bedroom Archives - Page 15 of 20

How to tackle a cluttered bedroom

Standford Reclaimed Wood Tall Chest of Drawers

Life in the 21st century is often hectic. That’s why it’s so important to have a space where you can unwind after a busy day at the office or running kids to and from their many commitments. But it can be hard to unwind in a space full of clutter. Here are a few top tips for creating a blissful bedroom you’ll always look forward to retreating to.

First, work out the source of clutter.

It’s easier to come up with a solution for your clutter if you can categorise it. Along the way, you’ll probably also find items you really don’t need any more which can be sold, donated or thrown away if they really are beyond use.

For example, a pile of washing or bedding which doesn’t have a home will clutter your bedroom and your brain. A wooden blanket box at the end of the bed provides the perfect home for bulky linens and unseasonal blankets and throw cushions, and can look uber stylish too if you find a storage chest which matches the other furniture in your room.

Alternatively, if your chest of drawers has become a makeshift dressing area laden with products, your hairdryer and hairbrush, perhaps think about investing in a dressing table (and one with some drawers to keep everything tucked out of sight when not in use).

Think about what you want in your bedroom.

Along the way of organising your clutter, you’ll probably find items which definitely don’t belong – a vacuum cleaner and your children’s toy cars don’t exactly scream serene. Make a pile of things to pop back in their rightful home and try to keep on top of the clutter which will inevitably work it’s way back into your bedroom.

Think about storage solutions.

We often buy storage pieces thinking it will solve all our problems when it comes to the items cluttering our spaces. But sometimes, dreams don’t quite play out in reality and your stunning storage piece is not as practical as you may have hoped. It may be that by categorising your clutter, you find that rearranging where items are stored, there is a better way of organising which will result in less clutter. However, you may discover that your current storage doesn’t work as well as you had once hoped.

If that’s the case, think about a switch with your furniture. This is where your categorising comes into play as it means you can make a smart switch for one more practical piece without expending thousands on an entirely new bedroom suite. For example, a bedroom bedside table with a couple of small drawers will undoubtedly make room to show off a beautiful vase of flowers or an ornate table lamp. Alternatively, if you like to keep a lot by the bed, a small chest of drawers on one side might be a good solution – just make sure to find a style with a couple of small drawers on the side of the bed so the items stored inside are easily accessible.

Ban the floordrobe.

Ah, the floordrobe. It’s an easy habit to get into – not hanging your clothes up as you’re rushing around to leave the house. But once the pile starts growing, tackling it becomes increasingly daunting.

A good combination of storage solutions should be able to solve the problem. Large wardrobes are fantastic but when you have the space, it’s easy to keep piling new clothes in until it’s full to bursting and you can’t see what you have to wear anymore.

So, instead of letting that happen, go through your wardrobe twice a year – perhaps spring and autumn – and organise. Create a pile to donate to charity or friends and family, a pile of the pieces which are unseasonal, and a pile of things you’ll love and wear in the next 4 months. With the clothes that are unseasonal, under bed storage is a great option to tuck it neatly away (but in a place which is still within easy reach if British weather decides to surprise us all!).

Investing in a tall chest of drawers to place beside your wardrobe is also a fab idea creating the perfect space for the items which don’t need to be hung like pyjamas and denim but without taking up too much floor space.

Think about decor.

If decluttering has got you in the mood for a spot of redecorating, think about the colour, opting only for colours which you feel are calm or peaceful – whites, blues and greys are the colours which often come to mind but there might be a different colour which is equally calming to you.

When it comes to items, like photo frames, mirrors, table lighting and decor pieces, try to keep it to a minimum, only bringing in items you absolutely love. Add a couple of scatter cushions and a cosy throw onto the bed to accessorise white bedding in the colour you’ve opted for to keep everything coordinated and to maintain the feeling of calm you’ve created.

Are you in the mood for decluttering your bedroom?

The bed dilemma – A high footboard or low footboard?

