Monday 17 August 2020

Affordable Small Bedroom Decorating Ideas

We all wish we could win a mad trolley dash at our favourite home décor store. Of course, in the ideal dream scenario, there would be no countdown clock, and we’d have our own interior designer personal shopper in tow. Alas, we don’t all live in a dream world of an unlimited budget, time and space. But that’s where things get fun because working within limits helps us get more creative. If you’re wondering how to make the most of limited bedroom space and resources, here are some simple and practical small bedroom decorating ideas on a budget to get you thinking out the box. 
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Tips to make a small space seem bigger
Making the most of a small space can begin with just a bit of careful thought and zero budget. If your bedroom is feeling cramped and crowded, start by taking a good look at how you’re using the space and what changes you can implement to make things feel more spacious. Here are a few tips that can really help make a smaller space feel bigger. 
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1. Create clearly defined spaces
If your bed has unwittingly morphed into a lie-in wardrobe-come-work space, and your dressing table has expanded to a wall-to-wall feature, it’s time to redefine your spaces. For the sake of mental breathing room and a good night’s rest, protect your sleeping space from other intrusions and make sure your bedroom doesn’t have an identity complex.
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2. Go oversized
It may seem counter-intuitive, but bigger pieces of furniture and accessories can actually help create a sense of spaciousness, while smaller ornaments and accessories make a space feel busy. Less is more – but don’t be scared to go big!
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3. Guide the eye
Space is in the eye of the beholder. If everything points to one central point in the room, it will feel like the walls are closing in. Leading the eye upwards and towards the room’s edges will help create a better sense of space. Face a chair towards the window, and position your dressing table or standing wardrobe towards the end of a wall to draw focus outwards. Hanging lamps and mounted wall lights are also a great way to pull focus upward. 
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4. Use light & colour to expand the room
Streamlining your colour scheme, and sticking to lighter, neutral colours will help to ‘open up’ the space. You can bring in your favourite colours and add some personality with well-chosen accessories.  Use mirrors in prominent positions to add depth and dynamic. 

Whatever the size of your bedroom, your 
bed is going to play the lead role. But that doesn’t mean it has to steal centre stage. Tucking your bed into a corner (even if you need to leave a little room for a bedside table) frees up space and makes things feel cosier.
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At the same time, your bed is the best place to make some creative changes if you want to upgrade the look of your bedroom but you’ve only got budget for one or two items.  A headboard can make a big statement and take your bedroom from drab to fab without taking up a big chunk of your space or your budget. And if you really want to economise, you can do a paint-on version that you can easily update or replace with the real thing when you have the funds. 
 
Smart storage solutions are a small bedroom’s best friend. There are tons of different innovations and nifty DIY options out there, so here are just a few concepts to get the cogs turning.
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Hanging space 
If you don’t have built-in cupboards, you don’t have to sacrifice a huge corner of your room on a bulky wardrobe. Use more of the vertical space with a custom-made garment rail above a low chest of drawers. 
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Vertical storage
Again, it’s all about thinking up. Floating shelves are cheap and easy to install, and can be used for storing things you’d like in easy reach, or for other uses like a bookshelf, shoerack, nightstand or even a desk. Also remember that the space above the bed doesn’t need to go to waste. Storage headboards are a popular space-saving option, and one with mounted lamps and easy access compartments can replace bedside pedestals altogether.
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Storage beds
Make the bed the hero of the room in more ways than one. A storage bed is a stylish and clever way to keep clutter organised and save on space and budget. Even if the initial cost is a bit more, it usually works out cheaper than buying a bed, and desk or cupboard separately.
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For kids’ rooms, in particular,  bunk beds and kids beds with storage can help preserve parental sanity on multiple levels – literally. Consider bunk beds with drawers or a bunk bed with a desk from Bed King to double up on available space.
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Maximise with multifunction
You effectively double your use of the available space when your furniture serves more than one purpose. Who says a low or medium size dresser can’t double as a bedside table? Another great option for a nightstand is a rolling bar cart with open compartments for your books, night-time drinks, extra blankies or whatever else you may need in easy reach. 
 
If you like to have extra seating in your room, you may love the look of a bed-end storage box or bench. For something even smaller, consider a stylish ottoman that doubles as a chair, nightstand and a stepladder for reaching that overhead storage. Wooden crates and pallets are also a lovely rustic option to add some inexpensive storage space which can double for pedestals, seating or small tables. 
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Remember, the best and most inexpensive way to decorate your small bedroom is to think creatively. Maybe all your bedroom really needs is a bit of reorganising, and a couple of unique or quirky pieces to give it your personal touch.

One really low effort ‘cheat’ to inject that extra bit of originality is to replace old drawer handles with modern, decorative ones. 
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And one of our favourite pieces is the leaning wall ladder. Not only does it offer some handy hanging or shelf space, it’s versatile and easy to move around, while giving your room that little touch of the unusual.  
 
