Tag Archives: Decor
Bedroom Design: 5 Ideas for Nightstand Alternatives
Post by Tracy Kaler.
In my opinion, a bedroom isn’t complete without a pair of nightstands or other furniture on which you can place essentials such as an alarm clock, phone, bottle of water, and pair of eyeglasses. That being said, a nightstand in a traditional sense isn’t the only option for this practical bedside piece. These five choices are viable alternatives depending on your lifestyle, taste, and room layout.
Skirted table
If you don’t need the storage in your bedroom, you can get a custom skirt made for a round, square, or rectangular table. Add a piece of glass for easy maintenance and you’re good to go.
Writing desk
A small desk can double as a place to write a note and work on a laptop, as well as hold necessities. And you don’t have to be symmetrical about it. It’s fine to use a bedside table on the other side of the bed.
Side table
This tiny side table does the trick, as it holds a bedside lamp and an alarm clock. It appears as if there’s just enough space for a water bottle.
Shelf
A short bed wall didn’t leave much room for nightstands, so SGW Architects in Chicago decided on a pair of cleverly designed shelves instead.
Built-in unit
This clean, uncluttered built-in offers everything a nightstand does as well as more storage than the usual single-drawer bedside table.
Bedroom Design: 5 Ways to Define a Bedroom in a One-Room Living Space
Post by Tracy Kaler.
One-room living spaces come with advantages such as more floor space for entertaining and an open feel. However, creating a sleep space can prove challenging unless you implement one of these five suggestions to define the bedroom area.
Bookshelves
Tall bookshelves can easily separate the living room from the bedroom, and act as storage at the same time. If the bookcase is open from both sides, you’ll have a library feel in both spaces. If the case has a closed back on one side, be sure it’s finished and not raw wood. Consider painting the back of the bookcase a fun accent color to add interest.
Screen
A screen or freestanding room divider is the next best thing to constructing a wall, and it’s a lot less messy. Luckily, these accessories come in most every style and color, so you’re bound to find one that’s a match for your decorating style. If not, design a custom screen instead.
Fabric panels
Hanging curtains can create a cocoon type effect for your bedroom and add softness to your living room. Install hardware on your ceiling and hang away. Want light to pass through? Use unlined sheers rather than opaque panels.
Sliding wall
A temporary or sliding wall can turn your open studio space into a one-bedroom. This option is particularly appealing if you live with a roommate or even a significant other and sometimes desire privacy.
The right furniture arrangement
Arranging furnishings in the correct way can designate space. Place living room furniture –– such as a sofa and club chair or two loveseats –– on one side of your room, and place bedroom pieces on the other. Separate the two areas with a desk or credenza, and visually, you’ll feel as if you’re living in two rooms rather than one.
Bedroom Design: Easy Pillow Sham Ideas
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Let’s talk pillows. We’ve already done an overview of shams, but what about some serious sham inspiration? Whether you realize it or not, shams can quickly transform the look of your bed. No matter if you prefer standard or Euro, knife-edge or trimmed, a pair of custom pillow covers could be all the décor your bedroom is asking for. Peruse the photos below for easy sham ideas to apply to your own sleep space.
Imagine this room without the shams; it would be a tad dull wouldn’t it? It’s amazing how those two lovely boxed pillows enhance a very traditional space. The trims introduce the right amount of detail too.
Traditional Bedroom by Chagrin Falls Design-Build Firms W Design Interiors
We’ve discussed how monograms can add personality to a space. A layer of throw pillows acts as a backdrop for the crisp white shams in this girly bedroom.
Eclectic Bedroom by Philadelphia Interior Designers & Decorators Caitlin Wilson
These shams throw a dash of pattern into this Chicago home. The floral picks up the blue wall color and connects every element in the room.
Transitional Bedroom by Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators Tom Stringer Design Partners
This teen bedroom doesn’t lack color or pattern but gets a dose of city skyline on its shams. This space beats a dorm room any day.
Eclectic Kids by Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators DM Designs
Elegant and neutral, this calming Denver bedroom successfully boasts toile, seersucker, florals, and stripes. The button and ruffle introduce interesting details to the otherwise plain shams.
Farmhouse Bedroom by Golden Architects & Building Designers Todd Remington Architect
This twin bed uses a simple green and white pattern on a single sham with a smaller throw pillow in front. Every item is perfectly proportioned to the rest of the space in this Salt Lake City Bedroom.
Traditional Bedroom by Salt Lake City Interior Designers & Decorators Caitlin Creer Interior Design
This mostly white room is modeled after a luxury hotel. Euro shams with embroidered edges complete the look. Remember, shams like these can be laundered with your sheets and duvet cover – an advantage over others, which usually require dry cleaning.
Contemporary Bedroom by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Su Casa Designs
Bedroom Design: Polka-Dotted Decor in a Bedroom
Post by Tracy Kaler.
When we talk about décor, polka dots usually sound juvenile. But in all honesty, they can be as mature and sophisticated as you need them to be. Polka dots work well on walls, as a fabric print, and even in area rugs. As a fan of dots myself, I’m fond of the following bedrooms, each of which has been graced with polka dots.
This polka-dotted ceiling looks like wall covering, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. The renter of this California apartment placed gold polka dot removable decals on three sides of the ceiling. That’s a more practical option than a permanent wallpaper.
This otherwise plain bedroom gets a punch of pattern with polka dots on pillows. If you’ll notice, a small piece of dotted art hangs above the nightstand as well.
This colorful bedroom uses dots on Roman shades, a large bolster pillow, and the vibrant area rug. The space should be overkill but the varying sizes of polka dots –– small on the windows, medium on the pillow, and large on the floor –– work nicely.
This space screams sophistication. Large black dots decorate the walls of the London bedroom, which feels like a luxury hotel suite. Modern photography and the right amount of texture complete the upscale design.
This handsome Austin bedroom comes with a small dose of polka dots on the accent throw at the foot of the bed. The color palette, use of pattern, and furniture selections give the bedroom a retro look.
Would you consider using polka dots in your bedroom?
Bedroom Design: 4 Brilliant Bed Walls
Post by Tracy Kaler.
What components make up a typical bed well? A stylish headboard. A pair of bedside tables. Art above the bed. Window treatments. Accoutrements. But what about those bed walls that push the envelope, those that lack the obvious choices for a headboard but boast a custom backdrop instead? Some bed walls come adorned with built-in nightstands rather than the usual freestanding tables. Some designers think outside the box when they create a space for sIeep. I searched high and low for the most innovative bed walls I could find. Enjoy!
Industrial in design and feel, this Santa Barbara loft bedroom is like no other I’ve ever seen. A driftwood backdrop and platform feel primitive yet sophisticated. Matching nightstands blend in, and the art above the bed keeps the color palette neutral. A skateboard and guitar add a smidge of playfulness to the space.
Busy to some and inventive to others, this colorful, patterned bedside corner sets the tone for this unusual guest bedroom in Newport Beach. Notice the simplicity of the other elements in the room –– although the shag rug and ornamental dresser introduce texture and make up for the bedroom’s lack of accessories. A pouf acts as a bedside table.
No headboard is visible in this photo, so we have to assume that there isn’t one. The decorator of this Florida bedroom uses a crisp, Moroccan pattern on the pillow shams. Decorative molding creates architectural interest on the bed wall while the artwork resembles branches or coral and provides just the right amount of interest above the bed. This room is fantastic in many ways.
The feature wall in this charming East London bedroom dons black, and the headboard sports a zig-zag pattern. The silly sign as artwork somehow fits the mood, as do the light fixtures suspended by red cords.
