Some Things to Think About Ceiling Fan

I love the decorative look of a ceiling fan as much as the next person, but there are things to consider when you put one in your house; especially the bedroom. Ceiling fans make wonderful decorating and utilitarian statements in a room. You can look at the fan and see how beautiful it matches the décor of the room, and then turn it on and realize how comfortable you can feel in the winter or summer. Ceiling fans will circulate the air anywhere at different speeds and look beautiful at the same time. Some fans have light kits that come with them, or you can install them another time. Other fans don’t have lights; they are just there to look great and circulate the air.

Ceiling fans come in every decorative style imaginable. You can even make your own to match the room you want to install it in. The one place I choose not to have a ceiling fan is the bedroom. All ceiling fans all have one thing in common and that is they have “blades”. When you hang a fan above something, metaphorically you are hanging spinning blades above that object; such as a table, bed, couch etc. It is usually a little disconcerting if you are sitting beneath blades spinning above your head, don’t you think? Have you ever tried to sleep under a moving ceiling fan? It could be the quietest fan in the world; but the spinning blades will always keep me awake. I don’t like to sit under one either. Logically, I’m sure ceiling fans are installed with great care and they won’t come crashing down, but they symbolize just the opposite. In Feng Shui, we look at things such as this and analyze how they make you “feel” energetically. I don’t mind ceiling fans if they are hung high from a cathedral ceiling. They are well out of the way and not right above the head. I do like the way they move the air, just as long as I don’t have to sleep under it.

In Feng Shui, we always look at things and how they represent other things. Metaphorically what are you trying to tell the Universe? There may be alternative ways to keep cool in the summer that don’t involve spinning blades above your head. Why not place portable air conditioners in the house? They are ideal when window air conditioners won’t fit, or you don’t have central air. You might just want to put a portable rotating fan a distance away from the bed. The positioning of items in rooms with Feng Shui (the Chinese art of placement) will determine if you have a good flow of energy in the room. Sit quietly in your bedroom and see how it “feels”. If your master bedroom is large enough that you don’t have to place the bed directly under the ceiling fan; then you are ok with the aesthetics of having it in the room. You can use it to feel cooler to your hearts content.

Turning Your Bedroom Into a Romantic Space

Want to spice up your bedroom to let some romance in?

Decorating your bedroom for romance doesn't even have to be difficult or expensive. You can really let your creativity run wild here.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want to soothe all of the senses to both take away other distractions and relax completely. This should be your oasis, your refuge to reconnect and enjoy your partner's company.

A great place to start is lighting. Get rid of the glare, and you're well on the way to more romance!

Candles, candles and more candles can bring a lot of romance into the bedroom for a pretty small investment. Candles, both large and small, tapered, pillar or votives all generate a warm, inviting, flickering light to the room. Group them together in several areas of the room for the best effect.

Adding a dimmer switch to lighting can also be quite effective in designing bedrooms for romance- and cost very little as long as you can install it yourself. It isn't as difficult as you might think!

Placing mirrors to reflect your softened light will add more depth to your bedroom.

Window dressings that are plush and appealing should darken the room and prevent lights from traffic or other external noise from interrupting the romantic mood you are creating. The window treatment can match or contrast the bedding and often can be found as an accessory to the bedding set you select. Draperies that billow and flow can add a touch of romance to the bedroom as well.

The bed, of course, is the focal point of the bedroom in most cases, and the bedding you select for romance can set just the perfect mood.

Many people think of silk and satin when thinking of romantic bedding. Both silk and satin can be costly and a bit slippery on the bed. The good news is that the same luxurious effect and feel can be created with 100% cotton sateen sheets if you don't want the added expense of genuine satin or silk linens.

Choose bedding for your romantic bedroom that centers on relaxing, romantic colors. Avoid using too much grey, yellow or pink. Red, black, white, blue and green is very popular. Newer colors like pearl, bronze and even gold can really create the feeling of luxury and are quite romantic.

Remember that all of your senses should be involved for the perfect touch of romance- so adding interesting texture for bedding can be another opportunity to bring out romance. Velvet, faux fur and velour are rich, soft to the touch fabrics that can be used for comforters, blankets and throw pillows.

Peacock Alley is one of the most well-known luxury bedding maker.

They offer an especially warm, romantic bed linen set called the Marrakech Ebony. It features shades of green, gold and ebony in prints reminiscent of the African plains and looks especially romantic when highlighted by candlelight. 55% linen and 45% rayon create luxurious sheets which are easy to care for.

The Vienna Ensemble from Peacock Alley is 100% Egyptian cotton in white on white featuring eyelet lace. Euro sham, coverlet, boudoir pillows add wonderful interesting detail to the bedding which brings back the romantic 1800s.

And if you'd prefer to keep your expenses down a bit, then you could go for the shabby chic approach, which means focusing on your own sense of style, mixing just about any romantic touches into the bedroom- as long as the overall result is soothing and relaxing. You don't have to follow anyone else's idea of romance. Just be creative!

If you really want to go all out, you could add a canopy to your bed. You can easily create the same effect of a canopy bed with about 10 yards of material like linen, silk or satin and four hooks placed in the ceiling. Simply drape the cloth so that it billows and flows to just above the bed linens. This touch will enhance any spacious bedroom and can provide a bedroom with low ceilings a more spacious feel.

Finish your new romantic bedroom with a bit of soft music, maybe some potpourri and some fine chocolates and champagne, and there you have it!

You can live in a bedroom that surrounds you with romance every night if you wish. Simply bring together your own creation of romantic touches and enjoy.

A Guide to Buy a Waterbed Mattress

If you need a new waterbed mattress, there are a variety of things you should know. For starters, waterbed mattresses come in different levels of firmness. Since even the firmest waterbed is less firm than a traditional bed, most experts recommend buying the firmest waterbed mattress that you can afford.

Let’s take a look at the different types of waterbed mattresses:

Free Flow: as its name suggests, a free flow mattress allows the water to flow freely. This makes the bed feel as though it is always gently rocking. Sleeping on a free flow waterbed mattress is much like sleeping on a boat. This type of mattress is not recommended for someone who desires support. Some people have trouble sleeping on a bed that moves freely with every toss and every turn. In addition, the free flow mattress doesn’t have any mechanism to balance it. This means that if one partner is larger or heavier than the other, the mattress will be lopsided.

Hydraulic: a hydraulic waterbed mattress is filled with tiny round vinyl coils. These coils fill with water and float just beneath the top of the mattress. This helps to regulate the movement of the water. The more coils a mattress has, the firmer it will be. In addition, the coils help to balance out the bed. This means that even if one partner is heavier than the other, they will stay on the same level.

Fiber Fill: in fiber filled waterbed mattresses, the manufacturer fills the mattress with fiber. This helps to reduce the movement of the water and to increase the firmness of the mattress. The more fiber the mattress has, the firmer it will be.

