Buying Soft Furnishings For The Bedroom

Your bedroom is a room that should be relaxing and comfortable because it is where you go to sleep. A bedroom with no soft furnishings isn’t going to be comfortable or relaxing. Even designer furniture in a room won't save of from a lack of textiles.

Soft furnishings include the window dressing, bed linen and any fabric accessories that you use to finish the room. The sort of look you want for your bedroom will have a bearing on the items you buy, as will your budget.

There are several areas of the bedroom where soft furnishings are essential. For the windows you need some sort of netting for privacy, unless of course you have the luxury of living in an a house that's not overlooked. Netting doesn’t have to be anything old fashioned but of course if that is the look you want there’s no reason not to go with it. Modern netting can can be bought in many designs and you should look at a few types to see what you like. There’s everything from voile to lace and plain to embroidered.

Of course simply putting netting at a window might not be enough because it won’t block any light out and most people require darkened rooms to get any good sleep. There are many types of fabric that can be made into curtains and blinds. Heavy velvet will keep out the light and cold but may not suit the look of all rooms. A calico Roman blind could work in some situations because blinds are a different style of window dressing from curtains but you really have to look around and see what you like. Home magazines are a great place to get inspiration.

Bedding is really important simply because you will be in physical contact with it on a regular basis. Try and get the best quality that you can afford. With sheets, look at the thread count. The higher the thread count, the higher the quality of the product. Sheets can be made from man-made fibres, cotton, a combination of polyester and cotton, or silk. Silk is obviously the most costly but it feels amazing on the skin.

If you can, buy your bedding as a set, and make sure that you wash it all together to prevent colours mis-matching over time which will happen if one item has been washed more than another. If you want to go for a mis-matched look make sure that it is done properly - there is an art to it! The look can be achieved but it’s not easy.

Whilst window dressings and bed linen are essential for the bedroom, there are optional soft furnishings that can bring a stamp of luxury or character to a room. These are things such as bolsters, decorative cushions and sequinned throws.

If you have enough money, consider getting some seasonal soft furnishings. A velvet throw is lovely in winter with a few Christmas motif cushions to get you in the festive spirit.

Whilst the furniture in a room gives it structure, it’s the soft furnishings that make it a place that you want to spend time, so buy wisely.