Decorating with Metallics
Smooth, bright and oh, so shiny – a little punch of metallic shimmer in
the bedroom adds a dose of glamour, drama and sophistication. Too much, however, and your room looks more like a nightclub or a
medical facility. The key is keeping the metal under control, and tying
it in with your overall decor.
What’s Your Decorating Theme?
You can add metallic accents to any decorating scheme, but in general,
highly shiny metal finishes complement contemporary or sophisticated
decorating themes, while casual themes such as country, Mediterranean or
coastal look best with brushed, distressed or antiqued metal finishes.What About Color?
Metallics are neutral,
and so work with any color scheme, but take on extra drama and glamour
when used with darks. If your bedroom palette is filled with bright or
dark tones, limit the metallics to a few very small touches throughout
the space. A neutral or softly colored room can handle a larger single
metallic piece, or several small accents around the bedroom.Can You Mix Metals?
Forget about any old rules saying you can’t mix your metals. Stick with
all cool metals – silver, chrome, tin, pewter, aluminum – or all warm
metals – gold, brass, copper, bronze – for a harmonious look, or mix it
up with a blend of warm and cool metals for dramatic effect.
How Do You Work Metallics Into the Bedroom?
It’s easy to work a touch of metal into your bedroom décor. Just
remember to stick with a few small touches, or one larger touch, so your
bedroom remains a restful retreat.Bedding: Top your bed with a bedspread or comforter with metallic trim or metallic threads woven throughout the pattern. Sequins or embroidery are other options, but remember that these embellishments will make your bedspread difficult to wash.
Pillows: All it takes is a pillow or two in a metallic fabric, or with metallic trim, to liven up your bed and light up your bedroom.
Mirrors: Metallics look especially good against glass, so choose a bedroom mirror with a metallic frame.
Artwork: Whether it’s the family photo on your
nightstand or the painting on your bedroom wall, use burnished metallic
frames for a bit of shine without excessive glare.
Light fixtures: Shiny brass is dated, but burnished metals, chrome, copper and bronze all add an elegant touch to a ceiling pendant or fan.
Lamps: Set a metallic lamp next to the bed, or mount metallic wall sconces to illuminate your bedtime reading.
Furniture: If you like glamour or drama, consider a dresser or nightstand with a metallic finish across the top, the drawers or along the trim. If you really want to go all-out, paint the entire dresser or nightstand in metallic-finish paint.
Headboard: A wrought iron headboard and footboard is classic country or Mediterranean style. An upholstered headboard with a metallic frame or buttons will work with just about any style. A sleek and simple headboard with a satin metallic finish is a nice touch in a modern space, while an aged or distressed painted headboard suits a country, shabby chic or cottage decorating style.
Dresser top: A metallic tray, bowl or box is a good place to store jewelry. Metallic candlesticks are another way to add a small touch of shine.
Walls and ceiling: Install tin ceiling tiles on one accent wall, or use them as intended on the ceiling. Another option is hanging wallpaper with metallic touches throughout the pattern.
Don’t be afraid to add metallics to your bedroom style. As long as you keep the look under control, you really can’t go wrong. Just choose your favorite finish, and add a few touches to bring out the shine in your room.
When it comes to decorating, there are no hard-and-fast rules you have
to follow. The decorating police aren’t going to come knocking on your
door to enforce color-matching rules, laws about furniture placement or
misdemeanors having to do with bed linens. The most important key to
decorating a bedroom you love is… doing what you love. Having said all
that, there ARE some general guidelines that make it
much easier to create that bedroom of your dreams. Break those
guidelines if you wish, but be aware that you’re slipping in the no-no
zone. Here are a few decorating don’ts for your bedroom.
Excessive clutter: Sure, life happens. Sometimes you
can’t get the laundry put away on schedule. But if you’re sliding piles
of crumpled clothing aside every night to get between the sheets, or
your dresser
is so loaded with papers, dirty dishes and knickknacks that you can’t
see the surface, you’ve slid into the no-no zone. A cluttered bedroom
isn’t restful or soothing – it’s stimulating, and not in a good way. Get
your clutter under control, and you’ll feel better in the bedroom.
Getting too matchy-match: A matching set of bedroom furniture can be a thing of beauty. Complementing colors and patterns are the bedrock of good decorating. But sometimes, too much of a good thing is just that – too much. Your bedroom should look lived in, not like a staged photo-shoot for a glossy magazine or furniture catalog. Break it up a bit with a few contrasting colors and patterns, or a piece of furniture that isn’t the same design as the rest.
Too much contrast: While too MUCH matching can be overly fussy and sterile, too LITTLE matching can be chaotic and overwhelming. Moderation is the key. Eclectic or bohemian style is wonderful, but if you are combining a shabby chic bed with a sleek chrome-and-plastic dresser along with a plethora of contrasting patterns, you’ve gone too far. Keep a coherent look in the bedroom by working with a color palette that harmonizes patterns; and furniture that shares a similar style or feel.
Losing your scale: In the decorating world, “scale” refers to how a room and its furniture and décor pieces relate to each other in terms of size. A common decorating no-no is using furniture that is out of scale to the room. For example, if your bedroom is tiny, a king-size bed, oversize entertainment unit and imposing headboard are going to look cramped and out-of-place. Conversely, a large bedroom needs furniture sizable enough to give presence and balance to the room. When your bedroom furniture is scaled appropriately to the space, the room looks comfortable and harmonized.
