Modern Bedroom Interior Design
Some tips to keep into consideration when designing bedrooms for adults
There used to be a time when it was ordinary for married couples not to share the same bedroom: from those times we have a legacy of intimacy images, where we see woman combing their hair before they go to sleep in a room that bespeaks of femininity. Such images can be found in what now is known as 19th century novels and further on, in movies that are set in those times. Specifically, novels that are centered upon woman’s ennui; Flaubert’s Madame Bovary; Leopoldo Alas Clarin’s La Regenta; Tolstoi’s Ana Karenina, etc will give us an insight of what bedrooms meant in those times.
The bedroom was conceived as the private space per se, an scenario where to illustrate the intimacy moments of some characters, opposite to other public spaces (church, market, theatre) and –one of the most interesting ones- intermediary spaces, such as balconies, standing in-between exterior and interior (one of the most memorable balconies may be the Shakespearean one from Romeo and Juliet, but we must not forget the importance of this intermediary space for politic figures, such as Eva Duarte, mostly known as Eva Peron).
The representation of women bedrooms would also include the description of objects (completely understandable when we look at some of Realism and Naturalism’s characteristics): rugs, combs, jewelry boxes, sheets, perfumes, etc; all tending to condensate meanings, mostly, eroticism and intimacy.
Having times changed, the bedroom has become a mixed space, where the predominance of womanly designs and objects is no longer the model; the necessity of finding a balance between masculine and feminine tends to prioritize heterogeneity and neutrality. For some, it may result complex, and it is understandable for those girls and boys who used to have, respectively, a pink or light blue room (with princess or Formula 1 furniture and wallpaper). Modern bedroom design should reflect:
- Relaxed atmosphere (that invites sleep)
- Heterogenic design (a balance of the two sexes that are sharing the space in conventional male + female couples –an interesting article would be defining how a homosexual bedroom would look like-)
- Eroticism (better if suggested and implied; meaning present, but in a subtle way)
- Functionality (maximizing space and storage capabilities)
Designing the bedroom is the perfect opportunity not only to involve you couple but also to experiment and brake some rules if you please to, remembering that this is your private and intimate space were showing respectability to guests is not one of the things that you have to keep in mind, as it is in living or dining rooms.
The points of special interest in bedroom design are:
- Headboards: Replacing the good old rosary or the conventional painting, introducing art through furniture.
- Colors: To create that heterogenic look, the best method is to create that mixture throughout color choices and combinations. Choosing only one color will result in a simplified and uninteresting bedroom. Black and Grey will provide a more masculine countenance and is appropriate for its associations with night time. Some White and Red can also be used but not in excess: too much White will make it look to pure, to much of a daytime room; too much Red, will simply hurt your eyes. Whichever color you choose, it will be for the best if taken to a darker tone.
- Mirrors: For those who want to put special emphasis in eroticism, having one on the ceiling, right above the bed is the classic option. For those that wish to be more subtle, a mirror at either side of the bed, will do. Keep functionality always in mind: a tall rectangular mirror will be useful when trying clothes out.
- Lighting: Since it is neither a bathroom nor kitchen, excess of light will not be the most adequate choice. Classic night table lamps may sometimes be annoying when you need the space on the table top; if that is the case, wall lamps are a way out. Candles and chandeliers are a must-have: not only they will create a romantic and peaceful atmosphere but, when chosen correctly, they will also serve as ornaments.
- Bed: Although it is the headboard the one that provides more design and style, the bed and mattress is of the uttermost importance if you wish to have a good night sleep and therefore, a good day.
The bedroom is the place where we go to sleep and where we wake up, where we end and begin our days, it is also, the place where we share the bed with our couple and where, in the most conventional cases, life is conceived. For all these reasons, it is important to intelligently choose your bedroom furniture and design.
