Even small bedroom can be cozy, romantic
House-hunting programs are addicting to watch. It is both fun to try and guess which of three possible listings the couple involved will select as their home and to learn what houses cost all over the country.
Of course, when people want beachfront property in Hawaii or a place in Manhattan, they are looking at prime real estate. Often the smallest rooms in such offerings are the bedrooms.
With luck the master bedroom rates a little more room with some decent closet space and the space-starved area is instead the second or third bedroom. You can just see people wince as they discover the closet-sized bedrooms!
For an asking price of $1.5 million on Maui, one couple scored a room that could only hold a futon. In many urban settings, this bedroom would cost you $900,000 and could actually be the master. What do you do when your hopes for a spacious retreat are dashed because of the location?
There are things that you can manage for either a master bedroom or a guest room to make them welcoming. First, take advantage of a high ceiling that is often featured in an older structure.
Many prewar buildings in New York City, Boston, San Francisco and Chicago offer 12- to 14-foot ceiling heights. If you are lucky enough to have crown molding and good baseboards, then paint them in a contrasting color. If they don't exist, consider installing something with potentially dramatic results. Make sure that you use at least an 8- to 12-inch crown and a beefy size base molding.
Even in the smallest room you can treat the headboard wall as an accent, as shown here. This treatment is achieved by the floor to ceiling installation of a handmade wall covering that is installed like blocks on the wall surface, providing texture and color. A photographic mural could be used on the entire wall as a way to form depth and the perception that the room is larger. If there is a pleasant view out the windows, consider the application of mirrors. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors will be costly. If there are already mirrors in your new place, think twice before pulling them out. If you cannot afford new floor-to-ceiling mirrors, instead look for a large framed mirror that could be hung over the headboard. Always be certain to install a heavy framed mirror with earthquake-proof hardware no matter where you live.
The introduction of dreamy lighting is another trick for ambience in a small bedroom. Table lamps or wall-hung swing arm reading lamps are the most functional. However, don't forget to add in mood lighting. This can range from tiny spotlights installed in the ceiling to up-lights that are hidden behind floor plants. If you are renting an apartment, consider stringing decorative lights across the room or introducing a torchere floor lamp with a dimmer switch.
Especially in a bedroom, you will want to control the amount of light and dimmer switches are the best way to do that. Table lamps should have a three-way bulb to assure that same control is possible.
Finally, remember the color and pattern in a bedroom are truly important. If you live alone, you can please yourself. However if you have a partner, try to be sensitive to their preferences. Many women express frustration with husbands who hate floral fabrics, but how would the average woman like to sleep in a room outfitted with animal trophies?
Be respectful of your partner to create a peaceful environment. Work with color and textures. It is possible to fashion a handsome and serene room without using design motifs that will start a fight.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
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