For many homeowners, the reality of a sprawling office space with wall-to-wall bookshelves and organization space is not always possible. In fact, more homeowners are finding designing an office space in their bedroom is more practical than one would think. For saving space, ease of using, and practicality, the bedroom home office is a wonderful option for many. Here are a few tips to consider when designing your inspiring office space.

• How do you use your office? The average adult uses a laptop or desktop computer everyday, and therefore home offices are more essential than ever before. Some homes have small children, teenagers, or even roommates and spouses that must share the same office space. Determine what your needs are in your home, and the lifestyle for which your bedroom home office will be used. Decide how much space you will need. A spare closet can be converted into an office and even a small desk at a picturesque window can make the perfect office space. Measure out your space before buying furniture, and practice sitting in the space to feel how it will work around the surrounding furniture and bed.

Photo credit: Home Sick Designs

• Bring in inspiring details:  What makes a space unique is attention to the details that make you feel comfortable. In a home office, comfort and functionality should go hand in hand. Try incorporating colors from your bedroom into your home office decor. While the colors don’t have to be the same, choosing a color palette of complimenting colors, patterns and textures will create a space you love to work in. Don’t forget the most important detail – lighting. Ensure that lighting is sufficient for tasks at your desk, as well as ambient for the rest of your bedroom. Take advantage of views and natural light whenever possible, and install dimmers or multi-level light bulbs in lamps.

Photo credit: Woovaa

Your bedroom home office is only steps away from being inspiring and welcoming. Determine what activities you need to do in your home office. If you need a lot of computer equipment, ensure you have enough space and outlets for convenience. If you only use a laptop, you can use more decorative items and probably a smaller desk to compliment your bedroom. The options are unlimited to making your bedroom home office the most welcoming space in your home.

Photo credit top: Bejoku

Since Punxsutawney Phil insisted this week that we’ve got six more weeks to plow through before spring temperatures appear, the natural thing to do is curl up for a long winter’s nap. So, we took a little sleepwalking adventure around the web today to round up some things worth dreaming about.

FresHome did a little write-up this week about the “New AIR” bed by Danielle Lago (pictured above), which includes a pastel storage component for books and small items and somewhat startlingly appears to float.

Swiss Miss uncovered some great custom pillows by Lori Blum, which can be personalized to include a family name, street address and city in a variety of colors:

Desire to Inspire let us inside a brilliant and breathtaking home with a waterfront view of the Sydney Harbour and, of course, the world-famous opera house — simply stunning:

Here’s a bittersweet story from Maryland: per the Gaithersburg Patch daily newspaper, the owners of the Gaithersburg Inn have put their B&B up for sale; they’re leaving the inn behind so they can focus more of their time advocating for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research funding in honor of their son, who suffered a TBI several years ago. The 70-something couple poured more than $350,000 into renovations for the 1892 inn before putting it on the market…

…and on a lighter note, we’ve saved the oddest of the bunch for last: the yahoos over at IKEA Hacker did what they do best this week and hacked an IKEA bed into the back of a station wagon. True story.

Happy weekending!

Photo credits: FresHome, Swiss Miss and Desire to Inspire.

Your bed is the crowning glory of your bedroom, or at least maybe it should be. Creating a center point in your bedroom focuses the eye and helps you create a room that is balanced with furnishings and decor. There used to be a time when Grandma’s brass headboard bed was the norm, and it wasn’t much to look at. Over the years, the headboard has become eye-catching and beautiful! Here are some ways to make your bed highlight the room and your spirits.

• Use color to attract the eye: Headboards that contrast or compliment the colors in your bedding, an accent wall, or the decorative elements on the side tables can instantly create a focal point. If you are starting from scratch, decide what color palette you’d like in your bedroom. Choose a bedding ensemble you love, and grab color inspiration from it. If you have an older headboard that you want to repurpose, add a refreshing vibrant color to wake up your eyes everyday.

Photo credit: Design Sponge

• Rethink traditional: If you’re craving a non-traditional headboard how about using reclaimed timber, shutters, or a weathered door as your headboard? Believe it or not, headboards have become one of the easiest and trendiest design project for do it yourselfers. Visit garage sales, vintage stores, and salvage yards for pieces that would make perfect headboards. Don’t be afraid to distress the material for a weathered and worn look. This will give character and uniqueness to your eye-catching headboard.

Photo credit: BHG

Whether you use a picture frame, or an actual headboard, the options are up to you when creating a focal point for your bedroom. Find what speaks to you in color, patterns, and design styles. A simple and understated headboard can become the conversation piece of your gorgeous bedroom. So the next time you are wondering how to make your bedroom pop, get a hold of an awesome headboard and make it your own!

Photo credit top: Flickr

Meg Ryan

Everyone loves a good celebrity sighting, but zeitgeist reaches a whole new level when we get to glimpse inside a Hollywood star’s home. Since that’s an unlikely occurence for most of us, the good folks at several celebrity magazines have been kind enough to share their snaps from occasions when the entertainment industry’s best and brightest have allowed trusted photographers into their homes for pre-approved shoots.

