style

Choosing a new bed? Whether you’re furnishing a new house or replacing your old bed, it’s a big decision to make. It’s very important to get it right, to strike the right balance between comfort and practicality as well as style and of course, budget.

A popular choice is the sleigh bed, a type of bed that has been around for hundreds of years in a variety of different forms. The sleigh bed is named because of its distinctive headboard, which is curved or rolled, often along with the foot of the bed. This and its usually sturdy, solid construction makes it look uncannily like a sleigh or a sled.

Sleigh beds were around as far back as 200 years ago, but the style is believed to have roots even further back - from ancient Greek and Roman times. The look we recognise today comes from the American Empire style, a trend from the 19th century. It is a French-inspired neoclassical look, most popular in the U.S. in the 1820s but popular enough as a style to still be in fashion today.

Why are sleigh beds so popular?

This style of bed offers many benefits. You can find many affordable options, ranging from French reproduction sleigh beds all the way through to minimalist, modern styles. The sleigh bed often has attractive curves, and is a solid, durable presence in the bedroom. They often come in wood, but you can also find upholstered sleigh beds. Another possible reason why so many people love sleigh beds is the slightly enclosed or cocooned experience of sleeping in one. Sleigh beds have the appearance of curving at the head and foot, with height at both ends, so they can make sleepers feel safe and protected.

Luxurious master bedroom with vaulted ceiling, floor to ceiling glass windows, window seat lined with red seat cushions and contemporary wooden sleigh bed

Choosing your dream sleigh bed

These days, sleigh beds come in all kinds of styles, sizes, finishes, fabrics and shapes. You really will be spoilt for choice. Here are just a few of the most popular options:

• Wooden slats. Sleigh beds can be heavy and solid looking, making them quite dominant in a room. To soften the look, you can choose a sleigh bed with wooden slats at the head and footboard. This lets light through and makes the bed appear lighter and more contemporary - while still hinting at the rustic and traditional roots of the style.

• French-style solid wood. This is the classic sleigh bed look, in beautiful polished hardwoods such as mahogany, and with plenty of high quality detail.

• Headboard only. Not all sleigh beds have both a curved headboard and footboard. You’ll find many that still have the distinctive sleigh look, but with just a rolled or curved headboard. This is a modern take on the style, ideal for neat contemporary spaces.

Can you upholster a sleigh bed?

Sleigh beds tend to be made from wood, but you can also find beautiful upholstered versions of this classic style. It’s not recommended to try upholstering a wood sleigh bed, as it can be very tricky - and why would you want to hide all of that beautiful detail and the elegant curves of the bed’s outline?

If you love the upholstered look, why not opt for an upholstered sleigh bed in a crushed velvet look, smart linen or even luxury faux leather? You’ll find sleigh beds in all kinds of designs, styles and fabrics, showing just how versatile this classic look can be.

How to dress a sleigh bed

With a sleigh bed, you’ll want to show off its curvy contours rather than hide them under inappropriate bedding. Avoid floor length bedding, as the footboard may get in the way of making the bed properly, opting instead for a duvet cover or quilt that hangs no more than a couple of inches over the sides. Ruffles and fussy details are to be avoided as they compete with the decorative features of the bed - which should be the centrepiece of the room.

If you have a traditional or classic-style sleigh bed (for example, one in polished wood with plenty of decorative detail), you should choose your bedding to match. This doesn’t necessarily mean complicated or old-fashioned patterns, but nothing too modern. Simple, beautiful white or pale coloured bedding would be perfect, creating an elegant and classic look.

Do you need a boxspring with a sleigh bed?

A box spring or divan, usually used to support the mattress and act as a brace, is not usually needed with a sleigh bed. Most types of sleigh bed have enough of a frame and base to support the mattress, and they are already the correct height to make getting in and out of bed nice and easy. You should be able to use a standard mattress with your sleigh bed, just make sure before you buy that it’s the perfect size to fit your bed snugly.

