Bedroom Design Ideas

Think glamorous, think gorgeous, think about a sexy and sensuous space. If you hate design rules and like to mix things up then boudoir style is for you.

It conjures up for me a mix of rich fabrics, curvaceous furniture and a room filled with all sorts of unusual accessories. It is laidback and bohemian and it embraces a wide variety of materials in its style.

In boudoir style, you won't find many straight lines or a structured layout to a room. What you may see is a pile of cushions spilling from an old chaise longue onto the floor where they double up as footstool or seating when required. A bed will be dressed with a silk bedspread and a mixture of pillows in different shapes and sizes. Detailing on furniture in the room is curly and ornate, and positioning of these pieces takes a fairly random approach: they don't have to be flat against the wall but can sit at an angle in the middle of the floor. If you have a chest of drawers or desk that you think might fit in terms of shape, then you can replace plain wooden knobs with glass ones to fit with the look. In the same mode swap wooden shelving for glass and change plain supports to a filigree design. If boudoir style is applied to the bedroom you might find an antique wrought iron washstand alongside a battered armoire. If it's in the lounge there could be a velvet-covered slipper chair sitting beneath a wall-mounted candle sconce.

With the flamboyant nature of this style of room you can afford to go a little over the top when dressing up the space. If you like the idea of a fabulously fluffy sheepskin rug, then position it beside the bed or in front of your hearth. Faux fur throws and cushions can find their place across the bed or draped over sofas and chairs. Include baubles, trinkets, embroidered cushions and old lace. Go to antique arcades and rummage to find interesting pieces, or raid the old family home for an heirloom or two.

Look out for:

Mother of pearl accessories
Antique gold frames
Coloured glass and pearl-glazed lustre ceramics
Anything with a beaded trim

COLOURS AND FINISHES

Work with a palette of purples and pinks. Look for richly coloured beaded silk cushions or trim plain ones with lengths of organza ribbon. There's no doubt this is about indulging your feminine side so make the most of really pretty pastel shades. You might also want to consider a course in gilding if you are serious about working with this look. A touch of gold here and there in the room creates just the right sense of decadence for this style, and you can add it with gold leaf, wax or paint to a variety of surfaces once you know the tricks of the trade. Take an old wrought iron garden chair, for example, and add patches of gold to the frame. Have a little round cushion made up to fit the seat so that it feels like it belongs inside the house. You can also use a length of silky fabric to wrap around the back and legs of a plain wooden chair transforming it into a lavish and stylish piece.

There is a place for reflective surfaces in this room. Can you track down one of those wonderful Venetian-style mirrored console tables where the drawers are etched or painted with a floral design? If not get a suitably decorative mirror. You are trying to find something with a rippled edge or a design that has an elaborate motif at the top and bottom of the frame.

If you want to live with a relaxed atmosphere and missed out on the tidy gene, boudoir chic could be just your thing.


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