding a closet organizer or a shoe rack. When the room’s not being used by guests, this extra closet could be an ideal place to store seasonal clothing.

Guest Bedroom Bedding

The bed, of course, is the focal point of the room and the way it’s dressed can add or detract from the bedroom’s atmosphere.

Start with a comfy plush mattress topper, especially if the mattress is a firm one. Feather pillow top mattress covers or pads can make it feel like a feather bed; unless you know for sure that your guests won’t suffer from an allergic reaction to down, it’s best not to risk it. However, with today’s technologies, foam/cotton combinations can be just as soft and comfortable as down.

Make sure the bedding is soft and inviting. Choose sheets with a thread count of at least 180 to 200. No matter how long your guests will be staying, plan on buying two sets of sheets for your guest room.

To make the bed even more appealing, pile it with different sized accent pillows and decorative cushions. Don’t forget to include a neck roll, especially if your guests like to read before turning out the light.

Two standard pillows should be adequate for a twin, full or queen size bed. If the bed is king size, include more.

A comforter or duvet will give your guests the option of how little or how much.

Guest Bedroom Tips

Plan on making up the bed the day you expect your guests. You’ll want the sheets to be as fresh as possible.

Make extra blankets, pillows and towels available, preferably in the guest room itself.

Provide covered or multipurpose plastic hangars for your guests to hang their clothes on – anything but those skinny wire hangars that bend out of shape the minute they meet a suit jacket.

Install wall or door hooks – not just for clothes or coats, guests can hang purses, cameras, etc. safely out of the way.

Make a plug-in nightlight available, especially for first-time guests. They don’t have to use it but they may appreciate it especially if they have to get up in the middle of the night in a “strange” place.

Nothing says “welcome” like a vase of fresh flowers or a basket filled with fruits, nuts and chocolates. If allergies are an issue, fill the basket with non-scented items such as decorative soaps, candles or travel size beauty products like tissues, makeup pads and all-purpose wipes.

Place reading materials like a small selection of local interest books, short story collections or current magazines on a shelf or nightstand

Tags: bedding, bedroom decorating ideas, bedroom design, Bedroom Furniture, guest bedroom interior design, Guest Room Design, how to design a guest room
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas | 4 Comments »

In an English Country Bedroom

Monday, November 9th, 2009

English country, like many interior decorating styles, has several distinctive sub styles. English country takes on different faces to reflect the different types of English country homes, from the imposing manor to the cozy cottage. When decorating your bedroom in English country style, first decide if you want to achieve the more formal look of a country manor or the pastoral charm of a country cottage. But no matter which sub style you choose, the emphasis of English country interior design is on bringing the tranquil elements of an English garden indoors.

The Formal English Country Bedroom

To attain the English country look that would be found in a country manor choose a darker color palette for the walls, floor and window treatments. Cover the walls in true English country style with a combination of floral or striped wallpaper and paint in jewel colors like jades, heritage pinks, wine shades, deep rose or periwinkle blue. For a more formal English country décor, autumnal colors would work as well. Another option for the walls is to start with wallpaper or paint and pair it with dark wood paneling. If wood paneling doesn’t fit your decorating budget, paper or paint the walls but add a chair rail for visual interest.

Use a mix of floral and striped patterns in heavier materials, such as velvets, for the curtains and any bedside table coverings you might use. Area rugs should be thick and plush, richly patterned and in deeper shades of reds, browns and blues, Persian or Oriental in style. Throws and accent pillows like bolsters and neck rolls should have tassels. Bedding is a mix of floral, stripes and solid colors. If floral patterns aren’t to your personal taste, choose a bedding set that has a textured pattern such as diamond or scroll motif.

Furniture is made of medium to dark woods like cherry, oak and mahogany. Finishes are medium to dark as well, with matte, distressed or softly polished finishes. The bed should be the focal point of the room; typically an impressive four poster bed. If the ceiling of your bedroom won’t accommodate tall posts, select a bed with shorter posts. Another viable choice for a formal English country style room is the sleigh bed.

