Archive for March, 2010

Teen bedroom design can be challenging but can also have it’s rewards. Whether you have a girl or boy, teenagers are busy exploring their own way in the world. They are trying out different things and figuring out what works for them and what doesn’t. They are also asserting their independence. What better way for them to do that than to take part in designing the room that they’ll be spending a lot of time in as they complete their school years and prepare for what is ahead.

If you have a girl, chances are she’s outgrown the pink or lavender colors that most likely graced her room as a young child. She’s testing the waters and picking out what she likes. At this point, she probably does have a favorite color and this would be a good place to start. If you start with her favorite color and then look to the things that she’s interested in when considering wall art or accessories for her room, this will bring the room together nicely. For example, if yellow is her favorite color and she’s really interested in music, start with yellow paint for her walls. Choose a shade with her so that she feels she’s a part of the process and that her opinion matters. When the room is painted, look for items to add to her walls that enhance her tastes. Perhaps a large musical note can be displayed on the wall or some wallpaper border with musical notes displayed throughout to line the tops of the walls.

Similarly, a boy should be given the same type of consideration as a girl when choosing the decor for his room. However, it may be a little more difficult to get him involved in the whole process, yet if you ask him to own the process by being a part of all of it; the painting and wallpapering, as well as the shopping and decorating, more willingness may evolve. Again, start with his favorite color, then take him with to choose the paint from the hardware store. When it comes time to paint his walls, ask him to help. Take him back to the store to choose the items that will be purely decorative. If he’s into model boats or trains, ask him to build a few to later hang with fish line from his ceiling. Adding the feel of ownership over the project will help your young man jump in with two feet and you’ll end with a room that you can both be happy about.

A blissful teenager may not result from these events, yet they won’t be moody over their bedroom. It will be an area that they will enjoy being in and that will help when they need to concentrate on a school project or something along those lines. Best of all, they will have taken at least some part in the creation of the room, so they will be excited about it when it’s done. Never pass up the chance to have a happy teenager, even when it means entering into a teen bedroom design project with them.

We all know about the benefits of eating organic foods and using eco-friendly free cleaners and other household items, but now this toxin-free existence has extended into other areas of the house. Apparently a tidy, relatively dust-free bedroom just doesn’t cut it anymore in today’s chemical ridden society.

How green is your rug? Natural products such as jute or wool are the most desirable.

Your bedroom furniture may be oozing toxic gases. Anything composed of particle board or paneling and left unsealed, can emit formaldehyde and has the potential to cause difficulty in breathing, watery eyes, or allergies. Extreme levels have been known to cause cancer in animals and humans.

When you’re painting your walls, look for a low VOC brand that contains less toxins. A good rule of thumb is, the stronger the paint smell after you put it on the wall, the higher the level of toxicity.

How many of us are sleeping on an organic bed? An organic bed emits no toxic chemicals and provides a healthy sleep environment.

Most traditional mattresses are made with fire retardant chemicals which seep out, only to be absorbed by our pores and lungs while we are sleeping. After ingesting various chemicals throughout our average day, it gives our bodies a much needed rest if we omit these toxins from our sleeping hours. This is especially true when you consider that people spend about one third of their life in bed.

Some of the common toxins emitted during sleep include:

• Formaldehyde, a chemical which is used in many adhesives and can cause eye and throat irritation and headaches.
• Carcinogenic flame-retardants (known as PBDE’s), many of which are banned in Europe and some U.S. States.
• Decabromodiphenyl Oxide, a brominated flame retardant now being found in women’s breast milk.

Here are a few of the green features in organic bedding and mattresses:

• Natural latex cores wrapped in a natural flame retardant such as cotton or wool
• Emission-free mattresses that contain neither glue nor adhesives (these can emit toxic fumes for the first 2-3 years)
• Natural fiber bedding that not only breathes, but naturally resists dust mites
• Any cotton material used in the production of the bedding should be unbleached. Traditional cotton is not an acceptable choice due to its exposure to large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers prior to harvesting.
• No PBDE’s (fire retardants)
• Hypo-allergenic
• Made in a chemical-free manufacturing plant

Various affordable green mattress retailers include IKEA, Cozypure, Gaiam Greensleep/Vimala and EcoChoices.

Also referred to as the sleeping room, it is a place that should offer complete relaxation at any time of the day and at night. In the modern world, bedroom furniture should be comfortable enough to draw someone to sleep when you enter the room. In the current world, the fittings found within the sleeping area should be of style and fashion that is on top form and resent.

The modern bedroom furniture comprises of different items which should be located and placed attractively in the area. The design and can always be customized to suit the owner. Contemporary designs nowadays come in more classic style. Items like bed, mattresses, dressers and headboards are the most common pieces of hardware found in the area.

The primary and key item in a sleeping unit is always where you lie down. Other gadgets are used differently depending on their functions. The headboard can be used to place small items like books, wrist watches, and bungles. The dressers, nightstands, chests, and armories are used to store jewelries, cloths, and most of the dressing materials.

Sometimes in the sleeping units, you might mattresses on the floor, benches, and cradles meant to be used at day times. These items are mainly for relaxation and not for the night sleep.

Since it is one of the private units in a house the resting area should always be decorated to please the current occupant. If it is the kids’ area, it should contain kids’ items like double or bunk beds and some play toys. The contemporary furniture found in the kids’ unit can also include baby cots and cribs.