Not enough light: If your bedroom has only one small lamp on the nightstand, you’re living in the dark. While you obviously want lights out when it’s time for sleeping, a dim room is cheerless when it comes time to dress or undress, read in bed or relax. You need at least two sources of light in most bedrooms, aside from the window. If you don’t have an overhead light fixture, adding one is the best way to brighten up your bedroom. If that isn’t an option, add a floor lamp in the corner of the room diagonal to your nightstand, which should also be topped with a lamp.
Using things you don’t love: Whether your bedroom is decorated with hand-me-downs or pieces you purchased yourself, if you’re surrounded with things you don’t love, it’s hard to feel good in your own private sanctuary. Get rid of knickknacks and accessories you aren’t crazy about. If you don’t like a major piece of furniture, and the budget won’t allow replacing it, consider giving it a coat of paint in a color you DO love for a fresh, new feel.
Feel free to break any decorating “rules” you don’t like. The only TRUE rule in interior design is to create a space that you love. Still, it’s a good idea to at least be familiar with the general decorating rules that help make a space livable and attractive.
Lamps: Set a metallic lamp next to the bed, or mount metallic wall sconces to illuminate your bedtime reading.
Furniture: If you like glamour or drama, consider a dresser or nightstand with a metallic finish across the top, the drawers or along the trim. If you really want to go all-out, paint the entire dresser or nightstand in metallic-finish paint.
Headboard: A wrought iron headboard and footboard is classic country or Mediterranean style. An upholstered headboard with a metallic frame or buttons will work with just about any style. A sleek and simple headboard with a satin metallic finish is a nice touch in a modern space, while an aged or distressed painted headboard suits a country, shabby chic or cottage decorating style.
Dresser top: A metallic tray, bowl or box is a good place to store jewelry. Metallic candlesticks are another way to add a small touch of shine.
Walls and ceiling: Install tin ceiling tiles on one accent wall, or use them as intended on the ceiling. Another option is hanging wallpaper with metallic touches throughout the pattern.
Don’t be afraid to add metallics to your bedroom style. As long as you keep the look under control, you really can’t go wrong. Just choose your favorite finish, and add a few touches to bring out the shine in your room.
7 Decorating Don'ts in the Bedroom
When it comes to decorating, there are no hard-and-fast rules you have
to follow. The decorating police aren’t going to come knocking on your
door to enforce color-matching rules, laws about furniture placement or
misdemeanors having to do with bed linens. The most important key to
decorating a bedroom you love is… doing what you love. Having said all
that, there ARE some general guidelines that make it
much easier to create that bedroom of your dreams. Break those
guidelines if you wish, but be aware that you’re slipping in the no-no
zone. Here are a few decorating don’ts for your bedroom.
Not making the bed: Take the extra minute or two each morning to make your bed. It’s the easiest, fastest way for immediate
improvement in your entire bedroom’s appearance, and it’s free. Not
only does it make your room look clean and organized, but it feels so
much better at bedtime to slip into a neatly made bed.
Getting too matchy-match: A matching set of bedroom furniture can be a thing of beauty. Complementing colors and patterns are the bedrock of good decorating. But sometimes, too much of a good thing is just that – too much. Your bedroom should look lived in, not like a staged photo-shoot for a glossy magazine or furniture catalog. Break it up a bit with a few contrasting colors and patterns, or a piece of furniture that isn’t the same design as the rest.
Too much contrast: While too MUCH matching can be overly fussy and sterile, too LITTLE matching can be chaotic and overwhelming. Moderation is the key. Eclectic or bohemian style is wonderful, but if you are combining a shabby chic bed with a sleek chrome-and-plastic dresser along with a plethora of contrasting patterns, you’ve gone too far. Keep a coherent look in the bedroom by working with a color palette that harmonizes patterns; and furniture that shares a similar style or feel.
Losing your scale: In the decorating world, “scale” refers to how a room and its furniture and décor pieces relate to each other in terms of size. A common decorating no-no is using furniture that is out of scale to the room. For example, if your bedroom is tiny, a king-size bed, oversize entertainment unit and imposing headboard are going to look cramped and out-of-place. Conversely, a large bedroom needs furniture sizable enough to give presence and balance to the room. When your bedroom furniture is scaled appropriately to the space, the room looks comfortable and harmonized.
Not enough light: If your bedroom has only one small lamp on the nightstand, you’re living in the dark. While you obviously want lights out when it’s time for sleeping, a dim room is cheerless when it comes time to dress or undress, read in bed or relax. You need at least two sources of light in most bedrooms, aside from the window. If you don’t have an overhead light fixture, adding one is the best way to brighten up your bedroom. If that isn’t an option, add a floor lamp in the corner of the room diagonal to your nightstand, which should also be topped with a lamp.
Using things you don’t love: Whether your bedroom is decorated with hand-me-downs or pieces you purchased yourself, if you’re surrounded with things you don’t love, it’s hard to feel good in your own private sanctuary. Get rid of knickknacks and accessories you aren’t crazy about. If you don’t like a major piece of furniture, and the budget won’t allow replacing it, consider giving it a coat of paint in a color you DO love for a fresh, new feel.
Feel free to break any decorating “rules” you don’t like. The only TRUE rule in interior design is to create a space that you love. Still, it’s a good idea to at least be familiar with the general decorating rules that help make a space livable and attractive.
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