Designer Tips for Creating a Better Bedroom

We’ve probably all looked at a particular room in our house and thought there was something missing. That thought can be particularly annoying when you’re looking at your master bedroom. After all, it’s hard to relax when you have the nagging feeling that the place that’s supposed to be your sanctuary needs help.

If you’re in the mood to build a better bedroom, you might start with this advice from the experts.

The Rug

Few sensations are more jarring than swinging your feet out of bed only to hit a cold, hard floor. But rugs are expensive, which ups the ante on a decision that’s already tricky. Where should you place it? Are there rules for how it should sit under your furniture? How big should it be?

California interior designer Jerry Jacobsrecommends taking a deep breath, throwing out any preconceived notions of “the rules” and instead concentrating on how you’ll use the space.

Take this room, for example. Notice how Jacobs placed the rug so it created a border around the bed where his clients could walk, but didn’t bring the rug all the way back to the wall behind the bed?

“When you get out of bed, you sit down, so the rug is somewhat unnecessary any further than the nightstands,” Jacobs explains.

He also points out that the expense of buying an area rug can also be a factor — not only for placement, but also for rug size and type. So get creative! Place smaller rugs alongside your bed, use a runner at the foot of your bed or play with a rug’s position to make it seem larger.

A Place to Sit

Whether your children like to help you choose your outfits or you’re looking for a private place where you can lounge, a chair or chaise can be a useful piece in a master bedroom.

This space actually belongs to a pair of sisters whose parents gave them the master so they’d have enough space. Jacobs used color-blocked chaise longues to pull in the color scheme.

Of course, not everyone has such a large master bedroom. If you’re struggling to include a chair in your smaller space, Jacobs suggests using a swivel chair that can easily move as you pass by.

You might also choose to conserve space by placing a chaise, bench or even a love seat at the foot of the bed. Jacobs points out that this is yet another opportunity to get creative. For example, place a pair of ottomans at the foot of your bed, as in this space.

Just one rule of thumb: Ideally, any piece placed at the foot of the bed should be slightly narrower than the bed itself to expose the corners.

More Tips for Creating a Better Bedroom

 

Designer Tips for Creating a Better Bedroom