It is a conundrum as old as the hills, and so we decided to ask you, our discerning customers. We felt this was such an important but simple question: which would you opt for, the high footboard to your bed or a low footboard? Whether you’re looking for reclaimed wood furniture or not, this is an important choice….

We Asked, You Answered

There was a clear winner and it was… drum roll please!… the low footboard.

There were a few people who opted for a high footboard for their reclaimed furniture. And just because they are in the minority, doesn’t mean we should not discuss its pros and cons.

The high footboard bed

There is a pleasing sense of proportion about the high footboard bed, a staggering example of reclaimed bedroom furniture. For those who prefer it as an option, there is a feeling of being ‘safe’, cosseted and cocooned in its frame.

The duvet stays put, not draping to the floor and any throws that keep us snug and warm on cold, winter nights stay where they should too – on our feet!

The Standford high footboard bed is stunning but there is something we need to consider. It can’t be avoided but in the smaller bedroom, the high footboard may cloud the vision. It may look too big, too chunky, too imposing, too much.

But, every interior design decision is a personal one. If this is the look you want, then go for it.

The low footboard bed

The majority of pollsters opted for the low footboard bed for their wooden furniture. And we can understand why.

There is an openness to the low footboard that many people enjoy. And there are many pros to this style of bed;

Dimension-friendly – a posh way of saying that the openness of the bed, like the Standford low footboard bed, is ideally suited to any size bedroom especially the boudoir where the dimensions are limited and bijou. In other words, if you have a smaller bedroom, the low-end bed doesn’t prevent the eye from falling across the entire room.
Sits well with other items of bedroom furniture – when it comes to styling and dressing a room, some people feel that the high-end bed is too absolute. For example, adding a wooden blanket box at the end of a low-end bed gives it a boundary or a frame but is also a stylish addition to the bedroom (and a functional one too!)
Frame it – in fact, for many people,a problem with having no footboard or a very low one is the way that the duvet seems to migrate to the floor and the fact that the openness of it feels too lax. From adding a wooden blanket box to a pretty upholstered ottoman, adding something to the foot of the bed forms a boundary. But it isn’t permanent and can be changed.

We need to consider the focal point of a bedroom too and it is, undoubtedly the bed. It is the main piece of furniture, coming second to nothing in the bedroom.

A high-end bed demands attention. It is the attention grabber, no matter style or colour it is. The low-end bed can struggle sometimes, to have the same impact.

It can blend into the background of the style in the room or you can draw attention to it. A focal point of a feature wall at the end of the bed draws attention and then the eye can lazily take in the rest of the bed.

Which is your choice?

What options are there for reclaimed bedroom furniture?

Reclaimed wood furniture is not just available in the dark wood option. Colour and tone vary with the type of wood, as well as the finishing processes but with dark furniture set to make a comeback, we thought we take a poll of what our Houzz followers thought about the colour options of reclaimed wood furniture for the bedroom.

We Asked, You Answered

The Houzz poll simply asked which of the three options would they prefer in their bedroom – the painted pieces from the Dorset range, the delightful chunky wood style of the Beam Collection or the brooding moodiness of the Winchester Collection.

The results were interesting. A small number of votes opted for the dark Winchester suite of items whilst the remaining pollsters were evenly split between the painted Dorset range and the mid-colour Beam Collection.

How to create your own unique reclaimed wood bedroom style

Imposing, yet elegant – the Winchester dark wood look

It may not have been the most popular but there is no denying the beauty of the Winchester collection. Dark wood furniture is stunning, with a patina that affords it’s a classic elegance of its own.

Use in a bedroom with a neutral palette to really get the darkness to stand out or choose a darker wall colour and accessories to bring a sense of cohesion to the space.

If you are opting for dark wood furniture, there is no getting away from its moodiness so don’t hide from it. Instead, embrace it and reward yourself with a romantic boudoir that is truly stunning.

