Sunday, September 7, 2008

Bedroom Decorating Ideas - High ceilings in a Home

Building trends have been incorporating high ceilings in many rooms in a home. The feeling is majestic, but sometimes we run into problems with how to furnish such spacious spaces. Common ceiling heights are anywhere from 12 to 22 feet. You will not want to put small-scale furniture in a room with such towering heights.Many furniture manufacturers make large-scale pieces with higher back sofas, fuller and more substantial-looking upholstery, larger cocktail tables and bigger end tables. For the high-ceiling bedroom, you can easily find taller beds and higher headboards. If the bedroom has a tall ceiling, most likely it will also be spacious in its length and width. The use of chests instead of night tables will fill the space with a feeling of grandeur. Large armoires help make the large room cozy.Added space in the bedroom allows for generous reading areas or writing areas. A large chaise with an ample accessory table and lamp will be not only useful, but also attractive. If writing is more your style, a desk looking out onto the view from the window should do the trick.Just because the room is large, you do not have to over-fill it with furniture. Pay attention to traffic flow. Leave some spaces open and fill other spaces with interesting artwork such as sculptures or an attention-grabbing lamp. Trees work well in large spaces, too.Conversational groupings are important in large spaces. Set up the furniture so you can have a few people sitting close enough that they won't have to shout across the room. In a very large room, you might need more than one conversational grouping.You can accent and at the same time bring down the ceiling with details such as coffered ceilings, faux paint and/or architectural molding. The molding will add depth as well as interest. Consider custom cabinetry.Most of the high ceiling rooms also have very tall windows. The views from the windows are usually spectacular, so you probably don't want to over-drape them. A tint on the windows will help protect from the UV rays. Most window tint companies have film that will not change the light spectrum coming in through the windows.What about acoustics in large, tall-ceiling rooms? Some draperies on those tall windows will be necessary for framing the windows as well as helping absorb sound. Area rugs will delineate space, group furnishings and cut down on echoing sound. Heavy upholstery will swallow noise, too.Don't forget the trees and plants. They bring the outdoors in, add warmth and help with that sound absorption.
High ceilings can challenge decorating | www.azstarnet.com ®

Bedroom Decorating Ideas - Green Living Interiors

Just because you’re going green doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. There are many ways to easily incorporate eco-friendly ideas into your home decor without living the stereotypical “granola-and-Birkenstocks” lifestyle.“Within the domains of daily living lie our opportunities and obligations to effect positive change in the world,” says Crissy Trask, author of “It’s Easy Being Green.” “Understanding the relationship between what we do and the larger environment is vital to developing and strengthening a sense of responsibility for the cause and effect of our actions.”By making energy-saving improvements and incorporating sustainable and organic materials, you’ll have lower bills, a healthier house and proof that you can live green without sacrificing style or comfort. For more information;Imperial Valley News - Put the Eco in Decorating - Green Living Interiors

New Life & Home Decor

Decorating a small bedroom can be challenging, but with these foolproof tips you can’t go wrong. Wide beds, heavy dressers, and bulky nightstands take up valuable floor space, and the one thing that is needed most in a small room-an area for storage-is often the one thing that the small bedroom lacks. These tips will help you maximize the space you have, while creating a bedroom that feels more spacious than its actual square footage.Furniture selection is the key when working with a small space. Many people purchase a lot of small pieces with the idea that this will open up the bedroom, but instead this does the opposite by cluttering the space. Instead, choose one or two larger pieces. Consider your space as you shop. Do you have a lot of closet room? If so, hang shelving and forgo a dresser. Instead of purchasing conventional nightstands, buy two plastic storage bins that have three or four drawers each. Place beside the bed and cover with an attractive tablecloth. This gives the functionality of a nightstand while offering additional storage space.Loft beds are wonderful accent pieces to the small bedroom. Placed against a back wall, they open up the rest of the room’s floor space. You’ve just made room for a nice floor rug. The area beneath the bed can then be used in a multitude of ways: as a sitting area, a work area, or for a dresser or television stand. Daybeds and futons are also multi-functional options to the conventional bed, serving as a seating area during the day and a resting space at night. Most daybeds have drawers on the bottom for extra storage.If you decide to go with a conventional bed, consider raising it several feet to add to your storage space. Skip on the footboard and headboard. Instead, hang a nice tapestry or painting over the head of the bed. Finally, use tall, narrow furniture, such as armoires and highboys. Not only will these pieces save wall space while adding storage space, but they will also draw the eye upward, creating a feeling of height.Natural lighting always works best in a room. Pull curtains open during the day. This will create a feel of extra depth by pulling the outdoors inside. Keep the room well lit, since dark corners cut down the illusion of space. Don’t hang lights from the ceiling; this draws the room down. Instead, purchase lamps that can be placed on the wall, enhancing your wall decor. Thanks to; Rumi & Home Decor » New Life & Home Decor