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Archive for the ‘Bedroom’ Category
Monday, November 12th, 2012
 Bentley domino oak bedroom furniture Furnishing a bedroom from scratch can be a daunting prospect, but creating a functional and stylish contemporary bedroom needn’t be a headache.
Adding a beautifully crafted lamp and expensive designer bed linen will draw the eye away from a mass manufactured wardrobe and bedside table, or a plain looking bed. Mixing and matching is perfectly acceptable and can help you create your own unique style.
For those who have neither the creativity nor the time to indulge in fantastical ideas, matching bedroom units are a simple yet effective way of furnishing your room. The advantage of this means the style of the soft furnishings, wallpaper, and accessories, can be changed at a whim, to create a whole new look.
Once a bed has been chosen, the second most important buy is the wardrobe. This should be as large as possible WITHOUT dominating the room. Consider a wardrobe which compromises drawers, hanger space and if possible a shelf or two. Shelves inside a closet are useful for storing a television set, or can be used for folded bed linen and towels, items that can take up a lot of drawer space.
When choosing a bedside table it is best to have one at bed height, so it easy to reach nightlights and alarm clocks. Ideally, the top of the table should be level with the top of your mattress for easy access. Many bedside tables have a couple of drawers or a small cupboard under the table top – these are an excellent choice as you can never have too much storage space.
Ideally, a chest of drawers should match your wardrobe, unless you are willing to pay for a unique design or want to have a feature piece. Having several drawers is more practical than just having three large ones, as they will prevent clothing getting creased and roughed around while searching for a particular item.
If you have the room for a chair in the bedroom, why not think about a futon chair or a chair bed? They’re ideal when you need a bed for a guest to stay over and work well in children’s rooms too.
Strategically placed mirrors will reflect light and open up the room and smaller spaces will benefit greatly from one or more mirrors on the walls.
Whatever design is finally chosen for the bedroom furniture, think storage first and foremost, and remember that even the plainest bedroom furniture can be complemented with a few choice accessories, stylish wallpaper and funky soft furnishings to create your perfect bedroom.
***This post is in association with Bedstar***
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Tags: guest post
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Thursday, November 1st, 2012
On average, we spend a third of our lives asleep, so it makes sense to invest in a bed that helps us get the best sleep. Here are some top tips to consider when buying a new bed for your home
Measuring your bedroom
Before you decide what size of bed you want to buy, it’s crucial to measure the space you have available in your bedroom. Remember to allow plenty of space to be able to walk around the bed, plus space for any bedside tables or other furniture in the room.
Most bed measurements are given in feet and inches, although shops may offer conversions too, so it’s a good idea to ensure any measurements you take are in the same format to allow easy comparisons.
Choosing a bed size
When you’ve worked out how much space you have available in your room, you can decide on what size of bed you want to buy.
Some of the standard bed sizes in the UK are:
Single – 3’ by 6’ 3”
Small double – 4’ by 6’ 3”
Double – 4’ 6” by 6’ 3”
King size – 5’ by 6’ 6”
Super king size – 6’ by 6’ 6”
There’s quite a difference in size between a double and king-size bed, and again between a king and super-king size. A double may fit comfortably within the space available, but it’s worth bearing in mind the additional comfort you could gain from a king size bed.
With a king size bed, there’s much more space to spread out, turn over and move around in your sleep, which is ideal if you’ll be sharing your bed on a daily basis. Carpetright king size beds provide the ultimate in size and luxury and are available to suit a range of budgets.
Choosing a bed type
To complete your perfect bed, you’ll need to think about what type of bed frame you want.
If you’re after extra storage space in your home, then a divan bed is a good option to explore. A divan provides a sturdy base for a mattress and has built in storage drawers around the base. The bigger the bed you choose, the more storage it’s likely to have.
If you’re keen on making a statement with your bed, then a contemporary bedstead frame is worth considering. Both wooden bed frames and metal bed frames are widely available in a range of distinctive styles.
