Home Design Tips

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!

For a sleeping room to look fantastic, it has got to be furnished .The furnishing will depend a great deal on your taste and the quality of bedroom furniture you want  to use. It also depends on your financial power and your environment. What’s important however is to give your bedroom a very unique look - this is very possible with the right bedroom furniture.

For you to design any type of bedroom, you must look out for new ideas. This you can get from powder magazines and also online. Try not to count on your experience only. Let your vision guide you and try to acquire more knowledge from other venus as you can. All of these will end up transforming your room into your paradise.

There are different types of rugs to use in beautifying your bedroom. We have the hand made rugs, the contemporary ones, the designer rugs, the specially designed rugs for children. We also have the modern tufted rugs. The rugs come in various sizes and shapes. You may opt to carpet the whole house or only portion of it. Rugs can be rectangular or circular, some come in oval shapes. They can be from very affordable to cost a lot. This depends on the fabrics used. It also depends on if the carpet is hand made or machine made.

As you choose the colors for your bedroom furniture, it’s important be conscious of what we call color wheels and the rules that go with them. Rule number one says colors in the same family always go together. A color red that you choose should definitely go with other types of red. This is addressed the monochromatiic schema.

It’s not unusual to find many different kinds of bedroom furniture. You can find the unusual ones and many conventioanl ones. The one you will pick should be dependent on your preference and how it will fit in your bedroom.

Have you ever enjoyed the beauty of antique white bedroom furniture? If not, then you are missing a great deal. The universal appeal that antique white bedroom furniture has is because it has the tendency to brighten up any bedroom - no matter how dingy or dark that bedroom is. Try it and you will be surprised at the unbelievable beauty and singularity.

Lots of my friends say they now use bamboo bedroom furniture to add comfort, style and texture to their bedrooms. Because of the fact that bamboo is both lightweight and durable, many see it as environmentally friendly material for building. Some of the bamboo bedroom furniture that many people use these days include bamboo picture frames, bamboo bed frames, bamboo headboards, bamboo nightstands, etc.

Even though one might want to spend less on bedroom furniture, it’s important not to sacrifice quality or beauty because you want to save costs. If you can’t afford to decorate your bedroom the way you truly want to, then postpone the decoration until when you can afford it. It’s much better to do things right the first time around.

Jon Ferriss has proved to be a very versatile writer with the hundreds of articles on “Bedroom Furnitures” he has written

One of the most pleasing decorating makeovers you can carry out is that of remodeling the master bedroom because this is a room where people spend a great deal of their lives but it can easily be more than just a place to sleep. In recent times, homeowners have seen the benefits of turning this room into more than just a room to sleep; for example, a reading room or just a place to relax. Some Europeans believe the bedroom should be a place where a sensual atmosphere is the one to aim for and this approach is gradually being adopted by Americans as well.

To do this requires the use of emotionally appealing colors that are more seductive like rouge or lipstick reds, subtle pinks or creamy peaches. The addition of oval mirrors can help create beautiful reflections when candles are placed close to them. For some people, the bedroom is a place to lounge and read a good book whether in the bed itself or in some relaxing bedroom furniture by the window which will enhance your reading pleasure; something that has been a regular feature in certain sectors of society for generations.

However, good lights for reading are required that are not too harsh on the eyes and a shaded table lamp on a small circular table next to the armchair will really set the scene. Certain colors go well with a bedroom that is also being used as a reading room; shades of ivory for instance or the warmth of antique amber and relaxing slate blue. There are those individuals that view a bedroom as a kind of place to go to get away from everyone else so if you are remodeling your master bedroom to provide this style look to add big pillows and cushions and perhaps the odd landscape painting.

If your sanctuary is also a place where you intend to read then the addition of a comfortable chair and a reading lamp will be a simple matter. Of course when remodeling your master bedroom this way, pictures of your family (preferably in antique brass frames) should be placed around the room to provide a sanctuary like feeling. In a room like this colors that create the best effect are the darker blues, darker browns and the type of green that you see naturally in woodland as these colors produce a warm womb like feeling that is also good for a restful nights sleep.

For those people where space is not an issue when they remodel their master bedroom, why not add a few extra touches like a small desk to write on and perhaps some music to listen to. Small refrigerators in wooden cabinets are also becoming a popular addition along with tea or coffee making facilities in the same way that most nice hotels have. This could be a challenge as once this type of master bedroom remodeling project is complete; you may not want to leave it.