Are you a reader?  Then invest in a lounge/reading area with thought-provoking artwork and ample lighting. Eye experts generally agree that two reading lamps of at least 175-200 watts are best to avoid strain.  If this seems too bright for a bedroom, consider installing a series of wall sconces behind a comfortable chair and ottoman, which will give you a lot of light and style.  Get lots of pillows.  Maybe your reading area is a cozy nook—think about installing built-in bookshelves.  Does landscape art move you, or something modern and geometric?  It’s best for the eyes not to read lying down, but if you prefer reading in bed, think about installing a padded headboard.

Color is important because it will define the vibe of your master bedroom.  Passion colors include deep red, peach, pink, purple, and gold.  A good masculine accent would be royal blue.  Consider smart colors like ivory, amber, steel blue, or gray-green if you are going with a reading theme.  General sanctuary colors, and ones suited to either gender, should be soothing and earthy, like forest green, mocha, cobalt blue, or rich eggplant.  Play with schemes and consider a subtle stencil high on the walls, which will draw attention up and give your room some lift.

One way to make your bedroom stand out—while saving money—is by painting a headboard onto the wall above your bed.  It’s a great illusion and you can get very creative.  Measure the width of the head of your bed, marking it with painter’s tape from floor to ceiling.  Choose a color that will compliment the existing one on the wall.  Add details like wall decals, if you wish.  Paint stars and birds, or a chandelier.  This is a good master bedroom project for the artistically inclined.  You might even consider a mural.  It’s your room, after all.

A potted tree will be a great focal point in your master bedroom, or a leafy plant.  Do you like golf? Sewing? Classical music? Astronomy?  Decorate according to your hobbies and enjoyments and you will find the room to be much more than a place to dress and sleep.  It will be your safe, lovely retreat.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/12-designer-decorators/79-design-in-the-master-bedroom.htm

When you want to use plants to incorporate different looks in various parts of your home, realize that some rooms are more suitable for one type of plant than another.  When plant shopping, take note of whether a plant is low-light or high-light, and think of which areas of your home get more sun, or less.  It is often the case that higher-light plants require more water.  If there are pets or children in your home and you want a low-maintenance floor plant, a snake plant is a much safer choice than a cactus.  Always ask when shopping whether a growth is poisonous, and avoid them if you have animals or toddlers that might unwittingly try a bite.  In that case, it’s best to decorate with high hanging plants, or perhaps an indoor tree like a ficus bejamina, with leaves out-of-reach.

It’s wise to select plants with a look that compliments the interior design of your home.  A more modern interior would do well with a funky marginata or colorful bromeliad.  A country kitchen would be lovely with a hanging ivy or pothos, and an Asian-themed living room would be suitable for a collection of bonsai.  Always take into consideration that plants grow.  Choose a pot that will give the roots plenty of space to spread.  Large plants like tropical trees and exotic palms must be in big potters, or else they are liable to topple onto the floor—or worse, perish.

Designing with plants gives you the option to cover up areas of the home like stained carpet and damaged walls.  You can brighten a splintered windowsill or unsightly radiator with a small orchid.  You can liven up an unused fireplace with a collection of warm ferns.  All plants usually do best when stationed in one area, as they become used to the same temperature and sunlight factors, day in and day out.  It’s best not to move them or shuffle them around unless absolutely necessary.  Flowering plants tend to wilt around heating vents or close to a stove.  Try to keep your houseplants in an area with the most consistent surroundings, and even one slightly humid.

Be careful of overwhelming your space with plants.  One single tree is usually sufficient as a warm focal point in a living room or large entry.  The bigger the foliage, the more oxygen it gives off, so a considerably leafy plant may be good in the bedroom to help you sleep better.

Have fun decorating with plants.  Be cautious and creative—your new plants just might last for decades.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/connecticut-contractors/12-designer-decorators/76-decorating-with-plants-bringing-the-outside-in.htm