Bedroom Design: A Quick Lesson on Cut Pile Carpeting for the Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.


Photo by i3 design group

If you a prefer soft, cushy floor covering for your bedroom (yes, your toes will thank you), then this blog post is for you. While there’s a host of different types of carpeting, some synthetic and some made from natural fibers, here’s a quick overview of cut pile carpeting (sometimes just called “plush”), a good choice and some of the comfiest flooring for a bedroom.

What is cut pile? Commonly used in bedrooms, cut pile has no loops and tends to feel softer than loop pile carpets, making it a more practical choice for the bedroom. Since yarns are cut, the carpet feels denser. Looking for soft carpet for your bedroom? Consider these types of cut pile carpeting.

Plush (velvet)
This carpet has a smooth almost sleek, formal look to it. You’ll see those footprints and vacuum marks, but you might not mind so much because this carpeting feels luxurious.

Textured plush
This type of carpet is versatile and can work with most design styles. If your bedroom is going to be used for more than sleeping, textured plush is a good choice because it’s a little tougher than these other options. You won’t see footprints or vacuum marks either.

Frieze
A good choice for an informal bedroom that gets regular activity, frieze will be more casual than plush or textured plush and footprints and marks won’t be so noticeable.

Saxony
The finish is smooth on saxony carpet, but because the fibers are longer (and twisted), furniture dents are common. Saxony is one of the most popular carpets types.

Cable
Besides plush, cable is probably the most comfortable carpeting on this list. The fibers are long and thick and can crush easily, so it’s best for low-traffic areas like the master bedroom.


Photo by Chalet

Shopping for carpet? You’ll discover many other types such as sisal, linen, silk, and the famed Wilton, a high-end woven carpet. Select your bedroom carpet based on lifestyle, price, and taste. Not looking for wall-to-wall carpeting? Go with an area rug, instead.


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Bedroom Design: 10 Photos That Will Inspire You to Redecorate to Your Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Redecorating might sound like a chore, but rest assured, if you’re up to the task, you’ll probably be thrilled once the project is complete. Yes, you’ll have to do your homework, make a host of decisions, write a lot of checks, live in disarray for some time, and perhaps even hire an interior designer to get the results you want. But in the end, you’ll have a functional and comfortable space to come home to every evening, and a bedroom you love to wake up in every morning. Still not sold on a bedroom redo? Peek at these ten photos that will inspire you to redecorate your bedroom.

A transitional Nashville bedroom oozes sophistication and style.

Landmark Homes of TN Sherwood Green Home

This San Diego beach bedroom boasts the right amount of color and pattern.

Beach Bungalow

A Cleveland penthouse remains neutral and almost monochromatic but is far from monotonous.

East Coast Penthouse

A Moscow bedroom – with its lilac walls and contemporary furniture – makes a design statement.

между небом и землёй

Not a hair is out of place in this tailored blue and white bedroom in Southwest Florida.

January 2016 Southwest Florida Edition

This classic high-rise city bedroom is simple, spacious, and comes with a terrace.

Park Ave Apartment

An industrial Denver loft bedroom can inspire the modernist in all of us.

Wynkoop Street Loft

Beige never looked so good as it does in this Melbourne bedroom.

Traditional Bedroom

You would never know it, but this Nantucket bedroom is in Los Angeles.

Nantucket

Even if the color palette isn’t your taste, you can’t deny the loveliness of this bedroom designed by Gray Walker Interiors.

Carter

Are you inspired to redecorate your bedroom yet?

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Bedroom Design: How to Avoid a Cookie Cutter Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.

West Village: One Bedroom Condominium Organization

It’s easy to order every piece of furniture, lamp, and accessory from a one-stop shop, but that wouldn’t be much fun, now would it? Days of bedroom suits are long gone, and the most impressive and well-designed rooms show a selection of pieces, often borrowed from different periods of history and created by designers and furniture makers from around the globe. If you feel as if you’re in a decorating rut, then this post is for you. Read on for tips how to avoid a cookie cutter bedroom. Spoiler: It’s easier than you think.

Don’t buy matching furniture.
Selecting two different bedside tables or nightstands is completely acceptable if not preferred in some instances. Choose a drawered nightstand for one side of the bed and a small table or side chair for the other.

