Archive for the ‘All About Sleep’ Category

« Older Entries

Purple bedroom styles for teenagers

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Beds | Mattresses | Linens

It’s a well acknowledged fact that teenagers are notoriously hard to please when it comes to room décor, as their personal styles and tastes are an often ever moving raft of contrasts.

So when it comes to bedroom style and colour choice it’s important to find out what your teen prefers and opt for a basic style that will not only fit in with your budgets and their tastes, but will also likely stand the test of time in terms of fad and fashion.

Purple wall tones and accent colours are a popular choice in this regard, with characteristics that can accommodate a variety of room schemes, as well as being considered a modern funky colour in tune with the 21st century.

Any teen Drama diva in particular with a penchant for the colour purple, will appreciate a wild and slightly outrageous purple bedroom design. Include other colours such as black and pink for a really dramatic statement and use music, drama or the arts for inspiration when it comes to accents and accessories. Extend the look to bed dressings that includes purple hues, and pink and blue against a black background. A contemporary metal bed in a satin black or pewter finish would work well here also, against a wall backdrop of darker or lighter purple shades with light purple accents in the form of poster frames, cork boards, or similar items.

As an alternative approach for all those romantic dreamers and delicate princesses with a taste for feminine styles, purple is the perfect colour to bring out the quiet nature of a girl. Paint the walls a very pale lavender or pale purple as a background colour and add slightly darker, yet still light purple accents around windows and doors. Lacy white or creamy coloured curtains or bedspreads atop a traditional metal bedstead will add a further touch of romance and lend a delicate touch.

Sophisticated teen girls might appreciate a slightly more adult style in their bedroom, so when using purple here, paint the walls with a medium grape shade or similar medium purple and add light lavender curtains in a gauzy material with additional purple accents in the blankets, bedthrows and pillows. A wall painting of a beautiful flower such as cherry blossoms or roses can bring other vibrant accent colours such as pink, yellow, red and orange to the room. Include a funky crystal glass chandelier for a sophisticated modern touch and a vanity or window seat for classic teenage room style.

For a classy man cave it’s worth remembering that most teenage boys are likely to be at the age where they are looking for a more adult theme. The colours for a boy differ fundamentaly by primarily gravitating to blues, greens, oranges and other similar shades. It is still possible to bring purple into the mix by opting for a contemporary furniture and modern metal bed theme as a room focal point, and then adding accent purple colours in the form of purple pillows and bed dressings. Include purple to contrast with black or add a little light purple around blue hues for more gradual colour changes.

Tags: , ,
Posted in All About Sleep, Bedroom Style, Design Inspiration | Comments Off

Brown Bedroom moods…

Monday, October 17th, 2011

Beds | Mattresses | Linens

Brown and derivative shades continue to enjoy huge popularity within interior design circles and on the home décor front. Nowhere is this more true than within bedroom settings where the versatile earthy tones of brown are particularly relevant, creating a warm and comfortable backdrop that harmonises with a wealth of other colours, for a sophisticated room scheme.

A hint of romance is also on offer here, should that thought appeal as rich brown or somewhat more muted tones, or a combination of both transform your bedroom space into an inviting retreat for relaxation and solitude.

If you are a coffee or chocolate lover then what better way to indulge your favourite penchant than to surround yourself with the delicious shades of espresso, mocha and cocoa without having to worry about calorie or caffeine excesses….?!

Choose a bedroom brown scheme that you enjoy. A trawl through interior magazines and the internet should provide plenty of inspiration, whilst paint colour charts and some tester paint pots should do the rest. Consider starting with a rich chocolate dark brown and lightening up the look with touches of rose, butter yellow, or turquoise. Combine deep brown shades with lighter complementary hues such as cappuccino, taupe and tan.

Enhance the space with soft textiles and natural wood furniture such as a French lit bateau style wooden bedstead in teak, cherry or mahogany hardwoods. This will ensure a rich elegant room focal point, whilst for a lighter softer look, paler woods such as light oak and maple will create a pleasing counterpoint with darker wall and accent finishes. Buy a matching headboard as an alternative to the full wooden bed option, with desk, dresser and night stand set for a cohesive look. Iron bed designs in darker shades such as satin or textured black, offer another inspired alternative, whilst traditional metal bed designs in ivory shades ensure a slightly more contemporary stance that is no less appealing.

