DECOR A bedroom, to most of us, is the most important space in the house. Bindu Gopal Rao looks at different ways to personalise and style the room we spend the most time in.
Your bedroom is the most private space in your home. It is in this space that you can be yourself and relax after a hard day's work. Making this area more stylish could add some zing to your home while making you feel special.
Luxurious
Home ET TU's four-poster bed is done in veneer (matt finish) with pillars and embroidered sheer drapery. The bed has a textured leatherette headboard and the pastel pink bed cover is made of embroidered-quilted satin. The cushions are a combination of laser-cut design, embroidery and pleating in pastel colours.
The whole concept has been designed keeping a perfect blend of light pastel, white or off-white, paired with a bold foundation colour such as grey, pastel purple and pink. It creates a feeling of space and airiness for people who are looking to create a sophisticated bedroom that does not overpower.
Your bedroom while being stylish should also be comfortable. A mattress defines comfort in a bedroom, but finding a mattress that suits everyone who uses the bed is tough. Madhavan, Managing Director, PEPS Industries (P) Ltd., says, "A mattress which suits your comfort and support may not be suitable to your partner or others. It is always advisable to buy a mattress after a test drive, like when buying clothes. Peps have their retail brand 'PEPS - The Great Sleep Store' where customers are provided with the shopping experience of lying down on various ranges of products to feel and select the ones they like."
Personal nook
Using ethnic elements in your bedroom is a trend that is popular this year, be it Indian, African or Asian. This immediately moves the focus onto luxurious fabrics and rich colour combinations, silky pillows and theme-inspired accessories. A word of caution, take care while combining these bright elements...do not 'overload' the area. Furniture should be minimalist, stylish, simple and practical.
"Gold and golden hues and colours are a welcome this year, whether on walls, wardrobes or the ceiling in combination with luxurious fabrics, wood, leather, stone and glass. Black and white bedrooms are fashionable this year too and can be used in the form of stripes, spots or images on the wall.
To achieve a spacious feel, use fitted furniture in white, broken up intermittently with black fixtures and accessories - table lamps, rugs, vases, mirrors etc. Mirrors are big this year. They have the added advantage of making a room look brighter and filling it with light and elegance. Bring in a relaxing atmosphere by creating a nook for reading. A comfortable armchair, reading light, side table and cheerful floor mat or rug can help create this space for you. Using an interesting study desk and chair can create study nook and make it less of an office or work space," say Ujjwala and Sonali Chitale of Kaizen Design Accents.
Rajesh Talwar, CEO OODLIFE India, says, "Bedside tables can be adorned with well-designed frames and elegant lamps; delicate chandeliers can add the glam quotient to one's bedrooms, designer bed frames as well as exclusive designed frames for the dressing table mirror to match the bedroom decor can give any bedroom a distinct and pleasant appearance.
Pillows and bedcovers with floral or plaid patterns and textured finishes can be used to add more colour and style to the furniture." Bedroom furniture is also in focus this year. Most bedroom furniture these days is designer and minimalist. "Bulky beds are a complete no-no for today's homes. Instead, beds without headboard and foot boards are what you should look for. Also, go in for beds which have a low height, as they make the room look spacious and airy," says Seema Mahajan, HoD, Textile Design, Pearl Academy of Fashion.
Trend check
Upholstered headboards in fabric or leather make an ideal statement in master bedrooms. According to Anjum Jung -Managing Partner, Morph Design Company, canopy beds or four poster beds, combined with sheers, create a focal point in the bedroom and hard wood for flooring to add to the sense of warmth.
"Distressed furniture is in vogue these days. It is not bright or flashy, but adds an inviting-antique touch to the house. One can buy distressed furniture, but it is so much fun to distress furniture at home by using sandpaper, a hammer and some blunt knives. Add a touch of drama by mixing and matching different shades of blue. Draw the eye and dazzle the mind with some abstract patterned digital print cushion covers," says Nikita Bhargav, Creative Director, Zansaar.com.
European styled low-level platform beds which are minimalist in style and have clean lines in solid colours lend a sleek, contemporary look to your bedroom and works well in rooms of all sizes. The focal point in your room is mostly your bed, so whatever you design it should be focused. Wall decor, bright cushions, polished furniture, etc can brighten up any bedroom.
Accessorise right
Bedroom furniture and accessories can be arranged based on the needs of the occasion, look and feel of the room or purely the need to change/re-arrange to have a newer look. Everyday items like clocks, if chosen correctly, can also double as decor in the bedroom.
"Considering clocks are an important element of home decor, there have to be furniture and accessories that compliment it without much effort. The desk and mantel clocks are small in size, whereas the grandfather clocks and pendulum clocks are big, hence placing them in bedrooms of the proportionate size makes a good fit," says Susumu Kawanishi, President, Seiko Watch India Pvt. Ltd.
Deepak Whorra, Director, Episode says, "Our vases are a big hit with most of our clientele as well as picture frames. Then the evergreen lemon set with a water pitcher and two tumblers on the side table are in."
As far as decor accessories are concerned, comfortable design, elegant style, luxurious materials and bright colours are back.
"Since Debenhams have different designers, each one of them has their own unique tastes, for example, Ben Di Lisi uses newsprint and cityscapes in his designs, Mathew Williamson uses more of pastels, Star by Julien Macdonald focuses more on lace detailing," says Aditya Nadkarni, Brand Head and spokesperson, Debenhams. Your bedroom is your personal space and every effort you take to make it your own matters in more ways than one.