While looking as though it is fit for a country mansion, the bedroom furnishings still should possess a country charm with classical decorative detailing such as fluted posts, curved moldings and blunt arrow or bun feet. Lines and profiles of dressers, nightstands and armoires, should be curvy and fluid. Not as stylized or “busy” as traditional furniture, English country is still formal but outlines are more relaxed with softer shapes. When adding seating such as an armchair or bed bench, again toile or floral patterns would come into play and the seating areas and the arms of the chair would be overstuffed.

Accessorizing the formal English country bedroom is an exercise in “more is more” but in a way that avoids the space from appearing cramped and cluttered. Jugs of flowers are a must. Include china figurines, knickknacks and other collectibles that have a pastoral theme. Picture frames are of different shapes like oval, square and rectangular with intricate decoration.

The Informal English Country Bedroom

For an English country look that would be found in a cozy English country cottage choose lighter colors for the walls, pastel yellows, greens, mauves, sky blues and pinks. Stenciling is a popular decorative accent for both the walls and furnishings. Wallpaper in a small floral pattern such as rosebuds or forget-me-nots would be most suitable. Wallpaper or a paint color paired with wood paneling is also appropriate, but the paneling would have a lighter wood or washed finish.

Use a mix of floral and striped patterns in chintz, wool or cotton for drapes, bedding and accent pillows. Area rugs should have a comfortable, woven appearance. If you decide to use a Persian or Oriental rug, select one in lighter or pastel colors. Again, as in our more formal English county interior design, bedding will be a mix of floral, stripes and solid colors.

While English country furniture is generally made of wood in lighter finishes such as white or pine, a bed made of brass or a metal bed with a white finish would not be out of place. Anything that will make the room feel welcoming and lived in will work to create the desired overall effect.

For an authentic look furnishings should include at least one of the following: an armoire, a hand-painted chest or an over-stuffed bed bench.

Select a bedding set with as many different textures as possible such as accent pillows in plaids, wools and stripes and a quilted comforter. Accessorize with personal touches. Include artwork with an English countryside theme or small “samplers” of embroidered English proverbs or sayings.

Tags: armoire, bedroom design, classic bedroom, english bedroom, english country bedroom, Sleigh Bed, traditional bedroom
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas | 1 Comment »

European Interior Design – The Bedroom

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

European interior design is cutting edge, pushing the envelope with its avant garde construction, use of color and the juxtaposition of shapes and angles. Bringing European interior design into the bedroom allows you to take delight in the synergy and balance that is created when these elements successfully come together. This design style is always audacious yet practical. After all, functionality is a big part of the Euro design ethic.

Both color and shape are used to surprise the senses. It might not sound like a decorating scheme we would want in the one room of our homes that should be the calmest and most tranquil. But the furnishings of European design utilize clean lines and rectilinear profiles to create a spatial rhythm that is especially soothing in the bedroom.

For our bedroom European design interior, we will start with the Lifestyle Solutions Wilshire Four Poster Canopy Platform Bed. The lines are simple, but by tapering the posts of the bed and echoing the tapered shapes in the legs, both balance and visual interest are created. The height of the posts capped by the canopy frame is dramatic and stunning.

You can dramatize the bed even more by choosing canopy drapes in a bold, solid color or a bright pattern in contrasting colors. Matching the canopy linens to the window treatment will add more color to the room, as well as pull all of the elements in the room together.

To further layer the room with shape, we’ll select the Modus Maui Wave Three Drawer Nightstand, one for either side of the bed. The clever use of a convex/concave pattern to create a wave effect is European interior design at its most eloquent. Harking back to innovative Euro design techniques, the “crest” of each wave acts at drawer pulls. The sense of motion generated by the drawer fronts is perfectly framed by the “floating” body of the nightstand on a base narrower than the main part of this bedside table.

As an alternative to using the nightstand’s matching dresser, we’re going to punch up our European interior design with the Metropolitan Master 8 Drawer Dresser. While it still has a sense of motion, the gently curving lines emphasize the recessed sides, drawing the eye from viewing the dresser head on, but rather focusing on this beautiful furniture piece as a whole.

