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Archive for the ‘Bed Types’ Category

Bedroom Lighting

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

Completely make over your bedroom without changing colors, fabrics, or furniture! You can do it all with lighting.

Bedside Basics
When lighting a bedroom, you want to create an atmosphere of quiet relaxation, while providing bright spots for reading and other activities. Develop a combination of general and task lighting based on these examples, and remember that dimmer controls let you vary the light to suit different moods and tasks.

Swing-arm or other bedside fixtures cast a peaceful light and illuminate bedtime tasks. If you want to add mood lighting without making the room too bright, supplement your bedside light with soft sources such as a fireplace or candles. A dimmer switch can also give you more control over the room’s brightness.

When your bed is the focal point in the room, create drama with recessed downlights near the head of the bed. Separate controls allow snoozing and reading simultaneously on opposite sides of the bed. Table lamps elsewhere in the room will help make the space usefully bright.

Active people love a room awash in a bright, warm Active people love a room awash in a bright, warm glow. This design combines an overhead fixture, which casts a wide beam of downward light, and uplight fixtures that illuminate shady corners. By wiring the overhead light and the uplights separately, you can have some or all of them on at one time.

Highlight the View
To show off attractive artwork, wall-hung collections, or areas of interest other than the bed, consider lighting that highlights those areas. These track fixtures, for instance, are easy to adjust, creating dimension with shadow. Be sure to install additional sources of ambient lighting to boost the room’s overall function.

Avoid unflattering and distracting shadows at your dressing table with lights on each side or one light directly above the table. Side fixtures should have shades that direct light either up or down at a 45-degree angle from the wall.

Types of Light
Knowing the different kinds of light will help you choose and arrange fixtures wisely.

Ambient Lighting
The most basic and practical form of illumination, ambient lights mimic the qualities of natural lighting. Often directed from a central, overhead fixture, they create light that surrounds you uniformly. It’s best to control this type of light with a dimmer switch, which allows you to adjust the light according to time of day or task.

Most bedrooms start with one ambient light source, which is a good beginning, but you’ll need other types of lighting to create dramatic highlights around the bedroom. One drawback to ambient lighting is that it often creates shadows in front of you, as you work or read with the ambient light source at your back.

Task Lighting
Intended to illuminate a task or a specific area, this bright light is generally work-oriented (reading, paying bills, needle-crafting). To generate task lighting, choose a fixture with a shade that focuses the light onto one spot. If the shade is open at the top as well as the bottom, it can supplement the ambient lighting.

Accent Lighting
If you get a headache from your task lighting, your ambient light is probably too dim and causing an uncomfortable contrast. Remedy this by increasing the wattage of the bulb in your ambient light, installing more lighting, or covering your work surface with a light-color covering to reflect the task light rather than absorb it.

Used to create drama, this light type also is known as point-source lighting because it focuses attention on something important. It does not have room-illuminating qualities, so it should be combined with ambient and perhaps task lighting. Select a fixture with a strong beam of light that can be directed onto a focal point such as art or a vase of flowers.

Kinetic Lighting
Kinetic means motion, and this kind of light flickers and dances to create drama and interest. It can come from candles, mirror balls, or lava lamps, for instance, but the hypnotic quality of candlelight or a wood fire is more conducive to a bedroom than a strobe light would be. Just be sure to place candles on a nonflammable surface and in a place where they won’t be knocked over.

The Right Height for Lights
Don’t underestimate the proper placement of task lighting. It can save you eyestrain, headaches, and accidentally pairing blue socks with black pants. Here are some preferred placement measurements for different task lights. (Adjust them accordingly if you’re a great deal taller or shorter than the average person.)

Abide by this general rule: The diameter of the beam spread out of the bottom of the shade for reading and writing should be about 16 inches.

For a dressing table, have 2 lights 36 inches apart (on either side of the mirror you use) and about 15 inches above the base of the table.
Similarly, for lighting a dresser whose top is used for grooming, place 2 lights 36 inches apart (again, on either side of your mirror). Assuming the dresser reaches your waist, the lights should rise 22 inches from the dresser top.

For bedside reading lamps, the bottom of the shade should be 20 inches above the level of your bed. If your night table is extremely tall or short, you may need to choose lamps to compensate.

