Thread: What makes a bedroom? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :
 
Apart from the bed, though they can be subject to a variety of constructions, such as the sheet of chipboard supported by similar height chests of drawers, upon which rested my mattress.* The tunnel thus formed provided inaccessible storage for various items and a maternity wing for the cat.

Other must-haves include a padded wall-mounted thingy for me to lean against as I read in bed, candles and a peace lily. And a lap tray.

*Optional extras - though purely at their whim, not mine - are the cats. Also, age and arthritis now prevent the clambering onto over-height beds, so it's back to the norm.

I forgot the TV. I switch it on when changing the bedlinen, matching socks, etc.

Bearing in mind that a bedroom can be shared space for functions as well as people, what makes a bedroom for other shippies?

(Hoping this provides enough variety of discussion to placate hosts.)
 
Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
I am a fan of windows. Ideally with trees on the other side of them, but sky would do.
I do demand a firm supportive mattress and sheets of a natural fiber.
 
Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Closets/wardrobes. A ceiling fan for those hot nights (most older homes in the Seattle area do not have air conditioning), as well as a window to open. Pegs for hanging clothes and hats. Alarm clock(s). And a ledge or table near the bead for my CPAP machine.
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
A really comfortable bed, not shared with anything or anyone, mine alone. Electric blanket when needed.

A window that admits sunlight either in the morning or in the evening, I don't mind which although it's a great way to start the day. A good view.

Books. No television, just books. A radio so I can listen to the World Service in the small hours. Other than that, it should be quiet without external noise.

Candles and a good reading light. A decent soft carpet underfoot. Enough room for clothes to be stored without going into horrendous creases.

And an interesting picture on the wall across from the bed, the sort of scene you want to explore.
 
Posted by no prophet's flag is set so... (# 15560) on :
 
A warm body to put your cold feet on
A cat to curl up in the crook of your knee
A dog to compete with the cat for your affection
But, most, someone worth getting up for
To bring her coffee in the morning
and a newspaper to share on the bed
 
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
When I talk about my bedroom, it's the one in Brazil. It has rather big ventilation slits above the windows and it's on the slope of a hill close by the sea, which means that I don't need air conditioning [Yipee] The only thing is: I needed to learn to become friendly with bats.

For the rest, I prefer not to have too much stuff in the bedroom. A wardrobe, a painting above the bed, a small bed table to put a glass of water on. And very importantly, hooks in the walls for my hammock, which I sometimes prefer instead of a bed.
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
I could assemble Best Bits from all the bedrooms I've slept in I suppose.

If so, I would have the view over the sea - but without the draughts and the door giving on to the communal stair. I would have the wood panelling on the walls and ceiling - but without the other beds and the woman with the mental health issues. It would be spacious and sunny - but with heating I didn't have to put shillings in a meter for. The bed would be vast and incredibly comfortable, but I wouldn't have to go to Portugal, and similarly the adjoining marble and tile bathroom would be closer than China.
 
Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by jacobsen:

Bearing in mind that a bedroom can be shared space for functions as well as people, what makes a bedroom for other shippies?
Well, I don't usually hold functions in my bedroom.

Apart from the bed, I'll go with blackout curtains (otherwise I'm woken at hideous o'clock by the sun in the summer). Some kind of horizontal surface by the bed, containing clock, lamp, notepad and pen, big stack of books and space for a cup of tea. Carpet (I'm not a fan of hard flooring in bedrooms).

Preferably no TV, no phone, no electronics. I prefer not to use a bedroom as a multi-function living space.

Preferably ambient air temperature on the cool side of comfortable, thick duvet.
 
Posted by Og, King of Bashan (# 9562) on :
 
My parent's room doubled as a sick room when I was growing up. The head of the bed was against the east wall, the TV was set up on the west wall, and there was a large mirror on the south wall, which happened to pick up the reflection of the TV. And that came in real handy when you were so sick that you couldn't even sit up to watch TV- you could still see your program in the mirror when lying on your side.

That may not make a bedroom, but it was serendipitous bedroom design, that's for sure.
 
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
I agree with some people on this thread that I prefer to use my bedroom only for one thing. (Well, two actually.)
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
So. Anyone for four-poster beds, futons, revolving beds, waterbeds?

Let your imagination run riot for a bit. Candelabras, Moroccan lanterns, mirrors on the ceiling? Damask tapestries, an en-suite bathroom?

Upstairs or ground floor?

Huge leafy green plants, to make you feel as if you're in a forest? Warm earth tones for decor? A restful blue colour scheme? Vivid red?

Would you have a theme? Football, Doctor Who, Harry Potter? A particular historical era?
 
Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
Hail damage led to siding replacement at my house, and we took the opportunity to pop in windows. I now have daylight on three of the four walls. Massive closets. The walls are painted robin's egg blue, and because it is on the upper level on a heavily treed lot it is something like a large luxurious tree house. I crammed in rather too many rugs (my parents suddenly presented me with two large orientals, because they were moving to assisted living) but otherwise it is perfect.
 
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
quote:
Ariel: Huge leafy green plants, to make you feel as if you're in a forest?
This may seem strange, but I don't have plants in my house. The main reason is that I'm travelling a lot, so I couldn't take care of them.

My windows are shutters, no glass. When I open them, there are plants everywhere. (And a family of tamarin monkeys [Smile] )
 
Posted by Og, King of Bashan (# 9562) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Let your imagination run riot for a bit. Candelabras, Moroccan lanterns, mirrors on the ceiling? Damask tapestries, an en-suite bathroom?

Upstairs or ground floor?

Huge leafy green plants, to make you feel as if you're in a forest? Warm earth tones for decor? A restful blue colour scheme? Vivid red?

Would you have a theme? Football, Doctor Who, Harry Potter? A particular historical era?
If we can go nuts, I'd go for a second floor with a balcony overlooking the ocean, screen doors to let breezes in, a nice in-suite bathroom with a largish tub jetted tub with mountain view window,and nice shower, and a mini-fridge / coffee maker combo so that I can have a cup of coffee on my balcony at the beginning of the day and a shower beer at the end of it.

Oh, and a door that locks. Nothing better than locking a door behind you at the end of the day and knowing that no one can bug you until you decide to come out.
 
Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
quote:
Og, King of Bashan: and a mini-fridge
I hope they can make those rather silent these days. (I often turn the fridge off in hotel rooms.)
 
Posted by Graven Image (# 8755) on :
 
I bed that is not too soft and not to0 hard but just right. I think Goldie Locks had the same need.
A dog in her own little bed to stand guard.
A door that opens on to a deck.
A ceiling fan to be used winter and summer.
A nice reading chair and lamp.
Dresser
Some interesting restful art.
Nothing else. No TV or computers, no not ever.

[ 05. April 2016, 21:22: Message edited by: Graven Image ]
 
Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
We have vitreous tile floor tiles throughout the house except for the bathrooms which have concrete tiles which don't get slippery. Every bedroom has an en-suite bathroom. Big mirrored wardrobes, some of my own photos blown up and framed on the walls, a 5 foot [1.5 metre] wide bed in case friends drop in but that otherwise just suits me and the various teddies [& other soft toys] that might join me there.

I also have a small desk in the corner and a couple of bedside cabinets. I also have a couple of ridiculously comfortable cane chairs.

My new room, when it is built, will be rectangular rather than square and will end up fractionally larger, will also include several metres of bookshelf - about 27 metres, I think. It will also mean that I end up with sole access to the balcony, which I shall have fly-screened and where I might well sleep much of the year - night or day, I don't mind, I'm a fan of sleep.
 
Posted by crunt (# 1321) on :
 
I would have said - just a bed (plus small bedside table for my glasses and book) - but now I've read this thread, a window and a ceiling fan are also instrumental in making a (to me) most pleasant room to sleep in. My current bedroom, I have a new apartment, also has a small dressing table with a mirror attached, but that fits behind the door in the entrance alcove, so I don't have to look at it. I do look out of the window from time to time down to the pool and small garden below, and that is very pleasant. I also like the freshly, but amateurishly, painted citrus coloured walls.
ETA: umpteen pillows, a bolster - or 'leg-over pillow' as I like to call it - and a padded headboard for sitting up and reading. My last bed had a twirly decorative metal headboard; it looked nice, but it was useless for sitting up in bed.

[ 07. April 2016, 12:59: Message edited by: crunt ]
 
Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
A bed (with three duvets for optimal temperature choice) and a bedside table with bits and pieces and a radio on - is all.

Definitely no TV or screens of any kind - they don't help sleep.

Wardrobes and all that nonsense go in the spare room.

[Smile]
 
Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
It is important to have no electronics in the room. Nor any work related stuff, except for books which pervade the house and about which nothing can be done. I keep a pen and paper but not by the bed, so that I have to get up to write anything down, and the paper is very small, so that I am forced to wrote only notes to myself and not become prolix.
 
Posted by mark_in_manchester (# 15978) on :
 
quote:
It is important to have no electronics in the room.
What if the devices in question don't work? [Smile]

I have 18 oscilloscopes (amongst other useful things) in the house at the mo - most of which have made their way into the front room. I'm going to an electronics jumble on Sunday, where I will try to sell this gear (proceeds to Christian Aid) to all the trendy , beautiful engineers who will no doubt be present.

