Post by Laura Cheng.

When I was 10 years old, I was obsessed with collecting Crayola crayons. I wanted to collect every color that existed. I sorted my collection by shades. My biggest dilemma at age 10 was whether Mango Tango went between Orange or Neon Carrot. Today, my equivalent is Pantone.

Every year, color warehouse guru, Pantone, will declare a particular color “Color of the Year”. There is a significance behind the color chosen that connects with the zeitgeist. (Die hard Scrabble players can tell you that the word stands for the spirit of the time, the mood of an era).2012 is no exception. The color chosen this year is Tangerine Tango.

After facing 2011’s roller coaster economy, “Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, [provides] the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward [with verve and vigor]”  (http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/category.aspx?ca=88) to read all about how Tangerine Orange was selected from Pantone.

Source: Designboom.com

There are many fanastic ways you can energize your bedroom in honor of Tangerine Tango. Pillows, bedspreads, accessories , curtains, flowers and walls can all benefit from this high-impact hue.

The popularity of orange can be seen in this bedroom by Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living. The varying shades of orange have been strategically throughout to avoid overwhelming the space. It incorporates the subtle yet striking use of orange in the functional and decorative pillows. The bedskirt ties the ensemble together perfectly by coordinating with the bolsters. I was not only attracted to the wonderful pop of color, but also the Grecian trellis headboard accented by nail heads.

Decorating with orange can also be as subtle and as easy as adding an arrangement of flowers to your nightstand. If you’re trying to mimic the look of the room, this should be the easiest trick. A triple dozen of orange roses will be sure to brighten any bedroom and any mood. For a little more variety, mix an arrangement with different shades of orange, hot pink or red spray roses.

Source: thelenoxx.com

If using the vivid pop of orange is not surprising enough, saturating the ceiling with the color should do it. Instead of using the same dramatic color on the walls, patterned wallpaper reduces the need for any other accessories in the bedroom. The rich brown of the branches adds depth and provides contrast for the vibrant orange.

Source: http://access.decorati.com/2011/05/orange-crush-hues-and-strategies/

And to close, I leave you with the most recent addition to my Crayola collection – Valspar’s Island Orange. I can’t wait to collect next year’s color!

Tags: bedroom, beds, Charles P. Rogers, Design, Orange, Pantone, Tangerine Tango

Post by Mark T. Locker.

We spend so much time here on the Bed Blog discussing a lot of great ideas, helpful hints, and offering fantastic recommendations. So I thought today we could look at some more…unorthodox approaches to bedroom design. Most of you may enjoy the spectacle but have no intention of transforming your bedroom into, say, a giant princess castle. For those who yearn for such things, you are welcome. Please enjoy the following alternative takes on interior decorating.

This brings a whole new meaning to the word waterbed. I don’t recommend this design to anyone with a propensity for somnambulation!

This little piggy made his bedroom out of straw! You may want to wear several layers of thick, soft pajamas if you are planning to sleep in the straw bed. In movies, they always put straw down to sleep on in a barn, so perhaps it’s quite comfy!

Don’t you hate the cumbersome activity of climbing out of bed, walking across the miles-long cold linoleum floor to get yourself a midnight snack? Save yourself the trouble by turning your room into your own little diner! I’m disappointed to note you don’t get to climb under the bread, but you can’t have everything.

…and if comfort and coziness are not your style, you can always move into a big stone culvert. In a field. Surrounded by a bunch of other stone culverts.

Tags: bed, bedroom, Charles P. Rogers, Design, Weird Bedrooms

Post by Laura Cheng.

I am a firm believer in color, but I also love the simplicity of the primal colors, black and white. Since outfitting a bedroom in black and white often creates the illusion of a clutter free environment, I am all for it. Black and white is also more versatile than many people think. It can be used to set a contemporary, classic, or luxurious ambiance.

When decorating with black and white, it’s important to use different textures to make the room interesting. The intricately created lace headboard is the focal point of this room. Although the ceiling lamp is also white, its unsystematic yarn woven design adds interest to an otherwise lackluster ceiling and wall. The wooden plank floors create a warm, patterned ambiance. And of course, the soft fluffy bed beckons one to sink comfortably into it. I love how the bed frame appears to be nonexistent. It looks like two oversized down comforters, one stacked up on another. It adds a touch of softness to an otherwise overly crisp room.

