Showing posts with label Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ideas. Show all posts
Friday, 3 July 2009

Modern Bedroom Furniture Ideas – Platform Beds

I grew up with traditional looking furniture in my parent’s home. It blended in well with their own home décor of wall hangings, art and other home accents. When it was time to move out onto my own with my wife and start my own family, I was hoping for furniture that could help reflect my own taste and style as well as my wife’s. We liked furniture with clean lines and contemporary design. So we began our search for modern bedroom furniture.

Modern furniture presents you with some interesting choices in the way of bedroom décor. The most modern concept in beds is referred to as a platform bed. These beds incorporate the idea that your bed doesn’t require an old bulky box spring but can instead be more open by having a foundation built into the bed that consists of slats or panels. These will provide ample support for your mattress and will help to open up the look of your bed.

Bedroom furniture made with modern styling can incorporate many new design elements to better make use of their unique designs. Modern platform beds may feature lift up storage which allows you to lift up the supporting frame and mattress on your bed to reveal storage beneath. Because platform beds don’t use box springs it allows for more space beneath the bed. This space helps to accommodate storage areas as well as under bed storage drawers which essentially give you a chest of drawers beneath your bed.

Many modern platform beds present more space beneath the bed since they don’t use box springs. This will help to open up the look of your bedroom with a less cluttered look. Still, other platform bed models will present lower profile designs which open up wall space. These beds will feature side rails or headboards which stay lower to the ground because the bed’s design and the absence of box springs. You’ll also find that modern platform beds still incorporate traditional materials such as wood or metal into their designs. However newer model features may integrate glass as well as fabric or upholstery into bed designs.

Other modern design elements in platform beds include integrated tables that float or align with the headboard of your bed. This provides a more unique design that creates a contemporary look for your bedroom by introducing new design elements into your décor that aren’t static. Other case goods like dressers, chests and mirrors also can be made with a modern flair which will bring together your bedroom with matching pieces.

Platform bed structures feature your typical side rails, headboard and footboard. The primary difference with beds made for mattress/box springs is that those beds use a wood or metal support system that consists of 2-4 cross pieces with minimal support across. Mattress/box spring beds are designed with the intent that a box spring be placed over the top of the frame which is typically close to the ground. Platform bed frames will sit higher up off the ground and will feature slat support systems with around 10 or more slats and center support rails or legs. Some platform beds may incorporate masonite or solid paneling as well.

Modern bedrooms start with the bed. Platform beds are a great way of achieving a cleaner, contemporary look by having a more open design beneath the bed. No box springs are needed with platform beds and these beds feature a built in foundation of slats or panels. These designs also give way to integrating under bed storage, glass headboard designs or even fabric or upholstery around the bed or in the headboard. Add matching case goods with these beds and your bedroom will feature contemporary styling that will blend in with your modern décor. Consider a platform bed when designing your new bedroom.

P.Pendleton is a furniture professional who writes for several online furniture websites. He continues to work with other furniture professionals in promoting new trends in modern bedroom furniture and platform beds.
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Friday, 26 June 2009

Home Decorating Ideas - Apartment Decor Tips

Are you moving into an apartment and aren't sure how to go about decorating? It's not difficult if you know what questions to ask and the important decisions that need to be made

First, find out from your landlord if the walls can be painted, and if you need to obtain permission for the colors selected. Then, make sure you can hang artwork, etc. on the walls - most of the time this is not a problem. Your landlord may state that you must return the apartment to the original state when you leave. Just keep that in mind and enjoy decorating the apartment!

Before you start your apartment decorating, assess what you will be bringing into this residence. Some folks will have an abundance of furniture and others may be starting with no furniture at all. Your goal with furnishings is to have enough in the rooms that you will spend time in, to be comfortable and to express your unique lifestyle. If you don't have much furniture, don't worry about furnishing rooms that you may not use. It's better to have two or three rooms that are finished and comfortable for you than to spread your furnishings amongst all the rooms, and none of them look complete.

Wall color can make a huge difference in the overall warmth and effect a room has on its occupants, so painting the walls a color other than 'apartment white' is highly recommended. Even if you use an off-white shade such as Bone White or Navajo White (standard off-whites no matter what brand of paint you select), you will create a welcoming atmosphere for you and your family or guests. If you really love color, select something that is bold and colorful for the walls and have fun with it!

In the living area, try to place your furniture in a conversational grouping, avoiding flattening each piece against the walls if possible. Even if your living room is not large, try this approach. It reinforces the feeling of warmth and coziness, and in an apartment that can be a challenge! You might also want to use area rugs along with the furniture arrangement to create a feeling of separation between the living and dining areas if they are combined into one space.

Now, what kinds of things, people or places make you happy? These are the things to put on your walls. What is meant by that is to have artwork, pictures, etc. around you that will make you feel good. It doesn't have to be expensive, your selections just need to be an expression of what you enjoy and want to have around you. Is the budget very limited? Then go to a resale shop or discount store. You may be surprised at what you can find at a very reasonable price. Put away the pictures that you don't care for - don't hang them. You apartment decorating goal is to get true enjoyment from what is around you. Take your time and find something that you love. It's better to have just a few accessories that are a true expression of you and your style than to just hang some pictures to have something on the walls.

An apartment decorating project might be the perfect time to explore a design avenue that is new for you, whether it is a color, a theme or a particular style. Have you always wanted to have a bright yellow guest bath with sunflowers and sailor blue accents? Why not give it a try now? Use this residence to experiment and explore your unique lifestyle decorating expression. Or, maybe you've always wanted a black and white living room...what better time than now to experiment with decorating style, themes and colors.

Ultimately, if you create a style (not necessarily with expensive 'things', but with your creativity and resourcefulness) that expresses who you are and what you love, your apartment will truly become your home.

About the Author:
Candi Randolph is the owner of Simply Designed located in Fort Myers, FL, and author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a simple and easy to understand guide with home decorating ideas and interior design tips. Please visit Great Home Decorating for home decor advice, tips, articles and help for all styles and budgets.
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