A Weekend Bedroom Makeover
(Page 5 of 6)
November/December 2003
By Lurel Kallenbach
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All the Trimmings
Window treatments, lighting, and furniture all contribute to an aesthetically pleasing, eco-friendly bedroom. These elements must be planned far in advance of your weekend makeover so you have time to custom order. Then, simply add them to your Sunday afternoon task of reassembling the bedroom. Here are some planning tips:
LIGHTING
Much of the atmosphere in your room depends on lighting, says designer Cheryl Terrace, who suggests locating four or five small pools of light around the bedroom. These could include aromatherapy candles (with lead-free wicks), a lit rock crystal sitting on a shelf, a tiny lamp on the dresser, and a paper lantern. Her other ideas:
- To keep your nightstand uncluttered, mount swing-arm reading lamps on either side of the bed. Look for units that accommodate a three-way bulb so you can control brightness.
- If you use energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs, compensate for the starker light with a lampshade made of oilcloth or parchment.
- Find unique lamps at bazaars and flea markets, or create your own from interesting pieces of wood, a damaged musical instrument, or antiques. Most towns have a local lamp doctor who can wire just about any item to hold a bulb.
WINDOW TREATMENTS
Controlling the light adds atmosphere to the bedroom—either bright and airy or intimate and cozy. As you plan your window design, however, remember that curtains, swags, and blinds tend to collect dust. “I like a clean, simple look,” says interior designer Daryl Stanton. “If you don’t need a lot around your windows, skip it. What you do choose should be washable or easily cleaned.” Stanton also suggests:
- Look for curtains or Roman shades from hemp, silk, or organic cotton.
- Order blinds made from untreated natural products such as bamboo, sustainably harvested wood, or natural grasses.
- Instead of a metal curtain rod, mount a branch (twigs included!) or a bamboo pole over the window and hang tab-top curtains or a swag of raw silk over it.
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