 STARTING POINT
Comfort is the main objective when planning a bedroom. Decorate your bedroom according to your personal style. It can be formal if you like symmetry, casual if you prefer asymmetrical balance, or modern if you like a cleaner look. There are many styles of bedroom furnishings available; choose a look that not only suits your personal style, but that is also suitable for the size of the room. As a rule, dark and heavy pieces look good in a large rooms, and light colored, small-scaled and delicately built furniture goes best in small rooms. And since the bed is key, look at many different styles-sleigh, four-poster, platform, and canopy are a few of the more commonly available types-before choosing
one.
ARRANGEMENT
The bed is the main focal point of a bedroom, and as such, it can determine the whole look of the room. A platform bed tends to give a room a contemporary or modern feel; a four-poster or canopy bed is ideal if you wish to create a traditional or a country look. You can create a dramatic look by arranging several pillows against the headboard. Then there's your floor plan. The bed is usually placed against the longest wall of the room, providing it doesn't block the entrance, and if there is enough space, you might want to also have a sitting area. If space is limited, this can be as simple as a wing chair with a footstool. If your bedroom has a fireplace, center the seating arrangement around it, and remember make sure each chair has easy access to a small table.
FORMAL
Canopy and four-poster beds give a feeling of romance and luxury, and are often chosen to be part a formal look. In such a formal setting, the bed is usually placed in the middle of a wall and flanked with matching side tables holding elegant lamps. An armoire is ideal for storage and concealing a TV. You may also want to have a desk and chair, preferably next to a window.
Try to color-coordinate your walls, bedding, window treatment, and carpeting or area rugs. Wallpaper gives warmth and adds texture to a formal room. Big florals and stripes combined with small florals work well as part of a formal look, and you may wish to place a cluster of family pictures on your nightstand or the dressing table as a personal touch.
CASUAL
For a more casual look experiment with non-traditional positions for the bed, for example placing it at an angle in a corner. You can balance an off-center bed with a reading chair and lamp or bold artwork in an opposite corner. And consider different styles: Furniture with a weathered look gives a casual feeling, and casually thrown pillows make a bed more inviting. Mix and match prints. Break up florals with gingham checks, stripes or solids.
COLOR
Color is what brings together your walls, bedding, rugs and curtains. In a small room, try to keep things light-think light-colored walls and furniture, glass-topped tables, lacy curtains. Bedding is usually the best place to start for the color scheme of the room. Pick up an accent color from the bedspread or comforter, then repeat it throughout the room when choosing accessories. Try to use soothing colors to give a calming effect.
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