At a desk, work lamps should be 15 inches above the desk’s surface, whether they are mounted on the wall or sitting on the desk.

Tips for Planning a Relaxing Bedroom

Sunday, October 21st, 2007

Advice on planning the perfect master suite.

Architects and designers create spaces following a basic design rule: Take advantage of your room’s good points. Use these ideas to help make the most of your space.

  1. Plan for the bed. Provide a blank wall suitable for a bed and oriented toward the best view the room provides. Allow a wall 14 to 15 feet wide if you’ll have a king-size bed flanked by side tables. Placing the headboard against an interior wall frees up exterior walls for ample windows.
  2. Make the most of rooflines. Placing a master bedroom on a new upper level creates a private getaway, but it can create challenges when designing rooflines and integrating the space to maximize the impact. One alternative is to expose angular ceilings for added design interest. In this house, for example, careful planning gave the master suite four dramatic bisecting gables.
  3. Control sunlight. Give adequate thought to managing daylight at different times of day and year. Movable daylight controls, such as draperies and shutters, provide flexibility, but you can also take advantage of awnings and deep eaves that shade windows.
  4. Build it in. The architect regularly looks for opportunities to design custom built-ins. It’s efficient storage space and eliminates the need to bump out into the room with furniture. Many people prefer built-ins to furniture as it gives a room an all-of-a-piece look.
  5. Define spaces with storage. Use storage to separate spaces within a master suite. Try a configuration composed of a bedroom and a bath separated by a short hall fitted with two closets.

Bedroom Lighting

Bedside Basics
When lighting a bedroom, you want to create an atmosphere of quiet relaxation, while providing bright spots for reading and other activities. Develop a combination of general and task lighting based on these examples, and remember that dimmer controls let you vary the light to suit different moods and tasks.

Swing-arm or other bedside fixtures cast a peaceful light and illuminate bedtime tasks. If you want to add mood lighting without making the room too bright, supplement your bedside light with soft sources such as a fireplace or candles. A dimmer switch can also give you more control over the room’s brightness.

When your bed is the focal point in the room, create drama with recessed downlights near the head of the bed. Separate controls allow snoozing and reading simultaneously on opposite sides of the bed. Table lamps elsewhere in the room will help make the space usefully bright.

Active people love a room awash in a bright, warm glow. This design combines an overhead fixture, which casts a wide beam of downward light, and uplight fixtures that illuminate shady corners. By wiring the overhead light and the uplights separately, you can have some or all of them on at one time.

Water Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

When the talk is about comfortable bed, waterbed is one name that deserves a special mention. If you want to have a sound sleep, then water bed is the ultimate choice. The unique features of water bed that set it apart from others are the heat flow movement and the support of your body weight.

Whenever you plan to buy a bedroom waterbed, make sure that you’ve properly checked its strength and durability. Don’t compromise on quality, even if you have to pay an extra price for it. If you go in for a high quality waterbed, not only you’ll get great comfort, but also, it will ensure that your body gets the healthiest support.

Lying on a waterbed in itself is an amazing experience, as it enables you to completely relax your mind, body and soul. Durable polyester filaments and floatable foam are used in the making of waterbed mattresses. Waterbed gives a gentle cushioning support to your body. It also helps to prevent you from being victimized by allergies, as it does not consist of any dust collecting material.

Trundle Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

In this article, we will provide you with information on the trundle beds for bedroom. It is basically a bed on wheels. Well, the bedroom trundle bed contains a spare bed that can be stored when not required. Thus, it is a great space saving bed. These beds usually don’t have box springs. It is just apt for overnight guests. Bedroom trundle bed also serves as a great solution for children’s “sleepover” parties.

Exquisite varieties of trundle beds are available in the market to cater to the varying needs of customers. As far as the size is concerned, you can find single beds, twin beds and full size trundle beds. It’s not necessary that the trundle bed you are planning to buy will fit under some other existing bed in your room. So, it is of prime importance to check the specifications properly.

Sleigh Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

In this article, we will provide you with information on the bedroom sleigh beds. Sleigh bed is particularly admired in the United States. The designing of this bed type had actually originated in France. However, its style was later adopted by the Americans in the 19th century. Today, you can find real attractive antique design sleigh beds.