Waterbed mattresses are available at many online stores, including My Waterbed Shop, All Waterbeds, Bedroom Discounters, and Simmons.

For additional waterbed mattress resources, do an Internet search for “waterbed mattress.” Also check your local bedding, mattress, and furniture stores.

The Luxury Comforter that We All Would Love to Have

For those striving to create a bedroom retreat, a haven from the rest of the world, luxury is a necessity. Along with good color choices and fine furniture, a lavishly dressed bed is top priority. One of the most important ingredients for an extravagant bed is a luxury down comforter, and price is no object.

Down comforters are made from a variety of materials. They can be made from the down of ducks or geese. The most luxurious, though, are those made from goose down. Goose down is heavier and produces warmer, fluffier, and more luxurious down comforters.

Different geese produce different qualities of down. Eiderdown comes from the Eider duck of Iceland. As you can imagine in such a cold climate, the Eider duck has a very full and luxurious down, resulting in a warm and fine comforter. Eiderdown has to be hand harvested from Eider duck nests, making it difficult to acquire. At around $7000, its price reflects that quality and rarity.

Siberian goose down is considered the best, and is available for around $1000. Siberian goose down is known to have superior warming power, and is fluffier than all other varieties.

In shopping for luxury down comforters, one of the most important things to consider is the fill power rating. Fill power refers to the comforter’s fluffiness, the higher the rating, the better. While any fill rating over 550 is considered good, the more luxurious down comforters often have ratings of over 800.

Thread count is another important consideration. The thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch. Again, the higher the number, the better the quality of the comforter. A high thread count means the comforter will be softer, lighter, and less likely to leak filling.

The comforter cover material is less important because the comforter itself should be covered with a duvet. However, some truly luxurious cover materials exist. Some comforters are covered in silk or Egyptian cotton for optimum softness.

Bring the Beach Back to Your Bedroom

Using accessories is a fun way to accent your bedroom for a beach theme. You will find that you can dramatically change the look of your room simply by making small changes with the accents. See how easy it is to get a designer beach theme look in your bedroom without shelling out the big bucks.

If you’re not sure exactly what you want in your beach desing, try looking in decorating magazines and books to get a flavor of the accessories you would like to see in your bedroom. For keeping the beach look consistent, you’ll have to limit yourself to only purchase the accessories that match your theme.

Colors for a beach décor should make you think of the beach. Light and breezy with lots of blues and maybe even some yellows. If you prefer neutral tones think of the beige of beach sand and the color of shells.

Incorporate sea shells, ocean prints, and other seaside accents that will help bring out the beach in your bedroom. You should group your accessories in odd numbers. It always looks nice if your groupings consists of tall and short accessories mixed together. An interesting group of accents might consists of some shells aside a nice beach theme frame and a taller lamp.

Use beach theme prints and photos on your walls to establish the theme throughout your bedroom. Many people do not know how to correctly hang a piece of art and this makes a big difference to the visual appeal. Whether you are hanging a large oil painting or a small print, the middle of the piece should be at eye level. If you have a large piece of artwork you can try using it as a headboard. When hanging prints or photos behind a table, always place them 7 to 10 inches above the table. Hang pictures in circular, triangular, or rectangular geometric groupings to add interest.
When accessorizing your bedroom don’t forget about the lighting. When purchasing lamps make sure to buy ones that go with the beach theme you want to create. For beach style lighting try using clear glass lamps filled with shells or figural light house shaped lamps.

Area rugs can define a space and pull your bedroom together. Rest furniture completely on the rug for a warmer effect. Only use rugs that go with your beach accessories.

Using pillows can add interest as well. Use several at the top of the bed and vary the texture colors and patterns while still keeping the color and theme within your overall bedroom design.

Don’t think you have to buy everything for your bedroom at once. Shop around to find the perfect accessories to match the beach theme in your bedroom. You can find bargains at consignment stores flea markets and yard sales.

Children's bedding safety tips

Which safety tips to employ for your child will depend on age, size and other common sense factors. But the list below will help provide some guidance from which to select.

If your child is under 12 months old, you'll want to ensure that comforters and other blankets are not too thick or large. It's natural to want to ensure that your baby is warm and comfortable. But solve part of that need with clothing. Don't rely solely on blankets for that purpose.

Large comforters easily bunch up into pockets and areas of 'valley and mountain' that provide a place where the baby's face may land. It's rare, but suffocation can occur when a baby is placed on or rolls over onto the stomach. Even partial air obstruction can lead to medical problems.

Common sense dictates that any small object that could poke an eye or insert into the mouth should be removed from the bed or crib at sleep time. Every parent knows that babies and young children of all ages do move around during sleep, just as adults do. It's all too easy to accidentally sweep a small toy into an eye, nose or mouth.

Clean dry linen and blankets are another obvious common sense necessity. Most infants will eliminate sometime during sleep. Even potty trained children will sometimes continue to wet the bed or eliminate into later ages. The practice varies from one child to another and there's no easy way to predict which will or won't. Keeping the skin dry and free of waste products is essential to good health.

More subtle are the possible health effects of various materials and modern technologies.

Some modern materials are truly lifesavers. Fire resistant, non-smoking sheets and blankets have prevented many a tragedy in recent decades. Death from fire or smoke inhalation used to be much more likely than it is today. But with the importation of bedding from other countries with different standards, along with the still-existing use of non-treated bedding, the hazard does still present itself. Look for labels that offer protection.

On the flip side, it is possible (though less likely) to find bedding that contains substances that can produce rash or are manufactured in a way to produce irritants or even cuts. Loose threads can catch between the thumb and fingers that can produce bruising. Some children are sensitive to compounds that can lead to skin irritation.

Even those advertised as 'natural' (and sometimes because they're manufactured without modern techniques), sheets or blankets can cause itching or allergic reactions. Some children are allergic, for example, to hemp, a substance sometimes touted as a near miracle fiber. The best course of action is to observe your own child carefully and take note when anything new is introduced into his or her sleep environment.

Keep in mind that bedding designed for adults may not be suitable for children. Their immune systems are different and they're less likely to wake up when their brain signals a problem during sleep. Use bedding designed for children from reputable manufacturers and you'll generally be on safe ground.

Making the right desicion when choosing a mattress

There are now distinct types of mattresses (and a few sub-types) on the market. Which is best for any individual is, well, individual. To help narrow the options, here's some information about two of the most popular different types.

Inner Spring

This is one of the oldest modern styles. It's the familiar coil array that fills the interior of millions of mattresses today. In generations past, they were often weak and prone to sag. They squeaked shortly after bringing them home. Thanks to modern materials and manufacturing techniques this once-staid design has gained new life.

