Create your own bedroom retreat!

{Full article in this Friday's Toronto Sun!}

You spend a third of your day in your bedroom. It should be a relaxing place you enjoy spending time. Here’s how you can create a beautiful, comfortable bedroom retreat on any budget.

Cool Color Palette. I’ve had red bedrooms and I’ve had pale blue rooms. I can honestly say colour psychology is real. A cool, serene colour palette makes all the difference in creating a relaxing room.  Go for soft and subtle colours if you want a respite from the busy world outside. I choose Whistle Stop 50BB from CIL’s www.CIL.ca collections to create that calming effect.
 

The perfect bed. I had an awkward small window in my bedroom that I had to hide. I chose a padded headboard that was just high enough to cover the window.

{Before}

I just couldn’t find the right size or colour of headboard. I wouldn’t call myself a DIY’er but when the time comes, I can step up. I found a headboard with clean lines at Home Sense www.homesense.ca for $299.99. However, it wasn’t quite the right colour for my project. When I found a patterned shower curtain for $29.99, I thought I’d tackle a DIY project and create the perfect headboard. Voilà! A custom-made headboard on a budget.

 

Side table conundrum. Side tables are a useful element of every bedroom. Do you need extra drawers or countertop space? What height, size, colour or material? I needed something to match the height and scale of the bed. I found the perfect side table at www.Mirens.com. The side tables had a unique design, with added bedroom storage. With my DIY skills already set in motion, I swapped the handles to white, to tie in with the rest of the bedroom design. Another inexpensive project with a big results!

 

Layered lighting. I love a bedroom with ambient lighting. A lamp with a soft bulb, mixed with task lighting for reading a book, plus decorative side can add some drama to your room. These white horned oversized side lamps from Mirens were the perfect conversational piece in the room.  Don’t forget about overhead lighting. This is another great place to add some art to the room. I used a Jo Alcorn light from www.Artcraftlighting.com , which added a touch of whimsy to the room. Layering lighting in any room, particularly your bedroom, allows for the perfect mix of function and comfort.

 

Comfy carpet or rug. Having the perfect texture under foot when you step out of bed can improve your whole bedroom experience. Rugs add warmth to any space.

 

Mirror Mirror on the wall. I love how mirrors create different dimensions within a space. To bring the bed and those amazing lamps to another level, I layered Home Sense mirrors on the wall to add a grand, romantic feeling to the bedroom. Mirrors make your room appear larger, and this one also added a feeling of luxury and sophistication to the bedroom.

 

Use these simple tips to create your perfect bedroom and ensure you get an amazing night’s sleep!

 

 

In addition to a great bedroom design, a must have for every bedroom:

 

Pascoflair

Health retailers

Retail CDN - $19.99

 

“Pascoflair helps stop my running thoughts that keep me up at night. This herbal product promotes relaxation and improves sleep.”

Looking to get help designing your own sleep haven? I'll be at local Home Depot Stores each Thursday evening until October 9 helping people choose the best paint colours for their makeovers. Visit CIL.ca to see my full schedule.

 

Until next time,

w&c Designer Girl!