Use Oak to Bring Warmth to A Contemporary Bedroom

When most people think of oak, they think of heavy, ornate furniture that is unmistakably traditional in style, but the new generation of furniture designers have found innovative ways to use the distinctive character of oak to create contemporary furniture that makes use of its warmth and colouring.

Contemporary style is defined by sleek, flowing lines and the careful combination of textures, but in recent years, this has often resulted in rooms that are cold and in which it can be difficult to relax. Modern designers have turned to the uniquely warm and charming characteristics of oak to help to solve this problem, resulting in furniture that combines the up-to-the-minute cool of contemporary design with the appealing textures and colours of oak.

Surprisingly, oak can be a light, welcoming
presence in a contemporary room

Of course, too much oak can overpower the design of a room, so you'll want to pick your pieces carefully. Choose an oak bed and bedside cabinet, to create a focal point, but you'll need to vary the textures surrounding it. Use fabric to dress a four poster bed, or bring in an upholstered chaise longue to provide contrast.

If you want some more advice on how to use oak and other traditional timbers to create a contemporary bedroom, check out channel4.com's in depth article.

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Bring A Little Romance To Your Bedroom

Valentine's Day has been and gone, but there's no need to say goodbye to romance - check out these stylish and seductive decorating tips and keep the passion burning all year round.

While we often dress our bedrooms up for Valentine's Day, this usually amounts to a temporary change that would be impractical in the long term - rose petals strewn over the bed might be romantic, but it's hardly the kind of thing you can do every day. If you want to bring a lasting romantic atmosphere to your bedroom, you'll need to think of more fundamental ways to jazz up the space.

This room uses co-ordinated fabrics
for a seductive look

Use fabrics to create a sensual, dramatic feel

Flowing fabric is perfect for creating a sense of drama in a bedroom, so why not replace blinds or curtains with floor-length drapes in a soft, flowing material? If you have a four poster bed, then you can twist and drape a matching fabric around the posts and finials, and even hang a white muslin canopy for a really intimate feel. For a really romantic look, co-ordinate all your fabrics from curtains to bed-dressing to scatter-cushions and throws.

Use furniture to set the scene

If your bedroom furniture has seen better days, maybe it's time to pick a whole new set that will help to set a seductive mood. A four poster bed makes a great focal point, and for an extra sensual touch, a chaise-longue really makes an impact, especially when draped with a silky throw and a few scatter cushions. Bedside tables and occasional tables are useful for placing lamps, plants and ornaments on for a rich, opulent effect, while more functional pieces such as wardrobes and dressing tables can take away from the romantic effect, so it might be worth your while to convert a spare room into a dressing room so you can take full control over the style of the bedroom.

This room makes the most of simple touches

Lighting really makes a difference

No matter how romantic your decor is, the wrong lighting can totally kill the mood, so take your time to plan a lighting scheme. Dimmable switches are a must for main lights, and it's a good idea to have several lighting options, at different levels in the room - think a standard lamp in the corner behind a chaise longue, soft lamps on lamp tables in corners and alcoves, and stylish bedside lights that are bright enough to read by but not so bright that they make the room feel stark. It's worth getting a large bedside table, then placing a granite sheet on top so that you can light candles without damaging the wood.

If you want some more inspiration, check out apartmenttherapy.com's Romantic Bedroom Week feature, which has some really innovative ideas.

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How To Choose A Wooden Bed

No matter what style your bedroom is, whether traditional, contemporary, minimalist or eclectic, a solid wooden bed makes a beautiful centrepiece. Wooden beds have a character that will last for years, allowing you to hand down a treasured piece of furniture through the generations.

Wood is easy to care for, simply requiring the occasional wax or polish, and over the years it will mature, deepening its character and taking on a luxurious patina. If you'd like some advice on woodcare, check out this great article from the Telegraph.

The first thing to consider when choosing a wooden bed is the material - many woods are used in furniture making, and each has its own particular properties and characteristics that will influence how it affects the look of your room. Paler woods, such as ash, pine and oak, tend to look their best in contemporary surroundings, although oak can be given a traditional stain which brings out the reds and browns of its grain and places it alongside timbers such as mahogany and teak at the more traditional end of the spectrum. It's worth getting some wood samples to make sure that the wood you choose is right for your room.

This contemporary oak bed helps to
create a bright and breezy room

You also need to consider the style of bed - will you opt for a four poster or a traditional panel bed? do you want a low or a high foot end? A four poster can form a great centrepiece in either a traditional or a contemporary space - you just need to pick a design that complements the style of your room.

If your room is too small for a four poster, then it's a good idea to consider a simple framed bed that will not dominate the room, otherwise you could end up with more bed than room.

Once you've picked your bed, why not invest in some matching pieces, such as a bedside table, wardrobe or dressing table, to bring a sense of harmony to your room. If you're green-minded, then it's also a good idea to find beds that have been made with timber from sustainable forests, to make sure that you minimise you environmental impact.

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Stylish Contemporary Bedding Ideas

Creating a stylish, inpiring contemporary bedroom doesn't stop when you've chosen the decor and picked out the furniture - in fact, one of the most striking elements of a bedroom design can often be seen as an afterthought. Bedding has the ability to change the atmosphere of a room quickly and simply, and by having several alternate bedding options, you can create a variety of looks.

Buying bedding online can be significantly cheaper than on the high street, so search your favourite online stores for discounts. mydeco.com has a great selection of contemporary bedding available, so why not explore their site?

The important thing to consider when selecting your bedding is the colour - a badly chosen duvet cover can create clashes that ruin the relaxing qualities of your bedroom, while a well chosen set can make your bed even more inviting and create a sense of calm and restful elegance. However, choosing a colour isn't always straightforward, and some concrete guidance is often useful. If you need help to decide on your colour, why not check out the BBC's interior design colour wheel, which helps to sort calamitous clashes from complementary accents.

