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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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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How To Give your Bedroom A Contemporary Twist

If you're on the lookout for some stylish ways to revamp your bedroom in a contemporary style then check out these handy ideas, and create a cool, sophisticated haven that you will love to relax in.

The first thing to consider when designing a contemporary bedroom is how to create a feeling of space. Contemporary style is defined by its creative use of space, so this is a chance for you to flex your imagination and come up with something uniquely stylish that really expresses your individual personality.

This bedroom may be a bit too modern for some

Let's start by stripping the room right back - no fussy picture rails, wainscoting or other room features, remember, the watchword is simplicity. If your room is small, you face your first creative challenge, in selecting a colour and decoration scheme that will create the illusion of space. Pale colours such as ivory, white or even lemon yellow reflect light around a room, adding to the feeling of space. Choose curtains in plain colours that can be pulled right back to maximise light. You could also consider painting the floorboards for a Parisian-style feel.

Once you've got the room in order, it's time to furnish it. If your room is small, you may want to consider using a spare room to house your wardrobe, dressing table and chest of drawers, so that the bedroom can be dedicated to sleeping.

The bed is the most important part of any bedroom, and it's worth taking some time to consider your options. Even though your room is contemporary, a solid wooden bed can really help to introduce some warmth as well as some variation in texture.

For more great bedroom ideas, check out casa sugar's feature on the top bedroom trends for 2010

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Using Bunk Beds to Create a Beautiful Kids' Room

Picking beds for your childrens' room can be daunting, especially as kids grow up so fast - will the bed you pick today meet their needs in a year or two? A great way to get some versatility is to choose bunk beds, which can be separated when your kids outgrow them.

Bunk beds are a great way to maximise the floor space in your childrens' rooms, and even if your kids' room is on the large side, using a bunk bed can help you to create space for them to play in, or to get their homework done, without cluttering the room with furniture. When they're old enough, you can split the beds, giving each child their own separate bed, so it can be a good idea to order two matching bedside cabinets when you buy your bunk bed, so that when you split the beds you will have matching furniture.

bunk beds can be stylish as well as practical

If you need a bunk bed to make the most of a small room, why not look for a bed that includes some storage, allowing you to keep the room as clear of clutter as it can be. If the bed does not come with its own storage, you can buy under-bed storage drawers that slide out on wheels, letting your kids keep their toys carefully stored and safe from damage.

Sharing rooms can be a chore for a lot of kids, but bunk beds can be easily customised to reflect your childrens' personalities and allow them a little privacy - you can create a cosy little reading nook by mounting a curtain beneath the top bunk, allowing the bottom bunk to be curtained off into its own little room. You can also put curtains above the bed on the ceiling to allow the top bunk some privacy too. Try selecting fabrics that feature some of your kids' favourite cartoon characters to really make them feel like they have their own space.

If you need some more inspiration on how to use bunk beds to create a beautiful room for your children, check out this great feature from about.com

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How To Create A Rustic Bedroom

There is nothing more welcoming and relaxing than a delightful, rustic bedroom, filled with the colours of autumn and spring. With a little planning, you can create a stunning rustic look that will totally transform your bedroom, so check out this handy guide to decor, furnishing and accessories, and bring a little countryside charm to your sleeping space.

To get that great rustic look, start by considering your decor. You'll want to get a classic farmhouse style, but be warned, it's easy to go too far and end up with a room that is a caricature of the rustic style. Check out the picture below for an example of a room that is certainly rustic, but not exactly pleasant.

This room takes the rustic theme too far

When it comes to selecting your furniture, pick a bed and matching wardrobe, blanket box and bedside cabinets made from an appealing natural timber. Oak is the best choice for the traditional farmhouse look, with its deep grain and distinctively rustic colouring. Ash and elm can also be used to bring a rural tranquility to your bedroom.

If you're in need of a bit more inspiration, then why not check out countryliving.com's brilliant guide to farmhouse style interiors, and plan your room's new look.

This rustic bedroom combines great
design with beautiful furniture

And if you're on a budget, remember that a rustic style can be accessorised with free, natural found objects, so why not venture out to the countryside and see if you can find some interestingly shaped branches and wildflowers to place in large vases. You can use bowls of pine cones to decorate the top of a chest of drawers, and decorate the walls with framed photos of your favourite countryside spots.

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Get the look for less

If you know where to look, it can be easy to recreate a designer look for less.

Contemporary Bed Frame

A sleek urban look is a fantastic way to give your bedroom a contemporary feel. The Meridian Bed Frame from Heals is simple yet elegant. Get the look for less with the dark stained Metro Bed made from solid oak, and save a massive £716!

Heals Meridian Bed Frame £1095

Painted Chest of Drawers

White painted furniture will never go out of style and makes a versatile backdrop for your bedroom. Whether you choose rich, berry coloured soft furnishings or a crisp monochrome look, a white chest of drawers will stand the test of time. Get the same look as Feather and Black's Olivia Chest of Drawers with the Cameo Chest of Drawers and save a huge £453.

Feather and Black's Olivia Chest of Drawers £625

Oak Dining Chairs

High quality oak dining chairs don’t have to cost the earth. Get the simple elegant look of the Ardennes Dining Chairs from John Lewis with the Ladderback chair from PineSolutions and save £180 per chair!

John Lewis Ardennes Dining Chair £249 each.

Mirrored Furniture

Mirrored furniture exudes glamour and decadence. Graham and Green’s striking Josephine bedside table will be a fantastic focal point of any room. Get the look for less with the Venetian Two Drawer Bedside Table from PineSolutions and save £209.50!

Graham and Green's Josephine Bedside Table £295.

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