While they say ” It doesn’t matter where you start, it matters where you end up”, when talking about the bedroom I dare to disagree – since your bedroom is both the place where you begin your day, and one where you end up when it’s over, it’s crucial for your bedroom to provide you with tranquility and harmony both at the beginning of your day, as well as at the end of it.
I’m sure that everyone has an interior in his house which he values the most – this might be because of the way it’s been designed, your personal preference or just the way you spend your day. However, there is no denying that the bedroom is truly unique when it comes to comparing the typical rooms in a house – this is where we begin our day, as well as where do we finish it.
The way you wake up and start your day determines your frame of mind throughout the entire day, and falling asleep is the closure of said say – which means that the starting point and the final point of your day are the points which will impact the way you will feel about the day as a whole. Thus, your bedroom has to be perfect and harmonic, so you can feel good about each of your days.
With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the contents of your bedroom, and all that you should think about if you want to make your bedroom a true sanctuary of peace and harmony.
Design vs comfort
Sometimes, compromises have to be struck, and your bedroom is a perfect example of an interior that’s a bit tricky to design. Should you design it with the aesthetics and cohesive style playing the main role, or should you be primarily thinking about the comfort and convenience?
People don’t even realize these problems until they start remodeling their bedrooms, but sometimes that’s already too late – you have to be ready for all these details before you start buying any elements of your bedroom.
Your bed – should it be stylish, or should it be comfortable?
While there are plenty of bed types which combine the comfort with aesthetics, some of them aren’t that versatile – if you need an example, thinking about a wrought iron bed. While perfect for some types of bedrooms, durable and sturdy, at the same time such a bed might not be the choice for these of you who like to read before sleep, because the iron headboard isn’t exactly the epitome of softness and comfort.
You could still make it work with additional back support, or putting pillows between you and the iron, but it’s not exactly the most convenient solution. So, if you’re a person that likes to lean against the headboard, you need something different.
Obviously, in the case of my previous example, an upholstered headboard would be the perfect solution – but if you don’t think about it before you start designing your bedroom, chances are you’ve already gotten yourself the wallpaper, decorations or furniture which would be better look when paired with a bed made from iron.
The bottom line is – you need to be aware of such details, and be ready for them. Don’t start designing your bedroom before you’re one hundred percent sure what it is that you want, and how well will it match your needs. A perfect bedroom is one that’s able to satisfy all of your desires, not just some of them.
What makes you feel relaxed?
You can find plenty of guides over the internet, where authors tell you exactly what to pick and how to mix certain elements to feel good. I guess if you do anything against these established standards, the earth will explode and you won’t be ever able to fall asleep again. Yeah, sure.
Certainly, there are some valuable tips to listen to, I’m not denying that – some solutions work better than others, and some colors schemes are more soothing than others. But remember, that’s what’s generally true – at the end of the day, you should take all of this advice with a grain of salt. Why’s that?
Obviously, that’s because everyone is different – and while the light blue is generally perceived as a peaceful color, and radiant red is considered to be aggressive and energetic, that’s just generally. Who said you perceive colors, and react to them, the same way everyone does?
Because of that, when you’re trying to invite some tranquility and harmony into your bedroom, first of all, you have to estimate your own, individual needs and preferences. People often forget about themselves, when designing their houses, and end up with houses that are perfect for the authors of the guides they read – but it’s them who will get to live in said houses, not these authors.
The bottom line is when picking the furniture, colors or wallpapers for your bedroom, then do not take anything you find on the internet for granted, not even my own words – think about what you like, what makes you happy and what makes you feel at peace.
Of course, if the tips you find around on the internet, or even in this very guide, that’s fine. However, if you’re a bit different, then go with what makes you happy. It’s your bedroom, design it the way you like it.
The most important elements of your bedroom
So much for the theory behind designing your perfect bedroom, it’s time to focus the very core elements of every bedroom – each of them has to be carefully chosen. Don’t rush it, because each of these elements is what makes or breaks truly relaxing bedroom.
Perfect bed frame for a perfect frame of mind
Design-wise, it’s the frame of your bed that should be dictating the climate in your bedroom. That’s why, it’s the frame you should be choosing first – all the rest, like the color of your walls or the shape of your curtains, should be cohesive with your frame, and not the other way around.
This way, you’ll avoid all the most common problems of bedroom designers – if you design your decoration and walls, for example, first, then you’ll be forced to stick with a bed frame that’s cohesive with the previously chosen stuff. What if it turns out that the frame which seemed to be the best on paper, turns out to be not very comfortable?
Now that you know this, it’s time to choose your frame accordingly to your preferences and needs. Let’s list all the most popular bed frames:
- Canopy – great for the master bedroom, very luxurious yet elegant and classy. Also comfortable.
- Iron and brass – aesthetically amazing for some styles, such as rustic and industrial, but hard to lean against.
- Sleigh – hard without additional upholstery, yet very nice for traditional bedrooms.
- French and upholstered – very comfortable and adds a romantic vibe. If you like the upholstered, soft headboard, then choose one which matches your design preferences.