Breathe life into your bed choice with a sophisticated brown- on- brown look by draping a caramel coloured bed throw over the bed. Faux fur or rich damask designs are popular choices, or for a fresher look combine dark brown woods or darker metal furniture pieces  with optic white rugs, curtains and bed dressings. Lighter wood furniture mixes well with sunny yellow or ocean blue bedding and curtain fabrics, and consider throwing in a few touches of red or coral for a splash of accent colour in the form of scatter cushions, bolsters or picture frames.

Cinnamon brown walls complement spicy Moroccan décor pieces, such as opulent paprika and a gold beaded pillow or bedspread, should you be looking for a theme with an exotic twist. Play with any variety of colour combinations and don’t be afraid to mix traditional brown hues with a range of bright or more muted shades. Create a retro look by mixing chocolate brown with peacock blue, or combine mocha brown with dusty rose for a romantic vintage inspired flavour whilst the combination of black décor accents against a tan backdrop will ensure a stylish contemporary style statement…

Tags: , ,
Posted in All About Sleep, All Posts, Bedroom Style, Design Inspiration | Comments Off

Art Deco bedroom themes

Saturday, October 15th, 2011
Tain Chrome Bed by Original Bedstead.

Tain Chrome Bed by Original Bedstead.

Beds | Mattresses | Linens

Enduringly recognisable and endearingly timeless, Art Deco took its name from the Exposition of ArtesDecoratifs held in Paris in 1925. It is a look that defined an era, particularly within the USA and the movement was unfailingly popular from the 1920s onwards right through until the 40s. It peaked during the optimistic and glamorous inter-war years of the 1930s and came to symbolise romance, style and decadence with an intrinsic link to Hollywood movie sets and the stars of the Golden Screen.

Art deco design is defined typically by curved edges, high gloss finishes, and polished metal accents, with Middle Eastern and Latin influences and cubism. It’s a style that has been revived many times and one that still has huge relevance within the context of today’s home themes, where its mix of timeless class and defined detailing ensure ongoing acceptance and popularity.

All or just some elements of Art Deco style can be incorporated into 21st century home design and nowhere more so than within the bedroom. Capture the spirit of Art Deco and make it your own, with subtle or more extensive Deco room style that will delight and inspire.

Start from the floor upwards with classic Art Deco design which often featured linoleum or marble tile, which had bold geometric patterns and checkered designs. Black and white themes would have been popular as were red and chocolate hues, and whilst this approach might be a little too extreme for some bedroom themes, you could always capture the spirit by leaving wooden floors bare and introducing comfort with a plush rug that features geometric patterns. Focus on patterns that have simple straight lines rather than curves or floral patterns, and you won’t go far wrong.

Wall treatments were typically defined by their simplicity making this an easy aspect of Art Deco design makeovers. Bare walls with a simple border stencilling near the ceiling and floor capture the style well. A stippling paint finish is another option and colours such as yellow, beige, and cream for walls with black border accents, are very authentic and create bold visual contrast.

A trawl through the internet and Interior magazines will provide plenty of inspiration for furniture selection. Wooden, metal and upholstered pieces were all in vogue, and why not upholster a headboard in matching fabrics for a classic art Deco look? Consider also incorporating wooden furniture in hardwoods such as mahogany and ebony that were consistently popular through the era, featuring simple lines and rounded corners. Alternatively a glamorous metal bedstead might just tick all the right boxes as the perfect room focal point. Chrome beds, and iron bed designs were a feature of many Art Deco bedrooms within American hotels and the private homes of the wealthy. Brass bedstead designs would also have featured in gleaming polished finishes. Undoubtedly a fitting tribute to the aspirational mood of the times and the pervading scent of glamour and romance.

Amirrored vanity table for a woman’s bedroom adds further Hollywood glamour, and for accent ideas consider window dressings in simple boxy shades in a neutral or accent colour based on the window size, and reflecting other colours, textures and elements within the room. Art Deco furniture or wall art featuring flamingos, palm trees or lilies is also true to the spirit of the era, and prints featuring these themes are particularly appropriate.