Light and fresh – the painted reclaimed wood furniture of the Dorset range

Not just for the bedroom, the Dorset collection of pieces is exquisite and more than suitable for every room in the home.

But in the bedroom, it is sublime. The painted bedroom furniture pieces with their slightly rustic finish gently sizzle with an understated finesse, the Dorset is perfect for the bedroom if you want the painted look, but without the ‘tweeness’. Frankly, the sleigh-shaped Dorset king size white wooden bed is perfect for any bedroom.

For the on-trend look, opt for barely-grey walls or fall for the blue tones of duck egg, and marry with brass accessories but with a light tough. Don’t let anything overpower the Dorset pieces, sublime yet outstandingly beautiful.

Chunky, satisfying, stylish – the rustic furniture English Beam collection

Again, like the Dorset range, there are English beam pieces for every room and space in the home but for the bedroom, the options are just perfect.

The Sweet Dreams Beam reclaimed wood bed is unlike anything you will find anywhere else, in any other collection. Nothing touches it. Crafted and beautiful, there is a satisfying presence to it.

Complemented by other heavyset looking pieces, there is a femininity to these pieces that makes it one of our most popular rustic furniture collections.

Better still, it offers something to everyone. If you prefer the appeal of darker wood, opt for the dark wood finish. Or play it safer with the medium finish or be daring and tick the ‘neutral’ box and wait to see the unique finish and colour of your chosen piece.

Whichever colour, finish or collection you choose, with reclaimed wood you are guaranteed one thing: a uniqueness that is all your own.

How to bring warmth to your home with reclaimed wood

In the past two to three years, more people have been opting for reclaimed furniture in their homes. But that doesn’t make it a trend which will go out of style any time soon – reclaimed wood furniture offers a classic, luxurious style you’ll get enjoyment out of for many years to come.

Why should you opt for reclaimed wood?

With each piece having a rich history, reclaimed wood furniture feels particularly exquisite when placed in any room in your home. Additionally, no piece of furniture is identical. With no pieces being mass produced, you are guaranteed a truly unique piece of furniture.

Looks aside, reclaimed timber prevents unnecessary waste from entering landfills, repurposing old wood and turning it into something beautiful. It also creates less of a need for cutting down trees, essential to reducing carbon emissions and providing a home for wildlife around the globe.

A rundown of our collections

To add a little bit of luxury to your dining room or kitchen, our simply stunning Kensington collection is perfect. Something like our reclaimed wood table is a fantastic statement piece when paired with velvet upholstered chair and a pop of colour. In an otherwise-simple colour scheme, the Luxe Kensington dining table is bound to become the star of the show. For classic style, something like the Barclay collection is great – the reclaimed wood desk is a real head-turner (which will hopefully make your day that little bit easier).

If you are looking for beauty on a budget, our Standford Industrial or Farringdon collections may be just the ticket. The Standford is perfect for injecting warmth into any decor scheme with the deeper colour of the wood whereas the grey undertone of the Farringdon collection makes it enviously easy to blend in with existing furniture.

How to mix reclaimed wood with your home decor

One of the great things about reclaimed wood furniture is how flexible it is when it comes to home decor. If you get tired of the decor scheme which matched your light wooden reclaimed furniture perfectly, there’s no need to worry.

Blend classic reclaimed styles with steel for an industrial look which will work wonderfully with sleek glossy kitchens and ultra contemporary furniture, or use painted or stained wood to create a chic, country look. Painted bedroom furniture looks simply superb with crisp white bedding and soft gold accessories to create that tranquil setting you’ve always dreamt of.

In terms of colour scheme, with light wood styles, opt for subtle colours to create a calming Nordic scheme which will keep even the smallest rooms bright and spacious. With darker woods, neutral colours will work to create a classic, sophisticated scheme you’re unlikely to tire of. Alternatively, deeper jewel tones are fab for creating a bit of drama – just ensure to add good lighting and a large mirror to reflect light around the room if you’re opting for dark colours in a small space.

