Page 128 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2022

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story by Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
Designing the Bedroom of Your Dreams
The calendar says it is winter in South Mississippi, but that would be hard to prove. Every day the weather plays with our senses. Temperatures bounce around like a child’s rubber ball, teasing us but never staying cold long enough to make us believe we have actually changed seasons. There is no such thing as a long winter nap here, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need a sanctuary for rest and rejuvenation and a place for dreaming of summer fun.
Designing the master bedroom of your dreams uses the same principles of design you would employ in any other room
of the house: make choices for comfort, buy only pieces you love, and let your lifestyle drive decisions. That said, there are considerations unique to the bedroom that are worth talking about – acoustics, lighting, and luxurious bedding.
Your bedroom really should be a
place to find peace and quiet. Noise is something not often considered seriously enough until we find ourselves trying
to relax and we are interrupted by a busy household. Acoustics are easier
to control if you think about creating
a quiet retreat early in a building or
remodeling project. Noise absorbing tiles can be added to most ceilings and padded panels can be added to walls. Solid doors will also allow less noise intrusion than the commonly used hollow-core doors. Cover any gaps between the doors and floors. Doors should be trimmed only as much as they need to be to clear your floors and thresholds. If those options aren’t possible, consider moving heavier furniture to shared walls where noise is coming from and hang lined blackout curtains over your windows to absorb some outside noise.
Blackout shades or drapes will also help control lighting in your bedroom. Lighting is particularly important here.
We need darkness for good sleeping, and various levels of light for other activities.
There are three kinds of lighting. Ambient lighting is the first layer of
light in the room providing general illumination and setting a tone for the space. If you don’t like overhead lighting, don’t install an overhead fixture! If you do like an overhead light, take the time to really look at finding the right fixture for your space – it will be the biggest light provider in the room. Task lighting most often takes the form of table lamps or wall lamps by the bed or in a seating area. Stylish lamps that provide a variety of levels of light are a big plus. Accent lighting is lighting you don’t use every
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128 | February 2022
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