***This post is in association with Carpetright***
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Tags: bed, buying a bed, Carpetright, guest post, king size bed, Sleepright
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Thursday, September 6th, 2012
 Macdonald Chantelle bedding While the importance of a good bed and mattress is widely recognised, fewer people are as likely to suggest that the quality of your bedding can also affect your sleep. However, even when you disregard the fact that some materials may be more likely to irritate sensitive skin, bed sheets do play a part in the quality of your sleep.
Tuck yourself under bedding that you feel comfortable with and you’ll find it much easier to drop off. On the other hand, if you have to get into a bed with ugly, unattractive or garish bedding and you’ll feel too anxious to completely relax before you’ve even got undressed.
New bedding is also a great way to inject some life into your bedroom. While re-decorating your bedroom can be expensive, not to mention incredibly inconvenient if you plan to repaint the walls or put in a new carpet, changing your bedding is a quick, easy and relatively cheap way to instantly transform the environment. The bed is the centre of attention in any bedroom, so it’s no surprise that a simple change of bedding should produce such effects.
With the money you’ll save on taking this quick and simple decorating short-cut you can afford to splash out on some truly luxurious bedding. Debenhams has a range of stylish bedding from exclusive designers such as Rocha.John Rocha and Julien Macdonald that look a lot more expensive than they actually are. Some people will want something truly sumptuous like Macdonald’s ‘Chantelle’ bed linen in silver with matt satin and black flocked lace, while others will find Rocha’s simple and elegant ‘Poppies’ bed linen more appealing.
 Poppies bed linen When it comes to your bedding don’t forget the extras. Bed throws and cushions can instantly enhance any bedroom. As well as the aesthetic improvements an extra throw will keep you warm and snug in winter, while cushions are great for propping yourself up on a lazy Sunday morning.
So while you might find yourself struggling to get through the day, there’s no reason why you can’t sleep like a king or queen with affordable, luxurious bedding and covers.
***This post is in association with Debenhams***
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Tags: bedlinen, contemporary bedding, Debenhams, designer bedding, guest post, Julien Macdonald, luxury bedding, poppies bedding, Rocha.John Rocha, silver bedding
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Monday, July 9th, 2012
 Memory foam mattress Finding the perfect mattress is very important as you will be spending quite a bit of time on it and it will play a part in ensuring you get a restful night of sleep. Therefore, when shopping for a mattress, keeping some key things in mind can help you find the best mattress to fit your needs.
There are many different kinds of mattresses to consider, so when you’re shopping, don’t rush into it and buy the first mattress you see. It’s always a good idea to try out a mattress before you buy, but many people simply lie down on it for a few seconds. Realistically, this isn’t enough time to determine the full comfort level. Sometimes a mattress can feel comfortable at first, but after a time, becomes less so.
Instead, take your time and spend some time relaxing on it. Also, if you will be sleeping with a partner on the mattress, take them with you to try it out too. You want to know how the mattress feels with both of you on it. Many mattresses feel quite differently when one person is on it versus two.
A good test is to lie on the mattress with your backs to one another to see how comfortable it is when there are two of your lying on. It’s also worth seeing how the mattress feels when your partner gets out of bed. Ideally, your comfort and sleep shouldn’t be disturbed too much when someone else moves on the mattress. If you do notice the effects of their movement, then take it into consideration as you compare mattress options.
Another thing to consider when purchasing a new mattress is size. The mattress must be long enough to comfortably accommodate your height. Taller people, usually those over 6 feet, will want to choose a mattress that is no smaller than a king size. If you’re extremely tall, then a California king mattress may be more appropriate. For a mattress for a couple, so long as their heights are less than 6 feet, a queen mattress will be perfectly adequate.
When purchasing a new mattress consider testing out one of the popular memory foam mattresses. These can be quite comfortable as well as therapeutic for some conditions. It’s always good to try to find the best memory foam mattress available.
Before you make your final decision, do your research carefully and test out plenty of mattresses to find the perfect choice for your sleeping needs.