What’s your favourite thing about reclaimed wood?

Is a blanket box only to be used in the bedroom?

Aimee Reclaimed Wood Trunk Coffee Table with Storage

As you know, we regularly conduct polls on interior design blog Houzz. And our followers never disappoint, offering us a glimpse into what they think of the latest styles, trends and ideas, from reclaimed wood furniture to lighting ideas.

Our latest Houzz poll attracted attention because we asked about the blanket box and how people tend to use theirs or, if you would like one, how would you like to use it. As always, our followers and customers gave fantastic feedback.

We Asked, You Answered

Traditionally, the blanket box or chest was exactly that: a place to store blankets and usually, the box was located in the bedroom.

And it made sense at a time when the need for an extra blanket or two on a cold night was common. But times changed, as did our bedding. No longer were beds made up of layers of sheets, blankets and a top eiderdown. The continental duvet became the simpler, easier and, some say, more stylish way to dress the bed.

And that meant the blanket box would either become a relic of the past or we would find a new use for it. Thankfully, the blanket box hung around and is still a common piece found in homes today.

But we wanted to know, how would you use a wooden blanket box?

In the bedroom

For a storage chest in the bedroom was the most common answer and we can understand why. The key to successful storage is accessibility.

Being able to get at bed linen, blankets, spare duvets and towels quickly is something that a wooden blanket box offers. Simply lift the lid, extract or store what you need. Is there anything more complicated about a wooden blanket box.

But simplicity doesn’t mean ditching style. Who could fail to love the simmering broodiness and the smooth arched lid of the Winchester wooden box?

Toybox and hallway bench

It was a tie between these two uses of the humble blanket box and we can see what this would be the case.

Again, for a toy box, the beauty lays in the quick access and the fact that a box, its generous proportions – like the Dulwich blanket box– means most things fit. And as far as a large toy box goes, it has a stylish aplomb all of its own. In other words, it sits well within the rest of the room.

As a hallway bench, we can see its versatility too. The Savannah blanket box, with its sturdy lid and hinges, along with the painted base would suit all hallways, offering plenty of storage for shoes and boots too. As far as small hallway ideas go, you’d be onto a winner with this.

In the living room

And finally, people also said that they used the storage chest or blanket box as a coffee table with storage, which, to us, seems an excellent use of its generous storage proportions and sturdy table top.

And with so many styles and finishes to choose from, it seems that the blanket box could perform all of these options at some point. It could be a blanket box when needed, and then a toy box and then a perfectly serviceable seat in the hallway, maybe ending up in the living room, hiding all the junk when unexpected visitors arrive…

Daring leather furniture to update your beautiful space

Leather furniture is something which will never go out of style. But, if you are looking for furniture which will make a statement in your home, there are also plenty of options. Here are a few of our favourite leather pieces which are certain to take your breath away.

Bedroom

As the main piece of furniture in your bedroom, your bed can make or break your space in terms of style. If you are looking for something which adds the wow-factor and will bring to life an otherwise understated space, a leather bed may be the perfect option. Carnaby Leather Bed is a beautiful option, upholstered in Aniline leather and featuring a padded, button back. The ultimate bed for sitting and reading or relaxing with a cuppa in the morning.

To let the bed do all the talking, keep the rest of the room light and fresh. Paired with soft coloured walls, sleek dark wooden furniture and bright white bedding, a brown leather bed would look truly divine for a vintage take on modern style.

Living Room

As a room you probably spend a lot of time in, you could be forgiven for wanting to keep it simple in terms of style. Of course, in terms of leather furniture, leather sofas are the obvious choice when it comes to introducing beautiful leather into your home.

However, the living room is a great space to have some fun with when it comes to decor – and to really make an impact on your guests.

Alternatively, a unique take on the classic tub chair may be just the ticket. Our aviation inspired Edward Leather Armchair would certainly create drama in a contemporary space, paired with simple furniture and gorgeous silver accessories to accentuate the sleek curved metal back.

