SEEKING SANCTUARY How to turn your bedroom into a restful haven
THE RIGHT COLOURS, TEXTURES AND PLANNING ARE KEY TO A BLISSFULLY PEACEFUL BEDROOM – AND RELAX…
ADD TEXTURE WITH TIMBER
Borrowing nature’s palette is a sure way to create a soothing feel. And This space makes use of multiple textures – the unfinished wooden boards on the walls, the patchwork throw, the tiled floor – to give the impression of almost being outdoors, but the subtle pairing of green and neutrals maintains a relaxed mood. In particular, the wood cladding works to add warmth. ‘Using real wood in this way feels comforting,’ says Robert Walsh, founder of Ted Todd Fine Wood Floors. ‘You can opt for a raw-looking, rustic finish, or a pale, sleek one to suit your interior.’ Complement the laid-back look with raw-edged textiles and coloured plastered walls, as seen on the upper wall here. →
RECREATE NATURE’S BEAUTY
According to colour psychology, green shades are refreshing for mind and body – chiefly because they’re drawn directly from nature. Using a botanical pattern on your bedroom walls is a simple way to capture the feeling of calm you experience when walking through the woods – this one is Beech in Document Green, £70.81m by Lewis & Wood. ‘It was inspired by saplings in spring – that wonderful time when the leaves start opening and everything feels open and peaceful,’ says Magdalen Jebb, the brand’s creative director. ‘We created the design to bring that mood indoors.’ Teaming the pattern with key accents add warmth and texture – in this case, a lamp in a stronger green and a seagrass rug that echoes wood bark.
A COCOONING CANOPY
Single beds are often last to get the luxury treatment, but not this one by interior designer Veere Grenney. It’s in a dressing room, but the serene blue shades and bookshelf niche would work in a larger setting. A bespoke canopy turns the bed into a cosy retreat. ‘The curtains are made from carriage cloth and conceal a set of cupboards behind the bed,’ says Veere. Because the contrast pattern features the same blue, the effect is restful to the eye.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
Everything in this serene neutral bedroom from interior designer and homeowner Louise Bradley is designed to enhance natural light and a sense of space. Keeping the floor uncluttered all around the bed creates a sense of movement and freedom, while the discreet curtain rails are a curved shape, which gives added depth to the translucent drapes. Up the comfort factor in winter by adding soft rugs and a heavier set of curtains on top of sheers. →
“NATURAL MATERIALS AND
TEXTURES CAN HELP TO CREATE A CALMING EFFECT: GRASSCLOTHS, SILKS AND WOOD VENEERS ALL HAVE A GROUNDING FEEL THAT WILL
HELP TO RELAX YOU”
PHILIPPE DESART, co-owner, Arte,
arte-international.com
“USING FABRIC ON THE WALLS IN A BEDROOM IS A LOVELY WAY TO MAKE A
ROOM FEEL SOFT AND INVITING - IT ALSO HELPS
WITH THE ACOUSTICS”
Mary Graham and Nicole Salvesen, founders of Salvesen Graham,
salvesengraham.com
PAUSE AND REFLECT
Setting up a corner in your bedroom for sitting down will instantly create a relaxing atmosphere – it’s a visual cue that puts you at ease. ‘I find armchairs incredibly pleasing in bedrooms – they create curves and give a feeling of roundedness,’ says Deborah Bass, creative director of Base Interior.
MELLOW YELLOW
This bedroom features plenty of tranquil green, but adds unexpected yellow accents. ‘Waking up with such a mood-enhancing shade is a great start to the day,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. ‘Softer tones like primrose work well, too – just painting the skirting gives instant joy.’
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
Minimising clutter is essential for a calm mood, but if you love to read in bed you’ll know that books eat up space. In this bedroom, they’re neatly arranged in a recessed niche – close at hand, but out of direct sight when it’s time to sleep.
COSY UP YOUR CEILINGS
How do you reconcile a love of colour and pattern with the need for a restful place to sleep? With clever balancing of proportions, as in this bright bedroom created by interior designer Beata Heuman for a 17th-century cottage. She’s kept hits of strong colour and print to a minimum – neither the floral headboard nor geometric rug are directly on view when you’re in bed but still delight the eye during waking hours. ‘Taking the seagrass wallpaper all the way across the ceiling accentuates its height while also creating an enveloping feel,’ Beata explains. ‘The material is humble in appearance and provides a calm tone against the chintz headboard.’ This wallpaper is from Phillip Jeffries. →
LAYER MATERIALS
The palette in this room is ultra simple, yet it feels anything but plain – instead, a sense of texture and softness is created by expertly combining grey tones. ‘The trick is to layer materials for subtle contrast,’ says Bernie de Le Cuona, founder of textiles brand de Le Cuona. ‘It’s all about mixing natural textures to create depth and a sense of cocooning. Everything should be a joy to touch – even with plain designs, the result will then be a flow of “pattern”.’ You could combine silk sheets and pillowcases with more rustic linen throws, for example, or try taffeta curtains in place of the white linen here – its volume gives a romantic look. Lastly, a pale wood stool and floor add vital warmth to the otherwise cool colour scheme.