Sleigh bed is different from other beds that can be commonly found. The headboard of this bed is larger than its footboard and both are curved with their tops rolling outwards. The designing of this bed takes you back to the bygone times, when horse drawn sleighs were used.

Traditional sleigh beds usually contain wooden bars along their sides. Sleigh beds made from wood are increasingly gaining popularity. However, metal sleigh beds can also be seen in the market. These beds lend a fabulous look to the bedroom. To have a luxurious feel of the bed, check out the latest bed models that consist of padded leather headboards and upholstery.

Platform Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

In this article, we will tell you about the platform bed, an ideal bed choice for small bedroom. Bedroom platform bed is a different style of bed, which does not contain any springs. It is actually raised on legs or support structure. This bed is just apt for those people, who do not like stuffy rooms and rather, prefer to go in for a simple look.

The area lying beneath the bed can be used for purposes like storing your bedding and pillows. When it comes to styling, there is a fabulous variety of platform beds available in the furniture stores. To name a few, we have a twin, twin long, king size, queen size, Californian and Eastern platform bed, coming up in both traditional as well as contemporary designs.

You can find platform beds made from different materials like wood and metal. Platform bed seems to perfectly suit the personality of those people, who believe in simple living and high thinking. Extremely comfortable, this bed has truly no comparison. The simplicity of this bed gives an elegant look to the bedroom.

Murphy Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

In this article, we will provide you with information on the bedroom Murphy bed, which is also known as a wall bed. The bed has been named after its inventor, William Murphy. The whole idea behind designing this bed was to make provision for more space in the small room. Murphy bed is the apt choice, especially, when you are running short of space.

Talking as to what a Murphy bed is exactly all about; we can say that, it is a bed that is unfolded only when required. This bed can be easily folded down from the wall during the daytime, when you don’t need to use it. It is during that time that you can utilize that space for some other purpose. And later in the nighttime, you can convert the place into a bedroom. It is one of the best space saving beds that people like even today.

Loft Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

In this article, we will tell you about the bedroom loft bed. Loft bed is a bed that stands on stilts or support structure. It is raised a few feet above the ground level. The area lying underneath can be used as space storage. Usually, made of wood, these beds are mostly found in the kids’ room. Read to know more about the loft bed for bedroom.

In the present times, the markets are virtually flooded with wide varieties of loft beds. To name a few, we have loft bed with desk, loft tent bed, futon loft bed, extra long twin loft bed, metal loft bed and many more. To provide more convenience, there are beds that have small size desks, closets and drawers attached. Custom loft bed provides you the flexibility to choose, whether you would like to go in for traditional styling or the contemporary one.

For the fun loving kids, it is best to choose the tent type loft bed. With the slides and windows with curtains, it serves as the perfect play area. For a small size bedroom, there can be no better choice than to go in for a loft bed. Full size loft beds provide the benefits of privacy and additional space. Therefore, they are apt for those people, who are sharing their bedroom with others.

Iron Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

In this article, we will tell you about the iron beds for bedroom. An iron bed in simple terms can be defined as a bed, the frame of which is made up of iron. Iron is a good choice of material, as it is sturdy, heavy and rustic. Bedroom iron bed comes in a variety of styles. The benefit of using iron bed is that, it is very durable and is also not very expensive. Infact, it costs much less than the wooden beds. For people suffering from the problem of backache or neck pain, it is advisable to consult a doctor before going in for an iron bed. You can even check out some antique iron beds. The fashion of iron bed will never fade. Even for pets, iron beds are considered to be a good choice.

Futon Bed

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

In this article, we will provide you with information on the bedroom futon beds. Futon bed can be very beneficial for your home. It is an extremely versatile piece of furniture that provides you the flexibility to convert it into a couch, as per your need. Depending upon your requirement, you can use it either in the form of a bed or else convert it into a sofa. There are distinctive types of futon beds for bedroom. More commonly, they are known as futons.

The best thing about futon beds is that they are not very expensive and thus are easily affordable. The mattress of futon bed is not as thick as the regular mattress. As per your choice, you can get it filled with foam, cotton, polyester and/or viscoelastic foam. Futons serve as a great option, especially, for offices, dorm rooms and all such places, which are constrained with space problem.