All other things being equal, the better coil material used, the better. Most will use 13-gauge steel alloy, which suggests that all other things aren't generally equal, since mattresses do differ. Debates rage between manufacturers about the value of wrapping coils. Whether they are or not, what is important is to reduce the coil shifting sideways when pressed down. Tying them together is one common technique, though wrapping them has long been in use, too.

Most good mattresses will have between 700-1000 coils and, again other things being equal, the higher the number the better. Some quality mattresses do use fewer coils, but on average the ones with higher number are more comfortable for a longer period.

Apart from coil material and design, much of the durability and long-term comfort of a good inner spring mattress is the result of the layering. More layers of thick egg-shell crate foam is usually better than fewer. Different layers will typically be made from different materials, with one layer being synthetic foam rubber. The top layer is often a dense, cushiony latex. Today, memory foam may well form the top layer.

Memory Foam

Going by different names from different manufacturers, this space age foam really is something new in mattresses. While the material and its use in mattresses have been around for many years now, still over 90% of mattresses sold are the inner coil type.

But memory foam is catching on. Some sleepers find it disconcerting at first. It does behave differently than a 'standard' mattress. But given a few weeks to get used to it, many will never go back to the older type. Made from a type of synthetic rubber that responds to body heat, it gently forms a valley that closely conforms to an individual.

Some common complaints are that it takes too long to do so, making the mattress appear hard, especially when turning. Others dislike the odor which typically dissipates to nothing after a few weeks. Still others simply don't or can't get used to the difference in the way it moves.

But given a break-in period, most regard it as a real back-saver. Vive la difference. The material is safe, long-lasting and provides a warm, super-comfortable surface.

Summary

Whichever your preference, do yourself a favor and try a wide variety of both types. Ultimately, the only way to choose is by feel. But getting statistics and opinions from reviews can help you narrow the options, and possibly avoid a lemon.

Accents and accessories for the bedroom

Luckily for those who love to decorate the bedroom, the job isn't finished when the bedding and furniture are picked out. There's an array of items that can form a secondary theme, or flesh out the first one.

Rugs are the first thing that come to mind. A stylish throw rug next to the bed, especially on hardwood floors, makes for a nice accent. They're practical and add to the overall look. They can be used to cover a high traffic area between an attached bathroom, as well.

Cloth wall hangings are a way to continue the color and design up into the vertical dimension. Whether a simple yarn abstract or an elaborate scene, such hangings have been a popular addition for a thousand years. Hunting scenes, peaceful pastures or any other image that integrates with the design of furniture and bedding is a good idea.

To illuminate those hangings, as well as the furniture and the overall room, a variety of lighting fixtures can be placed. The simple pole lamp has become popular in the past 20 years and the style options available today are unlimited. But track lights, hanging lamps and much more can fit the bill, too.

Those lighting fixtures can form the primary illumination for the room, or just throw a spot into a corner to add an accent. Adding shadows and bright areas uses light to make a design that alters the mood of the room any way that's desired.

For those who like another source of heat, or just an attractive decoration, a bedroom fireplace may be just the thing. They can be full sized and send out enough heat to cover the coldest nights anywhere. Or, one can select a miniature fireplace that provides a modest amount of warmth while giving maximum style.

Fireplaces for the bedroom can run on propane, special lamp oil-type fuels or even be simulated using electrical displays. They may be a modern, slender brick that gives a Scandinavian look. Or, they can provide a traditional American colonial accent that provides the perfect complement to that oak four-poster.

Bookshelves are another popular choice. Models are available that can be placed into the wall, similar to a bathroom medicine cabinet without the door. Or, the more usual type can be placed on L-supports. One interesting newer design hides the supports by using rods that insert into the shelf itself, while going into the wall in an L-shape behind the drywall or paneling.

Storage and closet organizers have expanded the usable space by making every cubic inch count. Modular designs allow for implementing more as needed. Movable shelves, wire racks and a thousand colors and patterns make it possible to find the one just right for your bedroom. Plastic, metal, wood or composite material options give you a choice perfect for your circumstances.

Don't let the decorating fun stop when you've arranged the bedding on that perfect piece of furniture. Pick out some bedroom accents that give the design that final touch.

What about furniture styles for your bedroom?

It's often reported that the average person spends about one third of his or her life sleeping. But add in other activities and we actually spend much more than that in the bedroom. Shouldn't it, then, be a stylish and comfortable place to be?

Fortunately, thanks to modern materials and designs (not to mention what we sometimes don't like to admit: good marketing), any style imaginable can be delivered.

There's the classical American Colonial look. Descended from the days when a four poster was a bed, not a set of large photos of rock bands on the walls, it is still a great choice. Headboards are elegantly carved from woods such as oak or maple and look spectacular. A cloth canopy with draperies is often added.

Ironically, this style appears as the epitome of the upscale, well-to-do bedroom, yet the designs actually go back to the ordinary merchant of post-Revolutionary days. But whether it's a chest containing a down comforter or a chest of drawers that matches the rest, this style says 'solid American values'.

Asian designs became popular around the turn of the 20th century and continued on to the present. For good reason: they incorporate ancient elegance with modern esthetic ideas of efficiency and minimalism. They also make possible a range of colors that few other choices can encompass. Bright reds, sea greens and the colors of the sun and sky are all part of the Asian palette.

An armoire of slick black lacquer, inlaid with mother of pearl is one possibility. But even a simple jade or ceramic bowl on the dresser used to hold jewelry and coins can add a touch of Asia to the bedroom. That's sexy and stylish, cool and hot. This yin and yang effect of Asian bedding and furniture brings into an intimate area all the exotic and stylish attributes that culture is famous for.

What could be more comfortable than a set of pillows in Mandarin red stuffed with goose down? A throw rug in matching design to keep the feet off that cold hardwood floor is both stylish and practical. That's the Asian way.

In the 1950s Scandinavian, Swedish in particular, became all the rage. That choice remains equally popular today. It's not hard to see why. The simple elegance and clean lines of a Swedish bed frame and chest of drawers performs a double service.

It harkens back to an older style such as that of the Shakers, suggesting simplicity and peaceful living. That's always appreciated in these hectic modern times. But it also is an echo of the high-tech look that dominates computers, stereo designs and much more today. That integrates the bedroom style perfectly with other parts of the house while it provides a place of rest and quiet. The best of all possible worlds!

Whatever style suits your taste, and it could even be an eclectic mixture of many, you'll find modern bedding and bedroom furniture or accent designs available to match. Spending over a third of your life in the bedroom makes spending a little money to make it match you a great investment.

Perfect fillers for your pillows and comforters

There is a range of choices for pillow and comforter fillers, from the traditional to the most high tech. Which is desired will depend on individual circumstances, of course. But those choices are always made more wisely when informed by a little knowledge.

