Bedding Is Fashion For The Bed
by Beverly Marshall
http://www.bedding-4u.com

Ladies, we spend a lot of time in the morning getting
ready for the day. We take showers, put on makeup, blow
dry our hair and put on just the right outfit we feel good
in. Then we top it off with the hot colors of accessories
from sunglasses to sandals - the details of what we wear
matters in how we look and feel. Maybe it shouldn't be
that way, but it is. You can think of your bedding as
fashion for the bedroom because you dress your bed just as
clothing and accessories dress your body. The little
details we put in our bedrooms such as vintage rag rugs,
beaded lampshades, hand crocheted pillowcases or satin
sheets will make all the difference of how we feel as we
spend time in our bedrooms.

A bedroom is a place to feel safe, comfortable and
cocooned as we sleep at night. I like the bedroom to be
an expression of who I am as well as that of my husband.
I don't want it to be all cabbage rose, salmon pink and
lace because that doesn't make my husband feel too
comfortable. He isn't exactly the cabbage rose type.
However, it also doesn't have to be golfing, fishing and
rustic log furniture either. We can compromise on a
majestic leaf pattern with just a small floral touch. I
use deeper colors of blue and green mixed with a
sophisticated plaid and stripe for the bed linen. I love
to mix all the patterns together and it turns out great.
If you have never done that before you might find it a
little tricky, but you will be okay if you stick to the
same hue in the same color families. We live in the north
woods so our colors are stronger, rustic and outdoors.
There is a nice blend and flow throughout the home.
Doesn't it make sense to begin with colors inside that
reflect the great outdoors, striking a balance between the
two? I am surrounded by pine trees and a beautiful lake.
I feel serene and happy when I take those same colors and
make a beautiful room to spend my private time.

Take a cue from the great outdoors:
If you are confused about where to begin when it comes to
decorating the bedroom or other parts of the house, take a
cue from the outdoors. Stand at one of the windows from
inside a room and look out. What do you see happening in
your backyard? Do you have a blue swimming pool or is
your garden filled with yellow marigolds? Does your lawn
look like green velvet or do you have earthy shades from
rocks and stone? Do you love the cold strength of black
wrought iron patio furniture or do you prefer bold awning
stripes? You can begin to get the idea of how the inside
can reflect the outdoors or vise versa.

You want your whole family to feel as comfortable in their
bedrooms as you do. If you pay attention to details of
bed linens, color, furnishings and small personal touches
for your kid's rooms, they will feel like they are
special, and they may even clean the room a little more
often. For example, your baby's bedding could look cute
and cuddly, the colors and patterns for kids can be
bright, fun and whimsical. It doesn't matter what size of
mattress you or your kids have, the mattresses must all
afford comfort. The goal of every bedroom is to have
linens that are beautiful, easy to take care of, and
mattresses that are comfortable to sleep on. If the room
is dressed right, you will feel good while you are in it.
You might consider just adding a duvet cover for a quick
change over the tired comforter. I have taken old fitted
sheets that were worn and placed them on the windows for
an instant dramatic valance. Be creative when it comes to
your personal style and get the kids involved. You don't
have to be extremely crafty to just get some fabric paint
and let them design their own sheets. Isn't it kind of
boring to always buy what is shown to you in catalogs or
retail stores? Place a table you had in the living room
at your bedside and put a family quilt on it. Use solid
velvet throw pillows that you haven't had out in a while
and add a few baubles to them or stitch a lace
handkerchief to the top.

Take what you already own and just put it somewhere else
in a new way. Divide all of your little collectibles into
piles by color. Never prejudge something that you think
is strictly for the kitchen, or just for a bathroom. If
you look at the small knickknacks with fresh eyes you
might be surprised at how warm a room can be just by using
the play of color. I love using things in an unexpected
way. Don't limit these ideas to the bedroom. Your whole
house can be spruced up with a quick change by just moving
around the pieces you already own. Another trick is to
keep the small items all together in one spot. Don't try
to spread the small things out to cover space. You will
make much more of a statement if you keep them together
because there is strength in numbers.

Know your priorities before you buy:
Do you prefer your bedding to be 450 thread count Egyptian
cotton, or an easy no fuss fiber blend? Do the mattresses
need to have a thick 100% cotton mattress pad? Are you
looking for the most high tech mattress on the market? Do
you want the baby's bedding to be the softest available or
is the cute factor more important? Do you want to be
surrounded by fancy luxury or casual chic? Have a good
idea of what you are looking for before you start making
buying decisions. You are dressing your bedrooms in
fashion just as you would your body. Don't be afraid to
experiment a little, and use the things you already own
for a fresh look.

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