Bedroom Ideas
A good home organizer knows how to break a large job into manageable pieces that feel less daunting. Marie Kondo recommends that clients organize by category — starting with clothes. Her approach has the clients pile all their clothing on a bed to be sorted. Though this works for some, many of my clients would be overwhelmed by a ceiling-high heap of clothes on their beds. With our clients, we instead recommend dividing belongings into smaller, more manageable subcategories, such as dress pants. We remove all dress pants from the closet so that the client can see exactly what he or she owns, compare the items and eliminate any ill-fitting or outdated pants. Then we move on to another category of clothing. At the end of the organizing session, we help the client hang clothes neatly by type, season and color. Smaller apparel gets folded vertically in drawers so that the entire contents of a drawer are visible at a glance. Vertical folding also allows clients to easily remove items without messing up the organization of a drawer.
Getting the low-key look. If you don’t have the space or budget to fully deck out your closet, Moore suggests that you invest in mirrors. In addition to making the space feel a little more glam, mirrors can trick the eye. “Introducing mirrors on the front of doors or on the backs of cabinets makes the room feel a lot bigger,” he says. “If you have light and color bouncing off that, it obviously makes the room feel like a lot more than it is.”
ms-Hilditch created a traditional feel in another of the guest bedrooms, dressing the bay window with a pelmet as well as curtains. “We wanted it to feel spacious, light and airy, but also cozy, so there’s a wool blanket rather than a bedspread,” she says. “There’s also an understated wool on the headboard with antique brass studs, so nothing’s too shiny or glitzy.” love blanket instead of spread
Savvy Reuse of a Vintage-Type Tray Throughout Michelle Konar’s cozy 330-square-foot studio in New York City are multipurpose storage hacks. Konar found this vintage-type tray at the Sunday flea market on 76th Street and Columbus Avenue, and gave it a new purpose as a wall-mounted holder for earrings and bracelets. Cobalt blue giraffe hooks corral and display her necklaces.
The windows and French doors are a standard 6 feet tall, but because of the room’s high ceilings, they felt undersized. “There was a lot of blank space above the windows and doors in the old design,” Fitzsimmons says. “It was important for proper scale to add window dressings that drew the eye up.” She added stationary Roman fold valances and a pair of stationary drapes at both ends of the wall to fill in the blank space.
Let there (not be) light. The constant orange glow of towns and cities, motion-sensor lighting and passing cars can all hinder a good night’s rest. Bring darkness to the room with a window treatment that blocks light completely, such as this room’s solid shutters. Prefer fabric at the window? Try blackout blinds, which come in a huge range of colors, or opt for curtains with blackout lining
. Stow your jewelry behind a mirror. A swing-out mirror hides a display of many necklaces in this photo. Hanging them makes them easier to spot than they would be when crumpled in a jewelry box, and might also help preserve their shapes. This was the most popular new closet photo uploaded to Houzz from July to September.
. Extend Your Drapery Rods Going floor-to-ceiling with your drapes is another way to create pleasing proportions and minimize visual clutter. Here, a floating ceiling provides a recess that hides the rods, making for a clean look. And the extension of the draperies up to the ceiling makes the window appear taller.
A high ceiling in a bedroom is a nice attribute, but if you have low-slung furniture it can make you feel Lilliputian. Note the way the tall headboard and large mirrors in this popular bedroom stand up to the height of the ceiling. William Guidero Planning and Design Save Email Another way to handle a high ceiling’s proportions is by adding a large light fixture. This one looks like a classed-up disco ball and draws the eye straight to it. It’s also a fun contrast to the crisp, tailored look of the bedroom.
Know the types of filling. Quilts filled with natural materials such as cotton, wool, feathers and down are more breathable, softer, lighter and more comfortable. They also will last longer than synthetic or microfiber fillings. Cotton makes an excellent choice for lightweight quilts. Although down and feather fillings provide the most warmth, they are more expensive and may not be ideal for those with allergies. In these instances, options like microfiber work well since they imitate the look and feel of down without attracting dust. Cotton and wool are naturally hypoallergenic options. If you’re tired of alternating between a lightweight quilt for summer and a heavier one for winter, consider an all-season quilt.
Ideal for warm weather, a 100 percent cotton blanket is also great during spring and autumn or with air conditioning in the room. Since cotton is a natural fiber, it’s breathable. It’s also hypoallergenic and soft, making it a smart choice for babies, allergy sufferers or those with sensitive skin. When buying a cotton blanket, consider yarn size, fiber quality, thread count and construction. Typically, a good cotton blanket will have a higher thread count.
Put pretty pieces on display. Storing items in cabinets is the best way to keep them free of dust, but if you love to see your things on display, glass-fronted cabinets are the way to go — and can be a feature in themselves. Glass-fronted cabinets can be used in any room, whether you want to show off your best tableware in the kitchen, favorite clothing or shoes in a bedroom, or colorful craft items in a spare room. And having glass doors on bookshelves is a great way to reduce dusting chores
Arguably, the master bedroom is the room that changed the least. The two gold mirrors, the armoire and dressers were also pulled out of storage along with the client’s collection of blue-and-white porcelain, for which Hunt created a window ledge where they could be displayed. A gas-insert fireplace also with a gold surround provides a warm glow on winter nights. bedroom colour great
Nathalie Priem Photography Save Email 8. Frame a view. To appreciate summer inside a bedroom, welcome it in from the outside. Opt for a window treatment that exposes every inch of glass, like these solid shutters, to maximize the focus on the green and growing landscape. In this room, a mirror opposite the bed reflects the garden outlook to double the effect.
