STEPS TO THE PERFECT BEDROOM

By Charlotte Duckworth

10

We spend a third of our lives in our bedroom, and in my opinion it’s one of the most important rooms

in the home. It’s our sanctuary and where we escape to from the stresses of modern day living

– and it’s probably the room least likely to be seen by visitors. Which means you are free to indulge your design passions, and create a scheme that meets your every need. Here are my ten steps to

planning the perfect bedroom…

INTRO

First of all, it’s important to clear the room and look at what you have to work with. Where are the windows? Where is the door? Are there fitted cupboards or other architectural elements such as fireplaces or chimneybreasts that you have to work around? Draw out a sketch of the room’s floorplan – either on paper or using one of the many free room planning tools available online. Then once you’ve chosen your larger pieces of furniture – the bed, wardrobes, chest of drawers and any other elements, you can easily see how they will fit within the space.

It’s a good idea to use string to measure out the position of the furniture before ordering anything – simply lay it out on the floor to mark out where each piece will be placed. Then walk around the string and get a feel for the layout – does it seem awkward in any area? Will you be squeezing past a dressing table to get to your wardrobe? As a general rule allow at least 40cm around cabinet drawers and 70cm of space in front of your wardrobe. To create a truly relaxing scheme, it’s important to keep a sense of space and flow in the room, and you may need to balance your storage needs with the challenge of creating somewhere that doesn’t feel cluttered or hectic.

ACCESS THE SPACE

Without doubt the most important piece of furniture in your bedroom (the clue’s in the name!) is the bed. If you’re on a limited budget, may I advise you to spend a good chunk of your cash on your bed – there’s

nothing more restorative than a good night’s sleep, and choosing a comfortable mattress that will last and supports you is imperative. Another crucial consideration is size (no puns please) – bigger is not always better,

but it usually is. If you can fit a king or super king in the room without overwhelming the space, then this is advisable.

Broadly speaking, you have two types of bed available to you – a divan with storage built in underneath or a bed frame. Both have their merits – if storage is an issue, then a divan is a great choice, but a bedframe gives

an airier, more stylish feel to the room. Take a look at the height of the bed too – a low bed with a wrap-around frame may look fantastic but if you are going to bump your shins against it every time you walk past, its

appeal will eventually wear thin.

FIND ‘YOUR’ BED

TAKE TIME OVER THE MATTRESS AND HEADBOARD

OK, I said spend most of your budget on the bed, but what I really meant was the mattress. A good-quality mattress is a must and you won’t ever regret your outlay. It’s so important to test mattresses before you buy one – spend several minutes lying in your usual sleeping position (so if you normally sleep on your side, then don’t lie on your back!) to make sure it’s comfortable. Also, don’t forget to sit up on it as well – we spend a lot of time sitting in bed, and the mattress needs to feel supportive in that position too.

Another consideration is the headboard – if you are likely to sit up in bed a lot reading or watching television, then a comfortable headboard is a must. Stylish wooden bedframes may look great but might dig in to your shoulders if you sit against them for a long time. Large cushions can only do so much to alleviate this kind of discomfort, so do think about your bed-time activities (ahem) and factor this in accordingly.

PLAN YOUR STORAGE

Unless you’re a multimillionaire (in which case, lucky you) with other rooms to store your personal belongings in, you’re going to have to think about storage in your bedroom. The most obvious pieces of bedroom furniture are the wardrobe, chest of drawers and bedside tables. If you have the

space, consider also treating yourself to a dressing table – not only are they surprisingly useful, they will also give the room a luxurious feel.

Built-in wardrobes are usually a great option as they make the most of any available space, but they can be pricey and you should think about whether or not you will be moving house in the near future as (obviously) you won’t be

able to take them with you.

03

CHOOSE THE RIGHT FLOORING

Floorboards are a popular choice for bedrooms these days – whether simply varnished or painted white or even dark. If you do choose wooden flooring for your bedroom, make sure you include a rug (or two) to soften the look and add warmth underfoot on chilly evenings. Personally, I think there’s nothing like the luscious feel of deep-pile carpet in a bedroom to help you relax after a long day. This is the one room where you don’t have to be practical, so choose a carpet that’s truly indulgent!

