Bed and Bath
Featured Articles:
Another Bedroom Makeover
by: Yvonne Fanshawe
When I hear people say that bedroom décor doesn’t matter because you
only sleep there, I have to wonder what whose people do. I must go
into my bedroom about 40 times a day.
It’s also the place that you dress, and for most people if they feel
comfortable in their surroundings they will take time and care in
themselves.
For all you would be designers out there, I have a word of advice
for you.
When watching all those makeover programs, don’t get the idea that
it is easy.
Designing your room to show your own unique personality and also be
functional can take a lot of time and hard work.
Firstly you need to decide on color, if everyone liked Magnolia what
a dull world this would be.
The bigger the room the deeper color you can apply. But mixing
colors on different walls works well in either large or small
spaces. Pastels generally work better in the bedroom, pale blue,
light green or even sand colors.
Also take care not to fill every available space with clutter, light
and airy are essential
for a good nights sleep.
When choosing furniture buy what you like but be practical, I’m sure
an 8 foot bed would be wonderful, but not if your room space is only
9 foot square.
Take care not to obstruct doors and if possible give enough room to
walk around the bed, this is a safety aspect as well as practical
one.
Storage is one of the biggest mistakes people make when designing
there bedrooms, without exception there is never enough for even the
most minimalistic person.
Overhead storage or built-in cupboards are ideal, but they must be
of good quality and in keeping with the room.
I as anyone who knows me will tell you am not a morning person, so
for me when I open my eyes I don’t want to see the daylight till I
have had my first cup of tea.
That is the beauty of blinds. The choice is endless, in styles and
colors, from blackout to net blinds from Vertical to Venetian of
Roman. When choosing window dressing think about where you live, you
wouldn’t want the neighbors getting a free show every night.
We all know that lighting can change the whole ambiance of a room,
so don’t cut corners. Down lighters or spotlights are fabulous for
bathrooms or dressing rooms but be a little more subtle in the
bedroom, sidelights or up lighters are ideal, and for all of us over
thirty a lot more flattering.
The most dominate feature of any bedroom is usually the bed. You can
be as extravagant as you like here, it is all about comfort, and
what is more comfortable than really good Quality bedding.
A luxury Percale or Egyptian cotton would be my choice, anything
with a thread count of 180 or above, it’s a natural fiber, soft,
durable and crisp to the touch, it is the ultimate in bedroom style,
Its false economy to scrimp on bed linen, if you want sheer comfort
that will last for years, longer than the poly/cotton sheets which
bobble after one wash. I think that new bedding is a luxury that
everyone should experience at least three times a year.
With Divan beds you will need a Valance, be it Base Valance or
Valance sheet it just adds that finishing touch and can be matched
with your curtains or blinds.
Valances come in Three styles, box pleat is the most practical, and
looks the most expensive, and with a base Valance it doesn’t need to
be changed every week, so less washing for us.
There is also frilled or inverted Pleat Valances; both will do the
job of hiding the base of the bed.
You may have noticed that Beds come in a variety of sizes these
days. Consider when you buy your new bed, that bed linen doesn’t
come with the package, But in order for you to get the best from
your bed you need to use bedding that fits perfectly, spend a bit of
time getting great fitted sheets, I promise you will not regret it.
Throws and cushions are also a great addition for giving your room
that finishing touch.
If you are lucky enough to have either an En-Suite or dressing room
then keep it simple, extend the color scheme through out and put in
lots of storage for towels and toiletries.
I hope I have given you food for thought if you are starting out on
revamping your bedroom or designing your room from scratch.
Remember only you know what makes you happy, so put as much of you
as possible into that special place, and wake up every morning
feeling a sense of pride.
About The Author
Yvonne Fanshawe has spent nearly 20 years as a designer and
manufacturer of Bedding and Linen. She has now taken her talent for
producing the finest Bespoke Bed Linens and started her own
business. Find out more at http://www.macmillanqualitybedding.co.uk.
Bathroom Decorating Ideas - Guide To
Make Your
by: Linda E. Joy
Whether you are buying a new home, moving into
a new place, or just looking to spice things up in your current
home, you may be looking for new and exciting bathroom decorating
ideas. Inspiration for a new look or fresh design is probably closer
than you may think.
For renters, you are somewhat limited in what
you can do. You probably need your landlord to grant you permission
to do anything too extreme to your apartment or house. You can still
find some simple bathroom decorating designs that are fun and
interesting. Inspiration for bathroom decorating ideas can come from
the simplest of places. Look through a few home magazines or center
design magazines for ideas. You may be hit by a particular color or
combination of colors. The rest will come to you as you shop.
For a fresh look to an old bathroom, homeowners
have wider options and your bathroom decorating ideas can be bigger
and broader if you want a radical change. Along with home magazines,
take a trip to local home improvement stores to browse through the
displays. You may find that a particular fixture or item will grab
your eye and spark all sorts of ideas.
For those building a home from the ground up,
your bathroom decorating ideas are unlimited. You have a blank
picture to work with, and you can make your bathroom as stylish or
as simple as you wish. Let your personal taste say your decorating
ideas. One great starting point for bathroom decorating ideas is
finding the perfect tile. Tiles come in all shapes, sizes, and
colors. Chances are, you will find something you will fall in love
with, and you can build your bathroom around that particular tile.
If you have a rather large bathroom, you have
room to add touches that cannot be found in smaller bathrooms. Find
a piece of furniture, such as a stand or towel rack that you simply
love, and your bathroom decorating ideas can form around that piece.
Craft stores are another inspiration spot. Many craft stores have
ready made flower displays. You don’t have to buy one, just look for
one with a mix of colors that is enormously pleasing to your eye.
Some colors look amazing together, but you may never realize it
until you see them side by side.
For other bathroom decorating ideas, draw from
friends and family. If someone you know has a bathroom you have
fallen in love with, there is nothing wrong with you using that room
as inspiration. You may not want to copy the look entirely, but you
can use it to build on your own ideas.
About The Author
Linda E. Joy provides readers with up-to-date
commentaries, articles on http://www.thehomelivingguide.com, as well
as http://www.firstfamilylivingmagazine.com, and other related
issues.