Why You Shouldn't Have a "Master"
Bedroom
Tips for Rejuvenating Your Bedroom
by Jeanette Joy Fisher
Do You Have a "Master" Bedroom? You
Shouldn't!
The word "master" is an antiquated term that suggests control, domination, and
inequality, and in today's cooperative partner and/or single parent household,
the label "master suite" has become obsolete. In that light, master bedrooms
would more properly be called "main bedrooms" in today’s society.
Far removed from the hubbub of family rooms and busy kitchens, the bedroom is
the place where your day begins and ends. Surprisingly, however, main bedroom
redecorating frequently ranks near the bottom of most people's home renovation
lists. But if you want an immediate uplift in your emotional state, there are
few projects that will do that more effectively than remodeling your main
bedroom.
Remodeling Your Main Bedroom for Happiness
The main bedroom, with its softened textures, serene artwork, and muted
patterns, intimately captures the warmth of a home. Passion colors, such as red,
purple, royal blue, rose, or the gilt of gold, add drama and indulgence. Plan
your main bedroom design with private times in mind, beginning with the purpose
of the bedroom.
Do you want a Passion Boudoir, Reading Room, or Private
Sanctuary?
Passion Boudoir Makeover Tips
French women are known to create the sexiest bedrooms in the world, and like
many French women, today's homemakers often plan for sex and decorate
accordingly, creating evocative, enticing bedrooms. Here are a few suggestions
for creating a Passion Boudoir:
Flattering colors contribute to personal beauty and are erotically appealing.
Choose seductive colors like rouge red, lipstick reds, creamy peaches, and
subtle pinks. Make sure the colors enhance your natural beauty. Be daring and
use bold colors on the walls.
Luscious fabrics set the stage for sensuousness. Use silk, velvet, and
chenille textures in combination with nubby textures. Use fabrics that remind
you of a favorite shared memory. Exotic patterns, such as animal prints or
tropical florals, conjure images of faraway journeys.
Mirrors in placed unusual places, such as the tops of dressers or side tables,
reflect dancing candle light. Tropical plants and trees, uplit with special
lights, also cast exciting shadows.
An intimate bistro table, set with two chairs, invites private conversations.
Dressing tables, furnished with feminine accessories and intimate objects, add
mystery and romance to a room.
Just the presence of a bed tray suggests the possibility of a pleasurable breakfast in bed, while soft lighting, candles, essential oils in a
diffuser, and gentle oscillating fans effectively complete the décor in a
Passion Boudoir.
Reading Rooms
If you're one of the many people who love to read in their bedrooms, you might
consider designing your main bedroom with lounging and reading books in mind.
Since eye experts warn that it's bad for a person's eyes to read while lying
down (because we tend to hold the book too close), you might begin by enabling
proper reading posture by installing padded headboards.
Pay close attention to lighting. To protect eyesight, readers need at least
two reading lamps of at least 175-200 watts, but that type of lighting would
seem quite harsh in a bedroom setting. In fact, as my friend Madi, a devoted
bedroom reader, says, "My reading time is some of my most important time,
intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. It's the most intimate time I give
myself; it compares to what others may call meditation. Just being in a space
that's warm and comfortable with a good book is the greatest thing in the world
to me, and any bright light would change the ambience of that quiet time."
Madi certainly isn't alone in cherishing her reading time, or in opposing harsh
lighting in the bedroom. So instead of individual lights, consider equalizing
the overall lighting scheme by adding other less obtrusive lights across the
room. You might accentuate your bedside reading lamp with a soft-glowing
accessory lamp in the corner, or add soft-light recessed bulbs above your bed
with a switch within reach.
Good colors for Reading Rooms include Old World ivory, antique amber, sage
green, and slate blue. These soft colors reflect light without glare and also
support peaceful feelings.
Squishy pillows, luxurious Afghans or throws, landscape paintings with distant
horizons, and mirrors for private reflections add feelings of restoration. A
great lounge chair with a floor lamp and nearby tea table completes the
additions to a perfect Reading Room.
Private Sanctuary
Perhaps you'd rather turn your main bedroom into a personal retreat, where you
can escape and unwind from a busy day. Surround yourself with photos of friends,
family, and places you love, as well as your favorite artwork and meaningful
mementos. Under-furnished private sanctuaries can also give you the space to
contemplate and daydream.
Good colors for private sanctuaries include dark forest green, deep chocolate
brown,
mocha, navy or cobalt blues, and eggplant. Darker colors create a womb-like
feeling and aid deep sleep.
A writing desk, accompanied by a comfortable chair, promotes journal and letter
writing. A small refrigerator will make you feel as if you can enjoy your time
in the bedroom without interruption, and a television offers the opportunity to
watch your favorite movies and shows (though be sure you can enclose the TV out
of sight when it's not in use). Room-darkening window coverings also
encourage deep sleep and aid in the restoration of your soul.
Living Room Furniture in Bedrooms
Bedrooms can truly become living rooms when they're furnished luxuriously --
like a private suite. Adding furniture usually considered living room pieces
automatically upscales the importance of your bedroom. Sofas, rocking chairs, or
matching overstuffed chairs help create the feeling of an oasis.
The bedroom is the most personal of all the rooms in our home. In fact, as a
Realtor, I've been in houses on home tours where the main bedroom was
off-limits. That may seem strange, but it only served to add to the mystery of
the home. I've also been in a delightful home where the living room itself had
actually been turned into a fabulous main bedroom!
Only you can decide the best bedroom setting for your personal preferences and
lifestyle, but if you want to make a dramatic change for the better in your
life, there's no better way to accomplish that than remodeling your main
bedroom!
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher. All Rights Reserved.
Want to know
where to put your bed?
Interior design articles by
Jeanette Fisher
For More Information Contact:
Jeanette Fisher
Joy to the Home
18475 Grand Ave., Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Tel: 951.678.8780
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