Whatever your décor appetite and trolley size, Cielo has something to inspire you with our wide range of bedroom furniture. And don’t forget to check out our exciting online sale items today.
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Monday 3 August 2020

Debunking Myths About Mattresses

If you’re looking at beds, Cape Town to Johannesburg, to find the best bed - do yourself a favour - read this blog and check out Bed King’s range!

Getting past the gimmicks to the truth about YOUR mattress
Buying a new mattress is a lot like buying car insurance. Comparing features and prices from brand to brand is challenging because there are so many variables. Innerspring or latex, organic or natural, euro-top, pillow-top or luxury-plush – the combinations of what’s inside your mattress are endless. And because buying a new bed isn’t a frequent purchase (thank goodness!), the learning curve will always be painful.

Sorting through the clutter of information in the mattress industry and hone in on what matters to you – a GREAT night’s sleep – will help you make an informed purchase. Before visiting a mattress retailer, arm yourself with common sense and learn the difference between myth and truth. And if you’re curious about what mattress is best for your age and stage of life.

Mattress myth 1 – Replace your mattress every 8 years
The Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every 7-10 years, depending on comfort and support. The truth is that the life of a mattress varies wildly, which depends on how you take care of it, how you sleep on it and how often you rotate it.

Think of your mattress as performance gear for your sleep. Just like a good pair of running shoes can help you run faster and prevent injuries, a supportive mattress can deliver better, healthier sleep. You’ll know when it’s time to shop for a new mattress based on how you feel when you wake up.

Mattress myth 2 – A firm mattress is the best mattress for your back
To minimize pain and discomfort and help your body relax into healing, regenerative sleep, you need a mattress that conforms to your favourite sleeping positions while supporting all areas of your body – conformability and support. In general, mattresses fall into three categories.

  • Soft mattresses tend to conform to your shape but fail to deliver uniform support across the entire body.
  • Medium-firm mattresses tend to deliver equally on conformability and support and alleviate pressure point pain in most people.
  • Very firm mattresses offer good support but little (if any) conformability, which can lead to pressure point pain.


Mattress myth 3 – The right mattress will prevent tossing and turning
Babies start rolling over in their sleep at around 4 months of age and by adulthood, we’re moving as much as 75 times a night – whether it’s a simple twitch or a full-out roll. We move during the night to alleviate pressure point pain and to reduce stress and strain on our backs and joints. A good mattress will reduce how much you move at night by providing pressure point relief, which will allow you to slip into deeper, healing REM sleep.

Mattress myth 4 – Your new mattress should be a perfect fit from the first time you sleep on it
Most people need at least a month to adjust their bodies to a new sleep surface. Considering how long we spend in bed in a 24 hour period, it’s no wonder that our muscles and joints have a memory of how to find the most comfortable spot on the mattress. Does that mean you should only buy from a mattress retailer that offers a comfort guarantee? Not necessarily. If you’ve done your research, shopped around and spent time testing out a variety of mattresses, your mattress purchase should be a natural progression of those activities.

 Mattress myth 5 – A mattress should be flipped every few months to keep it in good condition
Most mattresses today are made one-sided, which means they should never be flipped. So, how can you ensure maximum enjoyment of your mattress and reduce body impressions?

  • Sleep in a variety of positions and places on the mattress so the entire surface compresses evenly.
  • Rotate your mattress monthly for the first 6 months and quarterly after that.


Please note: when you first start sleeping on your new mattress, rotate every two weeks for the first two months. And remember that body impression is normal up to 1 ½ inch and not a structural defect. The upholstery materials are conforming to the weight and shape of your body, which is a good thing.


Mattress myth 6 – Buy a mattress with the longest warranty possible
Mattress warranties do not refer to the life expectancy of your purchase. The warranty covers workmanship and materials and just like many products used with extreme regularity, you’ll notice wear and tear before you reach the end of the warranty.

When buying a new mattress, read the warranty carefully even though there’s very little difference in the terms and conditions of warranties from manufacturer to manufacturer. It’s good to note that transportation costs (to and from the factory) are usually not covered in the case of repair or replacement. As well, a new warranty is normally not issued when the mattress is replaced.

Mattress myth 7 – It’s against the law to remove the law tag on your mattress
The warning against removing the law tag of your new mattress tag can be intimidating. The truth is that once you’ve bought the mattress and it’s in your home, you can do whatever you want with it. But if you ever need to file a warranty claim, it needs to be attached to the mattress because it contains critical information that will help the manufacturer process your claim.

What’s the cost of a good night’s sleep? If you spent R20,000 on a new mattress (for example) and slept comfortably on that mattress for 7 years, the cost of healthy sleep would be R7,83 per night – much less than the cost of a store bought coffee in the morning…

Rest well & wake up ready to go!
Better sleep gives rise to better mornings, bringing your goals into focus and dreams within reach. 

Article from: https://bodaciousbedrooms.weebly.com/blog/debunking-myths-about-mattresses