Meg Ryan’s bucolic abode on Martha’s Vineyard, shown above, is clearly a safe haven from the lights of New York and L.A. with its cozy, pastoral ambiance. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s bedroom, in their Bridgehampton summer home, echoes the decidedly peaceful aesthetic, while Hugh Jackman’s stark waterfront triplex in New York City stands in stark contrast with its cool angularity and metropolitan finish, punctuated by bold white columns and a classic Eames chair.

Demi Moore’s master bedroom falls somewhere in the middle of the two extremes, with warm wood tones but not much curvature or fluff. And we admit we’re cheating on the bedroom theme by tossing other rooms from Diane Von Furstenberg’s Connecticut home into the mix, but let’s be honest: those library bookshelves are to die for, and we’re willing to bet the prolific fashion designer has nodded off to sleep late at night in her office at least once or twice. Creative genius is exhausting, after all.

Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick

Hugh Jackman

Demi Moore

Diane Von Furstenberg

Photo credits: Elle Decor, Top Celebrity Homes, Interior Arcade and InStyle.

For most bedrooms, your dresser or bureau is a utilitarian piece of furniture that blends with the rest of your decor, but doesn’t make a statement on its own. This cannot be said for Celato Bureaus. These pieces of furniture look like works of art and may make you rethink if your clothes are worthy enough to go in them!

Similar to a metal clad building, these bureaus make an architectural statement for your bedroom, and in your choice of copper, acid-etched iron or brass, there is no mistaking the distinction of this work of art. The drawers are offset in appearance. They give the impression of a masterful jigsaw puzzle that makes you want to find the missing piece to unite the drawers as a whole.

The term “Celato means concealed, hidden and secret. A name and an adjective which generate different personalities: a menhir, a safe, a skyscraper; an object which gradually reveals itself touch by touch.”… Mocoloco

The vertical nature of the bureau commands attention in any bedroom and the aged patina of the material is gorgeously detailed. The Celato bureau gives new meaning to “functional beauty” and your bedroom furniture will feel envious in its presence.  These monolithic forms are sculptural, architectural, and unique in every way. Wouldn’t your bedroom love to be designed around these gorgeous pieces of furniture?

Photo credits: Decastelli via Mocco Loco

Whereas boys may be more interested in other activities, teenage girls often enjoy interior designing and aspire to decorate their bedrooms themselves, wanting to project their individuality and personality onto the room in which they spend a great deal of time.

There was a time when teenage girls bedrooms were typically adorned in celebrity pictures and male heartthrobs, but many teenagers today prefer bedrooms which are more simple looking, with less clutter and posters, and are easier to keep clean and maintain a more tidy style. Here, we showcase thirty pictures modern girls bedroom styles decorated in a contemporary manner for the teenage girl to gather inspiration for her new bedroom design.

A bare bedroom is a blank canvas, but with the right details, no matter how minor they may be, can transform a room completely. These individual touches can be personalized to reflect the interests or hobbies of the teen and what they find both comfort and beauty in.

Playful details, bright colors and age-appropriate decor create the perfect place to hang out with friends, slumber and study of course. This can be achieved by various detailed touches such as wall decals in various themes and designs, the possibilities are endless in the terms of the designs and themes that are available in the decorating market. These decals are easy to apply on walls or furniture, are easily removed, and can be incorporated into any budget.

Colors are the secret to any bedroom, especially in a teenager bedroom, where color and personality expression go hand in hand. The best opportunity for experimentation with a wide array of color palettes is through decorating with colorful accessories and bedding. This way color an be built on and it can be decided what direction a room with go in, in terms of its style. Bright and lively colors, whether bold or subtle, can add just the perfect needed touch to a teenager’s bedroom. If appropriate, a useful designer’s tip is to surround a teen’s bedroom with different shades of their favorite color, either through wall paint, furniture or accessories.

Self-expression is critical to teenagers, and bedroom decorating is the perfect opportunity. Creative artwork, quirky paint jobs, and unique lighting, are all ways to create opportunity for self-expression through decorating. This way the bedroom owner has a say in what he or she wants in their ideal decorated bedroom. Another opportunity for self-expression through room decorating is the headboard type and design.

Modern and abstract shelving and desk spaces puts the fun back into studying. Creative shelving allows for favorite picture frames and treasured items to be put on full display, and are a must have for a teen room. They are also effective in keeping clutter under control when needed. In the end, a teen’s room should be their own and a perfect opportunity for self-expression, creativity, and a sanctuary that they can can their own.

Retro items like comics, magazines and record covers – bought from second hand shops and Ebay – add a vintage appeal to the room, whilst the bright wallpaper and the bed linens offer a more contemporary style. Although the two themes should contrast they go extremely well, with the black bed linen sprinkled with glitter to give the room a rock star appeal.

The first thing that you need to do is a take a long look at your closet and ask the following question: “Where am I wasting space?” Unless you put together your closet like a Tetris game, there is a good chance that you are wasting space somewhere, whether it’s above the rack where your clothes are hanging, or on the floor where you don’t have thrown random shoes and boxes.