***This post is brought to you by Memory Foam Mattress Direct***
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Tags: guest post, mattress, memory foam mattress, Memory Foam Mattress Direct
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Monday, June 25th, 2012
 Lanna coral duvet set Isn’t it great when you find something in the sale that you’ve had your eye on for a while, but couldn’t previously afford?
This striking Lanna bedding set is one example. It was over £200 previously (ouch!), but now both the double and king size duvet sets are reduced down to just £59.95, which is a substantial saving.
The opulent looking coral duvet is made from cotton and comes with a set of two standard pillow cases. It’s available online at Anthropologie.
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Tags: Anthropologie, bedding, designer bedding, discount bedding, double duvet, duvet, duvet set, king size duvet, Lanna, summer sale
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Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
 
What’s not to love about waking up to birdsong?
This entertaining LED alarm clock won’t exactly give you a blackbird chirping away outside your window, but you do get a bird singing and moving by your bed as part of your morning wake up call.
It’s a quirky alarm clock that can make waking up in the morning a little bit more fun.
Available in white, black or red, the Okko alarm clock is normally £30, but is currently reduced to £21 at Habitat.
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Tags: alarm clock, bird alarm clock, bird clock, bird trend, birdsong, Habitat, LED alarm clock, Okko, quirky clock
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Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
 Dormeo Octaspring mattress How good is your mattress? We thought ours was reasonably okay and adequate, until we got the chance to sleep on one that infinitely improved our sleep and provided the perfect level of comfort and support – the Dormeo Octaspring mattress.
When Dormeo asked if we’d like to test their new Octaspring mattress, the idea of an excuse to do some serious sleeping sounded like the perfect opportunity!
Installing the Octaspring mattress
The mattress arrived a bit unexpectedly and we’d not had time to remove our old mattress, so the delivery men kindly informed me that it was really lightweight and easy to move, so we’d have no problem doing it ourselves. Quite frankly, they were fibbing (*** see note at end).
Our stairs are not straight, they’re twisty, and the mattress is by no means thin or bendy. Getting it up the stairs proved far trickier than expected, not to mention exhausting, and at several points we thought it had got stuck and we’d have to call for help with getting it any further.
But after a lot of huffing and puffing, we finally made it upstairs, got it onto the bed and collapsed straight onto it. It was when we came to move the old mattress down that we got our first insight into how different the Octaspring mattress really is.
The old mattress really was thin and floppy, proving no problem at all to manoeuveur back down the stairs. It was a complete contrast to the Octaspring, which was super sturdy and made up of layers of foam springs. Visually, there was no comparison between the two mattresses and the Octaspring was so much thicker and far, far more substantial than the old bog standard mattress.
As well as looking different and being specially made for the perfect sleep, the Octaspring proved to be so much more comfortable too. In fact, it’s a world of difference from our previous mattress.
I can’t begin to describe just how comfortable it is – it’s almost like you’re lying on a soft cloud that is fully supporting your body. It seems to mould itself around your body, giving you the exact amount of support you need, and you don’t get disturbed by someone else’s movement as they turn on the other side of the bed.
Octaspring mattress technology
 An Octaspring foam spring Most mattresses are either made with metal springs (like our old one) or with memory foam. Springs help provide good ventilation, but can create uncomfortable pressure points. Memory foam on the other hand can be more comfortable, but lacks the ventilation, which can result in making you feel hot and uncomfortable.
In the case of the Octaspring mattress, designer Willy Poppe came up with the idea of creating the best of both worlds – blending together the two concepts to create a spring made out of memory foam. It’s a clever idea and from a sleep and comfort point of view, it really works.
Octaspring mattress range
There are five different mattresses in the Octaspring range.
They differ in the number of Octaspring layers they have (from one to three), in the number of Octaspring zones in the mattress (from three to seven) and in the depth of the mattress (from 18cm to 30cm), and are priced accordingly.
We’ve been sleeping on the Octaspring 8500, which is thickest at 30cm and has three layers of the Octaspring technology in seven zones.