Filling issues divide neatly into two closely related categories: material and geometry. But far from being a strenuous exercise in chemistry or math, learning about the different types can be fun and useful to anyone seeking the best in bedding.

Baffling and down used in comforters are a good illustration of the relationship between material and geometry. Natural goose down is often used in fine bed coverings. But it helps if the down is pocketed in tiny cells. That helps prevent it moving around and keeps it from being crushed so quickly.

Baffling is one very common way to do that.

Fabric 'walls' are sewn into the form of cells stuffed with down. That keeps the down from shifting or bunching, leading to less warmth and ruining the visual appeal of a good comforter. It allows the down to maximize loft, the ability of the down to fill the empty space.

The degree to which it can do that is known as the fill power, a number that ranges between 500-800. Anything greater than 625 is considered superior. The higher the number, in general, the greater the ability to insulate well and the greater the comfort or cushioning.

Sometimes, though, even cotton, wool or synthetic fibers can do a very good job both in pillows and comforters. When used in this way, it's called batting and having good batting is key to any comfortable, long lasting bedding. Good batting makes good bedding.

But which kind of cotton is used often makes the difference between so-so and superior. There's a reason, for example, that Egyptian cotton is so highly prized and praised. It has the longest staple - the length of an individual fiber - of any cotton in the world. As such, it provides the best strength and hence durability, along with the highest comfort.

Goose down is another popular filling for either application. Apart from the geometry we talked about above, the material itself has its own internal geometry and chemical properties that make it ideal for filling. It traps air within the feather that provides excellent natural insulation. That, combined with the 'walls' that form the space the air is trapped in, gives it staying power, as well.

Still, even modern materials like polyester and polyurethane can do a great job when they're well made. They have high strength and retain their resiliency for a long time. They shed water well and don't mildew.

So when you look for a quality pillow or comforter to complement and complete that bed set, don't neglect to investigate the filling. You don't have to be a scientist to appreciate what it can offer.

Every bedroom deserves a closet organizer!

Luckily for those with limited closet space, or who just like to keep everything in its place, there are 1,001 closet organizer units and styles.

Modular units are perpetually popular, and for good reason. They come in a style that are stackable and are simple vertical walls with horizontal surfaces. They also come in drawer styles that provide space for shirts, socks and other small items.

Some systems can be special ordered to fill your exact space with every kind of organizer known to man. Built-in shelfs, adjustable racks, movable rods and every other arrangement imaginable can be had in a few clicks.

Woods are an ever popular selection. Oak, cherry, walnut and virtually every other species used for furniture is available for the asking. They can be ordered finished or unfinished if you have a special stain or just enjoy doing it yourself.

Plastic, metal and composite materials are also easy to find in any color or design you could wish for. Plain black or checkerboard, solid red or with an elaborate design, they're all here. Even temporary cardboard closet dresser drawer units can be ordered.

Specialized shoe organizers are very handy. Some styles hang from a sturdy hanger and offer pockets that will accommodate any style or size. Others mount on the closet wall or back side of the door. Slippers, evening shoes, flip-flops, running shoes... anything you can put on your feet can all be housed conveniently. That frees up space on the closet floor.

If you have a little floor space, a floor model shoe organizer filled with racks to accommodate your footwear is easy to find. You can order stackable or stand alone units. Some use metal prongs that flip out to hold the shoes at an angle. Others have a series of wooden pegs from which the shoe hangs for easy access and maximum style. Still others provide cloth no-scuff pockets in a variety of sizes or just small cubbyholes.

Wine racks are even starting to become part of the closet organizer. Closets are often cool all day and all night and they provide a great place to keep that special vintage until it's ready. Modular units with X-shaped inserts make an easy-to-use and expandable option.

Garment storage limitations can be solved in a jiffy. Everything from clear, vinyl to ultra-high end leather garment storage bags are available.

Need something to hang those dozen ties from? No problem. Looking for something to accommodate a dozen belts? Equally easy. One hanger with a swivel head and prongs or hooks can store a dozen easily. Some are even battery driven so you can hang belts or ties on a miniature dry-cleaner type movable assembly. Press the button and your favorite item rotates around for easy access.

Hangers, shelf dividers and a hundred different types of accessory hoop are there for the asking. Need a hanger with four hooks for belts or jewelry? Easy. Need something to store a hundred pairs of socks or stockings? Click, click. What could be easier? And you thought you were going to have to knock out a wall to get a bigger closet.

Keep your bedroom allergen-free and stay healthy

There are several related areas to cover when trying to keep the level of bedroom allergens low. Few homes can hope to keep a completely allergen-free home, but it's possible to push it below the threshold of most sensitive persons.

Common dust is one of the common problems. Dust itself is not an irritant to the immune system of most people. But it often carries things that are: dust mites and their waste products. Dust mites aren't usually toxic, but their waste gets into the nose and eyes and causes chemical reactions. The body generates histamines and other immune system products, leading to the running nose and the itchy eyes.

Vacuuming at least twice per week with a good machine that has a HEPA filter and allergy-free bag or container is a good start. Keeping the dust level low keeps the dust mite population under control. Clean any add-on, removable filters at least once per month. Replace units at least once every three months or according to directions.

As dust rises through the air and moves through beams of sunlight one can judge how thick it is. Anything that is more than a few dozen particles calls for a unit that can remove them from the air electro-statically. Keep their use to moderate levels, however, since they generate ozone that can irritate lungs in too high concentration.

If the bedroom has hardwood or linoleum or stone floors rather than carpet, the job is that much easier. Follow up a vacuuming with a wipe down that contains compounds safe for you. That will vary with the specific type of allergen to which an individual is sensitive.

Bedding is another area of concentration. Since the face is often close to and/or on the sheets and comforter the possibility of picking up allergens is ever present. Dust mite waste is one source. They feed on dead skin cells we shed. Using removable pillow covers will help reduce the build up and exposure.

Some blankets or sheets are coated with allergen-destroying compounds. Look for those. But also keep a 'nose' out for any synthetic treatments that produce a skin rash or itchy eyes. It's unusual but not unknown for cotton sheet treatments to carry a compound to which a certain percentage are sensitive.

Curtains or drapes or blinds are another place to look for sources of allergens. Dust is present here too, as are any other airborne materials that can cause a reaction. Cigarette or cigar smoke easily finds its way onto these surfaces.

Compounds in the smoke readily stick to the curtains or blinds where they can come into close proximity to your nose and eyes. When you touch them, those compounds can be transferred to the skin. Even if your skin isn't sensitive, those chemicals or biological substances can make their way to the eyes, nose or mouth through later contact.

Clean them with a wet sponge, but make sure they dry fairly rapidly. A wet curtain, like a towel that is left in the hamper, can provide a medium for mold. Wash in the washer with hot water, at least 130F/54C to make sure all the spores are killed. Then dry at high heat.