Source: http://donkeehouse.com/?p=367

If you don’t like the minimalism of just black and white, but want to incorporate those colors, this bedroom has a multitude of monochromatic patterns that keeps the room engaging. The wallpaper features a large Chinoiserie print that complements the striped bedding nicely. To achieve a similar effect, start by choosing three or more patterns. Odd numbers, especially the number three, just seem to work. When mixing different patterns, it’s important to use different scale prints. That way, you add a sense of balance and interest. Be sure to pick the patterns carefully, selecting different patterns about half the scale or size of the first pattern. The wonderful thing about decorating in black and white is that its use highlights any color you add to the room. The yellow rose on the nightstand would have gone unnoticed otherwise in such a strongly patterned room.

Source:http://tinyurl.com/7qg4edk

If white is too stark of a contrast, you can use a variant of white. The creamy white in the bedroom eludes old Hollywood, beachside glamour when paired with the velvety black. This bedroom was designed by Kelley Proximire for the Spring 2007 Design House. Shams and a bed valance are covered in a seashell fabric from Grey Watkins. The canopy features a coordinating geometric pattern. The daringly black walls will darken a room so make sure there is proper lighting. A simple and effective way to do so is by hanging mirrors. Mirrors will create extra light both during the daytime and from the reflection of the lights at night.

Source: http://www.thelennoxx.com/browse-by-style/dramatic/black-white-with-seashells/

Tags: bedroom, Bedroom Design, beds, Charles P. Rogers, Color, Design, furniture

Post by Craig Jenkins.

Happy New Year! How’d everyone ring in 2012? Crazy fun-loving parties and legendary shenanigans? Quiet night in with the family? Did you watch the ball drop? Did you go to sleep and ignore all the festive hoopla? However you closed out your 2011, we hope it was a great night, and we wish you nothing but health and happiness (and warmth!) for 2012.

Let’s talk about beds for a bit though. More specifically, how to make the most of your headboard. If you’ve gone out and purchased a bed with a beautiful headboard, you want to show it off, right? Different beds have different headboard heights, and displaying that headboard to the best of your abilities can sometimes be tricky. It won’t be a problem if your bed’s headboard is tall. But let’s assume it isn’t. What are your options?

The answer is a little bit of simple mathematics. First and foremost, you should always make certain that you’re aware of stats like the height of the headboard and the height your mattress will be from the floor. From there, you can wring some hard fought extra headboard inches by playing with mattress and box spring height. Maybe you want to get a slightly thinner mattress. Maybe you opt for a low profile box spring. Maybe you want to look into bunkie boards (thin box spring like supports that keep the mattress height way down while still supporting the mattress and diverting some of the pressure away from your bed’s rail system). You have a wide range of opportunities at your disposal.

As always, be creative, be informed, and ask questions before you commit. Best of luck, and again, happy new year.

Tags: bed, bedroom, Charles P. Rogers, Design, headboard

Post by Kyle St. Romain.

Call me prehistoric, but my ideal sleeping environment embodies all the good qualities of a cave. If I had to choose, I’d even sleep on a cold rock floor over a bed in a warm, bright room. Fortunately, in the 21^st century I can have my cake and eat it too: a cave-like bedroom with a comfortable bed.

Let’s start with the thermostat: I like my bedroom colder than most. When it gets cold outside, I often leave the window cracked to make my bedroom as cold as possible. Drifting to sleep tucked away under a warm, overfilled, goose down comforter with a chilly breeze across my face is the best. While a cold bedroom helps me sleep, it doesn’t help me wake up in the morning. I’ll just call work and tell them I have a cold… bedroom. I’m sure they’ll understand.

During the summer, my carbon footprint swells. The air conditioner runs overtime trying to maintain an acceptable temperature. However, even the coldest bedroom does little good if it’s too bright. We need to close the drapes.

One of the best ways to combat unwanted light in the bedroom is by using blackout curtains. Blackout curtains are like any other type of curtain, except they come with a thick backing that keeps light out. Denim and velvet are two popular materials used due to their thickness. However, blackout curtains come in a variety of colors, patterns and materials to appease even the most discerning designer’s pallet. You can further enhance the look of your blackout curtains using decorative knots to tie the panels back.

Apart from looking good and keeping your bedroom dark, blackout curtains can also lower your energy bills. On bright summer days, your air conditioner runs more effectively with curtains stopping sunlight from warming your bedroom. During the winter, blackout curtains add anther layer of insulation over your windows, reducing some of the chill that comes off the glass. With blackout curtains, you’ll be able to better control your sleep environment. Better sleep and lower energy bills is a true win-win situation.

So if you’re not sleeping as soundly as you’d like, or want to freshen up your bedroom décor, try replacing your existing window treatments with blackout curtains. You don’t have to limit them to the bedroom either; they can be used just as well throughout the whole house.

Tags: bed, bedroom, Charles P. Rogers, curtains, Design, furniture