Once you have taken a look at your closet and decided where you have wasted space, you can begin to take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. This can usually be done with a trip to the home improvement store. One of the best ways to add storage space for your wardrobes is to put in some extra shelves. This is especially good if you have some extra room above where your clothing hangs. All you need to do is go to your local home improvement store and some high quality, yet cost effective, shelving units. You can typically put there up yourself in a matter of an hour.

If you have some extra space on the bottom of your closet, consider getting some shoe racks and cubbies. You would be shocked just how much space some misplaced shoes can take up. Getting a couple of shoe racks will pretty much free up the bottom of your closet. Take that extra space and put in some cubbies so that you can store items that can be folded up and put away.

Cherniy’s usual work involves designing artwork for some of Russia’s leading bands, as well as being a guest illustrator on Timeout and Sobaka Magazine.

The Sleep Well and Come On bed clothes use typography to great effect, while the Police Crime Scene Tape is a daring bedding design which may not be to everybody’s taste due to its gruesome nature.

There are two simple floral bed sets, black and pink, a good match for both male and female bedroom designs . The remaining bed sets are made up of large stick figures. One is a cheeky design of a couple making love and the others are aimed at all couples, gay, lesbian and man and wife.

Choosing duvet covers and pillows is often the finishing touch to bedroom styles, so dare to be imaginative and creative as this will often be the showpiece attraction which brings the bedroom to life.

If you are decorating a nursery, there are many great theme options from which to choose. You may wish to go beyond geometric shapes and solid color themes to create a whimsical place in which your child to play and grow. Adding dimension to a nursery through themed decor is a great way to spark a child’s interest and curiosity.

Touch-up and clean the Façade

First impressions do matter and your home’s façade is the first thing your guest will see. There is no reason to pull out the paint brushes if you’re in a time crunch; focus on easier to finish tasks that can capture your guest’s attention. Clear cobwebs from beneath or where they have attached to brick walls. Leaves pouring over the edge of gutters are eye-catching in a negative way, so scoop all your gutters clean. Sweep your front steps and walkway free of debris.

Clean the Yard

If you found out about your unexpected guests a few days before their arrival, immediately mow the lawn. About three days after being mown, grass will be at its best state, looking healthy and lush, without being overgrown. The day that guests arrive, rake your yard and trim any overgrown branches from your bushes or trees. If you need to add color to the front of your house, buy a few potted plants and inexpensive planters. This is a great way to improve the look of your house without doing intense landscaping. Place the planters along your front steps or artfully around your door.

Clean the House

A thorough cleaning of your home is a necessity if you want to wow visitors. If it’s in your budget, hiring a cleaning agency is a smart idea. They can scrub your house, while you focus on other things that have to be done. If you would rather do the cleaning yourself, pay special attention to appliances. Shining faucets and stainless still finishes add light to a room and make things appear to be new.

Clear Out Clutter

Extra knickknacks or needless furniture make your house look cluttered. However, most people have them lying around and, typically, those knickknacks have meaning. There’s no need to toss them out or hide them – except for during this visit. If you have unnecessary furniture stuck into the corner of oft-used rooms, move it to the attic or a garage space while your guests are in town. If you never use it, then your guests certainly won’t either. The same goes for the odds and ends lying on shelves. Put them away until your visitors leave. Keeping clutter to a minimum opens up your space.

Utilize Light

Well-lit homes look larger and more welcoming than darker homes. Open all your window coverings before guests arrive. If they are coming at night, the light from inside your home will welcome them there. If it’s daytime, the daylight will brighten your house, giving it an appealing air.

Liz Childers writes about a number of topics, including knives and bird feeders. 

New furniture and decorations are often brilliantly crafted, but there is something about using vintage decor that adds personality and warmth to a room. Use the two alongside each other to get the best of both worlds.

Despite suggestions that ‘they don’t make them like they used to’, you will often benefit from using modern electrical where possible, as technology has come along in leaps and bounds over the years. However, broken electrical from years gone by can make fun decorations.

In the bedroom

You can give your bedroom a comfortable shaggy-chic look by choosing retro fabrics and possibly picking up some vintage furniture to mix in with newer items. Contemporary table lamps can look excellent on both antique and brand-new desks, while vintage cushion covers could make a new chair look more inviting.

In the lounge

The centerpiece for many lounges is the sofa and the new-old combination can work either way here; a new sofa can be made to look more comfortable with the addition of old-style cushions, while an old couch can be smartened up with contemporary fabrics and cushions.

If you are short of decorations, the living room is a great place to show off antique finds. You could think about surrounding a new television with old, broken-down electronics such as vintage radios or cameras.

In the kitchen

For keen chefs, the kitchen is a place to stick to function over style. It is all very well having a vintage kettle, but if it takes ten times as long to boil as a new one, then you is going to get annoyed with it eventually.

As a result, stick to modern technology for the things you use most and add a retro touch with other items. Old and new are wonderful bedfellows in the world of interior design; the key is balance and functionality.