Finish the whole scheme with an Art Deco flourish, with geometric wall sconces in coloured glass or metal designs, and incorporate nightstand lamps that have fringe or beading details for a gentle moody glow. For small accent lamps consider popular Art Deco colours such as black, peacock blue, or purple. Timeless Hollywood glamour personified…

Tags: , ,
Posted in All About Sleep, All Posts, Bedroom Style | Comments Off

Bedroom mini-makeovers in a weekend

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Fancy a change of bedroom style? Bored with waking up to the same tired old room design every day? Then maybe it’s time to add a touch of sparkle and a new twist to your bedroom decor.

Visual change is good and inspiring. It’s far too easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to room style, when with a few simple changes we can introduce a whole new perspective that doesn’t break the bank that can be achieved in a weekend or maybe less…

After all, we spend a whole lot of time in the bedroom. It’s the last space that we see when we fall asleep at night and the first every morning. So why not, with a tweak here and there, treat yourself and your bedroom to a few simple changes that are sure to bring a smile and a new dimension to this often neglected corner of the home.

So, here’s a few quick and simple thoughts to hopefully inspire, some requiring a little outlay, but others none at all. A trawl through the internet and home design periodicals are sure to fill in any gaps!

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to spruce up the bedroom is to invest in a new duvet cover or quilt in a different colour and style to which you are drawn. The choice these days, from faux fur and animal print designs, to silks, damasks and good old plain cotton styles, is vast. While you’re at it why not invest in a new set of complementary sheets and bed linens too? You’d be surprised how just this simple change can alter the whole look of a room.

For added impact, if you’re happy with a little extra outlay, consider a new metal bedstead in contemporary or traditional style, dependent upon your room theme. As a room focal point, the introduction of a new iron bed, or glamorous brass bedstead, or perhaps even a sophisticated chrome bed design for truly minimalist contemporary room spaces, cannot fail to create great impact as the room focal point, which in turn might just inspire other colour and accessory changes throughout the room.

In tandem with a new set of bed linens and bed throw, the effect is amplified. Why not consider going bright or graphical if you’ve had a plain or pastel bed cover beforehand? The bigger the contrast, the more it will feel like a real redesign, and as long as it suits the style and personality of the metal bed and the room colours as a hole, you are well on your way to a whole new room feel with the minimum of fuss.

Hunt down a couple of accessories to match, like a pair of bedside lamps, some throw pillows, a new floor rug or some different pictures and picture frames. Stores like Ikea and Habitat are great for these sort of items without breaking the bank, or search the flea markets and antique bazaars for  vintage items and maybe a touch of retro charm…

Rotate your wall pictures or other wall decor or try new photos of family and happy memory times, in the same frames. A new hanging mirror is sure to introduce a new airy look to the room space, and if you’re feeling really adventurous, get out the roller and paint brush and go for a room colour makeover on all or just accent walls, that complements your window dressings and bed linens selection.

A pair of candlesticks atop a dresser or wall shelf complete with Church candles, might just add that final finishing flourish, for a little touch of romance to ensure many nights of sweet dreams in your new bedroom…!

Tags: ,
Posted in All About Sleep, Bedroom Style, Design Inspiration | Comments Off

Cool bedroom themes…

Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Bedsteads collection from Original Bedstead.

Bedsteads collection from Original Bedstead.

Cool bedroom decorative themes present a calming mood within an essentially simple format that allows us to unwind and recharge.

Highlighting the space with a cool colour palette, and careful accessory and fabric choices, will relax the senses, whilst ensuring visual interest and comfortable surroundings. Monochromatic tones, accent rugs in watery hues, natural seaside collectibles, and water features, are just a few examples of elements that might play a part.

Cool bedroom themes are of particular relevance in hot climate countries, or in homes that are close to a lakeside or the sea, where the decor provides an intrinsic link with those surrounding features. Simple, soothing, relaxing ambiance is what we are seeking to achieve, with the minimum of fuss and effortless success.

Colours that err on the cool side of the colour wheel, make a great start point and the perfect backdrop for focal point furniture pieces or an expressive wooden or traditional metal beds. Seaside cottage blues, relaxing mulberry purple or serene foliage green, are but a few colour selections to whet the appetite. Grab some colour charts and trawl the internet for home improvement inspiration and room setting ideas.