PERSONALISE YOUR DECOR

It’s your bedroom, so when it comes to the decoration, only you will be able to decide the perfect ‘feel’. Some people like bold, expressive bedrooms, others prefer calmer, more muted spaces, but whatever floats your boat, this is your place to go for it, without judgment - it really is up to you! A bold feature wallpaper behind a bed can look great, but bear in mind that you might get tired of it after a while, and try not to pick something too busy if you have trouble winding down at night. Bright colours, such as red and orange, aren’t usually recommended for bedrooms as they can be too stimulating, but a deep purple will add an opulent feel if you’re after a bit of drama. Textured wallcoverings are a great choice if you want a more luxe feel – if budget’s no problem, then consider a beautiful silk wallcovering in a fabulous duck-egg blue.

For the ultimate in calming tranquility and a timeless look, go for an all-white scheme with plenty of different textures to add interest.

LAYER UP THE LIGHTING

In the bedroom, you need two sorts of lighting: task lighting for mornings when you’re getting dressed/putting on make up, and mood lighting for the evenings, when you’re winding down for sleep. Spotlights are not a great choice for bedrooms as they give a harsh industrial feel – instead, consider a large overhead pendant as your main source of light, coupled with bedside lamps and a large floor lamp too, to give light as you get ready for bed in the evenings, if you have the space.

Remember also to fit a dimmer switch so that you have full control over the brightness in the room.

0908DON’T FORGET WINDOW TREATMENTS

Window treatments are often overlooked but they can truly make or break a design scheme. Depending on the overall look of your room, you may want to go for very simple shutters or blinds, or full-length curtains with pelmets and tie-backs. One thing that’s a must, though, is some form of blackout material – you can line curtains with it, fix a rollerblind underneath your curtains, or even choose shutters with special blackout blinds built into them.

If you have a radiator beneath your window, make sure your curtains don’t cover it, or your bedroom will be chilly in the mornings.

There’s nothing more annoying than staying in a hotel room where the mirror is positioned miles away from the dressing table, or worse still, there’s no mirror there at all. Mirrors are fantastic for bouncing light around rooms, but are also essential in bedrooms. If you have space, I recommend adding both a full-length one and a wall-hung one. There are some fabulous mirrors available these days so you don’t have to be boring and pick something plain – this is another great way of adding interest to your scheme.

POSITION THE PERFECT MIRROR

10PICK THE PERFECT FINISHING TOUCHES

I’m a real advocate of personalising your interiors. That means not buying an entire set of accessories in a ‘nautical’ theme from a store and sticking them on a shelf to create a ‘decorative’ display, but rather taking time to curate a

collection of meaningful items that you associate with happy memories. Some areas of decorative vignettes in a bedroom can work really well – whether it’s a simple collection of delicate vases, old perfume bottles or a grouping of photo

frames. If you don’t have any surfaces to display such things, consider hanging a simple high-level shelf along one wall – this can work really well above a door.

Finally, don’t forget the bedlinen and any other soft furnishings. Don’t skimp on

pillows – they are SO useful when it comes to reading the Sunday papers in bed. Decorative cushions are great if you’re the sort of person who makes the bed

religiously every morning but if not, they will more than likely end up in a heap on the floor and annoy you. Don’t feel you have to pile the bed with cushions – a

simple and stylish duvet set will dress the bed just as well.

Last but not least, home fragrance is a must in the bedroom. A beautiful scented candle lit, for an hour before bed, will make even the shabbiest of interiors feel

truly wonderful!

BONUS STEPCONSIDER THE ROOM’S FENG SHUI

Whether or not you’re a believer, the rules of feng shui make a lot of sense and are worth thinking about. Feng

shui dictates that beds should be positioned with bedside tables either side of them, in the middle of a wall (so

no pushing it up against one corner of the room). They should also not be positioned so that when you lie down

your feet are facing the door – this is because dead bodies are removed from the bedroom feet first!

You should also not hang a heavy light fitting, such as a chandelier, above your bed, as these are considered

feng shui ‘posion arrows’. And no one wants to sleep underneath a poison arrow!

Charlotte Duckworth is an interiors expert with 14 years’ experience writing for interior design magazines and websites. In the last few

years, she has also been using her journalistic skills to help both es-tablished and up-and-coming design and interiors brands with their

blogging, PR and online marketing. To find out more, visit her website, charlotteduckworth.com.