If you need some expert colour advice, head
over to the BBC's Interiors site, and try out
their interactive colour wheel.

One way to avoid the problem of colour clashes is to choose a monochrome colour scheme for your bedroom, with a white painted bed and bedside cabinet. This classic look is hard to get wrong, and can result in a fantastic room that is both invigorating and relaxing, such as this one, designed by Sir Terence Conran:

A monochrome look is always stylish

If you like Sir Terence Conran's design, you may be interested in reading this interview with the man himself, conducted by mydeco.com

Of course, as well as colour, there are other things to look out for. First among these is the feel and texture of the fabric - do you like velvety soft brushed cotton, or do you prefer the crisp and refreshing feel of expertly spun Egyptian cotton? This is a situation in which online retail can fall short - it's hard to get a sense of the feel of a fabric from a photo on a website. What you can do, is to visit the high street and check out the feel of the various materials avaiable. Then, armed with this knowledge, you can scour the web for the best deal.

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Bring A Little Romance To Your Bedroom For Valentine's Day

With Valentine's day fast approaching, it can seem like a desperate rush to get your presents, cards and romantic plans in order, but in all that bustle, it can sometimes be easy to forget the little things that really help to create a romantic atmosphere. Check out these handy tips to turn your bedroom into a romantic getaway, and let the one you love know that you really care.

1 Set the mood with some seductive lighting

Nothing creates a romantic atmosphere like soft, low lighting, so it's worth taking a little time out to make sure that your lighting options fit the mood - If you're limited to a bedside light and the main bedroom light, why not invest in some free standing dimmable lighting, such as paper-shaded floor lamps, to really set the scene.

Chocolates are always a hit, especially
when they're kept next to the bed!

2 Use bedding to add to the romantic atmosphere

One way to make Valentine's day special is to break out some new, sumptuous bedding to bring your bed to life, either in cool, crisp Egyptian cotton or silky and seductive satin. Bedding will also provide an inviting look to the room.

3 Get your music choices ready ahead of time

Music is the food of love, so it's a good idea to pick some romantic choices and get them set up in a playlist ahead of time - after all, you don't want to spoil the mood by having to fiddle with CDs or an iPod. Choose soft music that won't get in the way of conversation - if you really want to create some romance, why not line up a playlist of classical music, such as Chopin, whose Prelude in E Minor is a long standing romantic favourite.

This room is perfect for a Valentines Day to
remember - check out the soft lighting

4 Don't forget the details

Once you've got the basics in order, think of a couple of extra touches that will really show your partner that you care - why not set a some champagne in an ice bucket on the bedside table, with some expensive chocolates or other nibbles to share.

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Top Tips For A Great Night's Sleep

We spend nearly a third of our lives in bed, so it's worth taking the time to make sure that you've got everything in place for a great night's sleep. Check out these handy hints and tips, and you'll soon be slumbering soundly.

Is your bed large enough?

You should have enough room for both you and your partner to stretch out and have room to move about. Think of upgrading to a king size bed, especially if you toss and turn at night.

What's nicer than climbing into a comfy bed?

Do you have the right mattress?

Mattresses come in a bewildering variety of forms, materials and firmnesses, so it's worth visiting a mattress supplier and trying out a range of options, from memory foam to traditional pocket sprung mattresses.

Get the right duvet

There's nothing nicer than settling down for the night beneath a soft, billowing duvet, so it's worth spending a little extra to get one that really does the job - the warmest and softest option is Siberian goose down, which is prized for its exceptional silky-softness and insulating properties. Go for down pillows to really give yourself a night time treat.

What about bedding?

The choice of pillowcases, duvet covers and sheets is key, as these are the fabrics that will be against your skin. For maximum softness choose egyptian cotton sheets and bedding, and you're bound to notice the difference.


If you want some more ideas to improve your sleep, check out this article from www.helpguide.org

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Bedding Tips For Traditional Bedrooms

There are many different traditional looks that can bring a touch of time-honoured warmth to a bedroom, from a classic country cottage style that emphasises space, unfussy practicality and pale, natural wood tones to a more opulent feel, with flowing curtains, dark-stained furniture and luxurious soft furnishings, and if you're redesigning your bedroom, you'll want to make sure that you choose the right bedding to really get the look that you're after.

Bed dressing can have a dramatic effect on a room - Even the most beautifully designed four poster bed will seem lacking without a sumptuous bed covering.

This room uses bedding for a hazy, relaxed feel

Start with the duvet, as this will be a very personal choice that reflects the way you like to sleep. If you like to snuggle up in bed under a thick blanket, there's nothing warmer than Siberian goose down, although this can be a bit heavy for the summer months. One solution is to get an 'All-seasons' duvet- essentially this is two duvets, one four tog and one eight tog connected with buttons to make one thick twelve tog duvet. This allows three levels of warmth and should keep you cosy and comfy all the year round.

Next it's time to select your duvet cover. For maximum comfort go for fine Egyptian cotton in the design of your choice, although it's best to make sure that you pick a pattern that accentuates the style of your room, and for traditional bedrooms, there are many options. You can go for the full traditional valance, sheet, duvet cover and blanket/throw look, with carefully matched fabrics creating a sumptuous and opulent look. If you want the look but want to keep it simple, then go for a full set in white cotton, which is perfect for a spacious, airy cottage bedroom feel.

If your bed, wardrobe and other items of bedroom furniture are made of solid wood, it's a good idea to choose colours that reflect the natural qualities of the wood. Order fabric samples and hold them up to the timber to see how well the fabric can enhance your furniture's appearance.

If you need some more inspiration, check out this great feature from channel4.com

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