Bedding Thrift

It can be quite demoralizing. Bedding can be very expensive and you often can't afford just what you want to set off your new bedroom design.

However you can still make a very stylish bed if you are short of cash and can't afford one of those fantastic bedding ensembles by

1. choosing plain white or cream bed linen of good quality
   
2. adding a pile of gorgeous cushions to your bed in wonderful textures and shapes
3. making those cushions yourself from fabric remnants you pick up very cheaply
4. picking up cushion pads from places like IKEA and discount stores

If you can add a throw and your bed will look as beautiful as any ready made bedding set.

I Love My Bed

I think everyone deserves a bed they love. I love mine as much as anyone can love a bed. It's quite an old one. I'm not sure how old as I bought it at an antique fair and all I knew was that it was French. It looks like it has seen a bit of life but it is not beaten up or anything. The whole frame is beautifully carved and has a mellow rich tone that only solid wood can aspire to.

The bed arrived at my house in bits and after a lot of hassle hubbie and I managed to get it put together. Of course, the bed wasn't what you would call a standard size so we had to get a mattress specially made at a local factory. Fitted sheets are a no-no but I hate them anyway. I am a firm believer in buying smooth flat sheets with plenty of extra fabric to tuck in and hospital corners.

I have plain ivory sheets and covers embroidered in the same color so that the bed linen does not detract from the beauty of the bed - a few cushions are all it needs to set it off a treat.

I think I'll have this bed all my life - there aren't many other pieces of furniture I own that I can say that about especially not the stuff we had to put together ourselves (which is ironic considering we had to put the bed together).

Maybe I should buy only old things but whoever heard of an antique TV table or computer desk LOL We did end up buying an old wardrobe however to match the bed.

Bedding Ensembles to Go With Your Bed

Bedding doesn't just provide comfort and warmth. If you care about how your bedroom looks it is also a means for you to put your own taste on display, a way to stamp your personality on the room, or, at least, as much as you can if your other half has strong views on home decor too.

If you spend a bit of time browsing and looking at all kinds of bedding you will start to get a feeling for what you like.

• Do you like simple or more ornate styles?
• Would you like a romantic bedroom or more of a formal look?
• What about colors? Do you like rich dark shades or the fresh tones of spring?
• Does plain white say simple and pure to you or do you find white a tad boring?
  

As you shop you will find beds of all different kinds and bedding sets to match. Have you considered your bed and what will suit it?

If you have a simple bed without a headboard then you have an easy task to dress your bed in any way you would like.

But any part of a bed which shows after the the bedding is on the bed has characteristics and a style which must be taken into account so take care to buy bed linen which is in line with that to prevent an odd effect.

If the headboard does not go with the look you are aiming for see if it is removable and choose a different one.

But if you have a solid bed it is not so easy.

You can either buy a new bed if you have the budget or just go with the flow and select from the huge range of bedding ensembles available which will go with your current bed.

More information : Two Strategies for Choosing Bedding Ensembles

Bedrooms : Texture in your Bedding Ensemble

What you want most in a bedroom is a big comfortable bed - and that is relatively easy to sort out with a quality mattress, supportive pillows and smooth bedding.

But it is also nice if your bed looks inviting. One way to do this is to use beautiful textures in your bedding and bed covers which offer a touch of luxury and these will serve you well.

The latest bedding ensembles will lend you a hand here too - because they offer not only matching items in the same fabric but also coordinated items in a range of textures and fabric patterns.

This avoids you looking like you have bought a standard off the shelf bed in a bag and gives you the designer look you most likely wanted when you decided to go for a ready made bedding ensemble.

See more on Interior Design with Bedding Ensembles where you'll find a few articles on getting the right bedding.

Understated Luxury in Bedroom Design

If you would like some understated luxury in your bedroom rather than showy film-star opulence then choose your materials with care.

Use natural materials for furniture - dark rich wood with an aged patina or cool Scandinavian off-white painted furniture are two looks which work well.

Cool, calm natural shades are best for your walls and soft furnishings and bedding in plain colors. Introduce wonderful textures to your fabrics and paint your walls in chalky natural shades of off-white, cream or beige you can almost feel when you look at them. Add a soft cashmere. mohair or lambswool throw to a sofa, chair or bed for a touch of luxury and add a few pillows with plenty of texture too.

Soft velvet carpeting in a neutral shade will work well on the floor for comfort underfoot. Or choose natural wooden or parquet flooring with beautiful subtly textured rugs.

Cast soft light over your bedroom too with tall wooden or candlestick lamps and neutral lamp shades which will illuminate all the textures in the room.

Welcome to Bedrooms and Bedding

I have a passion for home design and there is no room I like better in a home than the bedroom. It's where you can relax and be yourself - and unless you are about to put your home on the market - you can really let your personality shine through in your bedroom.

I love that there is always a focal point to work with in a bedroom - the bed. And it's great that there are so many options for dressing your bed with beautiful bed linens, comforters and even ready-made bedding ensembles.

We are so lucky these days with the choices we have available to us at all price ranges. You can make your bed and your bedroom look like a million dollars with very little effort - just a little bit of know-how.

I hope you'll remember this blog when you want to decorate your bedroom and it will help you to make your bedroom fit for royalty whether you have a budget to match or not.