Fern xx

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Tumblr  |  Pinterest  | Instagram

 Arranging the layout of any room can be difficult. Bedrooms are somehow simpler because there’s usually a limited number of places the bed can go and the bedside tables are usually placed either side. But your living room has multiple uses and deciding where your furniture should go can be hard. There’s nothing more irritating than being faced with a room that just doesn’t ‘feel’ right and you can’t put your finger on why.

If you feel like this, you’re not alone, and it could be the layout of your living room that is causing problems. We’ve outlined how you can rearrange the furniture in your living room to make the best use of the space.

Measure the room

First, use a tape measure to ascertain the exact size of the room, including the size of the alcoves and any doors or windows.

Next, take a pen, pencil and a ruler. Using your measurements, create a scale drawing of the room. If your living room measures 10m x 10m, scale this down for your drawing and make your square 10cm x 10cm. Your drawing should include the doors and windows as well as any permanent fixtures such as a staircase or fireplace.

Then, measure your furniture and draw the shape on a piece of card using your scale. Cut this out and this will provide you with moveable paper furniture pieces that you can move around your drawing to work out where things should go.

Figure out your focal point

Before you can decide on a layout, you need to consider what your living room will be used for. Is it a place to watch TV or the room you use for socialising? Is it a casual living room or will it be used as a more formal lounge? The layout could differ depending on your answers to these questions.

If your living room is used predominantly to watch TV, the TV is the focal point and your furniture should be arranged around it. The viewing distance between you and the TV should be between two and a half and three and a half metres. The viewing distance could be extended for particularly large TVs.

If your living room is used more as a socialising space, your sofa and armchairs should be arranged so that everyone can see and talk to each other, no matter where they’re sitting. Your furniture should have enough space around it so that you and your guests can easily manoeuvre around the room without walking into anything.

Top Tip: Don’t put all of your furniture flat against the wall. It’s better to keep your furniture closer together when possible to create a more intimate space.

Remember to leave space for any accessories that may come with your seating area such as side tables or lamps. You don’t want to relocate your sofa only to find that your lamp won’t fit in the corner you wanted it to.

Adding accessories

Now you’ve decided on a layout for your furniture and have moved everything into its correct place. You may have noticed that you now need to buy certain items to complete the space. For example, is there an armchair that’s placed too far away from the coffee table so people cannot put their drinks down? A small nest of tables next to the armchair would be a good solution.

You can place lamps in the corners of a room to brighten them and create a feeling of more space.

How to arrange furniture in a small living room

If you have a small living room, you may want to arrange your furniture to make it feel bigger. Here are some recommendations.

Use mirrors

Mirrors are a wonderful way to visually increase the size of the room without having to physically extend it. Mirrors will reflect the other half of the room, making a room feel double its size. They can also be placed opposite a window to provide additional light and make a room feel brighter.

Additional storage

Many small homes have very little storage, which means clutter can build up and make your home feel smaller. To get around this problem, you could invest in multifunctional furniture. For example, you could buy a large coffee table that has a lid that lifts up for you to put DVDs/electronics in and, instead of purchasing an L-shaped sofa, you could buy a normal sofa with a footstool that you can store things in.

Avoid bulky furniture

Bulky, oversized furniture will only make your small living room feel smaller. Instead, choose small-scale furniture, like a love seat instead of a full sized sofa.

Scandinavian design uses very sleek, simple furniture and is a good style to choose if you have a small home. Most of the furniture is on legs so you can see the floor underneath which makes the furniture item appear smaller than it is.

Photo by Jarek Ceborski

Note how the small chair can barely be seen because it fades into the background so much. You’ll also notice that you can see the flooring under the sofa and the unit on the wall. If the unit came right down to the floor, it would make the room feel instantly smaller.

The curtains are positioned as high up on the wall as possible. This makes the ceilings feel taller and the windows bigger.

