Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Design Your Own Fitted Bedroom

A fitted bedroom offers style with plenty of storage


There are styles in fitted bedrooms from traditional to contemporary, from modern to colonial, from Victorian to country. The beauty of a fitted bedroom lies in having a place for everything and everything in its place. A bedroom with built-in wardrobes, chests and cabinets provides both custom beauty and function.


Instructions


1. Take an inventory of every item in your wardrobe. List the number of hanging long garments, three-quarter length garments and short garments. Count folded items including all sweaters and sweatshirts. Note the number drawers used for socks and underwear. Write down the number of pairs of shoes and boots you own. Account for scarves, ties, hats, jewelry and every piece that will need designated storage.


2. List items you want accommodated into a fitted bedroom like a laptop computer, integrated television and laundry hamper, or a favorite reading chair and lamp.


3. Note spare blankets, pillows, crafts and other items that will need storage space.


4. Allow for a vanity area if you choose; consider how much drawer space will be needed for cosmetics, hair care items like blow dryers and curling irons.


5. Measure your bedroom and draw it to scale on graph paper. Carefully note positioning of light switches and electrical outlets. Block in the areas taken up by windows and doors.


6. Position your bed within the drawing. Overhead cabinets can create a cove for your bedroom and supply storage for seldom used items like spare blankets and pillows. Likewise, nightstands can accommodate books, a spot for a beverage and even drawers for socks and underwear.


7. Draw two wardrobes onto a separate sheet of graph paper. According to fittedbedroom.com, two wardrobes should be sufficient even if you are doing a "his" and "hers". Determine how long the railings need to be to accommodate hanging garments. Make sure you divide the railing to accommodate these lengths. Under the short railing, you may want to indicate built-in shoe racks. The width of a wardrobe that doesn't need railing should be divided into shelves for folded items.








8. Position the wardrobes in the drawing. If you are planning ones with swing-out doors, indicate the door openings so they do not become blocked by another piece of furniture.


9. Decide where other low pieces will best fill your needs for drawer space. Start with a vanity/desk area. If you do not want a desk/vanity in your bedroom, don't leave room for a chair. It is space you can fill with drawers. Add another low piece to hold a mesh dirty-laundry hamper.








10. Measure cornice and plinth (the base of the furniture) for your design. Determine if infill panels are needed between pieces to keep the design perfect.


11. Specify details like woods and finishes, door pulls and door treatments. Many cabinets and doors come with options for glass or a mirror.

Tags: fitted bedroom, your bedroom, another piece, blankets pillows, drawer space, folded items