1. Walls

Prepare the walls so that they are in good condition and if necessary line them with plain lining paper before painting with an ivory or cream wall paint with a chalky finish. If you prefer to use wallpaper, choose one with a subtle self-colored pattern in cream.

2. Floor

Install a wall to wall honey beige carpet with a velvety soft texture to give a soft neutral base for your room. If you prefer wooden flooring then a medium oak will give a similar color but you will need a cream rug at each side of the bed for comfort.

3. Furniture

Choose cherry wood furniture with some detail in it to add texture and interest to the room. This could be new furniture but it should have the look of history about it. A wooden sleigh bed would fit the bill, so would any furniture with carved detail.

4. Bedding

Choose a cream bedding ensemble with rich embroidered detail for texture and interest. Top the bedding with ornamental cushions which use both the cream colors from the bedding ensemble and the honey colors from the carpet. If suitable, make up a cushion or two in the curtain fabric.

5. Curtains

Use cream full length curtains incorporating a pattern in the exact same shade as the carpet. Trim a matching valance with chocolate brown beaded fringing.

6. Accessories

Add two bedside tables covered in cream tablecloths and use tall candle style lamps with honey colored silk shades. Trim these with the same beaded trimming as the valance.

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1. The Wrong Type of Flooring

The floor in a bedroom should be about comfort. If you lay the cheapest vinyl floor tiles, you will regret it when you step on them in bare feet on a cold morning. If you have chosen hard tile flooring in error then add to the comfort of the flooring with a bedside rug. More appropriate flooring for a bedroom would be carpet or even hardwood flooring or laminate which tends to be warmer than cold tiles. (A floor rug would still be a welcome addition however).

2. The Wrong Color of Flooring

Flooring which fades into the background is generally best for most bedrooms which take their colors mainly from walls, bedding and curtains. Medium oak laminate flooring or beige carpet will work in many rooms as a neutral color. If you choose a bright shade the room will not be so relaxing and you will tire of it quickly. Not only that, the color of the flooring will overpower everything else and make the room seem out of balance.

3. The Wrong Quality of Flooring

Even though bedrooms don’t get as much wear as other rooms in your home, don’t skimp on quality. The bedroom is a room to call your own, a peaceful haven from the outside world and not one where you want to be continually irritated by the scratchy surface of an old carpet or the sight of cheap laminate flooring which greets you every time you enter the room. You don’t have to buy the very best for your bedroom but it is worth spending a little more money to get something you are happy to live with for many years to come.

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