Decorating Your Bedroom to Inspire Relaxation?

I wish I had time to decorate my room, but if I could I want the same thing as you do , ah, to relax!Soft colors, blue or green are calming, and you could use some fabrics in calming patterns for curtains and maybe to make some covered boxes that match for storage and use a lot of textures you love to make it more your own,I don't have much for shopping where I live but we have a Ross and I find some pretty neat things there so good luck with your room!

Cyinda
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 213 Posts

March 4, 20080 found this helpful

If you really want a relaxing room, (this may sound boring) you really need to stick with neutrals like taupe, beige's & other NATURAL colors. If you live where it's always hot, (like Phoenix, southern California, Texas, or Florida) then think "COOL" colors; like a beige with a cool tone added, more of a "grayish" or "bluish" beige), because these colors will "cool the room down". By the same token, If you live in an area where you are deprived of sun (Like Seattle, Alaska, or parts of Canada) Then you'll want a Golden-Beige or neutrals colors with a hint of gold or "warmer" colors. These colors will give the room a BIT more of a brighter "sunny" & less depressing look. Think "Golden-Beige" or "Golden-Tan" vs. "the cooler "grayish beiges".

--> I'd use simple neutral colors like: White, Beige, dark or light Tan, Slate, Heather, Moss, Hunter or Sage, & maybe even a bit of Charcoal, & also a TINY bit of ONE brighter color you really like from nature, like Turquoise or Blue from the sea, or Green or deep or light teal green (from the bottom of the ocean). Use Blue & other bright colors in moderation & make sure the blue is toned down with a bit of "gray". This way the blue will look more "natural" & less "juvenile".

*** Stay away from Red, Orange & Yellow, as these colors are WAY to vibrant (In fact fast food restaurants will use them when they want you to eat fast & LEAVE!) These colors won't be relaxing at all.
* If you really hate natural/neutrals, then you can also go with just white or all pastel colors. It's up to you.

As far as decorating STYLE & DECOR, It's really all about what feels comfortable to YOU. Most people like a simpler, slightly modern "Spa-Like" atmosphere(with hardly any clutter) & maybe you do to. But, If you like more a "Traditional" decor or a "More-is better" Victorian type of decor, then, by all means go for it! It's all about what YOU like! But the key to a RELAXING atmosphere, is "NATURE" because Nature is soothing!.

Think Leaves, & twigs, or Stones laying in a tray of water surrounding candles, & maybe a nice fountain in your room. You could even put a mural on one wall of trees or waves or something of the sort. If you are still having a hard time picturing this, then log on to the web & Google the word "SPAS" or "Luxury Spas". They take a look at the way they've decorated & the colors they've use & grab a clue from these guys, because that's what they do for a living, get people to RELAX...

Be sure to use some plants in your room, be they real or silk! A classy thing is to take an "up" light (under $10) & shine it from the ground to up on the plants foliage, so the leaves reflect on your wall & ceiling. Some people will trace this foliage & paint it as a shadow on their wall.

---> One last thing: Try to include something for each of your 5 senses. For example: candles with a great fragrance (smell), a soft fuzzy throw or blanket (touch), a fountain that sounds like water (hearing). Crystals that sparkle in the sun (visual). Anyway, you get the picture. If you're wondering what fragrance to use, studies show that most people prefer Vanilla (It reminds them of their mother's baking) the second most favorite is the smell of Fruit.

If you wear perfume, then your rooms' scent should not clash with your perfume. I had a friend who would shake a bit of her favorite scented power at the foot of her bed under her sheets & they always smelled so good & not to strong.
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About merging your bathroom & offices decor. You need not have the same style, but you'll need to include some of the main color from one room to the other, IF you CAN see one room when you're in the next. If you CAN'T see one room when you're in the next, you don't HAVE to include one of the other rooms' colors, but if you can, it looks best if you do.

Here's an example: Let's say you've decided to use the color Tan as your main color in your bedroom & you've chose hunter green for your office. Well, your office could include a bit of Tan in it as an accent. Or, visa-versa. Also: When you use color in a room, try to use it in at least 3 or 4 different places, that are spaced all around the whole room. If your accent color (which is usually brighter, but not always) was Burgundy, or Charcoal Gray, you'd not want it on only one side of the room, but blended around the whole room!

*It's best to choose your fabrics & bedding & shower curtains FIRST, before you choose your paint colors, because paint can always be mixed to match anything! Pick colors that make YOU happy & everything will fall into place. Here's a money saving tip: Buy your "BIG-TICKET" items in neutral colors, this way if you get board with your color pallet, you can always change your less expensive accent pieces.

I did this when I purchased my couch, I chose a deep hunter green because I know that I like flowers & nature & this color of green is in practically everything in nature. I can easily go from a Hunter green, brown & tan decor, to a hunter, lavender & purple or Hunter & Burgundy & Rose at Christmas.

* As far as bathroom fixtures & metal lamps & such, the rule of thumb is this: Silver & Aluminum is for more "Modern" & contemporary decorous, gold is for traditional & Copper & Black Metal& (like iron work) is for more "old fashioned" & "Ranch" style decors.

I would keep the wall colors soft , as bright colors can make it difficult to relax. You can always use the brighter colors as accents, as in throw pillows, flowers arrangements, etc. Also to make it relaxing at night, you can place a bowl of lavender potpourri on the nightstand.

The most relaxing bedroom I've ever had was painted a pale gray/amethyst. When that gorgeous pale purple twilight sky appeared outside my bedroom window, the walls blended in seamlessly and it felt as if the entire room was outside. In the daytime, it was a soothing pale dove looking color. I think the official name of the paint color WAS twilight, in fact.