Did you know that the color of the walls, the lighting and your bed's location can determine how restful your bedroom is? Follow these simple tips, and sleep like a baby!
Generally speaking, pastel colors have always been used in bedrooms. Beige, greens and blues in soft powdery hues are the best because of their relaxing effect. These colors are also extremely versatile and can be combined with stained or natural woods or painted furniture to create a calm and subdued environment. Matte or flat finishes are best for bedrooms, as other finishes tend to reflect any bit of light, even when the room is dark.
Although a bedroom should be well lit, it is best to use caution so that the overall lighting doesn't overwhelm the room. When you go to bed and also when you rise, the lighting should be soft and warm, so using a dimmer is highly recommended. If you are building a new home or renovating, it's a good idea to make sure your electrical plan includes three-way switching so you can control the lighting as you enter a room, especially the bedroom.
Also in the arena of lighting is your selection of light bulbs. With incandescent lights on their way out, more and more people are using compact fluorescent lights. CFLs are now available in an array of intensities and colors. Always, always, always select the warm-comfort grade. All others cast a blue-gray color that makes every room look like an operating room.
The placement of the bed is the most important element. All other furniture should be secondary in importance and in placement. Beds should be centered in the room with the headboard against a wall. Ideally, you should be able to view the door and windows of the room. This will ensure a feeling of security. Beds should not be placed directly across a door or underneath a window. Also avoid placing the bed completely against a wall, particularly against a wall that has a television against it in the adjoining room.
Some are too hard, some are too soft, so select a bed that is best for your body. Mattresses come in varying degrees of firmness and materials. Buy the very best quality you can afford. Above all, invest in a mattress that is comfortable for you. This is where you spend a third of your life.
A disorganized room, or one in which everything is in piles, is a room that produces stress. An open pathway of 24 inches to 42 inches around the perimeter of the bed is comfortable. Place other large furniture such as armoires and dressers against the walls to allow as much space as possible. If it is possible, use furnishings that do double duty — for example, a storage bench at the foot of the bed, or a bed with a storage compartment or drawers below. This will help keep the room tidy without it seeming crowded with furniture.
Bedrooms are meant for resting and sleeping, so my advice is to keep the television out of the bedroom. However, many like to watch television from bed. So what is the correct location for the television? If you have an ample room, a separate seating area for watching television is ideal. The most obvious location for most people is across from the bed, if you are willing to make the television a focal point. Keep in mind that if this wall is adjacent to other rooms, sound insulation may be needed. Some opt to place the television in an armoire or other such cabinet. This is a great solution, since you can close it when not in use. Out of sight, out of mind.
Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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