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Posts Tagged ‘bedroom design’

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 DrawersWhatever 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.

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.

Japanese Bedroom Modern Platform BedFurniture 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.


Japanese Bedroom Zen Platform BedIf 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.

Japanese Bedroom Modloft Platform BedFor 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.

6 Drawer Mahogany Japanese DresserOr, 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.

Japanese Bedroom MirrorThe 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.
Japanese Bedroom Screen

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 Japanese Bedroom Wall ClockFolding 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

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.dark chocolate nightstand

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.

four post metal and wood bedBut 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 themeThick Firm Memory Foam Mattressd 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.

Dark Chocolate Headboard in Queen, Full, Twin and King Very AffordableIf 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

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