Now we’ve tried the Octaspring, we’re fully converted and don’t ever want to go back to a flimsy, unsupported mattress again!
As we spend about one third of our lives sleeping, and lack of sleep is a contributing factor to various health problems, it makes sense to invest in something that will help provide the best night’s sleep possible. To find out more, visit www.octaspring.co.uk
Dormeo Octaspring offers customers a 60 night risk free home trial, so you can try the mattress and see if it improves your sleep, plus they come with a 20 year guarantee. They’re also currently giving away two free Evolution pillows (worth £160) for orders placed before the end of March.
***In normal circumstances Dormeo’s ‘white glove delivery service’ promises to deliver the mattress directly to the room of your choice (you shouldn’t have to drag it upstairs yourself like we did!). If requested, they’ll also set it up, remove the packaging and take away your old mattress – definitely a valuable service.
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Tags: Dormeo, Dormeo mattresses, mattress, mattress delivery, mattress review, mattress technology, memory foam, Octaspring, Octaspring mattresses, Octaspring review
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Monday, March 19th, 2012
 Quilted throw During the in between weather, when it’s too hot to have your thickest winter duvet on at night, but too chilly for your summer weight one, having a throw that you can use as an added layer helps solve your bedding issues.
This red throw is lightly quilted, so provides just the right amount of extra warmth for early spring nights that can still have a chill in the air.
The stripes of colourful fabric are made up of different textures and sheens, and it looks more expensive than it really is. The size (150cm x 200cm) makes it ideal for a double bed, but also suitable for using on a king size bed too (it covers the width, but not quite the length).
The TU red quilted throw comes very nicely packaged and wrapped up in coordinating ribbon and costs £30 from Sainsbury’s.
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Tags: bedding, contemporary bedding, duvet, quilt, quilted, red bedding, red throw, Sainsbury's, throw, TU bedding
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Friday, February 24th, 2012
 Oxford pillowcases The Best Bed Linen in the World makes a huge claim, but does it live up to its name?
Whilst I’ve not tried the whole of their bedlinen range, I have tried some pillowcases and have been very pleasantly surprised.
The quality is excellent and it’s far superior to my usual pillowcases. The white Oxford pillowcases have a silky, sateen feel to them, just like you would get in a five star hotel. They’re very comfortable to sleep on and look good too.
The only small downside was that they seemed to swamp my standard sized pillows – perhaps a superior pillow is needed for these cases?!
Having tried the pillowcases, I have high hopes that the rest of their bedlinen range is as good as they claim.
If you want to put the bed linen to the test, then a set of two plain white Oxford pillowcases costs £22 from The Best Linen in the World.
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Tags: bedding, bedlinen, best bed linen, best bedding, Oxford pillowcases, pillow review, pillowcases, The Best Bed Linen In The World, white bedding
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Monday, January 30th, 2012
 Lomme bed Meet the Lomme bed!
The unique and creatively designed Lomme bed is made in an egg-shaped, pod-type design. The bed was created by Polish designer, Agneiszka Bernacka, after two years of research in sleep habits, problems and therapies.
Of course, it’s not just any old bed and doesn’t just look nicely designed – it incorporates a number of special features, including light, colour, sound and comfort to create the perfect sleeping environment.
The light aspect is in the form of a light therapy alarm clock, where you go to sleep with a gradual sunset and wake to a created sunrise (a bit like a giant Lumie bodyclock).
There are also colour therapy lights within the bed, so you can change the colour to suit your mood or embrace the idea of colour therapy healing. An iPod is cleverly installed within the bed, to provide you with music to listen to as you go to sleep or wake up, and there’s a built-in massage system too, to ease all those aches and pains.
Not surprisingly, the Lomme bed doesn’t come cheap. It’s currently priced at £33,000 from Bouf.
One can but dream…!
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Tags: coccoon bed, contemporary bed, designer bed, expensive bed, fresh design, Lomme, Lomme bed, modern bed, pod bed, unique bed
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