The wide stripes of the Hallmart Cinnamon 10 Piece King Comforter Bed in a Bag Set will give the bed a quiet, yet sophisticated look. The colors are ideally suited to a common Euro design palette that combines neutrals with earth tones.

The NOVA Lighting Swoop Dark Brown Standing Table Lamp advances the use of shape in the room. It also provides a cohesive context for the curving shapes that are a part of the dresser and nightstand, as well as the straight and angled lines of the bed. The lamp stand’s brushed nickel accents complement the dresser’s pewter finished hardware.

If you have chosen to bring color into the room with bright canopy drapes and window treatments, now is a good time to ground the room with an area rug that uses some or all of the colors. However, if you prefer to keep to the earth toned/neutral palette, choose a rug, like the Nourison Parallels PR20 Black and White Area Rug that emphasizes the shades already in the room while bringing out the rich finishes of the wood pieces.

This completes our series on European interior design. Tune in again next Wednesday for the beginning of a new mini series on how to create a specific designer look. And by all means, if you have a favorite design style you would me to focus on, feel free to email your suggestions to me.

Tags: bedroom design, european bedroom, european design, european dresser, european lamp, interior design
Posted in Interior Design Styles | No Comments »

Budget Guest Bedroom Design Ideas

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

It’s officially fall and you know what that means! Yes, we are heading slowly and inevitably toward “holiday season” – first Thanksgiving and then, for a lot of us, Hanukkah or Christmas.

South Shore Furniture Deauville Dark Chocolate Queen/Full Bed Set with Storage Drawers Whatever the occasion or festivity, every home should have a place for overnight guests, expected or unexpected, to sleep. If you have an unused room or a second bedroom that is currently being used for storage, now is the perfect time to convert it into a welcoming place for visitors. My room for guests is also where I write, but when people come over to stay, I tidy away computer-related stuff to make the space as inviting as possible. And I did it on a budget!

First things first

Empty the room of anything you don’t want keep or won’t be using so that you can see just how much space you have to work with and what exactly you will need to buy. Give the closet, if the room has one, the same treatment.
Decide the room’s main focus – home office/guest bedroom combination or just simply a guest room.
Make a list of furniture pieces you want to include. Less really is more – you want enough furniture to comfortably fill the room without making it cramped.
Pick a style and/or a theme for the room. This will lend the room a consistent look and feel, which, in the end, gives it a calming and inviting vibe.
Does it need repainting? Take the opportunity while the room is bare. When choosing a paint color for the guest room, select one that is neutral or earth-toned to create a soothing and relaxing environment after a long day of visiting, shopping, walking, etc.

Choose the furniture

Organize It All Hazelnut 2 Drawer Nightstand

Cheap doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Especially in today’s competitive market, some bedroom furniture manufacturers offer stylish yet budget-conscious beds or bedroom sets. Making a budget and sticking to it will give you a great feeling of satisfaction when you see the results of your handiwork.
The bed should be the largest size possible that will fit in the space, so that your guests will be comfortable, especially if they are sharing.
A nightstand makes any bedroom, particularly a guest room, functional and comfortable. It’s almost a must-have for visitors – putting a lamp by the bed saves them from having to hop out and turn out the light. Nightstands also add to the room’s storage capacity, a plus for tidying away toiletries, beauty products and souvenirs.
Add a dresser or a chest of drawers. Again, the more storage options you provide your guests, the more comfortable they will be. If you don’t have the room for a standard sized dresser or chest, another option is the lingerie chest. Lingerie chests are narrower than a chest of drawers, but offer a number of drawers, while designed specifically for clothing items such as nightgowns and undergarments, would be ideal in a guest room for other items of clothing as well.