Arranging your small living room is all about making spaces appear bigger than they are and investing in clever storage solutions. To find out more about how you can arrange your furniture in a small living room, see the helpful illustrations from  Home Edit.

Fern xx

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Tumblr  |  Pinterest  | Instagram

Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom, but how many mornings do you leave it in a crumpled mess?

A dressed bed can transform the look of a room, and it’s actually been proven that there are benefits to making your bed each morning. If you're wondering how to dress your bed so it looks like the ones you've seen in magazines or on your Instagram feed, we can help. From how to arrange your cushions to how to choose the perfect headboard, we've got all the answers you need.

Start with the base

If you want to makeover your bed, start by looking at the basics, such as your sheets and bed cover. Dressing a bed is all about creating layers but the first layer is just as important as the rest.

Has your current bedding started to bobble, or has the odd hole or tear started to appear? If the answer is yes to either of these, it may be time for a new cover. You should also buy new bedding if your current set doesn’t excite you like it used to.

Before you buy any bedding, think about what you want the overall effect to be. Do you want a combination of bold patterns or colours or do you want a muted, neutral finish?

You could buy plain bedding that you want to dress up with patterned throws and cushions. Or you could do it the other way around and buy patterned bedding that you can add plain, solid-colour throws and cushions to.

You could get both patterned bedding and cushions. If you do this, make sure that the patterns are very different, for example, if your bedding has lots of fine detail on, make sure that the throw has a large pattern that isn’t as delicate - the two will balance each other out. Alternatively, you could go with no pattern at all.

There are lots of ways you can mix and match plain bedding with patterns and colours. Decide on the look you want to achieve before purchasing your bedding.

The pillows

Once you’ve got your base, it’s time to think about your pillows.

It’s up to you how many pillows you have. Some people like to sleep with one and others prefer much more. In the UK, it’s standard to have two housewife pillows on either side of the bed, totalling four. Your pillowcases could match your bedding or they could differ completely. Again, it’s down to personal preference.

If you have a reversible duvet with a different pattern on each side, your pillows could have one pattern and your duvet the other.

The cushions

Cushions aren’t meant to be slept on - they’re there to make the bed look nice. Most designers stick to the number three when it comes to styling. This means, three cushions is ideal. However, it is a personal preference, and if you’d rather things look symmetrical, then use four decorative cushions, like in the photo below.

Photo by Adam Winger

Cushions can, and should, be bought in all shapes, sizes, colours and patterns. Some people like bold cushions and others would prefer cushions that match everything else in the room.

Throws

The final layer of a well dressed bed is a throw. Throws are so versatile. They can be folded neatly on the end of the bed, draped across the bed haphazardly so that some of the material  pools elegantly on the floor or laid in a straight line like you might find in a hotel room. Dressing a bed is all about creating layers and a throw is the perfect finishing touch.

Your bed should represent your own personal style, so have a think about whether you’d prefer odd or even numbered cushions, bold patterns or muted neutrals, a neat hotel finish or an effortless effect.

How to arrange cushions on a bed

There are so many types of cushions you can buy that it can be mind boggling. There are round ones, square ones, rectangle ones, ones with pattern, ones without pattern, ones with frills. This means there are endless ways you can arrange them.

In the UK, most households use two housewife pillowcases. Alternatively, some people place a standard housewife pillowcase at the back and an Oxford pillowcase in front, then use decorative cushions in front.

The pillows that you sleep on should go on the bed first. Then, use a number of decorative cushions in front. You can line them up in a row or stack them with the larger ones at the back and small ones in front.

Close-up of colorful bed with hexagon bedhead in bright bedroom interior with yellow chair at wooden desk with plants and candles

This bed has a slightly larger cushion placed at the front but its bright colour makes this work, particularly as there are two identical cushions either side of it that blend into the background.