Ramp up color. To create a vibrant take on summer color in a bedroom, select shades from opposite sides of the color wheel, such as this room’s green and pink. These pairings are dramatic, creating a look-at-me effect rather than a subtle backdrop, and this combination is a genuine reflection of the punchiness of summer color, as the display of blooms beside the bed proves.
The hidden closet. This space is so smart: It’s a light-filled hallway between the bedroom and bathroom in a master suite. Clothing and accessories are hidden and protected behind beautiful doors. There’s a dressing table to the left and a large daybed for laying out outfits and sitting down to put on shoes. The rug and the light fixture finish off the sophisticated gallery-space feeling. Takeaway: If you’re short on storage, look to see if there’s any potential for built-ins within the walls or in a wider hallway.
Floor-to-ceiling use. A library ladder provides access to those high-up cabinets — great storage for out-of-season or rarely used items.
Terrie Koles Design, llc Save Email 1. Hidden storage. This pullout shoe cabinet keeps those beautiful high heels easily accessible and dust-free.
6. “Sleeping boxes.” Open floor plans are creative concepts for small homes because they can give the sense of more space. But having your bed feel like it’s in the middle of your living room isn’t exactly ideal. Enter the sleeping box. These cocoon-like modules take up minimal space while providing a room-like feel for sleep time.
Bedroom Palette: White walls and bedding mix with a gray headboard, bench and concrete fireplace surround to establish a comfortable, easygoing look. like light
British Colonial style. The British took over the Keys from Spain back in 1762. Furniture they brought with them had to be light, small and easy to move. Tropical items like bamboo headboards, trunks that doubled as chests of drawers and other campaign furniture like folding chairs and desks are typical of the look that still influences Caribbean style today.
Shelves + crates + lidded boxes. A simple setup with wall-mounted shelving is made more functional with the addition of crates to keep bulky items from toppling over. Wall hooks hung both low and high keep bags and belts neatly stowed, and lidded boxes provide a spot for stashing small accessories. Best for: Small closet with more folded than hanging clothes.
Tall bookcase + hanging rods + wall hooks. A tall, shallow bookcase anchored to the wall provides ample storage space for folded clothes and accessories in this petite closet. Opposite the shelving, rods hold hanging clothes and a set of wall hooks provides a handy drop spot for scarves and jackets. Best for: Narrow walk-in closet.
. Dresser + hanging rod + curtains. Replacing the closet doors with curtains has freed up some much-needed space in this small bedroom, allowing access to every inch of the reach-in closet. Inside the closet, a high shelf holds baskets (perfect for storing less-used items) over a hanging rod, with a dresser below. The dresser top is put to work too, with a wire storage basket and space for a few pairs of shoes.
The ceiling is over 11 feet high, making a very tall closet possible. An easy-to-lower double clothes rack utilizes the space.
Weir requested a designated spot for her shoes, so she got a pullout cabinet with shoe storage on both sides
Behind the bed ledge. Clever design is evident in this small bedroom, where a ledge is built out of a wall between two closets, with just enough space to tuck in the bed. Again, there’s no need for bedside tables since the ledge behind the bed serves as the spot to arrange books and art.
Zen dreams. Shoji screen-style walls flank a silky padded headboard in this tastefully themed bedroom. Bright colors liven up this on-trend tranquil room.
A meditation room occupies the northeast corner of the home in accordance with the rules of Sthapatya Veda. It’s outfitted sparingly with an altar, a bed and several pieces of art.
Bed runner. Virtually any type of bed covering can be further decked out with a bed runner, also known as a bed scarf — a thin, flat band of fabric that may or may not be reversible, and trimmed as elaborately or as simply as one prefers. Runners are less of an investment and are one of the easiest home sewing projects to do. What they add to a room’s style far exceeds the time, money and effort spent sewing.
Quilt over matelasse. I like the idea of layering a heavier quilt over a matelasse because it gives the sleeper two levels of warmth to choose from. Here, the quilt and matching pillows add a little extra color and pattern without complicating the process of making of the bed.
Duvet covers. A duvet is a cotton, polyester, blended or down feather blanket that can be used alone but really ought to be protected by what’s known as a duvet cover. The cover is little more than a washable bag for the duvet insert; it’s composed of two fabric sides that are joined together by a hidden zipper, ties or buttons. If you seek the freedom to reverse your duvet cover, because you want to even the wear on both sides or switch up your look seasonally, make sure your chosen closing method (zipper or otherwise) is placed at the head or foot of the bed instead of in the middle, as is relatively common with tie and button closures. Also, request that interior loops be added so you can secure the corners of the cover to your insert to prevent its shifting around and bunching up at the bottom.
