Tag Archives: Design
Bedroom Design: Best Bedroom Colors
Post by Kyle St. Romain.
Choosing the best bedroom colors can be a difficult task, especially if it’s the first time you get to choose the color of your bedroom. Most apartments and rental homes leave the bedroom walls white, and for very good reason: white goes with everything. However, white can be boring, especially the drab white landlords use. If you’re ready to add some color to your bedroom, I’ve compiled a list of the three best bedroom colors and why.
1. Neutrals
Many people hear neutral colors and think, “boring,” but this doesn’t have to be the case. Neutral colors create an ideal backdrop to frame the rest of your bedroom design against, and are more forgiving for novice designers. They also work well with different designs, which allows you to easily update the décor of your bedroom without having to repaint. Included in the broad category of neutrals is everything from white to gray, which is actually a lot. Take a trip to your local home improvement or paint store and see for yourself: you’ll be surprised how many different shades of white you can choose from.
2. Earth Tones
Earth tones include the more muted shades of brown and green. Remember, you want to feel relaxed when you enter your bedroom and lime green probably isn’t the best way to conjure that feeling. Earth tones make it easy to envision what colors to incorporate in your overall design too; simply think of what colors you’d find in a forest. Bright red is an excellent color to use for your statement piece with an earthy palette, just doesn’t overdo it.
3. Blues
The number of shades of blue you can choose from can be overwhelming. To help narrow your choices, first decide between light and dark blue. Dark blue will create a deep, mature feeling in the bedroom, while light blues are generally considered more light and airy. Use white to accent your blue walls. White floorboards, headboards, and furniture contrast nicely with any shade of blue.
What do you think is the best bedroom color? Let us know in the comments below.
Bedroom Design: A Lesson in Geometry
Post by Laura Cheng.
Move over triangles and squares, there’s a new shape in town. Polyhedrons are the new rage and its not hard to realize its appeal. The reason why I love geometric design is because it’s an oxymoron. The design is both retro and modern. It can enhance the bedroom with its clean, structured lines or draw attention to its unexpected, unsymmetric shape. It can relax the formality of traditional furniture and bedding choices.
Geometry is everywhere. Lately, polyhedrons have been used as inspiration for many angular lamp designs. This one is sold by the Land of Nod, which just goes to show that even toddlers can get a geometry lesson on flat faces and straight edges. However, to make it easier for them to understand, the term has been simplified as “Between a Rock Lamp Base”. It comes in silver, white, and gold; gold being my favorite (see previous blog about “Going for the Gold”).
Source: http://www.landofnod.com/between-a-rock-lamp-base-gold/f10706
On a nightstand, it stands as a beautiful and functional sculptural piece. If you’re really into replicating the look of this room, keep reading. Even timepieces can be transformed into a case involving geometry.
Source: http://www.landofnod.com/between-a-rock-lamp-base-gold/f10706
A classic alarm clock shaped as a polyhedron is the perfect complement to a modernly styled polyhedron lamp. Although out of production, the Retro Hexagon Clock by Pottery Barn adds instant vintage glamour and intrigue to your nightstand tablescape. A resin and pearlized material to the clock will maintain a coherent balance between the shiny surface of the lamp base. Look for Bakelite clocks designed with updated details and mechanisms on your next trip to the flea market or antique store. And if you haven’t heard of eBay, then call me. We need to talk.
Source: http://jgkitchens.blogspot.com/2009/03/tick-tock-tick-tock-its-soon-time-to.html
Can you count the polyhedrons in this picture? Technically, polyhedrons are 3 dimensional objects. However, exceptions are always made in geometric design. In design 2+2 does not always equal 4. There is no right answer. Another reason to love geometric design! This geometric lattice wallpaper absorbs all the attention in this bedroom. The key green color is repeated in the trim to help break up the busy pattern. Other primary colors like black and white keep the focus on the main attraction.
Source: http://www.bellemaison23.com/2011/11/timeless-trend-lattice-geometric-prints.html
Bedroom Design: Best Bedroom Colors
Post by Kyle St. Romain
Choosing the best bedroom colors can be a difficult task, especially if it’s the first time you get to choose the color of your bedroom. Most apartments and rental homes leave the bedroom walls white, and for very good reason: white goes with everything. However, white can be boring, especially the drab white landlords use. If you’re ready to add some color to your bedroom, I’ve compiled a list of the three best bedroom colors and why.
1. Neutrals
Many people hear neutral colors and think, “boring,” but this doesn’t have to be the case. Neutral colors create an ideal backdrop to frame the rest of your bedroom design against, and are more forgiving for novice designers. They also work well with different designs, which allows you to easily update the décor of your bedroom without having to repaint. Included in the broad category of neutrals is everything from white to gray, which is actually a lot. Take a trip to your local home improvement or paint store and see for yourself: you’ll be surprised how many different shades of white you can choose from.
