bedroom
It is easier to install shiplap material than other types of paneling, although it will require some carpentry skills. Depending on the specifics of your job and chosen material type, installing shiplap siding can be a rather easy and quickly rewarding home improvement task. You’ll need to be somewhat handy with a saw (and familiar with the old standby advice of measure twice and cut once). Material usually costs from $2 to $5 per square foot of coverage.
Set up a dressing station at your front door. A dressing area can be a practical addition to the entry of your home. No, I’m not suggesting that you install a full dressing room at your front door, but rather a conveniently located station where you can stash your shoes, scarf, bag, jacket and sports equipment, plus give your outfit one last check before running out the door. A dressing station like the one pictured here not only will make your daily routine easier, but will help keep clutter at bay. I love everything about this space, from the mirror feature wall to the built-in shoe shelves. If you don’t have a hallway as large as this one, create a similar setup by mounting a mirror and a few hooks next to your front door. You might also like to add a coat stand and stackable shoe storage if space permits.
Make another room work overtime. If you don’t have an extra room to spare, consider converting a room into a multipurpose zone. A home office is one space that can happily coexist with a dressing area. The key to making this multitasking setup work is to clearly define both zones (using furniture or rugs, for example), so it’s obvious which spots are dedicated to work and play. It’s also important to provide ample storage and keep each area organized and clutter-free. This will ensure that the space is functional and efficient, and a relaxing and productive room in which to work. If you are thinking of squeezing a dressing area into your home office, take design cues from the hardworking space above. A built-in closet with mirrored sliding doors is a smart addition because it provides practical storage, allows the homeowner to check his or her appearance, and visually expands the room. The furniture also works overtime. Here, the corner desk doubles as a dressing table, while the plush occasional chair provides a comfy surface where someone can rest while working, put on shoes or even indulge in a spot of online shopping.
ransform your spare room into a dedicated dressing area. If you have a spare room (especially one that’s small or awkwardly shaped) that’s not being used, don’t let it go to waste. Convert it into a beautiful and functional area where you can display your clothing collection, relax and pamper yourself as you prepare for the day or night ahead. This chic spare bedroom-turned-dressing room shows how it’s done. The once-disorganized and storage-poor space now has two clothes racks and plenty of hooks, as well as a dressing table and make-up station. Notice how the walls are used for storage to reduce clutter, keep things tidy and free up space. Extra storage is available in a small built-in closet near the entrance to the room. The dressing room also has an accent wall of four horizontal stacked mirrors — a practical touch and one that makes the compact room appear larger.
Accessorize your closet with dressing room essentials. With the help of a few dressing room essentials, your walk-in closet can become so much more than a place used just for storage. Installing a full-length mirror is a must if you want to convert your closet into a combined walk-in closet and dressing room. Consider working a dressing table and comfy chair or stool in, too, so you have somewhere to display your accessories and sit down while you primp, preen and put on shoes. Harsh or dim fitting-room lighting is a no-no in any clothing store, and the same rule applies at home. Replace bright overhead lights that throw strong, unflattering shadows across the face and body with mood-enhancing fixtures (such as a chandelier or chic pendant) and bulbs that cast a soft, luminous glow. The same goes for fixtures and bulbs that fail to diffuse light to all corners of the room. You should also consider installing wall sconces or vertical lights on each side of your mirror, as they will illuminate your face and body evenly, eliminating unflattering shadows.
Reclaim an unused corner of your bedroom. If you have a generously sized bedroom, consider converting a section of it into a dedicated dressing area. I love the setup in the sleep and dressing zone here. A free-standing clothes rack offers practical storage and separates the dressing area from the rest of the room. When filled with clothes, the rack provides privacy for someone getting changed, too. A gold-framed, full-length mirror completes the setup and allows the owner to check her appearance from head to toe before running out the door. Note how the ornate frame adds character and visual appeal. An occasional chair or ottoman is another practical item you might like to add to your setup. It will provide a place to sit while putting on shoes, and a surface to lay clothes on as you get dressed. Consider laying down a cozy rug, too. It’ll provide comfort underfoot and protect your floor from scuffs and scratches caused by heels and hard soles. A rug will also add interest to your scheme and help define the zone.
ailored daybed. A backless upholstered daybed like this one is a good choice for spaces where the bed must go in front of a window. Piled high with throw pillows, it looks like a sofa during the day but can easily be called into service for guests at night. A glass-top desk takes up little visual space, making it a smart piece for a compact home office.
The need to uplift a room with a little light from gold’s reflective characteristics becomes apparent on cloudy days. This is a great reason for bringing some bling into a bedroom. And when the weather changes, or you change your mind, an antiqued gold or burnished bronze side table can be moved around the house to a new spot. Tip: As an alternative to a bedside table with drawers, try a nest of tables. The smaller ones can be pulled out and the tabletops used when extra surface space is required near the bed.
Furniture. Metallics are key to adding sparkle and glam to any space, but if you are hesitant about using gold-colored furniture, start with pieces that you can easily swap out, such as a chair or side table. Tip: There’s often an old kitchen chair in a relative’s house that has lost its good looks but not its charm. Offer to replace it with something more solid and serviceable (but inexpensive and modern) for the piece of old furniture you have your eye on. With a little paint and polish, your swapped item could be the gold highlight in your revamped bedroom.
Light it right. Bedroom lighting needs to be well considered in a narrow space, as there often isn’t sufficient surface area for table lamps. Ford suggests installing downlights, as they spread the light across the room. Then, if you have the luxury of enough space, “have a softer, secondary lighting plan with a combination of bedside lamps, reading lamps and table lamps,” she advises. Wall-mounted reading lights can also help to declutter bedside surfaces where space is tight.
Small-space layout tip: If you have a compact guest room, it’s important to position the bed properly for optimal flow. One easy way to do this is by marking out the area where the bed will go on the floor using painter’s tape. Try opening the door and walking all around the bed area to check if there is enough space to move freely. It’s OK to tuck a small bedside table behind the door if you are tight on space (as shown here), but ideally nothing should impede the door swing and the path around the bed. If you simply can’t make the layout work using your painter’s tape mock-up, that could be a sign you need to use a smaller bed.
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