ENVIRONMENT Turn bedroom into a comfy haven

A cozy room makes it easy to fall asleep and to wake up cheerful.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
More than any other room in the house, your bedroom is the space where you can stop the world and get off. It should be a haven for comfort, pleasure and privacy.
It is the most personal space in the house; therefore, plan it so that you look forward to living as well as sleeping in it.
Though the primary purpose of the bedroom is to provide you with a place to sleep, for many people, it is a multi-purpose room where other activities are just as important.
If sleeping is the only designated activity for this room, then your task is simple. Make the bed the dominant feature and you are finished decorating.
If, on the other hand, this room is also used for work, or if you are in an efficiency and the bedroom is also the living room, then you need to balance your attention between the functions. You will want to give the various activities equal opportunity for expression.
Solid foundation
However diversified this room is, remember that the bedding (mattress and foundation) is the most important piece. It means the difference between a good night's sleep and a bad night's sleep. Choose the bedding carefully. Remember, in the course of a lifetime, we spend an average of 220,000 hours in bed! That's a lot of Z's.
The bedroom set itself could aid or harm your restfulness also. If you consider the effect aesthetics has on your psyche, go to bed in an environment you enjoy and you have a better chance of getting restful sleep. Go to bed in an environment you detest and your sleep might be less than restful.
When decorating your bedroom, keep in mind that your finished product should be a room where in the evening you can fall asleep easily and in the morning wake up to a cheerful new day.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when decorating your bedroom.
UIs the room to be used by one person or two? (bed size and the needs of each person must be dealt with)
UHow near is it to a bathroom? (convenience)
UIf far from a bathroom, can one be installed at a more convenient location? (sure would be nice)
UDoes the room have a second purpose? (are you an equal opportunity bedroom lord?)
UCan you add a separate dressing area? (designated spaces for designated tasks)
UDoes this room face east, whereby a strong morning sun appears? (this question will help determine the type of window treatment you might need)
UDoes this room face west, whereby a strong afternoon sun appears? (window treatment question here too)
UAre there enough electrical outlets and telephone outlets near the bed? (convenience again)
UHow much storage space do you need? (the room's various purposes will determine this)
If you cannot do all of the above at once, at least have a master plan so you can do it gradually and still end up with a good finished product.