By Rami Moorosi
We spend at least six hours of our daily lives in bed, but the bedroom is not only about getting sleep – this is a haven that is created by your choice of decor, linen and bedroomware.
Linen
Even though choosing linen is a personal decision, the current trends should not be overlooked. Roy Griffiths and Martin Harris from Griffiths and Griffiths note that the latest trends for bed linen are paisley (damask) patterns, in neutral tones such as light grey and natural stone colours.
Nico Brits from Exclusive Home Fashions adds: “The ‘Lexition’ look of white, blue and red is making a strong comeback, with images of the Cape Cod trend and the Union Jack featuring strongly. Discerning clients always love a good quality white or cream duvet cover with a subtle design, choosing to accent the fashion colours or their personal signature with throws, cushions and accessories.” Experts from @home further explain: “Printed linen is currently in vogue with watercolour florals, appliquéd florals and sketch florals being hugely popular, and leading the way. Prints with embroidery detail add to this new look, and are fast becoming the trend leaders. New fabrics to look out for include linen and linen blends, and half panama cotton.”
Brand manager of Polo Homewear, Carol Pittendrigh says: “Look for 300 to 400 thread count, as this describes the fineness of thread used to weave the fabric, and this thread count will give a good, basic, smooth finish that will be cool in summer and warm in winter.
When it comes to choosing linen for different seasons, even though technically there are no differences, experts from Wetherlys mention: “One might gravitate towards the white sets in summer, and brighter, more cheerful designs for the cold winter months, but the warmth factor comes from the choice of the duvet inner, where the tog ratings help to define the selection. Tog ratings measure thermal resistance, and the higher the tog value, the warmer the duvet.”
Duvets
The quality of the duvet used on a bed makes the world of difference, not only in terms of appearance, but also in terms of how one sleeps. Goose down is lighter than feathers of any sort, and is therefore more comfortable to sleep under. In addition to this, it retains warmth better than feathers do, and in winter goose down is warmer, without being heavier than other duvets.
Catherine Holtzhausen from The Goose Company explains: “The lightest duvet is the summer duvet, which is comfortable for the warmer months of the year. The autumn duvet, slightly heavier, is obviously good as the seasons start to change and the temperatures drop. While many companies sell a winter-weight duvet as well for extremely low temperatures, it is also worth considering purchasing an all-seasons duvet made up of a summer duvet as well as an autumn one. These two click together with press studs giving you the equivalent of a warm winter-weight, and make for a cosy sleep in the coldest parts of our country during the deepest winter months.”
Getting the look
The current trend for decorating your bed with linen is to layer the bed with accessories. Luxury is created by using throws, quilts, cushions and bolsters to add depth and warmth as well as to enhance the colour scheme. Mix different textures for extra effect too.
For a simple look, you can use two layers of pillows for example standard pillows in front of king size pillows, with the addition of scatter cushions and throws in a different colour. You can take this further by using layers of scatter cushions in different sizes, colours and fabrics, and maybe two different throws at the foot of the bed. Use the same accessories on an occasional chair or ottoman.
Headboards
The ultimate yet practical accessory that provides a great way to express yourself is definitely the headboard.
“Hand-crafted timber headboards are definitely popular, with emphasis on hand-carved detailing and patterns while using timbers from sustainable trees. Colour trends are more grey and charcoal in tone. Scale is a huge trend with four-poster beds and over-sized headboards injecting glamour, elegance, and romance to the bedroom,” says Tristan Voss, managing director of Box Living.
Justin Van Breda, creative director of JVB Furniture Collection, also says that there is a move toward proper old fashioned beds and hand-made mattresses. “We recommend treating timber headboards as you would any other piece of wooden furniture. With regular treatment and protection you will extend the lifespan of your wooden headboard,” he adds. In terms of upholstered headboards, Justin recommends that they be treated with a protective coating to prevent damage from accidental spills and resulting unsightly marks.
Regarding the trends for upholstered headboards, Sean Vermaak from Headboard Emporium says deep-buttoned linen headboards with crystal buttons and French diamond patterns are fashionable. Larger headboards that are about 1,5m high can be used to create a bold statement. Sean also suggests that if you have light colours on your wall, you can make the headboard a focal point by using dramatic colours and using some “bling” buttons.
Beds
It goes without saying that a good mattress makes for a good night’s sleep. “The latest trend in mattresses would be the use of specialised treated fabrics, along with finishes to improve the aesthetics of the mattress. Eurotop mattresses are making a comeback, as are large mattresses. Important considerations when purchasing a mattress would be brand recognition, and the comfort options available. Beds are an investment in improving your health and quality of life. We should be spending eight hours a day in our beds, so comfort and support are very important,” says Ahmed Omar from Simmons.
A good quality mattress is essential, so always buy the best quality you can afford. When buying a bed or mattress, Liward Liang from Steel-Land says that you should look at the quality of the leather, bed slat, fabric, spring and other inner materials. More and more people seem to going for king size beds over doubles or queens. If you feel bigger is better, ensure that the bed will fit into your bedroom and that you still have enough space to move around, and space for bedside tables as well.
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