- Platform – minimalistic, simple, modern. Comfortable and convenient.
- Ornate – luxurious, yet not very comfortable to lean against. Works best in grand, luxurious bedrooms.
- Woven – eco, natural and cozy. Best for tropical-style houses. Also very comfortable.
Let me just say it again, in some cases, you will have to strike compromises between the design and comfort, like in the case of ornate or iron frames and headboards. Take some time to think this through, not to regret anything later.
Take your time to choose the best mattress
The most important element you will find in any bedroom, for obvious reasons. The kind of your mattress determines the way you sleep and rest, and thus impacts both your days and nights. Most shops these days allow you to hop on the mattress, to check out how springy and comfortable it really easy. Of course, it’s not even close to sleeping an entire night on a mattress, but should be enough to give you a rough idea about what are you dealing with.
When buying your mattress, you should consider these aspects:
- Comfort – when buying your mattress, check how springy it is, as well as its shape.
- Size – remember that your mattress should be chosen accordingly to your own size and needs. If you’re looking for a mattress for partners or for very big and luxurious, master bedroom, think about king-sized or California king-sized mattress. If you need something bigger, but for one person, I’d consider a queen-sized mattress.
- Firmness – while mattresses come with firmness labels attached, I wouldn’t put too much trust in these labels – they vary between different producers. Ask your friends for opinions about the honesty of your local sellers first.
- Material – obviously, the material your mattress been made from impacts all the other parameters. Additionally, it’s best to buy hypoallergenic mattresses.
- Price – always something to keep in mind, however, I wouldn’t try to save money on a mattress myself – there are other things you can save on, and the mattress is just too important for both your comfort and health.
Illumination has to be easy on your eyes
It plays a crucial role when it comes to the mood and atmosphere of your bedroom, as well as in the process of relaxing. Do not use too aggressive, direct lighting in your bedroom – this is where your eyes have to take some rest, so the light should be subtle and relaxing. I’d advise using some of these solutions:
- Downlights or uplights – usually used in art galleries or when trying to expose some decorations in living rooms, they are very welcome in the bedroom because the light won’t be directed at your eyes.
- Lamps with shades – dim light produced by such lamps is soft on the eyes, atmospheric and subtle.
- Windows – as always, there is nothing better than sunlight or moonlight. Especially in your bedroom, moonlight will work wonders when you’re looking for ways to add some romantic atmosphere. Plus, waking up because of the daylight coming through your windows is probably the most natural way of waking up you could ever imagine. If possible, think about skylights, otherwise, normal windows will do.
- LED tapes – as long as they are not directly pointed at your face, they can be very good to add a modern feeling to your bedroom. An LED tape hidden behind a curved shelf can be very effective.
- Overhead fixtures – more traditional, but good nonetheless. Just make sure the bulbs are dim and not very aggressive. Pick something easy on the eyes.
Complement your bedroom with cohesive furniture
All the additional bedroom furniture should be picked accordingly to your aesthetical and practical preferences. It’s always good to have a nightstand or two in your bedroom, to keep your small stuff on them, as well as a classy stand for your lamp.
Make sure they are cohesive with the rest of your bedroom, and other than that, decide for yourself which meet your tastes.
Choose colors you like the most
When it comes to the colors in which your bedroom should be designed, I’ve already told you that it’s up to your personal color preferences.
The common consensus is that the colors in your bedroom should be soothing and peaceful, to provide the optimal conditions for catching some rest and relaxing – however, that’s of course not the only way to do it.
First of all, different colors work differently on different people, and second of all, there is nothing wrong with having a more spicy, romantic bedroom. Think about the effect you want to achieve, and about your personal perception of colors.
Anyway, generally, if you want a peaceful and quiet bedroom, pick subtle, light colors such as white, light blue, ecru, etc. However, if you’d like something more dramatic or even spicy, then darker hues are fine. I’ve seen crimson bedrooms I’d love to have, so really – pick the colors you want, and don’t let anyone tell you you’re doing it wrong. It’s your bedroom.
Pay attention to the details
Now that you’ve got all of the core elements of your bedroom chosen, it’s time to focus on the additional details to underline the atmosphere and character of your bedroom. This includes:
- Curtains
- Accent pillows
- Rugs
- Decorations
- Personal items
- Art
All of these should be picked to be cohesive with the rest of your bedroom. Make sure to only keep the items that make you feel relaxed. Your bedroom should only consist of items that carry the positive vibe – throw away all the work-related items, or anything that could be stressful.
Pick your bedding like you picked the mattress
Finally, it’s time to pick a comfortable bedding for your bed. Same as in the case of your mattress, the main aspect you should be considering when picking your bedding should be comfort and convenience.
Basically, when deciding which bedding to buy, think about the same characteristics I’ve already listed when we talked about the mattress, no point in rewriting all this stuff again. Plus, pick them cohesive in style with the rest of your bedroom.
That’s it – I hope I’ve managed to be of help. Now you should be more than prepared to design a harmonic, peaceful bedroom which will satisfy all of your aesthetical needs, as well as let you catch some well-deserved rest. Good night!