For an extra level of protection, go over surfaces with a mild bleach solution (1 cup bleach, 1 gallon water), to keep them free of organisms that can cause problems.

Selecting the right mattress - The size guide

The standard mattress width and length dimensions are given in the table below:

Standard Mattress Dimensions

Name - Width - Length
Twin - 38 inches - 75 inches
Full - 54 inches - 75 inches
Queen - 60 inches - 80 inches
King - 76 inches - 80 inches

When choosing a mattress anyone will, naturally, consider the space they have available or want to fill. But some aspects of choosing a mattress size go beyond that utilitarian guideline.

Buyers will want to keep in mind, for example, that a certain amount of extra length and width is required for a comfortable sleep. That's obvious common sense, but it's often neglected when making a purchase.

One of the common complaints or requests of couples, for example, is that a mattress should not collapse or dip much in the middle of two sleepers. That causes them to tend to roll together. A pleasant effect part time, it's not desired all the time.

Coil strength and number are only part of the solution to that goal. It's essential that the mattress simply be wide enough to provide a large enough space for that goal to be met. A set of coils, no matter how high quality, can only do so much when there are only so many of them to support you.

The aspect of length brings in new considerations. No one will be comfortable having their feet extend beyond the end of the bed. That's obvious. But even when the bed is just long enough, it's not really long enough, not for full comfort. In order to allow for movement in the night an extra foot of length is required.

That same foot, or more, may be needed to accommodate the need for good heel or ankle support. Depending on the design a mattress may provide more or less support at the edge. Some have a steel wire wrapped in foam around the perimeter to keep the edge from collapsing when sitting on the mattress.

That same wire plays a part in keeping the feet and lower leg well-supported when they're near the edge. The longer the mattress the less the edge plays a role.

Cost is a factor, too, not surprisingly. Even apart from the fact that larger mattresses are more expensive, they require larger sheets, comforter and bedspread. All those are more costly and they have to be replaced much more frequently than the mattress.

Cost or effort of maintenance can be a factor, as well. When a larger mattress needs to be cleaned there is more of it to clean. That takes longer or costs more. Moving a larger mattress - whether for relocation, remodeling or just vacuuming - is, clearly, more difficult. That effort is only occasional under normal circumstances, but it's a factor to be weighed.

At the end of the day, selection is a personal choice. Individual circumstances will determine for each person whether large or small is best for him or her. Keeping in mind some of these guidelines will help inform that choice.

The special place of style, comfort and relaxation - your bedroom

There are more options today for furniture, bedding, organizers and accents than even a billionaire could install in one lifetime. Oh, happy day!

Bedroom furniture sets can readily be found in American Colonial, Swedish Modern, High Tech, Romantic and a hundred other styles. Four posters are ever popular. Canopies are coming back. Brass headboards are all the rage. Any style imaginable is just a few clicks away.

Tommy Hilfiger Bohemian Luxe Bedding

Oak is still popular, of course. But Cherry, Teak and a half-dozen other woods are hanging right in there. Precision manufactured or hand made, finished or unfinished, they're all just perfect for someone. Fittings and frames are more secure than ever. Gone are the days of split, pressboard bed frame parts.

Bedding has gone to an even wider selection.

Bedspreads and comforters are now available in as many colors as your computer screen can display. Vivid scarlet or subtle sea green are two low key choices. Dazzling arrays of geometrical designs are another option. A soothing forest scene for you or a Biff! Bam! Pow! comic book set for the kids are only two of the hundreds of possibilities.

An equally impressive variety of materials can be easily found today, as well. Egyptian cotton is a long-standing favorite. But modern synthetics are outstanding, too. Dacron or polyester was once the low-cost choice, coming in limited styles. Today, even the finest bedding sets may be made of a blend of synthetic fibers.

Sheets and bedspreads are not only more stylish and comfortable, they're safer. Coated with compounds to keep them allergen-free, they offer a better night's sleep for the millions who are sensitive. They last longer while remaining ultra comfortable, thanks to contemporary chemistry. Fire-resistance has gone to the ultimate lengths.

Bio-resistant, wear-protectant and almost completely fire safe... What more could you ask to add safety to a practical, stylish choice?

Those same features are found in mattresses today, as well. Inner coil mattresses are still the most popular option. But memory foam provides an excellent alternative. Whichever you prefer, you'll find a range of prices, sizes and comfort levels to suit any space and taste. With only a little research, you'll easily find a comfortable, long-lasting mattress to accommodate the most demanding needs.

Don't forget about those bedroom accents, either. Rugs in every conceivable style are just a few clicks away. Shelves, wall hangings, lighting fixtures and more provide even the most crazed shopper with a lifetime of choices. Even fireplaces in the bedroom are available in a range of sizes. What's old is new again.

Closet organizers are a near-must these days. With more shoes, suits, shirts and more an organizer helps you keep it all, well, organized. Wire shelf dividers, shoe organizers, tie and belt racks, garment bags and a whole lot more are modular, stylish and come in dozens of designs.

It's a cliché to point out that we spend a third of our lives in the bedroom. Add reading, lounging and other activities to the list, and the number is actually often much higher. Make that special room of the house a place of style and comfort.

Now if you could only add hours to the day to look through all the choices!

Stylish bedrooms using simple guidelines

Selecting bedding involves weighing a host of factors: style, comfort, durability, cost and... oh, did I mention style? There are a dozen or more attributes to look at to get just the right sheets, blanket, comforter or bedspreads, and pillowcases. Not to mention the half dozen more attributes to cover if you want a good bedskirt. And who doesn't? But some are more important than others. And, unless you adhere to the Amish point of view (which is not bad - they're pretty stylish, too), plain is not the way to go.

But what style? With so many options how do you choose?

Think: integrated.

Getting bedding is like selecting any other feature of the house or wardrobe. Some things go together and others clash. Come to think of it, that applies to mates, too, but that's another topic. Like food and drink, some enhance one another, others in combination ruin the experience when they would fine separately. 'Peanut butter and onions' doesn't work for most palettes.

Some lucky few have an innate sense of what works well together. But you don't have to be a designer to take advantage of that ability. Good taste is a possibility open to anyone.

Consider color first. But don't just think of a color in isolation or look at a color fabric patch. Consider it in the context of the total design. Red can leap out or sit quietly in the background, depending on shade and how it's used in the whole ensemble. But yellow will never take a back seat, unless it's used vary sparingly in the form of thin lines or small dots.

Look at pattern. There's a reason those old-style TV test patterns from the '50s make you dizzy. It's essentially the same reason that a set of parallel smooth arcs creates a sense of peace. The brain is just wired that way. Whether your personal taste runs to expressionist splashes of random splotches of color, or you prefer a regular checked pattern, it will strike the eye a certain way. Regular is regular for everyone, random is the same the world over.