Monochromatic decorative schemes can be equally effective, and particularly suited to more contemporary cool bedroom themes. Choose a muted colour and select a value, or intensity of that colour for fabric features within the room, such as window dressings, bed linens and accent cushions and pillows. Such colour matching helps to create a space of tremendous serenity and visual calm, whilst introducing cool texture fabric choices, such as metallic and polished cottons and silks, will serve to extend the mood. Invest in a sensual metal bed design or perhaps a simple wooden bedstead for a softer approach. Minimalist modern iron beds styles in silver or pewter colour finishes are suited to ascetic contemporary environments, whilst more traditional designs have a part to play as a striking central feature in more established architectural settings.

Whatever the preference, scatter the bed throw with those cool coloured pillows and incorporate a muted- hued bedside rug, and bedside table topped water feature to impart the cooling sight and sound of trickling water. Other appropriate touches for coastal or lakeside homes, might include some natural accessories to add an element of calming visual appeal. So, sea grasses, pebble collections or apothecary seashell-filled jars placed strategically within the room, will add accent and relevance to the calming bedroom theme.

Above all, banish clutter and store away or remove completely, irrelevant bedroom elements that detract from the visual harmony. Nothing so effectively destroys a carefully chosen calming room theme as junk and non-essentials that intrude on the feeling of spaciousness and relaxation. Under-bed trundle box and steamer trunk storage solutions provide an easy and even attractive solution in this regard.

Incorporate either within your cool room bedroom setting, and you are unlikely to be disappointed with the results and their calming contribution to one of the most relaxing and yet accessible of soothing bedroom themes…

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in All About Sleep, Bedroom Style | Comments Off

Musical night time remedies.

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

We all need something to bring us down a notch or two at bedtime.

The daily stresses of life invariably take their toll, and whilst a few glasses of wine or a little calm in the evenings might help us to chill out after a particularly grotty day, how many of us still end up falling asleep with cluttered over-active minds?

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that it’s not a great recipe for a truly peaceful sleep and we’ve previously touched on the factors that can make the difference between a great nights rest and one that is simply ok, leaving us tired and vulnerable when we start to tackle a new day of challenges.

Bedroom temperatures, ambient lighting (or lack of it), a comfortable mattress or mattress/iron bed combination and the correct room décor all play a part in ensuring that we achieve total calm.

We’ve even discovered the joys of lavender with its great natural soothing properties.

But what about music?

Maybe we’re preaching to the converted here, but for those, like me, who are new to the concept of sleep music, it differs fundamentally to the sounds that we would listen to normally.

So we’re not talking Classic FM (although some classical sounds are good), nor anything loud or rocky (as you might expect!)

Instead we’re looking for gentle ambient music with no lyrics that possibly features the sounds of nature such as bird song, the call of whales, running water and rain, amongst others. Most incorporate light instrumental music to add structure and harmony, and in doing so create a truly relaxed atmosphere.

Health spa therapy rooms practically wrote the book when it comes to this style of soothing background music, so little wonder that it might have the same soporific effect when our head hits the pillow. The internet makes easily accessible, a wealth of such music for download or CD purchase, but Himallyan pan pipes might not be to all tastes, so without stating the obvious, it pays to do a bit of auditioning before you settle on your ultimate chilled-out night time grooves!

Whether we are looking to sleep or simply relax, there seems little doubt that for many, a bit of background sleep music can make a significant difference as we allow the stresses of the day to melt away, which can’t be bad….

Posted in All About Sleep | Comments Off

Lavender – the natural sleep aid.

Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Lavender – the natural sleep aid.

Lavender – the natural sleep aid.

Where would we be without our finely tuned sense of smell?

Like most of our sensory abilities, it’s something that we take for granted until the time that we catch another cold or dose of flu, and suddenly it’s gone and we’ve lost an important facet of our life, albeit, temporarily.

From the smell of fresh summer flowers, a favourite perfume or freshly baked bread, aromas have the ability to trigger a whole set of memories and emotions, which are stamped indelibly on our minds.

With the power to evoke such emotive feelings, whether good or bad, it makes perfect sense that, like the visual and auditory influences that can effect the quality of sleep, aromas should have the ability to do the same.

