Your bedroom should be a veritable temple of rest and relaxation. It should be a sanctuary within a sanctuary; a place where you can go to relax and unwind and let ourselves be lulled into a deep and restful sleep. However, it’s also a place where we may want to bring a very special guest. If you’re a devoted singleton who wants to wow their new beau with their classy boudoir or simply want to inject a little more style and charm into your sleeping space, here are some great way to bring class, style and sophistication into the bedroom.
Keep it natural
We’ve already talked about the virtues of adding a touch of nature to your home’s aesthetic. Wherever possible you should avoid synthetic fibres and plastics in the bedroom. Avoid bedding that contains synthetic materials like nylon, terylene and polyester as these can make it harder for the skin to breathe and for you to get a good night’s sleep. What’s more, they can look visibly cheaper and detract from the air of class and sophistication you’re trying to project. Opt instead for bed linens that are 100% cotton or made from another naturally derived fabric (I’ve actually heard a lot of wonderful things about bamboo based bed linen). Not only do these make for a more restful night’s sleep, they also make your space look cleaner, tidier and classier. For a little flourish of colour add one of these hotel quality bed runners from Richard Haworth. What better way to sleep classy?
If you can… canopy!
A canopy bed makes a great statement and draws the eye while elevating everything around it. The great thing about canopy beds is that whatever your personal style may be there’s a good chance that there’s a canopy bed out there for you. Whether you’re going for a sense of classical opulence or something more contemporary and minimalist, a canopy bed is a wonderful feature that adds a wow factor to your boudoir. Needless to say, however, you have to know your space before introducing a canopy bed. If it looks like you’ve barely managed to squeeze it into your room it will cheapen the aesthetic and moreover make your bedroom look cramped.
Wall art
Wall art can make for a great statement piece that lends not just class and sophistication but a sense of personality and character to the bedroom. However, it’s important to choose a piece that is personal to you. Avoid the kinds of mass-manufactured prints you see in Ikea and its ilk. It adds little to know personality to your room when you add an over-familiar print of a New York City skyline or a quiet dock to your wall.
Be bold, be provocative, be whoever you want to be through your wall art. You don’t even have to spend a fortune. University campuses and of course good old Etsy are great sources of high quality art that won’t break the bank.
Remember, less is more
There’s no class in clutter! Not only can clutter detract from the creative flourishes and classy fixtures of your bedroom, it is also visually distracting and can add a sense of chaos to even the most carefully honed aesthetic. Moreover, it can be surprisingly damaging to your mental health and prevent you from getting the restful night’s sleep that we all need to maintain our physical and psychological well being.
Smell classy!
Of course, class is not a concept that’s confined to the strictly visual. It’s also something we experience through the nose. Why else do we spend a small fortune on designer perfumed before stepping out for a big night out. The great thing about scent is that it can be used to create virtually any kind of atmosphere without clashing with your decor. Your choice in scents can be fresh and clean, warm and cosy, spicy and sensuous, it all depends on your mood. However, I’d avoid harsh perfumes, sprays or plug-in deodorisers. These are the home equivalent of lynx body spray. Instead use diffusers filled with essential oils. Use mint or citrus oils for a fresh scent (these can also aid concentration if your bedroom doubles as an office), sandalwood and ylang ylang can add a comforting ambience while jasmine, cinnamon and marjoram can add a more exotic and sensual atmosphere.
Minimalise your nightstand
Finally, if your nightstand is cluttered with all manner of cosmetics, makeup, hair products and your other daily armaments to help you in your battle through life, you may find that not only is it tricky to relax in your bedroom, the space’s classy aesthetic is also compromised. Try to keep the items you keep on display to a bare minimum and keep the rest in a storage ottoman.
*Collaborative post