What I Did

Hillsdale Westfield White Poster Bed

I didn’t have time to paint the entire room, which is a soft cream. I chose to paint the wall the headboard would rest against a deep mauve to make that side of the room the focal point. I wanted the emphasis on the bed and not on the desk.
Because my room is both my regular work space and a guest room, I chose to put a twin bed in the room. It opens up the space and makes it appear uncluttered, which is important to me when I am writing. But when guests like my sister and her husband come to visit, I get out the pop-up trundle and make up the two twin beds.
When I have visitors, I remove the file cabinet (it’s on wheels) and the laptop from the room to make the space less office-like.
I put a 4-drawer chest in the closet so that there would be room for both nightstands when the two twin beds are made up.

Designing a bedroom for guests that is warm and inviting doesn’t have to cost a lot. When it comes right down to it, it’s not the bedroom furniture that makes the room welcoming, but rather those special finishing touches like dressing the bed with luxurious bedding or placing a vase of flowers or a small gift basket on the dresser.

Tags: 4 drawer chest, bed, bed sets, bedroom design, Bedroom Furniture, dresser, guest bedroom
Posted in Bathroom Furniture & Design Ideas | No Comments »

Japanese Bedroom: Learn Japanese Bedroom Design!

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Japanese Bedroom Style in a Modern Bedroom Setting

Who doesn’t long for a bedroom that is truly an escape from daily life? With its calming colors, low profile furniture and limited clutter, Modern design and Japanese Bedroom Design work very well together and can help you create the room of your dreams.

Furniture that is low to the ground is common in a modern setting and is a staple in Japanese Bedroom design. The idea behind the low profile is to give thefeeling of stability to the user. A platform bed is the perfect bed in this setting and the Fashion Bed Kyoto Black Platform Bed is an affordable choice to create thislook. The design of this bed is simplicity at its best. The simple lines will work perfectly with other Japanese style furniture you may have. An Asian screen or framed Kimono can be hung above to add some color and design.

If eco-friendly products are important to you the Retro Japanese Zen Platform Bed by Lifestyle Solutions should meet your needs. Again, the simple lines of this bed and the large, flared headboard make it a good choice for your Asian inspired bedroom.

For a modern japanese bedrrom style check out the Modloft Monroe Platform Bed. While the dark solid pine finish is not commonly found in Japanese Bedrrom design, the low horizontal lines make it a perfect choice. The added bonus of hidden storage behind the doors can reduce the need for other furniture pieces in the room

The goal in Japanese design is to keep furnishings and decorations to a minimum. Most everything in the room should be functional and practical. But a bedroom needs additional furniture such as nightstands and dressers. While many of the beds mentioned have matching pieces, it is not necessary to have everything match. However, it is important in Japanese Design to keep the woods in the same color tone.

Or, consider the Sitcom Edo Japanese 6 Drawer Double Dresser in Mahogany. Its distinct Japanese influence is executed in theslim-line drawer pulls and the frame-on-frameside panels.

Sitcom features the same dresser in a chest form – the Edo Japanese 6 Drawer Tall Chest. The simplicity of both these accent pieces works well in a Japanese-inspired space.

The entire Edo collection by Sitcom has many accent pieces that could be used in a modern or Asian-style room. The Edo Japanese Style Nightstand frames off a bed or a dresser, while the Edo Japanese Mirror can be mounted onthe wall to give the illusion of more space.

Screens are often found in Japanese Bedroom interiors, and they can serve many purposes. For example, placed behind a platform bed, they make a very interesting headboard. Maybe you want to hide the electronics in the room when not in use. If your room requires some additional privacy from other areas, a screen becomes the perfect room divider.

They can even be placed in front of a window or sliding glass door to block the light and act as a window treatment. Take a look at the Japanese Hazelnut Screen Folding Room Divider Screen, with its stripped bamboo panels for a natural look, and the Nextime Timeless Room Divider Wall Clock that is hung from the ceiling with steel wire suspension (andtells the time, too!). They offer a simple Japanese feel that will compliment any modern bedroom.

Color choices are important when you are trying to create a relaxing, Japanese feel to your room. Muted colors inspired by nature are best. This would include soft grays, greens and light browns.

Your bedding should be simple in style and color. The mantra here is “Less is more”. Avoid the use of multiple throw pillows, fluffy bed skirts and lots of pattern. Instead, opt for soft solids. If you must have some pattern, choose Japanese embroidery on an accent pillow.