Now expand those two to encompass all the elements of bedding: sheets, bedspread or comforter, pillow cases and more. Unless you want to relive your teen years, or the times in college when you were happy to inherit items from twelve different sources, put things together that go together. Even a seemingly eclectic collection of patterns and colors has a central theme: it's eclectic!

Fortunately, much of that work has already been done for you. Vendors usually offer matched sets of pillow cases, sheets and more to fit any taste. Select according to how it fits the rest of your bedroom and you're on your way. Have Colonial-style furniture? Focus on the simple patterns and warm colors of New England. Going for the Asian look? Seek out those bright reds and greens with contrasting black that define this stylish option.

Now, enjoy

Which bedroom design suits you; oriental or contemporary?

If you have read any interior design books/articles, visited a few websites on the internet, you will find the word theme used quite often.

What exactly is a theme-based design?

A theme according to me is a collection of various parameters of design of an interior space. So a theme may include a certain set colors, materials, repetition of a certain element, such as a decorative item, etc...

Primarily there are two basic themes under which a design can be categorized,

1. Oriental
2. Contemporary

Oriental Bedroom Design Theme:

These kind of themes have a still drilled down niche design themes, such as country, rustic, vintage, elegant, etc... One of the major thing about these kind of themes is that much emphasis is given on the natural beauty of any material. These designs are close to nature or are shown to be close to nature.

These kind of design styles are very rarely found in the urban city interiors. Mostly the countryside homes adopt these kind if themes, to replicate the flora and fauna of the outside environment.

The designer tries to include the patters seen in nature, such as leaves, flowers, plants. All these natural patterns are seen on wallpaper patterns, decorative lamps, curtains, furniture upholstery, wall paintings, etc...

Homes which are build on country side such as farm houses, the scarcity of space is not an issue, but this creates another problem as far as designing interiors is concerned.

A bedroom, no matter of what size it is, requires some basic furniture elements as functional needs, such as a double bed, dressing table, wardrobes, study tables, a book shelf etc..

It is sometimes possible that because of the large spaces, the bedroom looks empty after the furniture is arranged. At such times "decoration" plays a major role. During ancient years the palaces and castles had such large built spaces, where extensive use of decoration was used in the form of paintings, heavy decorative flooring patterns, carvings, moldings as a decorative architectural elements.

So in this oriental design trend, decoration of the space using various accessories plays a major role.

Contemporary design Theme:

These kind of design themes are very new as compared to the previously mentioned oriental design theme. But how did the designers came along using these kind of designs?

During the starting years of the 20th century, the "Industrial Revolution" in Europe changed the face of our planet. It was easy to design and manufacture goods on a mass scale with amazing speed and efficiency.

This created a flood of industries in and around the cities. These cities attracted large amount of people to migrate from rural areas to city centers in search of a living.

Because of this migratory effect there was a sudden need of housing requirement for the workers. This is where the concept of an "apartment" was introduced. Because of the pressure of demand, a school of thoughts emerged within the architects, who believed that "simplicity" is the need of today's era.

They thought that, the design of the building has to be simple and easy to build, then only we can compete with the growing demand of housing needs in cities. That's why simple designs with mostly plane and square faces with square or rectangular openings were used. These forms and masses were easy to build and still beautiful. If everything from "safety pins" to "space ships" could be built on a mass scale, why not "buildings".

The school of thought believed that a plane rectangular form is in itself beautiful and they proved this using infinite permutations and combinations of the basic square form. That's why decoration was given a second preference. Today we call this school of thought as "contemporary". In contemporary design every element has an order.

That's why in today's modern interior design, simplicity is the key to an efficient design. Unlike the previous oriental design theme, the contemporary design theme states that any kind of architectural decoration is always dependent on the basic form of the building. The form itself is so beautiful, that the need to further decorate it is not required. Today's modern interiors spaces are simple to understand, simple to construct, and project a kind of simplicity.

By reading the above paragraphs some of you might say that, decoration is no more needed. But this is not true. I am not trying to force some ideas here. But most people confuse the whole concept of "Interior Design" and "Interior Decoration". Both are quite different and both have a unique value in today's complex society.

Decoration was something the primitive man learned, looking at the nature around him. He saw plants, flowers, birds, animals and tried to copy these elements. We still use "embroidery" on our dresses. But the modern design theory says that any sort of decoration can only "enhance" the existing form, but can not be an element of design.

What does this mean?

In the above said example the "embroidery" pattern can certainly add to the beauty of the cloth, but the modern theory denies to accept the cloth to be of a cheap quality. It states that every form, texture, material, shape is in itself beautiful and must be accepted as it is. Because of this the need to further decorate it does not arise.

Thus decoration whether used in architecture or elsewhere is always dependant on the form on which it is used, but design is an independent entity which does not need any justification from the external factors.

The two design themes mentioned above are still widely used today. The user must look upon them from a point of view of what best suits his/her likes and dislikes. Only then can you give yourself and your family the best quality of living.

Bed-in-a-bag makes choosing the right bedding desicions simpler

If you feel bedroom-designing challenged like I am, then bed in a bag sets may just be perfect for you! Everything you need comes in one complete set, and is designed to match or coordinate perfectly.

With no guess work, your bedroom will come out looking just like those in the finest home design magazines and at a price you can afford.

If you stick with the better designer brands names like Lawrence, Burlington House, Dan River, and Croscill you'll find the attention to detail, fabrics and quality to be superior.

They'll typically feature higher thread counts of 200 or more, which will provide the best combination of luxury and durability.

Another example would be a simple matter of the elastic that comes on fitted sheets. The better ones will have elastic all the way around the edges, not just on two sides. This insures that your sheet won't pop off the corner of the bed while you're sleeping. I personally hate waking up tangled-up like that!

To be sure what's included in your bed bag, check your descriptive list carefully.
Most of the basics in bed bag sets will include:
Comforter, flat and fitted sheets, bed skirt, pillowcase(s)

Many of the better sets will also offer optional matching drapes, area rugs, accent tables, lamps and other important accessories like accent pillows. You'll be amazed at how much detail and flair a few of these lush little decorative pillows can add to your bedroom!

You'll be able to select a complete ensemble that will deck out your entire bedroom from floor to ceiling with matching accessories.

You'll know these sets will match your taste to a Capital-"T", whether that means Traditional, Tasteful or Trendy!

Bedding in a bag sets are affordable and often cost much less than purchasing the items ala carte. The best part is you know that even the wildest, boldest colors, prints, patterns and fabrics for your bedding and accessories, will be designed to match and coordinate just perfectly. Get that home design magazine look the easy way!

