STYLISH DREAM SPACE
Making the most of our beds becomes more appealing as winter approaches
As the colder weather sets in, we find ourselves wanting to cocoon, and our favourite place to do this: in bed. We spend almost a third of our lives sleeping, so it makes sense to choose bedding that is comfortable as well as stylish.
With fall and winter comes an influx of warm fabrics, like flannel sheets, as well as darker tones, including burgundy, navy and forest green. Dressing the bed with extra pillows and blankets is also a much-needed luxury in the frigid months, and throws are always a great option for the end of the bed.
“We have a very extensive faux fur collection of throws that we bring in every year and have expanded upon, with many different types of faux furs and in different colours,” said Stan Leibner, one of the owners of Linen Chest.
The way you dress the bed is about personal preference. You want to mix and match co-ordinated pieces to really give that special look.
“Faux fur is a great look; it’s comfortable and warm, and it’s very sophisticated. It’s been so successful for us that we’ve expanded the products to wine bags and even bed runners.”
Popular faux fur options include otter, wildcat, cross fox and ocelot, all of which have a blend of warm browns for a wide range of looks.
This year, Simons turned to fashion runway trends when deciding on bedding collections to carry, and narrowed it down to three major themes for the fall/ winter season: modernist lounge, elementary, and Aran Islands.
“Our modernist lounge theme is basically made up of opulent patterns in rich, spicy colours, a lot of textures like macramé, knits and crochet, rich florals, and a lot of adornment,” explained Jason Templeton, merchandising manager of the home department at Simons.
“Our elementary theme has pale tone-on-tone mineralized pastels and a minimalist feel. It’s a cross between Scandinavian and Japanese influences. And our Aran Islands theme is very isolated and windswept. The theme is about long winter nights and thick weaves and a rustic feel, animal motifs like foxes, bears and deer, and a lot of forest green, which we haven’t seen in a while.”
The way in which a bed was dressed used to be ornate and over-the-top, with layers upon layers of pillows, blankets and shams. Today, the rule is more about anything goes!
“Home decor today is what you want to make it in your own home,” Templeton said. “In my home, I have pillow shams and three throw pillows on the main bed, but in the spare bedroom it’s a plain white duvet with a throw at the foot of the bed. It’s about what you like.”
Leibner agreed. “The way you dress the bed is about personal preference,” he said. “You want to mix and match co-ordinated pieces to really give that special look.”
Plain, minimalist bedscapes are sophisticated. So, too, are beds with accessories. If you add two or three throw cushions, don’t choose the same texture or fabrics, Templeton advised.
“Use a plain cotton twill, then a Mongolian longhair wool, and then something in faux fur or that’s knitted. Make sure you mix your textures so it’s not all the same — that’s what adds interest,” he said. “It’s about playing with different materials.”
The bedding will also help to guide the overall design of the space.
When you decorate your bedroom, start with the bedding — it’s the easiest thing, Templeton said. “You can find any shade of paint colour, but if you paint first, it’s very difficult to find the right bedding.”
Bedding is really the centrepiece of the bedroom, and should be the place where you find warmth and comfort. With so many colours, patterns and textures available in bedding and accent pieces, there’s simply no shortage of stylish combinations to give you the bed (and night’s sleep) of your dreams.