Sweet Dreams

Your bedroom is probably the one room in your home, that you can actually make your own. Yes of course your children may try and sneak into your bed and maybe you even share it with your four-legged furry friend, but it should still feel like somewhere that is truly yours and not a general free for all by the rest of the family.

As winter approaches and the days get shorter, your bedroom should become a warm and cosy space for you to retreat to after a long day. The decoration and furnishings should invite a feeling of calm and peace.

A sumptuous and beautifully styled bed makes for the sweetest slumber, so I always recommend that it is dressed with crisp bed linen, a soft bedspread, large cushions and a wool or fur throw, all of which make it look instantly inviting.

A comfortable bed is a must and rather like sofas and armchairs, this is an area where I always encourage my clients to buy the best that they can afford. We all spend many hours in bed in our lifetime, so make sure it’s a comfortable one to suit your personal preferences.

It’s all about scale! If you choose to have a headboard, then make sure its appropriate in size and style to that of your bed. A king size bed demands a king size headboard. But actually, an over scaled headboard for a smaller bed in a small room can help to give the feeling of space as illustrated in this cosy Salcombe town house basement bedroom.

If you have a metal or wood framed bed, then make sure your bed cushions are large and soft, so that you can put these behind you when reading at night or enjoying your morning cup of tea. I love the addition of these pink velvet shades, in this St Ives house which help balance the soft whites of the bed frame and bedside furniture.

Throws add colour and texture to complete the whole cosy look and they double up as an extra layer on chilly nights. On the incredibly rare occasions where I might be able to sneak a quiet hour with a book on a weekend afternoon, I love to lie on my bed with a soft cushion behind me and my feet under a soft throw – bliss.

Bedside tables are a practical necessity and again you should choose ones that are a suitable in size and stature to your bed. A large bed with small bedside tables looks all out of proportion, so even if you don’t have a lot of space, make sure the bedside tables are at least tall enough to reach easily from the bed. And as a side, they don’t have to match!

Bedside lights need to be bright enough to read by, but subtle enough to add to the relaxing atmosphere and yet again, they need to be of the right proportion. The taller the better is generally the rule. The addition of separate dedicated reading lights is a very practical and good idea, just make sure they are switched independently from one side of the bed to the other, so as not to disturb your partner. If this is still not enough to help you to snuggle up and sleep soundly then I thoroughly recommend a good old cup of hot chocolate and a cashmere covered hot water bottle.