Lighting is soft and preferably comes from a natural source such as windows and skylights. But tables and floor lamps are necessary, so choose pieces made from natural materials such as bamboo and wood and add paper shades.

Natural flooring materials are preferred. Wood floors covered with fibre rugs, such as tatami mats, contribute to the quiet and serene feel you are looking for in Japanese design.

Mixing Japanese design with your modern pieces will add texture and warmth to your room and create that retreat you’ve been longing for.

Nicolette Interior Design Diva

Tags: 6 drawer dresser, bedroom chest, bedroom design, japanese bed, japanese bedroom, japanese bedroom chest, japanese bedroom design, japanese bedroom furniture, japanese design, japanese home decor, japanese platform bed, japanese platform beds, japanese screen, platform bed, platform beds, room divider
Posted in Bedroom Furniture & Design Ideas | 1 Comment »

Bedroom Design Ideas on a Budget

Monday, May 18th, 2009

Bedroom Furnitue & Design Ideas

Budget Bedroom Design Ideas

In every home the bedroom should be a tranquil design haven. The image of fluffy pillows, fresh cotton sheets and vast airy space springs to mind. In all reality, the bedroom ends up being the most ignored room in the house when it comes to interior decorating. Designing a bedroom can be expensive but with these budget design ideas your bedroom can be a designer tranquil dream!

But when you finally get round to doing something about it, you may realise you haven’t much money to spend on the renovation. Fortunately, there are some helpful tips to affordable bedroom design that will transform your sleeping space into that little sanctuary you always wanted.

Start off by rearranging the furniture. Sometimes just ‘’refreshing’’ the space makes a dramatic difference. If you find a lot of clutter has accumulated over the years, invest in some storage containers to slide under the bed. Nightstands can also be used in this way, such as the South Shore Back Bay Nightstand in Dark Chocolate. The more space you can make available, the more relaxing your bedroom will feel.

Painting your room a colour that you love is a quick, inexpensive method. Light colours inspire a serene atmosphere, whereas darker hues set a more intimate mood. Try and avoid vibrate shades, as they stimulate your mind and make it difficult to get that much needed shut-eye!

Perhaps select a theme to base your decorating around. If you want to transform your boudoir into a Moroccan suite, opt for terracotta and sand coloured paints, cushions, as well as a stripy rug. Cushions are inexpensive and can fit into any theme. Layers of pillows create a homely appearance, whereas a selection of big floor pillows encourage a ‘’kick back and relax’’ feel. For a more romantic atmosphere, use soft colours, luxurious fabrics and invest in some scented candles. These are affordable bedroom designs that can express your personality.

But the most important design feature is the bed. It has to be the perfect size for two reasons. If too large, your bedroom will appear smaller than it actually is. If the bed is not big enough, you have some uncomfortable nights ahead of you! The Hillsdale Madison Metal and Four Post Wood Bed is available in twin, full, queen and king sizes. So whatever your budget or bedroom size, you have an option. The design of the bed can also be incorporated into a traditional themed room as well as a modern one.

Even if you tighten the purse strings on the bed, invest in a decent mattress. The 11 inch thick firm memory foam mattress by Memory Mattress is a good example. It is important to seek comfort in this area, as the majority of people spend approximately 50 hours a week sleeping.

If you already have a comfortable bed and just need a focal point to liven up the room, perhaps introduce a bold headboard. Take the South Shore Furniture Back Bay Dark Chocolate Headboard. It can be purchased separately, and is an affordable way to give an old bed a new lease of life.

For an even more economical technique, contemplate new sheets! A new duvet cover can offer a transformation when it comes to a fresh colour scheme or the overall look.

Bedroom design does not have to cost a fortune. Focus on creating a tranquil space for all stress and worries to disappear. Including storage, soft cushions or even a new bed can make all the difference. Affordable does not have to mean limited. The possibilities for your bedroom design are endless, even on a budget.

I would love to see what you come up with! Need help post a picture or questions lets see what we can come up with for your budget bedroom design! Nicolette Interior Design Diva