Shop flea markets.
Browse local yard sales, antique markets, and gently used furniture stores for affordable finds and one-of-kind items. You’ll be amazed at the cool furnishings that someone else doesn’t want or need.

Hip Child

Mix vintage with modern.
Combining styles isn’t everyone’s forte, but start with a design magazine or two for ideas. Pairing an antique bed with modern artwork provides a nice contrast, as does placing that one Scandinavian chair with great lines in the corner. Take chances and play with your room. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t after a little trial and error.

Layer fabrics.
A solid bed covering works well with a textured throw and patterned pillows. Window treatments can be a bold floral or a soft, neutral sheer.

Upper East Side Apartment

Mix woods.
Your furniture doesn’t need to be the same wood color as your floors. Don’t be afraid to pair a blond wood with a rich dark tone.

Find unique art.
Shop Etsy for unusual pieces by local artists. Hang posters and postcards. And if framed art isn’t in your budget? Try making your own. Pick up a pen or a paintbrush – take to paper and get creative!

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5 Bedtime Beverages to Help You Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Having trouble sleeping again? You’re not alone. Per the National Institutes of Health, about 30 percent of people have sleep issues, including some degree of insomnia. Not only does the amount and quality of sleep affect your mood and productivity, but a lack of sleep is downright dangerous for your health, especially if you’re sleep deprived for weeks or months.

While there are plenty of natural remedies that can help you get to sleep and stay asleep, you need to find one that works for you. The next time you’re wide awake at midnight, try one of these bedtime beverages.


Cherry Juice

It’s not an old wives’ tale that tart cherry juice can help you sleep better. As a matter of fact, drinking two 8-ounce servings daily (one in the morning and one in the evening) reduces the likelihood of insomnia because cherries are an excellent source of melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythm.

Sleepytime Tea from Celestial Seasonings

This herbal tea’s name says it all. A blend of chamomile, spearmint, lemongrass, and orange blossoms will surely have you snoozing like a baby.

Warm milk

Because it’s high in the amino acid, Tryptophan (known to promote restful sleep), sipping a glass of warm milk about two hours before bedtime should make drifting off a no-brainer. Add a teaspoon of honey for flavor.

Coconut water

Because it contains potassium and magnesium, this energy drink will help your muscles relax, which in turn, will help you relax.

Valerian tea

Valerian is a herb that’s commonly used to treat sleep disorders. Doctors often recommend Get Some Zzz’s from the Republic of Tea. Brew yourself a cup about an hour before you hit the hay.

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Bedroom Design: 5 Ways to Tell Your Story in the Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Southern Living Photos

Photo by Southern Living

The most interesting rooms are well thought-out and tell a story. Bedrooms, more so than other rooms, are the most personal spaces and can communicate a lot about us as individuals. Adore the arts? Is cooking your favorite pastime? Allow the interior design on your bedroom to tell more about who you are and what you love. These are five ways in which you can do just that.

The color scheme…
Incorporating your favorite color or colors in the decor of your room remains an excellent way to show your personality. If you’re a fan of bold colors, why go with a neutral scheme? Be careful in choosing colors that allow your character and passions to shine through.

A portrait gallery…
Art is essential in any space, but a portrait gallery in a bedroom can be incredibly successful. Not only will you have the chance to appreciate your fondest memories, but you’ll be surrounded (in pictures) by family and friends daily.

Your travels…
Displaying items that you’ve picked up along the way while traveling will tell the story of where you’ve been as well as your once-in-a-lifetime experiences. If you’re an avid traveler, hanging a world map of the destinations you’ve visited can be a nice touch, as can installing map wall covering.

West 2nd Street, North Vancouver

Photo by Gaile Guevara

The books you’ve read….
If you’re literary buff, celebrate the books you’ve read by lining a wall or section of the room with bookshelves. Display your favorites on a desk or side table. Rotate the most recent reads and feature those books in a special spot.

A memory wall…
Select one wall, and through photos, letters, and other memorabilia, you can display the most prominent moments of your life. Use this wall as a reminder of all that you’ve accomplished and the challenges conquered along the way.

My weekend up north



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