In years past, beds were not considered to be an element that factored into bedroom design, more just a place to lay your head, although the bed could be dressed to match whatever style had been chosen for the bedroom. Times have changed and with the return of bedsteads or frame beds, the bed is now an element that factors in quite highly in bedroom design. The range of styles, colours, fabrics and materials that todays modern beds are manufactured from go to enhance and work in synergy with all bedroom design plans. The decision of the type of bed to purchase in relation to design can be broken down into three steps: The aesthetic of the room. Deciding on the aesthetic of a room or the way that it looks is not as difficult as it may seem at first. In most cases you will already have a good source of inspiration from the other rooms in the house, but lets say for arguments case that it is a blank canvas. In that case the world is your oyster as there are so many places to draw ideas from; -The internet
-Interior design book/magazines
-Ideal home exhibition type shows
-New property development show houses (always a favorite of mine)
-Furniture retail showrooms (you dont always have to shop)
-Friends and relatives houses Once you have got your inspiration for how the room is going to look you need next to plan how the bed is going fit in the room. Where to position the bed. This can be something that gets overlooked at this stage and can result in being quite costly if other purchases are made such as furniture without this in mind. It is therefore important that before purchasing of any bedroom furniture takes place, consideration is given to the following. Size of bed will there be sufficient space around the bed to meet your requirements i.e. opening wardrobe doors, doors, getting changed round the bed etc etc. Position of bed have you planned on buying bunk beds that the steps will only go on one side and thus will only go on one wall or a captains bed with the same problem. Height of the bed you may have taken into consideration the length and width of the bed, but what about height? This is not a problem for about 98% of beds, but is a big consideration when buying a four poster bed. Have you measured the height of the room and will that four poster fit in term of height? We have so far worked out the style and limitations of the room in which you are going to house your bed, but there is one last consideration to take into account before you part with any of your hard earned cash. That final consideration is what you use your bedroom for or How do you live in your bedroom How do you live in your bedroom? As mentioned in the introduction bedrooms have become a multifunctional space, and these days are used as offices, somewhere to watch TV, listen to music or a quiet place to read or get away from the grind. All of these are key components that need to be considered when deciding on the type of bed that you will buy. It is now time to go and purchase that dream bed. Now that you have followed the steps above you should be confident that the purchasing decision will be a calculated one, and one made from consideration as opposed to impulse. By using the rest of this guide as a would be bed purchasing bible, you will feel at ease when confronted with jargon and terminology, and most of all you will be in the driving seat when it comes deciding on the type of bed for you! In summary; a bed is the centerpiece of any bedroom and time and consideration should be spent on the whole process of planning and choosing the bed that will be suited to your requirements. As mentioned in the introduction a decision to buy a bed should have the same amount of time and effort spent on it as purchasing a car, if this is followed, and in conjunction with the advice from this guide, you will find yourself making a purchasing decision that will not just enhance the style and functionality of a bedroom, but will also result in a comfortable nights sleep. |