Across the centuries, English and French lavender has been intrinsically associated with folklore and revered for its many aromatherapy and “lucky”properties.

And whilst some might dispute the soothing/healing reputation of this intriguing plant, there seems little doubt that lavender can benefit many people who have sleeping difficulties, with its calm inducing, sedative-like qualities. In fact research has shown, that introducing the scent of lavender into a sleeping environment, will, for many, lengthen sleep time and increase the amount of deep sleep, resulting in a refreshed and rejuvinated start to the new day.

It seems also that women react more positively to the scent of lavender, probably due to the fact that their sense of smell is marginally more acute.

As a truly natural organic solution to enriched sleep, lavender really is a little miracle worker without any of the side effects associated with some artificial remedies.

And one of the greatest benefits of lavender, is how speedily it seems to work. Using a lavender infused pillow or placing a few drops of lavender oil on a cloth near the bed is a great and easy way to put it to the test, for those that may need a little convincing.

We’ve seen also, little bunches of lavender tied French-style and hung from the head end metalwork of a traditional iron beds.

Not only is this a good way of ensuring that the scent is very close to the sleepers head, but it also adds a rather endearing visual element in true country cottage style!

There are, of course other natural sleep remedies such as Camomile, to name just one, but there can be few prettier or closer to our heart than our own native lavender in all its many hues and forms. Available so widely in lavender sachets, oils and natural dried form, it’s just as easy to grow at home on a border or in a little window box.

And just think for a moment. It’s a huge favourite of our endangered native bee, so everyone should be happy!

Tags: , ,
Posted in All About Sleep, All Posts | Comments Off

Healthy temperatures for sound sleep.

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Healthy temperature for sound sleep.

We’re still on something of a mission here to find out a little more about the best tips for a great night’s sleep.

The obvious ones, such as choosing a quality mattress, keeping out noise and light, ensuring correct neck and body support etc, etc, we are pretty comfortable with.

But what about some less obvious tricks for sound slumber?

The correct room temperature for instance. We all know that sleeping if we are too hot or cold is going to be tricky, but is there really an optimum temperature for sleeping nirvana?

On the topic of sleep quality not a great deal of attention is always given to room conditions.

And yet it would seem that these factors effect our sleeping hours perhaps more than we might realise, and room temperature is a perfect case in point.

However, establishing a healthy nightime temperature for sleep might be a little problematic, particularly if we share a house with our family, other people, or more likely,a bedroom with a partner. What one person finds comfortable, the other might consider too hot or cold.

It all becomes a little subjective.

But then surely by setting the temperature within a certain range and then adjusting our individual needs by using less or more bedclothes is the best way to find our optimum comfort levels?

Or to put it another way, just kicking off the duvet….!

It could be that because our core body temperature actually drops a little when we sleep, that we become more sensitive to external temperatures.

Having extremes of room temperature or even worse, temperature fluctuations, may cause us to wake up frequently or sleep too lightly, as we attempt to regulate the environmental situation. So establishing a healthy room temperature for sleeping that suits everyone might not be easy, but it is important. It seems that our internal body clocks are regulated by the same part of the brain that that manages body temperature. The two are inexorably linked.

If we suffer disturbed nights and wake not feeling rested and ready for a new day, then it may be time to look past the obvious culprits and check the suitability and stability of bedroom temperature. Most sleep experts reckon that as a general rule, this should fall into he 60-70F degree range although the majority also agree, that a cooler range between 60 and 65F is better still.

Ultimately the decider will be what suits us best as individuals, although, how interesting to note that a seemingly trivial factor should have such an important bearing on determining the quality of our nocturnal slumbers and our readiness to be able to tackle the new day…

Image – spafreshmag.com

——————————————————————————————————–

Tags: , , ,
Posted in All About Sleep | Comments Off

The best way to sleep?

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Here at the Original Bedstead Company, we’ve been doing a little digging around of late, to see if there really is a best position for truly comfortable sleep.

As individuals it seems pretty obvious that we will all have preferred sleeping habits and that from a health perspective,some might be better than others.

But what we didn’t know is, that by making a few adjustments here and there, it’s possible to get a really good nights sleep, whatever our sleeping position of choice.

Back sleepers rejoice as this is actually the preferred position for sleeping as it places the least amount of stress on the spine, although those who suffer with a snoring partner will know that back sleeping is not always conducive to an undisturbed night!

