Relax-N-Rave: Zzz Your Bed of Dreams

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Saturday, 30 April 2016

Zzz Your Bed of Dreams

Image Source: http://www.onehomeinterior.com/

On an average, people spend 8-10 hours in a day on their bed, sometimes more of course!
Your bedroom and especially your bed is the sanctuary you head to for some well-deserved rest! The place that relaxes and rejuvenates you to take on the challenges of the next day.
Your bed is that oasis of calm that helps you loosen up and dream.

Believe me getting your zzz's right can turn you from a bad-tempered bear to a sweet chirruping angel!

So here are some tips to get the Zzz's right and your bed a delight to tuck into every night and maybe even in the day!

Types of Beds

There is an amazing array of beds you could choose from, depending on your choice and requirement! Besides the ones mentioned, there are customized beds made to order as per your design and aesthetics.

1) Sleigh Bed: A sleigh bed is a style of bed with curved or scrolled foot and headboards, thus resembling a sled or sleigh. It is the one to go for if you like a classic look or you could use the same design and make it contemporary by changing the wood and upholstery from dark to light.

Image source: http://www.hurwitzmintz.com/

2) Four-poster beds: For a vintage or royal look you could go in for a traditional four-poster bed. A four-poster bed is a bed with four vertical columns, one in each corner, that support a tester, or upper (usually rectangular) panel. For a more contemporary look chuck the canopy and go in for lighter color or wrought iron even.

Image source: http://www.grovesnorfurniture.co.uk/

Image source: http://www.hillsdale-furniture-showroom.com/

Contemporary four poster bed - Image source: http://www.houzz.co.uk/

3) Half-Tester Beds: They are beds with a canopy projecting from the posts at the head. Again go for them if you like a classic or a dressy look!

Image source: https://www.jessicabuckley.co.uk/

4) Contemporary Platform Beds: These are the modern, latest in trend beds.
Platform beds or panel beds have a base constructed with wooden slats to provide ideal support to your mattress without the help of a box spring. Platform beds are famous and admired for their simplicity and convenience. They may be of low or regular height. The low-platform beds are ideal for the really thick mattresses. They are available in a variety of styles to go well with any type of room decor.

Image source: http://www.naturalbedcompany.co.uk/

Image source: http://www.livingitup.co.uk/

5) Storage beds: Scarcity of space is a common problem these days and storage beds are a smart solution to this problem. Storage beds are not just functional but also very sturdy and comfortable to provide a restful night’s sleep. Providing space saving luxury, storage beds are now available in many different designs and can bring a touch of sophistication to your bedroom.

Image source: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

Image source: http://www.gomodern.co.uk/

Image source: http://www.pepperfry.com/

6) Space-saving Beds: In case of a guest bedroom or the children's room you could have beds that are space-saving and adjustable in design. The Trundle Bed, Bunk-Bed, Cabin-Bed, Day-Bed, Divan, Sofa-bed, Murphy bed, Air-bed, Futon-bed are some examples of space-saving beds.

Trundle bed - Image source:http://howtofurnish.com/

Bunk bed - Image source:http://www.homestratosphere.com/

Cabin bed - Image source: https://www.furniturestyleonline.co.uk/

Sofa-bed - Image source: http://www.mybobs.com/

Murphy bed - Image source: http://www.godownsize.com/

Futon-Bed - Image source: http://www.somainteriors.com/

7) Metal, Cane, Rattan, Sea-grass, Bamboo beds: These beds can add a totally light and outdoorsy feel to your room.

Sea grass Bed - Image source: http://www.potterybarn.com/

Bamboo bed - Image source: http://makerland.org/

8) Adjustable Beds: Earlier restricted only to hospitals, these beds are all the rage for the comfort, flexibility and health features they offer. READ MORE about ADJUSTABLE BEDS.

Image source: http://makerland.org/

Headboards

Paying sufficient attention to the headboard (the bed's backrest in lay terms) design is important functionally and also aesthetically. The headboard design adds a personality and interest to the bed's looks while also serving purposes of back-support while sitting, as a light console or as an extension to host built-in side tables. Traditional headboard styles like the upholstered and padded styles are most common. You could change the bed's look by just changing the headboard design.

Image source: http://www.homedit.com/

Image source:http://www.bellemaison23.com/

Have look here for:

Fantastic Headboard Designs

Bed sizes

Know what are the different bed sizes and select one according to the space available and the requirement, according to the height of user.

Image source:http://www.sleeptrain.com

Height of the Bed

1) In general, when you sit at the edge of the bed, your feet should be flat on the floor and knees should be in a straight line with the hips. The ideal height of a bed is 18" from the floor to the mattress top. This height may vary depending on the height of the person.

2) Since mattress thicknesses vary from as little as 3" to as high as 2o" one must consider the mattress thickness before deciding on the bed's height.

3) A gap of atleast 3" between the floor and the bed-bottom allows easy under-bed cleaning.

Mattress

All mattresses can be thought of in terms of two basic layers: A comfort layer and a Support layer.

The materials used in each of these layers varies and you could select a combination that works best for you.

Some mattress types include: Innerspring, Memory Foam, Latex, Air Mattress, Foam Mattress, Gel Mattress, Hybrid Mattress, Water beds, Natural or organic mattresses with fillings like cotton, wool, coir, horse-hair, feather etc.

Image source: https://www.goodbed.com

Bed Linen

Bed Linen like sheets, spreads, throws, rugs, quilts, comforters, duvets, cushions, pillows etc make a world of difference to your bed's appeal. Choose their color, texture and pattern carefully with consideration to the room's decor.
The right bed linen can give your bed a warm and inviting or a cool and relaxing or a sizzling and sensuous look.

The right bed upholstery heightens the inviting, plush comfort feel of a bed!

Image source: http://www.aliexpress.com

Image source: https://designerbeddingonline.wordpress.com

Image source: http://www.thestar.com

Bedside Table and Bed-end seating

A bed-end seating adds a whole new dimension of luxury to your bed, while a bedside table/night-stand on one or both sides of the bed adds functional value by hosting your immediate night essentials, medication, telephone, night-light etc within easy reach.

A wall-mounted night stand saves floor space - Image source: http://decoratingfiles.com

Bed-end seating with storage - http://www.forrent.com

Special attention needs to be given to the space between the headboard and the ceiling. This space can be treated with wall decor elements like special colors, textures, wall-paper, decals, paintings, framed family photographs, mirrors, decorative lights etc.

Other aspects like the furniture layout of the bedroom, the lighting, ventilation, flooring and furnishings like drapes/blinds and rugs also influence the overall appeal and ambience of the bedroom.

A beautiful quote on Beds:

O bed! O bed! Delicious bed!

That heaven upon earth to the weary head!

-Thomas Hood

Ending on a lighter note, I am sharing a personal anecdote on my travails with

My Bed of Dreams

That's all for the present folks, till later, keep decorating, live well and sleep better!

READ:

A: Asymmetrical Balance in Interiors

B: Bring in the Outdoors

C: Color Capers around your Home

D: Decor Drama withWall Decals