Modern Furniture

Wanting more space has become a mantra for our time, as though space were a necessity rather than a preference. But the only way to make it work successfully is to know why you want it, and in order to do that, you have to start prioritizing. What space is currently available and how do you use it? Where would you like more space and where could you manage with less? Which is more important to you: storage space for personal possessions or living space for family and friends?

The secret to creating extra space is getting to know your home and thinking practically about your lifestyle, then putting the two together and seeing what compromises and adjustments need to be made. Take it slowly and do not act on a whim: short-term wants may not fulfill long-term needs, and decorating a house - even a small one - is a long-term investment.

Be guided by the style of the architecture, but do not let it dictate to you. The fact that a building is old, for instance, does not prohibit you from decorating the space in a modern style. The beauty of period buildings is their individuality. Elegant lines, interesting architectural details - even uneven walls - all contribute their own natural character, and keeping your decoration and furnishings clean and contemporary is one of the most effective ways to enhance them. Concentrate on the space, not the facade or interior fittings. Doors and fireplaces can always be removed or replaced, walls and stairs moved or remodelled, but the space is yours, so make sure that it works for you.

When choosing a new mattress for your modern bed, start by evaluating the old one. Do you like the size? How about the support? Also consider the size, and sleeping or lounging habits, of the people who will be using the mattress. A comfortable bed begins with a comfortable, quality mattress and a good foundation, such as a box spring or raised platform.

Basically, there are two types of mattresses; innerspring and foam. Innerspring mattresses come in the same standard sizes as bed frames; king, queen, full (or double) and twin or (single). Innerspring mattresses are composed of springs connected in various ways: open springs, individual springs aligned in rows within the mattress; continuous springs, a network of connected wire instead of individual springs; and pocketed springs, with each spring enclosed in its own pocket. Pocketed springs are considered to be the best.

The comfort of an innerspring mattress is also greatly affected by its wire gauge and spring count. The lower the gauge of the wire, the stronger the coil. The heaviest, or strongest, you’ll find is 13, and 21 is the highest, or lightest. To determine whether a mattress has a good coil count, remember that twin mattresses should have more than 200 coils, and larger mattresses should have at least 300 coils. Also check the quality of the cushioning and insulation that are added. The more layers, the more comfortably you’ll sleep.

Foam, futons and waterbeds are alternatives to the traditional innerspring mattress. Consider a foam mattress if you need to fit an odd-size or antique bed. A foam mattress can be easily cut and tailored to fit almost any size or shape of frame. A good-quality foam mattress can be just as comfortable as an innerspring.

Originally from Japan, futons were first made of cotton batting inside a heavy fabric casing. Contemporary futons are essentially the same except they usually have an extra layer of foam or other padding for better durability.

Waterbed mattresses have improved dramatically; they now come with comfortable foam edges or use baffles to control wave motion. A “hard-side” model has a vinyl mattress, liner and heater encased in a frame. A “soft-side” waterbed looks just like an innerspring mattress. Soft-side waterbeds are usually composed of easy-to-fill tubes that sit side by side in an upholstered cover. A polyurethane liner is used to contain the water in case of a leak. Be sure the vinyl is at least 20 millimeters thick to protect the cover against leaks.

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.

When the home office surge began, options in furniture and other equipment were limited. What was available was designed for offices, not homes. The personal computer was so new we didn’t really know what to do with it.

But now homeowners, designers, and manufacturers are taking a figurative step back, and a second wave of office design is the result. After all, if it’s your home, why dress it like a steno pool?

Attractive, home-scaled furnishings, space-saving products and hardware, more refined textures, and both bolder and subtler colors are aimed at complementing, not clashing with, your home design. Even electronics makers changed their previously predictable beiges and grays.

When the baby is very small you may want to use a crib or cradle for him or her to sleep in. These should be abandoned in favour of a cot (which has greater stability) as soon as the child can sit independently - usually at about 5-7 months. A cot should be sturdily built and thoroughly safe, which means making sure that slats are not more than 6 cm (2 3/8 in) apart, that the top rails are an adequate height for protection (i.e. preventing the child falling out even when the side is lowered), that the drop-sides themselves are the sort that cannot be released by a child and that the mattress is firm and a perfect fit so that there are no dangerous gaps between it and the cot sides.

Apart from the crib or cot you’ll need very little furniture. At the infant stage a trolley is a godsend (especially if it has a wheel lock) because it is versatile and moveable. You can wheel it about to have it at your elbow wherever you need it; with a baby on your lap you can’t be leaping up and down for things you’ve forgotten - the furniture has to come to you. Move the trolley by the crib or cot, use it as a stand for a baby bath or scales or general washing kit. Move it into the bathroom at bath time, if that is where you bath the baby. Later it can hold games, a tv, hi-fi, even a computer.
Another useful item at this stage is a cane or old wooden rocker or other nice capacious chair which will last through all the stages and possibly only need re-cushioning occasionally as opposed to recovering. Do choose one which does not constrict your elbows, to make feeding easier.