Making sure that the head is in a neutral position by investing in a specially shaped pillow or using a rolled up towel to support the neck will  enhance the sleep experience.

And placing a pillow under the knees will take the stress off the lower back. A regular pillow works just fine for this.

Finally, for those of us with continental style adjustable beds, it’s worth raising the foot end a little, so that our feet are at the same level as our heads. For optimum night time blood circulation, this is a must.

Side sleepers are at risk of putting stress on the spine, although by using a cervical pillow, the effect is minimised.

Once again, it’s all about keeping the neck and head in a neutral position with no unnatural forces in any one direction. Placing a pillow between the knees helps to aid comfort also and is good for anyone with hip joint pain. And it’s a good idea to avoid sleeping with the arms above the head, as this can cause stress to the nerves that lead from the neck to the arms, creating tingling and numbness.

Stomach sleepers place the most stress on their neck region as the head is turned to one side or another, often for hours at a time.

The body will normally try to shift position to compensate, which is why belly sleepers will habitually toss and turn. Placing a pillow under the waist and dispensing entirely with the head pillow will help to minimise the stress to the muscles and joints, and of course there are other factors that will help.

We all know that a good quality mattress is essential for a good nights sleep whatever sleeping position you might prefer.

Old saggy mattresses are unlikely to ever provide enough support whilst too –soft new mattresses might feel great in the showroom, but after a nights sleep are likely to leave us feeling un-rested and aching.

Supportive but not too firm is the ideal criteria and there’s simply no substitute for good sales advice here and lots of trying and testing!

All common sense stuff we suppose, but we’re still constantly surprised at how many people still manage to get it wrong. Like so many things in life, a little research and investment of time initially, can pay huge dividends in the long run.

And surely no more important when it comes to our state of wellbeing, health and comfort, whatever our sleeping characteristics!

Tags: ,
Posted in All About Sleep | Comments Off

Simple sound sleep tips

Monday, July 12th, 2010

We’re constantly bombarded with advice for achieving a great night’s sleep, and mostly it is common sense stuff of which most people will be well aware, although a little reminder from time to time does no harm!

Without doubt,so many of us don’t have the luxury of a full and rejuvenating slumber.

Blame stress, family pressures, workplace anxieties and a host of other subconscious issues that plague our recharging time.

They all play a part in jolting our sleep patterns, all too often in the depth of the night as we curse another premature awakening and lie awake, listening to the clock or pad downstairs to make a cup of tea.

But there has always been a few simple precautions that are easy to achieve, to make our sleeping hours more peaceful and the chance of unbroken nights more likely. Unwelcome noise or light are an obvious sleep disruptor, and yet how many of us drift off to sleep with the bedside light still on or the radio  chatting away?

Light is one of the body’s most powerful time cues.

The rising sun can wake up the brain long before the alarm rings out, but then so too can artificial light or unwelcome noise as it interferes with the subconscious parts of our brain. A dark, quiet room is the most conducive environment for deep uninterrupted sleep although the regular hum of an air conditioner or whirr of a fan, may serve to soothe and block out other less peaceful sounds.

Temperature also plays a crucial part. Too hot,too cold….we know the consequences, and 60-65 degrees fahrenheit is the optimum range.

The temperature of the body needs to drop a tad before we enter sound sleep and it’s essential that we give it the opportunity to do so. And likewise, on the topic of comfort, we all know the importance of investing in a good mattress and bed support.

And yet there’s still far too many of us making do with shabby worn out beds when we are more than happy to spend money on our lifestyle needs and desires that are fundamentally of far less importance. A not-too-hard supportive mattress can make the difference between nights of sound slumber and refreshed waking hours and broken night time misery.

Invest wisely in a top class divan set or iron beds, brass beds, or wooden beds and mattress combination, for a completely transformed sleep experience.

And lastly as a final thought, research has shown that on average, we enter a deep sleep 60% faster if we simply spend a few minutes tidying our bedroom before we retire.

So now there’s no excuse to throw our clothes over the foot of the bedstead or leave clutter all over the floor, although of course there are always some things in life that will never change!

Tags: , , ,
Posted in All About Sleep | Comments Off