The Light Touch
With incandescent bulbs disappearing in favor of more long-lasting light bulbs, finding light that has the right color temperature can be a challenge. Florescent light—as from compact florescent lamps—can look yellow and sickly, and LEDs can look too blue. Be sure to research the right temperatures for your taste. The packaging for alternative
light bulbs should list the CCT, or Correlated Color Temperature. Bedroom light generally tends to be warmer than other rooms, which would give it a lower CCT rating. Brightness is measured in lumens, which you should also keep similar to the bulbs you are replacing. The more watts an incandescent bulb has, the more lumens your replacement
bulb should have. Bulb base dimensions also change with the size of the bulbs, so double-check the base diameter when changing chandelier or sconce bulbs.
Brushstrokes
Understated earth tones dominate bedroom trends this year, with layers of beiges and grays taking over where saturated oranges and pinks dominated in past years. Subtly textured and patterned wallpaper is part of this earthy trend. White-onwhite is also in vogue. Bright accents like orchid and lime cut the starkness of all that white with little brushes of color. The Pantone color of the year is Radiant Orchid, and it is a great accent color for your white retreat. Throwing a few accent pillows or a blanket on your white-on white bed can draw your room together.
Clutter Control
Scandinavian designers are locked away in pale wooden towers fed only rotting raw fish to force them to come up with new ways to store clutter. Kidding. Almost. But if you like the modern look for your bedroom, there are many clever
Scandinavian-inspired ways to store everything from books to bedding. Large, flat storage containers on wheels can be rolled under your bed. Shelves can be built into the headboard of your bed. Something as simple as drawer dividers can organize and simplify your clutter. If you have an organizational challenge, there is almost always a
solution from some clever Scandinavian.
Breathing Easy
Air quality can be a challenge in a bedroom. Bedding, carpeting, curtains and clothes add up to a lot of dust. Breathing well means sleeping well, and air quality can have an effect on your health. A good, leafy houseplant like a lily or fern cleans and freshens the air. If air flow is a problem (as in an attic room) there are good, quiet, compact air purifiers on the market. If dry air makes you hack the winter away, a small humidifier can make all
the difference — just make sure you don’t leave it running so much that mold builds up, compounding your problems. Cleaning it on a regular basis will also be necessary (see p. 19 for cleaning details).
Big Changes
Sleeping in a great bed — whether memory foam or a mattress with adjustable firmness — can really enhance the quality of your sleep. A great bed is a big investment, but the uptick in quality can make all the difference in the kind of sleep you get. Add new pillows that fit your sleeping posture (there are options for side-sleepers, tummy-sleepers and back-sleepers on the market). Ripping out old carpet and installing hardwood flooring or laminate
can control dust and give your room a cleaner, clearer space. Installing shelves and cabinets can get those clothes off the treadmill and into drawers and on hangers.
Whether you’re just adding a few pillow cases or going in for a big change, a refreshed bedroom will help you feel refreshed, renewed and recharged.