2. Earth Tones
Earth tones include the more muted shades of brown and green. Remember, you want to feel relaxed when you enter your bedroom and lime green probably isn’t the best way to conjure that feeling. Earth tones make it easy to envision what colors to incorporate in your overall design too; simply think of what colors you’d find in a forest. Bright red is an excellent color to use for your statement piece with an earthy palette, just doesn’t overdo it.
3. Blues
The number of shades of blue you can choose from can be overwhelming. To help narrow your choices, first decide between light and dark blue. Dark blue will create a deep, mature feeling in the bedroom, while light blues are generally considered more light and airy. Use white to accent your blue walls. White floorboards, headboards, and furniture contrast nicely with any shade of blue.
What do you think is the best bedroom color? Let us know in the comments below.
The Olympic Bedroom Part 2: Going for the Gold
Post by Laura Cheng.
As of last Monday, more than 2,100 medals designed by British artist David Watkins were awarded at the London 2012 Olympic Games. However, you don’t have to be a super athlete to bring in the gold medal. These gilded, winning bedroom ideas are a sure-fire way to bring a bright and modern update to any bedroom.
Wallpaper updates plain bedroom walls, but golden wallpaper can transform. A contemporary geometric pattern looks clean and crisp against the white nightstand and linens. A crystal starburst light over the headboard accentuates the gold and doubles the brightness of the room. A pair of translucent lamps and footstools further ensures there is no shortage of crystallized light in the bedroom. Since the gold is so dramatic, it is best kept to an accent wall.
Source: http://ladies-trends.com/2011/07/26/golden-bedroom-decor-ideas/
The Olympic gold medal is not actually made of gold. The gold medal is made up of 92.5% silver, 1.34% gold, with the remainder copper (a minimum of 6g of gold). Although not a metal approved by the Olympic committee, brass can create a beautiful faux gold look. The Putnam bed by Charles P. Rogers is simple but classic four poster bed “traditionally crafted with pure brass tubing, trumpet finials and solid brass castings”. It is pictured here in a hand-polished brass finish, proving that an elegant brass can really make the entire room glow.
Source: http://www.charlesprogers.com/putnam-bed-p-64.html?cPath=5_81
For those that feel gold is too flamboyant a color, using natural light and transparent wheat colored curtains can create the same brightness gold metallic colors would. This works best in a sunny room where light can filter through the curtains to cast a warm golden glow.
Gilded drum lamps are also a great way to test the waters. Lamp shades lined with gold fabric can be purchased to replace existing ones or follow these great DIY instructions from IkeaHackers.net to update current ones. It is a simple makeover with amazing results. The soft glow of the gold with the lamps on will add a new level of winning sophistication to the bedroom.
Bedroom Design: Tips for Designing A Contemporary Bedroom
Post by Kyle St. Romain.
Carefully planned contemporary bedrooms look great, but can be hard to pull off. The reason most contemporary bedrooms fail is lack of follow through with the vision. If you decide you are going to design a contemporary bedroom, you have to be sure that it carries through in every aspect of the bedroom. For example, a contemporary bed frame placed amongst chunky, ornate furniture won’t look right no matter how cool the bed is. If you’re looking to create a contemporary bedroom, below are four areas you should focus on with tips to help get you started.
1. Color
You should limit the palette of your contemporary bedroom to one or two neutral colors. White is the most common color, because it is bright and clean feeling. Neutral colors also give you an ideal background that will make your statement pieces really pop. You want to limit your statement pieces to one or two items, so choose them carefully. Examples of statement pieces include a colorful piece of art, a standing vase, headboard, loveseat, or even the curtains and bedspread. When choosing a statement piece, brighter is better.
2. Bed Frame
Most contemporary bedrooms feature a low profile, platform bed. Clean lines and smooth surfaces are essential. You have a number of colors to choose from when selecting a bed frame, but the most common are white, black, or wood. Headboards are also optional, but unless you want your headboard to be the main focus of the room, opt for a color that matches the wall.
3. Light Fixtures
Having the right light fixtures shouldn’t be overlooked when designing a contemporary bedroom. Unless you want to make your light fixtures a focal point of your bedroom, you should look for pieces that are understated and blend in with the color of the wall. If you are having trouble selecting a color, it’s hard to go wrong with brushed stainless steel or glossy white. While it’s important for the fixtures to match the design of the bedroom, it is even more important that your light fixtures be functional.
4. White Space
There is no room for clutter in a contemporary bedroom. When designing a contemporary bedroom you need to be thinking minimalist. It’s easy to get carried away in decorating your contemporary bedroom with a lot of great pieces; however, this will hurt the effect you’re trying to achieve. Use negative space to your advantage, it will keep your bedroom looking clean and contemporary and really help your statement pieces pop.
5. Keep it Personal
Ultimately, your contemporary bedroom should reflect your personal taste. There are a variety of flavors within the broad category of contemporary that you can explore. Settling on one design approach that you like best, and that also fits in with the overall design of your home can be a real challenge. However, as is with any design project, remember that it’s a journey, not a destination.
