Home Design Tips

Many people fall into the trap of thinking that there’s not much they can do when it comes to designing a bedroom.  After moving the bed and the other bits of usual furniture, what is there you can really do?If you follow the following helpful tips then you will have a good idea of how to plan your bedroom.

The best way to get started is by evaluating the space that you have in terms of the size and shape of the actual room.  The best way to do this is to empty the room of all furniture and belongings completely.By emptying the room of all contents this will make it easier for you to evaluate the condition of all the walls, floor, windows, doors and trim.

Whether you are giving the bedroom a complete makeover or you're just applying a fresh coat of paint and some new curtains, it is obvious that your job will be made much easier when there isn't lots of furniture to work around.

The next logical step is to draw a plan of your bedroom.  You don't need to make a millimetre accurate diagram at this stage - a simple sketch will help you put ideas for arrangements down on paper so that you can see what works and what doesn't.

As it is the largest piece of furniture to go into your room, you should place the bed first and then plan around it.From there you will be much easier to see what space is available for what furniture is left.  A very useful and accurate way of planning and designing your bedroom is by using one of the many CAD design packages that are on the market.  They provide a very effective means of visualising your ideas before you have to go moving heavy furniture about.  They are also often used for kitchen design and bathroom design so if you are planning on making significant improvements to your home, it is a cheap investment that is definitely worth your consideration.

If what you want is a great and simple way to change your interior design, you should consider paint. You can change a room in this way without paying very much. However, knowing how to pick the right paint color is essential.

First, think about the room you want to paint and its purpose. Certain colors only match certain rooms, although there are no hard and fast rules. Although you may not find very many living rooms painted pink, you would likely find that same color in the bathroom. Additionally the main living spaces in homes tend to be neutral colors. When picking out the best color for you, remember that the closest things to rules in interior design, are guidelines. You should decide what color you want based on your personal needs and style.

Next, consider the way the rooms in your house are designed. Usually in Victorian style households, casual pastels, social, or polished colors tend to be not only suitable but pretty common. In more modern households you may want to choose a neutral or simple primary color for your rooms.

Think of how you want people to feel as they walk into your room? If you want colors that seem to give more energy to the house, you should consider looking for a blue or red shade that works best for you (remember when using red it may be best done in moderation). If you’re really lost in this decision making process specialists such as those at interior design central london can help you flesh out your needs.

Finally, if you still need ideas or guidance look in magazines or catalogs. In those magazines, which rooms did you like, which made you feel more relaxed, or influenced you? Note the color of the furniture and mainly walls. Perhaps you have always had the same neutral colors in your house but find that you are more partial to the red hues and designs you found in the catalog. Maybe that means you need to add more color to your walls.

If you use your imagination and your own sense of what just “feels right” in your rooms, you will be able to choose the perfect paint color for your walls, giving your interior a whole new feel.

We have probably all heard the old expressions “snug as a bug in a rug” and “sleep tight”, and they conjure up such a warm, cosy picture in our minds, however the true meaning of these phrases are quite different! They actually refer back to the good old days when the beds were badly infested with bugs and “sleep tight” comes from the 16th century when mattresses were placed on the top of ropes which needed tightening regularly.

So, tonight when you tuck down for the night have a thought for our ancestors and wonder how they probably felt at bedtime!

Neolithic Period – It was 10,000 years ago when the first primitive beds were heard of.

3400 BC – It was the clever Egyptians who thought of raising a pallet off the ground out of the draughts. Tutankhamens bed was made of gold and ebony, whilst the commoners slept on beds made from palm leaves heaped in a corner of the room.

The Roman Empire – The innovative romans invented the first real luxury beds. They were highly decorated with gold, silver and bronze. Mattresses were made out of feathers, hay, wool and reeds. It has been said they were also the first to invent the water bed.

The Renaissance Period – It was during this time that mattresses were made from straw and pea shucks, very often feathers stuffed into course ticks and then often covered in sumptuous velvets, brocade and silks.

16th and 17th Centuries – This is the time when mattresses were stuffed with straw or down and placed on top of a latticework of rope, hence the term “sleep tight”.

18th Century – It was during this time that beds were made out of cast iron and cotton mattresses. They were so much more hygienic as they provided an area much less attractive to vermin and bed bugs.

1865 – the first bed with coil springs was made and patented

1930 – this saw the introduction of inner sprung mattresses along with bases that were upholstered

1940 – from North American came the futon

1950 – foam rubber mattresses and also pillows were manufactured

1960 – the trendy water bed was introduced

1980 – the airbed was launched

1990 – The Americans were the first to produce the “queen size” mattress

Which takes us to the 2000’s where we have so much choice in the way of bedroom furniture. Today we have the choice of memory foam mattresses, air beds, water beds and even hi tec adjustable beds.

So, tonight when you snuggle down in your warm and comfortable beds lets just remember how lucky we are to be living in this era!