Have a play around and try out a variety of cushion arrangements. Don’t forget you can always return an unused cushion that still has a label on if you don’t like it.

What kinds of pillowcases can you buy?

There are four types of pillowcase that you can buy:

Boudoir pillowcase

• 30cm x 45cm
• Used for decoration rather than sleeping on

Housewife pillowcase

• A standard 50cm x 75cm pillowcase
• The most popular cushion in UK homes

Oxford pillowcase

• Same size as a standard pillowcase
• Has loose material that goes around the hem

European square pillowcase

• 65cm x 65cm
• Less popular in the UK
• Typically goes at the bottom of the pillow arrangement

How to choose a headboard

The headboard is as much a part of the bed’s design as the cushions, bedding and throws. A headboard can be used to create a statement and set the design style of the room. You could choose a French headboard if you want to create a classic decadent look. Or perhaps you’d prefer something modern and funky like the honeycomb effect in the photo above.

The headboard in the below photo adds a touch of glam, which is emphasised by the studded furniture, sequin duvet and opulent cushions.

Photo by neonbrand

The matching footstool finishes the whole ensemble  off beautifully.

There isn’t a right or wrong when it comes to dressing your bed. The only important thing to keep in mind is to create layers. However you create these layers is up to you.

This isn't the English variant of Alice Walker's 'The Color Purple' but an introduction to the vibrant and eye-catching colours of 2019 (a wildly less serious topic)! The style over last year has drifted to more standout colours and creating seamless  matches instead of different shades of grey.

Still worth a mention as it is an incredible read!

The crunch of leaves beneath your feet

Hot colours to look for are currently autumnal, burnt oranges, light browns and burgundy. These can make beautiful feature colours but also have a safe feel as they are quite mellow and easy to look at. A typical example is the flood of tan overcoats you see on your smartly dressed colleagues.

The colours represent natural bright environments

Translating this onto the interior design scene, we hope over 2019 to see more feature walls and smartly patterned throw cushions. Be braver with your colour choices but, as always, try to keep it palatable. Our general rule of thumb is no more than three colours in one room (with a bit of slack for white, black and grey as a fourth) and no more than 3 patterns. Patterns are hard as some can sit nicely together whereas some can completely disagree, use your judgement and style to make your pick.

Living Coral

Starting 2019 you may also see the label 'living coral' thrown around a lot. This is because Pantone named it colour of the year and if you get chance, you should check out their post about it. It shows how well this colour can be used by expressing it through the page, fonts and imagery. There is an especially beautiful video showing its natural presence under the sea.

The colour really does shine alongside pale blues

The vibe is not too dissimilar to the flush of autumnal colours also rearing their heads. Both exhibit a relaxing undertone, not too aggressive in appearance. This however has a more floral, tropical atmosphere than the warming, spicy flavours of the oranges. I would encourage experimenting with this pallet to see what makes it shine. I would warn that pastels fall in and out of fashion whereas seasonal colours remain timeless.

Perfect example of the colour scheme, featured in Livinator

Furniture to finish the look

Use this modern colour inspiration to enhance your existing decor. As always with warm colours, a farmhouse or natural wood aesthetic makes a lovely homely environment. We would love to see someone take our Cheltenham range and use this scheme to add depth.

somebody please dress this in fluffy bedding

As a newly featured range in our catalogue we are interested to see what our stylish customers can achieve with this versatile look, especially playing with the painted finishes available. In our opinion it would suit Autumnal colour schemes with hints of copper around the room.

The taupe finish is a favourite of mine

This aesthetic has been experimented with a lot recently to great success. As a more contemporary suggestion, check out some of our weathered pieces. These can add character to a more polished look, going hand in hand with the casual timeless aesthetic of dark reds, oranges etc.

A fine example is our weathered chic bed

Alternatively, our Etienne range boasts a few gorgeous weathered finishes!

Fern xx

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Tumblr  |  Pinterest  | We Heart It  |  Instagram