If you really want to make a statement, a large living room rug in a colour like soft grey may just create the perfect pairing.

Office

If you work from home, your home office may just be one of the most important spaces in your home. After all, there is nothing worse than a bland, uninspiring workspace you don’t want to spend time in. If you are looking to update your space, why not pair leather furniture with gorgeous industrial style for a luxe, New York City warehouse aesthetic.

Leather desks are a great alternative to the traditional wooden desk. Different enough to make a beautiful statement, but still wonderfully practical. To add a modern, industrial twist, industrial shelving would look fantastic piled high with your favourite books and trinkets from your travels. A leather desk certainly provides the perfect base to a truly incredible space.

Will you dare to make a statement with leather?

How to make the most of white bedroom furniture

White bedroom furniture brings crispness and freshness to a bedroom. But is it a favourite choice? We took to our popular Houzz poll to find out…

We Asked, You Answered

We wanted to know – for your bedroom, would you opt for white furniture or stay with tried and tested dark wood bedroom furniture?

We gave four exquisite choices – two from our white bedroom range, the Dorset and Savannah ranges – and two from our darker wood collections, the Winchester and Beam reclaimed wood ranges.

Three-quarters of those that voted – why not join in next time? – were clear: white bedroom furniture held the most allure, with the beautiful stylish Savannah winning the most votes. Of those people that loved the earthiness of darker wood, it was the smooth lines of the Winchester range that attracted them most.

What Influences our Choices?

The results of this poll got us thinking – what influences us when it comes to making a choice about the colour of furniture? Is there a reason why many of us opt for lighter painted or stained items, as opposed to those items that retain their natural patina?

Time of year – light and dark

In the UK, we should have four separate seasons, characterised by both weather and light. We wondered if we asked the same question again in the depths of grey winter, would we get the same result?

Lighter coloured furniture, like a white bed frame from the Savannah range, plays along with the natural light of spring and summer, whilst the darker tones of dark wood furniture such as the wooden side table may be more welcome when we want to feel cosy in our homes in winter.

Style

There is no denying that personal choice, as well as our chosen style, is a major influence on whether we opt for painted bedroom furniture or darker wood tones.

The rustic style, for example, is always a popular choice. Practical, functional but with a twist of elegance, it makes the perfect statement in any room. And it is a versatile style and one in which both white and dark furniture works.

Take the Savannah range, for example, easily the most popular among voters. There is a crispness that is delightful but with soft furnishings softening the edges, it is perfect for the rustic or even the nautical styled bedroom.

For those that want a sense of country or farmhouse in their rustic style, the rawness of reclaimed dark wood, as in the English Beam collection is ideal. The Winchester collection adds a smoothness, and more refinement to the rustic style, perfect for anyone wanting to add even more elegance to a room. Just look at the sleigh bed, and you’ll see what we mean.

Using painted bedroom furniture or dark wood furniture in the remainder of the room allows for a sense of cohesion. Or to ring the changes and add a touch of the unexpected, why not mix and match, using a painted chest of drawers, for example, to stand out against darker furniture in the bedroom?

It’s your choice so which would you choose, white bedroom furniture or darker wood items?

Why choose unique reclaimed wood furniture for your home

English Beam Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Did you know that on 21st March it’s the International Day of Forests. If you haven’t heard of it – the International Day of Forests is a celebration to raise awareness of the importance of woodlands and trees and to recognize the ways in which forests sustain us as a society.

At Modish Living, we love to work with natural reclaimed wood. We even have our Worcester Reclaimed Wood Desk in our gorgeous Sussex studio.

Why? Because not only does it look beautiful, and add a real charisma to your home, it is sustainable too. One of the big benefits of using reclaimed timber is that it prevents unnecessary waste entering into landfills, instead giving old wood a new lease of life and thus preventing the need for further trees to be cut down. And, one of the best things about reclaimed wood furniture, is that, as everything is handmade and nothing is mass produced, each piece of furniture is truly individual.