As you might imagine, a fitted coverlet is the most tailored, tightest-fitting coverlet option and is intended to be primarily decorative. The side flaps are sewn together so that the coverlet fits over the mattress like a cap. It’s not designed for easy bed making or for tossing and turning under, but it sure does look pretty in a little-used guest room. Just make sure to stock comforters or quilts in varying levels of warmth to keep your guests comfortable.
Shutters. Once an item that you might find discarded on a roadside or buried in piles at the architectural salvage depot, shutters are now a hot commodity at flea markets. If you’re going for the bohemian look, find a pair that really shows its age with exposed layers of paint, such as this example in a Los Angeles bedroom
It’s always a stylish idea to duplicate the bed skirt fabric as a pillow on the bed. Though you need only one matching pillow, you’ll often see an entire layer of pillows that match the skirt.
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The curtains throughout the home are made of parachute fabric and tuck into simple surface-mounted tracks. “This material has really great qualities,” Horowitz says. “It diffuses the light, has great movement and doesn’t take up a lot of space when the drapes are open and stacked, like a heavier material such as velvet or canvas would.”
Typical fullness for curtain width is 2½ times the rod width. Tripling the rod width is a more luxurious option, especially for thinner, flexible fabrics like sheers
In general, breezy off-white sheer curtains are a great way to cover any size, shape or number of windows, letting light filter in without weighing down the room.
In this bedroom, the windows sit at different heights. With the matching sets of full-length curtains running crisply across one bar, you don’t really notice the change in the unusually high middle section.
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Designer LeTricia Wilbanks did a fantastic job pairing custom pillows with the triptych artwork to create a bedroom full of harmony.
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A geometric ceiling treatment and light fixture set a polished, contemporary tone in this Orlando, Florida, bedroom, while simple furnishings and decor in organic tones establish a calm and comfortable attitude. like the light
Does the art fit without seeming crowded? A large piece (or pieces) should hang on the wall while leaving plenty of negative, or empty, space around it. Height is just as important as width when it comes to scale. Higher ceilings call for taller pieces that anchor the space and the objects around it. A lower, longer wall can support a triptych or a single horizontal piece.
In one daughter’s bedroom, two alcoves create cozy nooks — one for a window seat, the other for a built-in desk.
Warm wood and icy blue. One way to create a timeless and romantic bedroom is by using traditional furnishings. Few things represent this style better than a four-poster bed in a classic cherry finish. The unmistakable warmth of this rich wood tone appears even more regal when juxtaposed with an icy wall color. In a room that receives a heavy dose of sunlight — such as a south-facing room — a frosty paint color has added benefits due to its cool and refreshing appearance. If you’re feeling fancy, add fabrics that have bold patterns and vivid hues. The finished look can be dazzling.
Taj crafted the wall-mounted nightstands, which are just large enough for a book, glasses and a bottle of water. While there wasn’t room for free-standing nightstands, Neithart layered in a petite tree-slab stool to bring in a warm organic touch.
. Go big on underbed storage. If you have the height, try raising your bed to capitalize on the space beneath. You could fit in bookshelves, a desk or even a clothes rod. You might decide to go for a built-in option, or there are plenty of stylish off-the-shelf cabin beds available nowadays — perfect for teens.
If neutrals don’t do it for you, the other colors most people find relaxing are pale greens, blues, purples and pinks. (In fact, some prison walls, football locker rooms and motor vehicle registration rooms are painted pink to dilute aggression.) Painted in Benjamin Moore’s Georgian Green, the walls here make this bedroom feel fresh and tranquil.
Seek simplicity. The tiny-house movement is popular for a reason beyond the novelty of Lilliputian building practices. Too much stuff becomes burdensome. Paring down your bedroom to only the essentials can make it look and feel more relaxing. Instead of seeing extraneous piles of books, unused chairs or your childhood marble collection, your eyes and mind can focus on the bedroom’s purpose: sleep and rejuvenation. Decide what you really need and what you don’t. Do you use that desk or armchair you found at the flea market for actually sitting, or has it become a drop-off spot for laundry or odds and ends?
Include found natural objects from walks on the beach or special vacations in your bedroom. This framed piece was made with dozens of mounted sand dollars.
guest bedroom
Make a multitasking bed. If you’re very short on space, try transforming a bed into something more. This sleep spot also incorporates a desk, storage space and a spare bed. It’s a great solution for a teenager’s bedroom. When planning, be sure to allow space for the length of the bed plus additional space for the desk and storage area, and consider where you’ll mount electrical sockets for lamps and recharging laptops and phones.
Fashion a shelf desk. If you work from home but have only a small room, or portion of a room, for your home office, consider this is clever but simple design idea. A built-in shelf desk is light and doesn’t take up much space at all. In this case, the desk-shelf is chunky, so the wall attachments are concealed. These eliminate the need for legs, allowing the maximum floor space underneath. It’s a good idea to consult a builder about the correct and safe supports for a shelf like this, as it will need to carry the load of a computer and maybe a printer and other office equipment.
his chic laundry space in London is located in a walk-in closet. Note the gold mesh on the doors to help ventilation. The space was designed by Sigmar.
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