Unless you are a single woman, who can control what mess you leave behind, it is likely that your bedroom is shared with someone fabulous but who doesn't think that plumping the bed up with pillows and bolster cushions is a priority each morning. Most of us need our bedroom to be functional and contain wardrobes, chests of drawers, maybe a TV, oh and lots of shoes! So, what colours and home accessories can we use to create a feminine bedroom without ending up with an elaborate Louis XVI style boudoir?
Before we proceed, we accept that everyone has their own style and taste in home decorating, so you may, or may not agree with our suggestions. Our issue today is specific: avoiding pink.
Painted Walls - Your bedroom should be a haven for rest and recuperation and designers seem to agree that walls should be painted a pale shade. Simple stone shades, dusky whites or soft shades of cream, green and blue work well and provide a great back-drop to the beautiful new bed linens you are about to treat yourself to. We suggest that you avoid anything bold or dark. We have seen many decorating disasters on television where strong reds or even black has been used to create a room suitable for a lady of the night. Not the look we're going for here.
Wallpaper - There is a bit of a revival going on with the use of wallpaper in bedrooms. There are more patterns, suiting a wider range of budgets available than ever before. They have even introduced pre-pasted wallpaper to reduce the mess involved and make it easier to hang. You could try a heavily patterned wallpaper behind your bed as a feature wall. We suggest you only use heavily patterned wall papers that are made of the same tones (ie. Pale browns, gentle greens etc.) Using a strong pattern that has many colours won't create a restful space.
Stencils - If wallpaper is not your thing, look for a pre-cut stencil and create a delicate border. Don't just slap a border around the room like a bad dado-rail. Be creative. Maybe just add a pretty border around your window frame, or your favourite mirror. Or follow the skirting boards and the door frame. Think before you stencil.
Curtains & Blinds - Privacy is key in a bedroom and installing blinds is an effective way of keeping the outside world out. There are very few houses that still use net curtains, so, if you are feeling brave, then we suggest that you try real lace curtains in your bedroom. They bring instant retro-glamour to your room. The alternative is to leave your windows bare, and hang a pretty set of floral or jaquard style curtains up. If you have used a paler wall colour, then you can use a more complex pattern, or stronger colour on your window dressing. We are looking for feminine patterns or images that will help you feel special every night. Here the priority is to keep things looking delicate but to block out sunlight and prying eyes.
The Bed - The focal point of the room is, naturally, the bed so don't be afraid to be as imaginative and decorative as you like. There is a wide selection of beds available in many different materials. The most sturdy options would be made of solid wood or wrought iron. Use throws and cushions with different textures and use a range of florals, spots, stripes and frills but all in complementary tones. Treat yourself to a couple of sets of pretty, well-made bed linen. It is better to buy two or three expensive sets that will last, than five cheap cotton printed sets that will fall apart or fade quickly. Dormer or Sanderson are great traditional brands to consider.
Storage - Bedroom furniture is a big out-lay if you don't just pop to Ikea and buy whatever cardboard wardrobes they have on offer that week. We suggest that you take time to research bedroom furniture and invest in a set of cupboards and drawers that will last you for many years to come. You can find elegant designs in older second-hand bedroom furniture. Try to keep it functional and avoid hard corners and modern pieces that bring a more clinical feel to your room. Opt for curved corners and storage which can be hidden. Always include a washing basket to keep socks and underwear from being strewn across your floor.
Artwork - You can use feminine images to help create a romantic atmosphere. Use pale colours and images of hearts, flowers, feathers, and figures. Think soft and fluffy. Lots of shops are stocking over-sized prints of flowers and religious icons and these are perfect for feature walls.
Accessories - Enhance your chosen artwork with simple accessories such as scented candles, elegant trinket trays, family photographs and pretty table lamps that will create a relaxing mood. Be lavish with your decoration, especially with items that have some kind of personal or nostalgic meaning. Perhaps display a doll from your childhood or some other childhood toy that reminds you of more care-free times.