And its not only the prevention of cutting down trees that makes reclaimed wood wonderfully sustainable. Wood is a major renewable energy source, currently making up around 45% of the global renewable energy supply. Not only that, strategically placing trees in urban areas is actually said to lower energy bills and contribute to optimal urban living, specifically by cooling the air temperature.

It is certainly a resource we should cherish and make the most of – repurposing wood into beautiful reclaimed wood is just one of the many ways we can do that. So how do you like to use reclaimed wood in your home?

There is something calming about reclaimed wood – whether its the piece of mind that its natural or the beautiful unique markings on the wood, reclaimed wood makes for the perfect rustic bedroom. Two of our newest collections have been handcrafted from reclaimed wood and are truly stunning. Whether you’re looking for a light wood large chest of drawers or a grey-toned blanket box for the end of your bed, these collections may be the answer.

One of the other best uses of reclaimed wood is a reclaimed wood dining table. As the largest piece of furniture in most dining rooms, and with a gorgeous table top to showcase the beautiful natural markings of the wood, a reclaimed dining table is able to make a real statement whether you prefer classic styles or ultra modern pieces.

Are you a fan of reclaimed wood furniture? Let us know your favourite reclaimed wood piece in your home.

Make your home a blissful sanctuary this spring

March heralds the start of spring and yet, as the first day of the month rolls around, it is still winter. But by the last day, spring has sprung.

For many of us, the first tentative buds of spring bring about a new resolve: to declutter the home and to keep it clutter-free. Casting off the shackles of winter, the annual spring clean was a task many housewives performed. In many ways, we do the same today – it just gets called a different thing (and it’s not about thwacking the dust out of rugs with a tennis racquet either…)

The problem with clutter

Clutter is ‘stuff’ that you somehow seem to accumulate but not sure how. Some of it is useful, it just needs a place to be stored. Other bits of ‘stuff’ is exactly that: clutter. Sleeves rolled up, you decide to tackle the clutter in the bedroom and the kitchen, two rooms that seem to have magnetic qualities when it comes to attracting ‘stuff and clutter’.

But, no decluttering process is completely done until there is storage for the items you decide to keep.

The Kitchen

When you have decided what to keep and what to recycle and/or reuse, you need to make sure you have the storage solutions. May we suggest…?

Sideboard – minimise the room taken up by plates and crockery by decanting some from the kitchen cupboards to a sideboard in the dining room. Reclaimed wooden sideboards are not only stunning in style and finish, they offer so much space and storage for all kinds of items.
Bespoke kitchen cupboards solutions – even if you aren’t replacing your kitchen, there are some handy cupboard storage additions that make sense. Carousels that magically reveal items when the door is opened, for example, are an inexpensive but worthwhile addition.

The Bedroom

Just because you don’t spend all day in here doesn’t mean that it is the right place to dump store things. May we suggest bedroom storage including…?

Toy storage boxes – you may think that the toy storage box is only for the children’s bedrooms but if you want versatility when it comes to storage in the bedroom, say hello to the blanket box. With so many blanket boxes to choose from, it’s hard to know which way to turn but, this versatile piece of furniture works in any room.
Chest of drawers – drawers are perfect for putting order on the things you store but rather than opting for drawers that are uniform, opt for a piece of furniture that gives you a little more scope to separate things. The Standford reclaimed wooden chest of drawers is 5 drawer and cupboard arrangement that gives you a lot of storage options. Or choose something like the tall 8-drawer Winchester tower that is great for sliding into a corner and perfect for storing all kinds of items from clothing to accessorise.

Clutter & Storage = Tidy Home

There are times when clutter gets the best of us, but you will find that with adequate and accessible storage solutions, it becomes less of an issue. Run free from coats hung over fabric dining chairs and clutter in every corner. What storage options will you include in your declutter, spring clean?