furniture and decor blog

Now you need to work out a design to follow. You can either draw the plan yourself, or contact a professional to either do it for you or help you visualize the room. Measure the walls and indicate where the doors and windows are on each wall. Also indicate the entrance to the ensuite bath, if there is one. Then measure the space your bed takes up, indicate where a free-standing or a reach-in closet is located, the chest of drawers, and any other pieces of furniture you want in the space. Using graph paper and a ruler, make a plan of your dream bedroom. Use a pencil so you can erase any errors. This activity might take some time, so set aside private time and space to do this without any distractions.
Use the list opposite to price the items you want. Use local retailers or Internet websites to build up a realistic picture of the final costs.

When you have determined what you need, the cost of renovation and installation must be considered. Changing wiring, adding media cables, repainting, buying general materials for renovation plans, adding new wood flooring and rugs or replacing carpet, or the addition of wood and other decorative panels will affect the total labor charge. For instance, do not consider handmade closets in solid hardwood if you know your budget will not stretch that far.

Unless you live in a mansion where parlors and studies abound, finding room for a home office may seem quite a challenge. Actually, though, potential office space is almost always lurking in plain view. Identifying it simply requires a shift of perspective, which this section can help you achieve.

Perhaps you’re fortunate enough to have a spare room. But the most common way to squeeze in a home office is to borrow space from an existing room—diplomatically, so as not to disturb the room’s original purpose. Or perhaps you’d like to be able to spread out more, taking over an unused attic, basement, or garage. Of course, a truly luxurious answer might be an office addition, achieved either by extending your house up or out or by building a structure elsewhere on your property.

Think ahead. Where might your family be in five years? Will a spare bedroom open up as kids depart for college? Could a second-story addition house both your home office and the master suite you’ve been dreaming of? Could a detached cottage-office later become an in-law unit?

Still, working at home is not for everyone. Some people report a struggle with loneliness, at least initially. Some feel out of the loop; others miss the “water-cooler” chats. Discipline can be a problem. Almost everyone reports that working at home requires some adjustment.

One key, experts say, is to maintain contact with peers and suppliers. Start a support group; plan networking lunches with colleagues. Part-time telecommuting might be a good way to test the waters.

If you plan to operate a home business, you’ll need to know the local zoning ordinances that govern your options. In some areas, the use of detached buildings, separate office entrances, and even signs is prohibited. Some counties and municipalities also limit the amount of a home’s square footage that can be devoted to a business. In other areas, you cannot store goods in your home or make retail transactions there.

You may also need to get a local business license and pay local business fees. And of course, there may be taxes, insurance, and employee benefits to consider.

The cost of everyday items for a bedroom will add up to your basic budget. Then you can add the luxuries.

The budget is by far the most important step in creating your dream bedroom. You can imagine many decorative scenarios but you must know how much each costs and then work out if you can afford to spend the money. To begin, you must determine the amount, quality, and quantity of items required for your bedroom. However, remember that although quality is often associated with higher prices, expensive items alone do not necessarily make for a better design, and that good taste and personal style do not always require a large budget. The more money you spend, the more you can do, but try not to let the budget drive the design. It is in the detail of the finishing that you see the difference between a high- and a low-budget bedroom.

Your budget consists of two elements: the purchase of products, and the cost of installation. You can further break down this latter cost into works and supplies.

The first thing is to decide how much you want to spend, and this is perhaps not as easy as you might think. If you have not taken on a project like this before, the question is: Where do you start when it comes to deciding how much you are willing to invest in the room where you sleep?

When the list is complete, examine the existing furniture and furnishings. Some of the items listed below will already exist, for example, the bed. It might be perfect for the new room’s design, but you might want to change the bedcovers to go with the new theme. Look critically at the furniture you now own: can it be repainted or restyled? Drawers, cabinet doors, and hardware can be changed to save money. Reusing some of your existing fittings will allow you to spend on other areas.