Hopefully, we have provided enough food for thought. Creating a new room should be a pleasure, so go and experiment and let your room evolve as you find accessories that work for you.Loretta Cotterell, the author, left a highly lucrative career in advertising and media sales to pursue her passion for property refurbishment and interior design. She set up her ecommerce store in 2011 and enjoys sourcing great homewares and helping her customers create the home of their dreams.
Before we proceed, we accept that everyone has their own style and taste in home decorating, so you may, or may not agree with our suggestions. Our issue today is specific: avoiding pink.
Painted Walls - Your bedroom should be a haven for rest and recuperation and designers seem to agree that walls should be painted a pale shade. Simple stone shades, dusky whites or soft shades of cream, green and blue work well and provide a great back-drop to the beautiful new bed linens you are about to treat yourself to. We suggest that you avoid anything bold or dark. We have seen many decorating disasters on television where strong reds or even black has been used to create a room suitable for a lady of the night. Not the look we're going for here.
Wallpaper - There is a bit of a revival going on with the use of wallpaper in bedrooms. There are more patterns, suiting a wider range of budgets available than ever before. They have even introduced pre-pasted wallpaper to reduce the mess involved and make it easier to hang. You could try a heavily patterned wallpaper behind your bed as a feature wall. We suggest you only use heavily patterned wall papers that are made of the same tones (ie. Pale browns, gentle greens etc.) Using a strong pattern that has many colours won't create a restful space.
Stencils - If wallpaper is not your thing, look for a pre-cut stencil and create a delicate border. Don't just slap a border around the room like a bad dado-rail. Be creative. Maybe just add a pretty border around your window frame, or your favourite mirror. Or follow the skirting boards and the door frame. Think before you stencil.
Curtains & Blinds - Privacy is key in a bedroom and installing blinds is an effective way of keeping the outside world out. There are very few houses that still use net curtains, so, if you are feeling brave, then we suggest that you try real lace curtains in your bedroom. They bring instant retro-glamour to your room. The alternative is to leave your windows bare, and hang a pretty set of floral or jaquard style curtains up. If you have used a paler wall colour, then you can use a more complex pattern, or stronger colour on your window dressing. We are looking for feminine patterns or images that will help you feel special every night. Here the priority is to keep things looking delicate but to block out sunlight and prying eyes.
The Bed - The focal point of the room is, naturally, the bed so don't be afraid to be as imaginative and decorative as you like. There is a wide selection of beds available in many different materials. The most sturdy options would be made of solid wood or wrought iron. Use throws and cushions with different textures and use a range of florals, spots, stripes and frills but all in complementary tones. Treat yourself to a couple of sets of pretty, well-made bed linen. It is better to buy two or three expensive sets that will last, than five cheap cotton printed sets that will fall apart or fade quickly. Dormer or Sanderson are great traditional brands to consider.
Storage - Bedroom furniture is a big out-lay if you don't just pop to Ikea and buy whatever cardboard wardrobes they have on offer that week. We suggest that you take time to research bedroom furniture and invest in a set of cupboards and drawers that will last you for many years to come. You can find elegant designs in older second-hand bedroom furniture. Try to keep it functional and avoid hard corners and modern pieces that bring a more clinical feel to your room. Opt for curved corners and storage which can be hidden. Always include a washing basket to keep socks and underwear from being strewn across your floor.
Artwork - You can use feminine images to help create a romantic atmosphere. Use pale colours and images of hearts, flowers, feathers, and figures. Think soft and fluffy. Lots of shops are stocking over-sized prints of flowers and religious icons and these are perfect for feature walls.
Accessories - Enhance your chosen artwork with simple accessories such as scented candles, elegant trinket trays, family photographs and pretty table lamps that will create a relaxing mood. Be lavish with your decoration, especially with items that have some kind of personal or nostalgic meaning. Perhaps display a doll from your childhood or some other childhood toy that reminds you of more care-free times.
Hopefully, we have provided enough food for thought. Creating a new room should be a pleasure, so go and experiment and let your room evolve as you find accessories that work for you.Loretta Cotterell, the author, left a highly lucrative career in advertising and media sales to pursue her passion for property refurbishment and interior design. She set up her ecommerce store in 2011 and enjoys sourcing great homewares and helping her customers create the home of their dreams.