If you're like many and simply insist on 5 or 6 pillow cases, you won't find that many in most bed bags. Don't worry. You can add coordinating solid pillow cases easily enough. Maybe with piping and extra detailing that matches the overall color scheme. Some of the best bed bag sets will actually have optional matching pillow cases available.

Let's look at just two popular, quality bedding sets. There are hundreds of bed bag sets to select from, so let your creative juices flow!

Dan River always designs quality bedding whether you choose separate items or bed in a bag. The Monument Springs set is one example. Using earth tones to create a natural look, this set features a faux suede comforter in tan, brown, beige and chocolate with a large patchwork look.

Nothing's quilt-like about these large patches of near-suede material, they look and feel like the real thing...but without the problems of cowhide which feels so heavy and will become shiny with use. This suede-like fabric will last for years and has a light-weight feel and soft, cuddly texture.

Solid light neutral tone sheets and pillow shams in 210 thread count provide lasting night time comfort. A 100% polyester bed skirt in a solid brown earth tone completes this set to perfection. Of course, you'll want to dry clean the comforter and bed skirt. The sheets and pillow shams are machine washable. Beautiful enough for the most elegant bedroom, this easy to love bag bed set is just unique and easy to live in.

Burlington House Luxury Bed in a Bag Set in their Tuscany design is a fabulous set in shades of greens and ivory. The set includes 220 thread count cotton sheets and pillowcases.

The top sheet is edged in a beautiful, small floral pattern which creates the perfect accent. It's got a center of ivory highlighted with the small floral pattern around the edges which matches the flat sheet perfectly.

The drop section of the comforter is olive green and the color scheme is perfect for blending into a room featuring natural, earth colors. The comforter needs to be dry cleaned along with the bed skirt. The sheets and pillow cases are machine washable.

Complete your look with the matching drapes, area rugs, tables, lamps and various shaped decorative accent pillows, and you'll be proud and amazed at how easy it was to pull your bedroom decor together!

You'll love having fun selecting the different bedroom looks you can create from bedding in a bag sets like this. You could even switch themes from bright, cheery florals for spring and summer, to more traditional tones for fall and winter- why keep the same look all year round..?

No one but you will know that you didn't call in a professional home designer to help you decorate the perfect bedroom. You'll love the selection of fabrics, the textures, colors and patterns- and the coordinated look you'll get when you choose top quality bedding that comes in sets like this. Simply smile when your friends compliment you on your home decorating skills!

Fashion for the bedroom - Finding new bedding styles

Ladies, we spend a lot of time in the morning getting ready for the day. We take showers, put on makeup, blow dry our hair and put on just the right outfit we feel good in. Then we top it off with the hot colors of accessories from sunglasses to sandals - the details of what we wear matters in how we look and feel. Maybe it shouldn’t be that way, but it is. You can think of your bedding as fashion for the bedroom because you dress your bed just as clothing and accessories dress your body. The little details we put in our bedrooms such as vintage rag rugs, beaded lampshades, hand crocheted pillowcases or satin sheets will make all the difference of how we feel as we spend time in our bedrooms.

A bedroom is a place to feel safe, comfortable and cocooned as we sleep at night. I like the bedroom to be an expression of who I am as well as that of my husband. I don’t want it to be all cabbage rose, salmon pink and lace because that doesn’t make my husband feel too comfortable. He isn’t exactly the cabbage rose type. However, it also doesn’t have to be golfing, fishing and rustic log furniture either. We can compromise on a majestic leaf pattern with just a small floral touch. I use deeper colors of blue and green mixed with a sophisticated plaid and stripe for the bed linen. I love to mix all the patterns together and it turns out great. If you have never done that before you might find it a little tricky, but you will be okay if you stick to the same hue in the same color families. We live in the north woods so our colors are stronger, rustic and outdoors. There is a nice blend and flow throughout the home. Doesn’t it make sense to begin with colors inside that reflect the great outdoors, striking a balance between the two? I am surrounded by pine trees and a beautiful lake. I feel serene and happy when I take those same colors and make a beautiful room to spend my private time.


Take a cue from the great outdoors

If you are confused about where to begin when it comes to decorating the bedroom or other parts of the house, take a cue from the outdoors. Stand at one of the windows from inside a room and look out. What do you see happening in your backyard? Do you have a blue swimming pool or is your garden filled with yellow marigolds? Does your lawn look like green velvet or do you have earthy shades from rocks and stone? Do you love the cold strength of black wrought iron patio furniture or do you prefer bold awning stripes? You can begin to get the idea of how the inside can reflect the outdoors or vise versa.

You want your whole family to feel as comfortable in their bedrooms as you do. If you pay attention to details of bed linens, color, furnishings and small personal touches for your kid’s rooms, they will feel like they are special, and they may even clean the room a little more often. For example, your baby’s bedding could look cute and cuddly, the colors and patterns for kids can be bright, fun and whimsical. It doesn’t matter what size of mattress you or your kids have, the mattresses must all afford comfort. The goal of every bedroom is to have linens that are beautiful, easy to take care of, and mattresses that are comfortable to sleep on. If the room is dressed right, you will feel good while you are in it. You might consider just adding a duvet cover for a quick change over the tired comforter. I have taken old fitted sheets that were worn and placed them on the windows for an instant dramatic valance. Be creative when it comes to your personal style and get the kids involved. You don’t have to be extremely crafty to just get some fabric paint and let them design their own sheets. Isn’t it kind of boring to always buy what is shown to you in catalogs or retail stores? Place a table you had in the living room at your bedside and put a family quilt on it. Use solid velvet throw pillows that you haven’t had out in a while and add a few baubles to them or stitch a lace handkerchief to the top.

Take what you already own and just put it somewhere else in a new way. Divide all of your little collectibles into piles by color. Never prejudge something that you think is strictly for the kitchen, or just for a bathroom. If you look at the small knickknacks with fresh eyes you might be surprised at how warm a room can be just by using the play of color. I love using things in an unexpected way. Don’t limit these ideas to the bedroom. Your whole house can be spruced up with a quick change by just moving around the pieces you already own. Another trick is to keep the small items all together in one spot. Don’t try to spread the small things out to cover space. You will make much more of a statement if you keep them together because there is strength in numbers.


Know your priorities before you buy

Do you prefer your bedding to be 450 thread count Egyptian cotton, or an easy no fuss fiber blend? Do the mattresses need to have a thick 100% cotton mattress pad? Are you looking for the most high tech mattress on the market? Do you want the baby’s bedding to be the softest available or is the cute factor more important? Do you want to be surrounded by fancy luxury or casual chic? Have a good idea of what you are looking for before you start making buying decisions. You are dressing your bedrooms in fashion just as you would your body. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little, and use the things you already own for a fresh look.

Bedding ideas for the modern bedroom

Modern bedding isn't just beautiful- it can also be very practical, extremely durable and quite affordable. Even luxury bedding for the modern bedroom doesn't have to break your bank account.

