If we’ve learned anything during our home stay this past year, it’s been that personal retreat space is important WITHIN the confines of home. We have added chairs, desks and sofa’s to client’s bedrooms this year, creating additional areas for personal workspace or retreat. It is possible to identify additional areas of productivity and calm in a hectic home, especially in the bedroom.
Good Intentions…
We often walk into a bedroom that has great intentions. An exercise bike or a chaise lounge sits unused (in the before picture above). The bike has become a clothes hanger and the chaise is used more often by the family dog than the human occupants. Exercise equipment is rarely used if placed in a bedroom. Avoid placing it in a room you want to think of as a retreat. When adding a seating area to your bedroom think of how you will best use the space. Adding a lamp to our client’s chaise creates a functional reading area. If you have space for more than a chair add multiple seating surfaces. More soft spots- textiles, pillows, throw blankets and rugs help to add a cozier feeling. Our client utilizes the sofa for late afternoon naps, realizing its addition to the bedroom provides the ideal spot to enjoy the mountain views.
Small changes go a long way…
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that adding a single chair or chaise can create a bedroom retreat. You’ll never know until you try it! In this Master Bedroom there were two entry doors, one never used by the homeowners. By closing it off, we created ample space for a favorite reading chair.
“I wrote Love Story on my bedroom floor in about 20 minutes.”
Taylor Swift
Rethinking your home office
For years we heard that nothing should be placed in a bedroom that didn’t encourage sleep. This past year has shifted that thought. Kids are homeschooling and dual working parents need to identify their independent space for productivity. In this room, our client utilized an inspiring mountain view for work space. Recently, it’s gotten easier to have desk space in bedrooms. We have way less desk clutter! All you may need in our paper free world is a laptop computer. At night, store away the laptop. Put your tote or briefcase in the closet. Keep the desk area attractive and you’ll still be able to relax in your bedroom space. We love the addition of plants to bedroom spaces. They are a wonderful living addition.
“My bedroom is my sanctuary. It’s like a refuge, and it’s where I do a fair amount of designing – at least conceptually, if not literally”
Vera Wang
OHI HOME STYLE 