Modern Furniture

The natural focal point of the bedroom is the bed itself; this means the selection of the bed is important in establishing the overall design of a bedroom, particularly if the frame is unusually interesting. The variety of bed styles available ranges from a simple futon mat, to a traditional box spring and mattress, to a waveless waterbed, with variations and alternatives in between.

In the United States, standard sizes were established in the 1950s for bed frames and mattresses: King, 72″ x 84″; Queen, 60″ x 75″; double or full, 54″ x 52″; and single or twin, 39″ x 75″. Unless your bed is older than this, it will be one of these universal sizes, regardless of the type of bed frame. And although the sizes of American beds and bedding were standardized in the 1950s, the closest-to-standard sizes in pillows include: king, 26″ x 36″; queen, 26″ x 30″ and standard, 20″ x 26″. Other pillow sizes include French continental or eurosquare, 26″ x 26″ and the Russian pillow, 14″ x 14″.

Futons are ideal for studios and small spaces, as are Murphy beds. First introduced in 1905, the Murphy bed folds into a closet to open up more floor space when not in use. Some are hinged at the head and some hinge at the side.

Bunk beds and trundle bed styles are space-saving alternatives to an extra bed in the guest room. Bunk beds are stacked on top of one another, while trundle beds have a second bed that slides out from underneath the first bed. Bunk beds are primarily found in children’s rooms.

The primary function of a window treatment in a modern bedroom is to control light and provide privacy. The type of treatment you choose will affect how well you can control these elements, as well as influence the decorative style of the room.
Open-weave curtains and blinds bring a breezy, casual feeling to a room, while thick, elegant draperies and fancy top treatments, such as valances or cornices, have a formal influence in a bedroom.
The type of fabric or material, and style of curtain or drapery, will influence the overall effect of a window treatment on the room’s design. Sheer curtains filter light and provide privacy during the daylight, but they need a heavier curtain behind them at night to maintain this privacy.
Curtains are the most common and versatile type of window treatment used today. Many curtains that seem complicated and elaborate are simply variations of the common rod-pocket curtain. The looks that can be achieved by varying this style of curtain range from bishop sleeves to cafe curtains and valances.

Blinds, shades and shutters are also window treatment options for a bedroom. Blinds come in vertical and horizontal styles and an array of colors, sizes and materials. Louvered blinds can be opened or closed to let in light as desired.
Shades provide privacy, block light and conserve energy. Popular shade styles include: Austrian shades, which draw up into scalloped folds; Roman shades, which form neat horizontal folds; balloon shades, which form billows; and cloud shades, which create soft, cloudlike poufs.
Or combine curtains and draperies with coordinating blinds or shades to establish an entirely new look for a window.

Pillow covers, shams and cases add a decorative flair to a bed. They can create a look that’s trimmed and tailored, or fluffy and frilly. Bedspreads, quilts and duvets, or comforters, dress a bed in very different ways. Specialty sheets, such as satin or flannel, can be found in the linen departments. Sheets for specially shaped beds, such as round or heart-shaped, can be custom-ordered.

The bedspread was established by wealthy Americans who felt a properly made bed always included the blanket cover and the quilted bedspread that hid the bedclothes. The quilt evolved from the early American settlers. When the bedding they brought from Europe started to wear and fray, they would cut pieces of torn garments and patch it. Traditional American quilts have three layers; the top design, the batting or lining, and the backing.

The way a bed is dressed can establish the character of the entire room. An easy way to change your bedroom is simply to change the bedding. Creating a beautiful bed is easier today than ever before; practically everything you could possibly need is available in color-coordinated designer collections.
Many bedding collections feature sheets, bedspreads, duvet or comforter covers, bed skirts and pillows in all types of coordinating patterns, solids, stripes or plaids. Matching fabrics for window blinds, valances, bed skirts, canopies, pillow cases and cushions, as well as wallpapers and borders, are also available. These coordinating accessories make it possible to give your modern bedroom a whole new look without spending a lot.
New designer sheets alone can be used any number of ways to achieve a desired style when decorating a bedroom. The highest-quality and most expensive bed sheets are made of linen. It doesn’t soil as easily and doesn’t retain moisture as much as cotton does. This cool, smooth material is especially comfortable in summer. Today, color-coordinated designer bedding is made of linen, cotton and other blends.

The first thing to plan in any room that is going to be both bedroom and play space is storage. Children, even babies, have a lot of belongings - toys, clothes and equipment of various kinds - that are going to accumulate with the years. Where are you going to put it all?
For an average, say 4×3 metre (12 X 10 ft) room that has no existing cupboards, either build in a full-length double cupboard, floor to ceiling, or buy a sturdy, roomy second-hand wardrobe. It really is
In the very early stages, your basic cupboard/wardrobe can be divided in two. Use one side for hanging space, with perhaps one rail at waist level and either another rail or removable shelves above. These can be removed as the child’s clothes get larger and longer. Fit the other side with well-spaced shelves and use it for toy storage; later on it will be useful for sweaters, shirts and a lot of chunky, bulky clothing.
You will also need at least two chests of drawers. Unpainted wooden chests of drawers are inexpensive and perfectly adequate. Set them against the wall leaving a knee-hole space in between (to form an eventual desk/dressing table) and top them with some sort of easily cleanable laminate surface. If these can run along the length of one whole wall so much the better: such an arrangement looks neat and tidy and these are words you are going to be using a lot over the next ten years.
The drawers can be used for nappies, night clothes, underwear, talc and all the other baby necessities in the beginning as well as for an overflow of toys. Later the same drawers will take other clothes, other toys, other games, school work and general clutter.
The long run of work surface along the top of the chests can first be used for changing the baby, then for play (painting, drawing, cutting out) and later still for school work and displaying possessions. The actual chests can be painted, lacquered or otherwise decorated, many times over the years in whatever style happens to be in keeping at the time.
Against the wall behind and above these units it would be a good idea to build a series of shelves or shelves and lockers interspersed with pinboards and space for drawing and the inevitable posters and pictures of pop stars. Make sure all drawing pins are out of reach of toddlers.
In the first instance, shelves can hold soft toys later giving way to books, records, files. The pinboard takes progress charts and nursery information to start with and can carry on into school years to provide space for homework timetables and general reminders.