Our busy lives today mean there is little time to spend in traditional homemaking. Modern bedding has to fit into our modern lifestyles and provide for easy care as well as comfort. After a long day at the office, no one wants to come home and sleep on scratchy bedding. On those precious days off work, no one wants to spend all their time doing laundry and ironing pillow cases so that they have no wrinkles. With today's modern fabrics, whether it's 100% Egyptian cotton, or blends, it's just not necessary to spend lots of time spend caring for your bedding. Of course, doing laundry does take time, but you shouldn't need to spend any extra time making bedding for the modern bed look nice.

One of the most popular ways to make your bedding modern is to choose Dwell. The Dwell line was created by its designer and founder, Christine Lemieux, in 1999 because she felt there simply were too few modern, colorful, beautiful graphics and other designs in quality bedding for the modern home.

She designs bedding using very bright colors such as lime, butter yellow, chocolate, charcoal and ocean blue to create patterns like trellis, awning stripes featuring broad, bold striping, thin stripe which uses various widths of striping to create outstanding bedding patterns and dot or cube. Along with these bold graphic patterns, solid sheets and border sheets allow mix and match to create a very modern look for the bedroom.

An absolutely fabulous choice in luxury bedding for the modern room comes from Amenity. Using 400 thread count 100% cotton to create the duvet and pillow shams, the Twig design in bright blue peacock or cocoa, uses a solid background to highlight the large graphic of a tree.

Drift is another great design which features a graphic of a dandelion head against the tan or cocoa background. The Amenity Leaf design places large leaves on the solid background colors. The pillow shams for each of these selections are solid in the same color as the background of the duvet. Very modern in appearance, these bedding choices make the modern bedroom's focal point the bed. This gives a clean, uncluttered look to the bedroom by focusing attention on the bedding with these bold, modern looks.

Nygard International Home Bedding has a very modern appearance that is so modern it is almost retro!

The Coco bedding from Nygard uses "urban suede" which is a type of faux suede in large square of cocoa and black to create a great bedding set. The faux suede is created of 97% cotton and 3% spandex resulting in fabric that is soft, plush and the best part is that it is machine washable! The large blocks of color break the bed into quarters and the tailored styling make a bold, modern statement. This top quality bedding is extremely affordable- the prices are much lower than you would expect for material that looks just like suede.

Western Bedding has created an outstanding modern set of bedding that has a very Zen element.

Using black and white in tailored designs, Western Bedding has created a very striking bedding set. The comforter, created from 50% cotton and 50% polyester has solid black jacquard on one side and the reverse is a black and white graphic print. The geometric jacquard weave provides a sense of texture and is repeated in the bed skirt. The pillow shams are crisply tailored and feature cording details. The sheets and pillow cases are 220 thread count 100% cotton percale in bright white with a black twist cord detail.

When decorating with modern style bedding, especially with bold colors and geometrics, it is very important to keep a modern, uncluttered look in the bedroom. Avoid mixing modern linens with antique furnishings- the effect will simply not look attractive. Keep your other items organized and mostly out of site as well to keep with the theme.

Platform beds and waterbeds lend themselves perfectly to modern choices in bedding. If you select a two-color geometric for your bedding, choose modern accessories in those same colors, but also add a few carefully selected accents in another bold, bright color.

For example, if you select Western Bedding's black and white modern ensemble, consider adding a red throw pillow and a red lamp to your modern black and white bedroom. The effect will be absolutely stunning!

The result of having a modern bedroom will be an inviting but crisp, clean bedroom that has you feeling more organized and on top of the world!

Color psychology - Picking the right color for your room for the mood you want in it

Color can have an astounding effect on perceptions, feelings, and interactions. Different colors evoke different memories and different ideas. In the bedroom, where one is supposed to be most at ease, it is important that you plan out your color scheme so that it creates the maximum comfort for you.

Psychologists have been studying the effects of color on people for many years. While they have made many discoveries about color effects on people in different societies, they have not found any effects that occur across all societies. For instance in China the color red tends to make people feel calm, while in America red tends to make people more aggressive. This means that the effect of color on a persons mind is individual and perceptual, rather then being physiological and inherent. In order to choose the right color for a setting, you will have to get in touch with your inner self, and see which color you harmonize best with. In the bedroom one tries to achieve maximum relaxation. By choosing the colors that you feel most comfortable with, you will find the greatest contentment with your decor.

Think about the following colors. Think about each one separately. Think about their different shades, how you feel about them, what they invoke in you.

Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Violet. Purple. White. Black

Once you have gained insight into how you feel about those colors, you can read about the general effects these colors have on people in American society. Don’t be afraid to disagree, your tastes are different from anyone else’s, but do keep in mind that the average American that enters the room will feel these effects to some extent.

The two extreme colors are white and black. Black is an attention grabber, and can create a bedroom with a dark, sultry look. Unfortunately it will also make the room look smaller and seem more restrictive. Overuse of the color black can be dangerous in a room like the bedroom, as it can darken a person’s mood. It may even produce night mares. Meanwhile its polar opposite, white, can be uninspiring. Most rooms start off with white walls, and it is the generic look for many homes. It can have a positive and soothing effect on ones emotions, but it may also lead to a lack of stimulation which can be a terrible thing in a bedroom. Whatever ones perceptions however, white is a good color for warm climates. White reflects light creating cooler temperatures and a breezy feeling.

The earth tones are gentle and will keep a bedroom feeling close and snuggly, as long as you pay attention to the tones you use. These colors include browns, oranges, and yellows. Browns tend to remind Americans of family, and of emotional bonds to each other and the world. Orange is a color that makes people happy, but is also the color associated with food and could lead to midnight snacking. Yellow creates a very positive effect on people psychologically, but only short term. Long term exposure to this color can lead to irritation.

Blues and greens evoke serenity and peace. They are colors associated with nature and the ocean. Using these colors heavily in your bedroom can help to calm the emotions of its inhabitants, and bring restful nights. Blue will also calm cravings for food after you’ve gone to bed, because there is very little blue food in nature, so our minds tend to repress hunger at its site. Pink is the extreme calming color and many will find it impossible to act aggressively when surrounded by it. Purple is a nice color for a bedroom that will make it look more sophisticated.

Red is an exciting color. If you have trouble falling asleep, don’t use red in the bedroom. However, to get a tired relationship going, red may be just the color you want. Red makes Americans aggressive. It speeds up their metabolism and gives them energy. Red is a good color for sheets or blankets, because if it becomes too distracting it can be put away until desired.

Combining these colors yields further effects, which are numerous beyond the scope of this article. Remember that shade and tone is important, and will alter these effects. Most importantly, you should have the final say; it is the colors effect on your own mind that is important, and only you can truly understand your own impressions.