Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see a tabloid! reader’s e-mail in my blog’s inbox. There lay a request. The reader wanted to know how she can revamp her bedroom. While I dish out what I feel are the looks du jour for bedrooms, please feel free to connect with me and let me know what you would like to know when it comes to the big wide world of interiors! I will do my best to answer.
MONOCHROME ALWAYS WINS
By no means any less dramatic than its high octave colour blocking cousin, a monochromatic bedroom also offers the comfort in knowing that everyone will feel at ease in a cleverly simplified palette. You might have noticed that I talk about going monochrome in almost every trend report I give, but it is indeed 2014-15’s leading trend. Less is more in this trend so keep things really simple. Blacks, whites, earth tones and complimentary metallic shades work well together and across media so that you can apply the theme to your feature bed. By keeping the individual pieces understated, you make a lavish statement via a dramatic art piece or a bold hued duvet (think red or lime green) for that extra oomph.
THE BIG INVESTMENT
Follow the W Leicester Square’s lead and plan your suite in a way the bathroom becomes part of the space without being too obvious
Why leave luxe living at your hotel suite? Follow design cues from top-notch hotels; bring the bath and bed spaces together. If you are lucky, all you will need to do will be break down the partition wall or remove a door, but usually you will need the help of a fit-out contractor. This can translate into a hefty investment — both time and money — so I recommend this only if you are the home owner. Typically, I recommend you plan your room in a way that the vanity counter becomes the divider between the bed and bath areas, but if you are adventurous, a chiffon curtain would do. Nail the look with statement bath fittings, but make sure you don’t skimp on the plumbing works.
UNAPOLOGETICALLY LUXURIOUS
Clive Christian is your choice for a bedroom fit for royalty
If you know your Louis from Victorian, we reckon minimalism is not where your heart lies. So do away with present trends and take a walk back in time when ceilings had ten-inch thick mouldings and black crystal chandeliers were de rigueur. All major furniture labels have limited edition or even bespoke pieces that hark back to Victorian glam and the French renaissance eras. Your biggest investment would have to be a bed which is bold enough to stand the wall panelling and fresco ceilings — choose a high, canopy bed and a complimentary armoire. Obviously, your flat screen would look out of place — install the TV on a pop-up machine and hide it into a console. This look is all about maximalism, so there is not much to warn about except that this setting would look best in rooms with high ceilings.
THEME IS NOT A BAD THING
A bold coloured wall is an instant pick-me-up for any jaded design scheme — and it doesn’t cost much at all
Colour blocking may have left our runways, but it continues to rule our homes. Decide on an accent wall where the big blob of colour will go — we recommend the wall behind your bed — you wouldn’t have to wake up to your colour choice staring at you and it would frame your bed beautifully. You could simply get your favourite colour or take cue from runway trends. You could even consult a Feng-Shui expert to help your space resonate with the energies you need. Keep the rest of the room simple but do throw in a funky occasion chair or footstool, some cushions or a table lamp in a complimentary colour to carry the theme forward.
Pratyush Sarup edits design blog designcarrot.co
