A bedroom needs to be a place that soothes, nourishes and replenishes. The importance of sleep and rest cannot be overstated. Life just seems a little better after a good nights sleep, a pleasant nap or just some alone time.
Arianna Huffington, in her groundbreaking book, The Sleep Revolution, shows how dismissing the importance of sleep compromises our health and wellbeing. She delves into the science behind sleep and discusses how lack of rest is often the culprit behind anxiety, stress and depression. I have long believed that creating a comfortable bedroom that supports restorative downtime is essential for physical and mental health.
In my years of working with many clients, I have seen how comfort is highly individual. Each of us will respond differently to colour, texture and light. Creating rooms that promote rest means stepping back and analyzing what nurtures your soul.
Here are 9 bedrooms that we designed which offer each client a personalized space in which to retreat and rejuvenate.
1. The Room that Feels Like a Hotel
For the renovation of this downtown condo, my clients were very specific in wanting a room that felt luxurious and calm like their favourite hotel. To bring that hotel-like experience, I had a custom headboard made from a striped velvet. We positioned the bed to take advantage of the river view offered by the floor to ceiling windows. Night tables were kept minimal with enough room to hold eyeglasses, water and books. The bed linens are lush for winter and easily switched out to cooler fabrics for warmer days.
2. A Personalized Child’s Room
More than just a place to sleep, a child’s room is their quiet from the world. It holds everything that is dear to them and helps develop a sense of self, while offering comfort and safety. For these reasons, I like to involve children in the design of their spaces. In conversation, this little guy told me how much he liked the colour blue, being by the water, reading, and having friends over. He was thrilled with his new space, and the adults liked the sophistication of the drapery fabric which has staying power.
3. The Adult Guest Room
When designing a room for adult guests, I like to keep the set-up simple and tasteful. The goal is to provide a comforting and calm place for guests to unwind and get a good nights rest. This guest bedroom was located in the basement visible from the TV watching area. For this reason I subtly tied in the decor to their mid century vibe. The wallpaper and reading lamp reflect the midcentury trend, while the custom made night table offers a bit of cheeky interest. Bed linens are calm and comforting and the custom made toss cushions add just the right amount of luxury.
4. Canadiana Guest Room at Grandma’s
When the twins come to visit they bunk together in this cheerful Canadiana room. It’s bright and colourful for the children but isn’t so age specific that they will soon outgrow it. For the times the room isn’t used by the boys, Grandma enjoys peeking in because it displays some family heirlooms that otherwise might be hidden in a closet. The trunk, the Hudson’s Bay Blanket and the framed model ship are able to be enjoyed every time someone walks past. The twin brass beds were purchased in the ’80’s and Grandpa was happy that we were able to repurpose these.
5. Mom’s Retreat from the World
Everyone needs a corner where they can retreat and have a little break. I wanted this mom to have a place she could call her own. We found a small corner in this spacious bedroom that fit an oversize lounge chair. The light of the window provides a perfect reading spot or simply a place to sit and regroup. Custom draperies add an elegant touch as well as light control. The chair is also custom which meant we could choose the fabric as well as select both a down seat and down filled chair back. Soft sage green on the walls gives the room a tranquil feel.
6. A Room that Gives a Hug
For some clients, a dark moody room is how they relax and unwind. This bedroom was painted Farrow & Ball Green Stone #12, which does have a distinct green colour but also works wonderfully as a neutral. My client likes to sleep on white sheets only, so to add some winter coziness we dressed the bed with furry throw pillows and a red checked wool blanket. The headboard is strong in both colour and style. This was countered by playing with the scale and brightness of the art hanging above. Not pictured is a large window which we had blackout blinds installed to aid with sleep.
7. Bright Light Makes this Room a Quiet Creative Space
Sometimes the most quiet place one can find in a home for creative pursuits is the bedroom. This is exactly what my client figured out, as being a writer, she needed a place away from children, dogs and chores. Her home had a lovely large principle bedroom with an abundance of natural light, making it a perfect writers retreat. Near the largest window we placed a comfortable chair with custom made c-table to hold her computer (not visible in photo). Then we selected a textured wallpaper, luxe fabrics and cheeky wall art to create a perfect balance of restful and inspiring decor.
8. A Teen Room that Checks all the Boxes
Teen bedrooms are always interesting to help design as they must strike a balance between functionality and self expression. Teenagers very often use their rooms as a place to study, socialize and lounge. Since a teen room is often an extension of their personality, I find it best to let them lead the discussion and explore their independence and creativity. I feel my job is to point out basic design tenants like levels of lighting, colour as mood enhancers, zones for various activities and creative storage solutions. I am always impressed with the level of careful thought teenagers put into their spaces.
9. Comforting Textiles Create a Soothing Space
Textiles play an important role in creating a calm and soothing environment. A physical response is created when fabrics touch the skin. Most people prefer natural fabrics and the latest research shows that materials such as cotton, silk, linen and wool have the most health benefits. The visual appeal of bedroom textiles needs to be considered as colour, pattern and design evoke emotional responses. We had the pleasure of designing this bedroom based on the clients love of pale colours, sparkle and soothing repetitive patterns. These carefully considered selections created a tranquil space that helped her relax.
Thoughtful bedroom design is a holistic approach toward a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep and a place to rest and unwind.
