Narrow bedroom hinders arrangement

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/04/2005 (7643 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

QUESTION — I hope you can help me come up with the solution to create an attractive and functional bedroom in a space that is very narrow, measuring at just 11-feet (3.4 metres) wide.

The room has a large window on one of the short ends and closet doors on the other.

Along with my bed, dresser and an armoire, I would like to incorporate a television and a sewing stand.

I also have two chairs; one is an antique, the other is a comfortable glider/rocker which I often use to read.

I know it doesn’t appear impossible, but I am having difficulty achieving a look and feel that I find appealing and that works for the way I live.

ANSWER — At 19-feet (5.8 metres) long, at first glance the room seems large enough to accommodate everything on your list, but its narrowness hinders a cosy and efficient arrangement.

In general, a bedroom should have good reading light, bedside tables, carpeting or rugs, and window treatments that ensure darkness and privacy. It should also feature adequate closet and dresser space.

But in recent years, bedrooms have become more than a place to sleep and have taken on a new role as stylish, private retreats; a place to read, lounge, exercise, work and pamper ourselves.

The number one rule when designing a bedroom is it should reflect individual taste and suit personal habits, as opposed to a guest room which should be welcoming but not so full of personality that it overwhelms a visitor.

Since most of the time spent in the bedroom is in or on the bed, it should always be considered as the room design’s starting point.

Depending on how much time one spends in bed, it is important to keep in mind that sometimes the view from the bed may be more important than the view of the bed.

Traffic patterns begin and end at the bed and the location of a dressing area or sitting space will evolve from the bed’s placement.

This room’s north-east exposure will ensure strong natural light in the morning hours, so I have chosen to show the bed on the east wall, out of the way of the sun’s glare and any drafts that may come through the window.

There are varying opinions on how much space is necessary for fluid circulation in a bedroom environment, but three feet (one metre) between the bed and a wall or other vertical surface is more than ample.

Two feet (60 cm.) between a bed and another low surface — such as your dresser — allows minimum room to stand and make the bed.

In the arrangement for your room, I have shown the sewing stand located next to the window to provide a pleasant environment for working at the machine.

Besides general room lighting, a fixture or switch you can reach from bed may be necessary. When choosing bedroom lamps for ambience or tasks, be sure to avoid glaring, unshielded or high-intensity bulbs.

The colours you choose will play an important role in how the room feels at different times of the day.

A space that is used mostly at night could stand deeper, darker tones while a room that is used a lot in the day time may need lighter, brighter colours on the walls and finishes.

Remembering that light-coloured surfaces reflect light, and dark (with the exception of shiny lacquer finishes) absorb it, choose a colour scheme that is conducive to how you use the room.

Certain fabric textures, such as silk and damask, may also respond to light.

A bedroom’s colours and textures interact both with daylight and with the colour temperatures of the light sources you choose. Mirrors and shiny surfaces multiply light sources and add drama.

Some people like to work on, or even in bed and if you’re one of them, install a work surface, a telephone, and good lighting to make it convenient.

Be sure to acknowledge the need for both privacy and quiet in the bedroom.

Privacy and light control can be ensured with window treatments with a black-out feature or solid blinds that block out most of the natural light when it’s not desired.

Household noises can be minimized by choosing thick carpeting, fabric wall coverings or an acoustic ceiling.

You can contact Toronto-based interior designer David Ferguson through his Web site, below.

www.creativespaceonline.com