I include myself in the implied mockery.
 
Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 

 
Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Brenda Clough:
It is important to have no electronics in the room.
/Tangent alert:/

I was at a theatrical performance the other night. Before the show the announcement was made to "Switch off all personal electronic devices". I had visions of people collapsing as their pacemakers were switched off, listening with cupped ears as they couldn't use their hearing aids ... /Tangent ends/

I agree - although my wife has an e-book reader (which cannot access the Internet). I suppose that's permissible, although I prefer paper books.
 
Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Fineline:
Essential oils and oil burner for nice smells.
No smellies, thank you. My wife sometimes sprays lavender oil onto her pillow, "to help her sleep". It stops me from sleeping!
 
Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :
 
Bed with firm mattress
Lamp with gradual fade function so it switches off after I've fallen asleep reading
Radio alarm clock
Table on which to place watch and spectacles
A chair so if one is ill a visitor can sit to chat
Everything else tidied away in draws and cupboards
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Nobody up for four-posters, water mattresses, rotating beds, floor to ceiling mirrored wardrobes, fireplaces, skylights, bell pulls to summon servants? Not even a simple trap door or garderobe? Ah well.
 
Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
quote:
Originally posted by Fineline:
Essential oils and oil burner for nice smells.
No smellies, thank you. My wife sometimes sprays lavender oil onto her pillow, "to help her sleep". It stops me from sleeping!
Ah, well, I have my bedroom to myself so I can have what I want in it.
[Big Grin]
 
Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
"Chacun à son gout" [Cool]
 
Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
As we're in the process of decluttering chez Piglet for selling, the main bedroom is being minimalised. Having cleared out an unconscionable amount of bruck*, the place already looks twice the size it was. What will eventually remain will be:

Bed with correct number of small bears
Comfy chair with large bear
Two bedside tables with lamps
Bookshelf
Wardrobe, dressing-table and laundry-basket

bruck n. Orcadian word for rubbish
 
Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
Is there an international rubric which establishes and assesses the "correct number of small bears"? Has it been debated in the hallowed halls of the League of Nations? Or is this specific to Newfoundland?

We need to be told. [Devil]

[ 01. May 2016, 07:24: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
 
Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Four. We all have forebears.
 
Posted by Galilit (# 16470) on :
 
Being as both of us are arm injury survivors we each have a little Boston Terrier stuffed dog - perfect height for the orthopedic issues when clutched. There is also a plush kea (NZ mountain parrot) for days of when I need support on the forearm as well

Am experimenting with using head-torch instead of reading lamp.

Side table has a tiny photo of Mum c.1950, Dad's Swiss Army Knife c. 1970, hand a foot lotions. And a rosary for if I am desperate. "Current reading" on the shelf underneath

Second-most important ... 3 directional air flow via 2 screened windows and the door.
Outside is a bush which has flowers that smell of honey and a jasmine.

MOST IMPORTANT of ALL... is Dear Partner's C-PAP anti-snoring machine on a sweet little custom-made shelf above "his side". Without that there would be blood on the bed-linen every morning, if not a corpse!
 
Posted by Galilit (# 16470) on :
 
Nobody else got religious accoutrements within grasp or glance?
 
Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on :
 
An old CD player with a dusty stack of Asher quin CDs next to it.
Don't always get the desire to listen to music when going off to sleep, but sometimes reading doesn't quite cut it.

A glass of water on my partner's side of the bed and the alarm clock , which I nearly always get up and switch off before it activates.
 
Posted by Rev per Minute (# 69) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
Four. We all have forebears.
[Yipee] [Overused]

Not enough room in ours for a chair, nice as it would be. The clutter on my side of the bed is appalling, usually books, iPad, iPhone, Kindle, landline, lamp, box of cuff links etc, leaflets, receipts, and so on. Never any bookmarks, though...

Minimum - bed, lamp, radio alarm, wardrobe, bedside table for books and other paraphernalia (describes my bedroom when I lived in Brussels on my own). Mirror optional, large windows compulsory.
 
Posted by balaam (# 4543) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Galilit:
Nobody else got religious accoutrements within grasp or glance?
There has to be a Bible and a novel within reach.

Plus a cat to curl up at the bottom of the bed. This is essential.

What I wish I could get rid of is the alarm clock [Waterworks]
 
Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
You can on this thread. This is about your ideal bedroom.

While I think of it, mine would need a door that opens onto a balcony. And I don't mean one of those wretched juliette balcony things either.
 
Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
Here's a question: daylight. Should the bedroom be closely curtained and therefore dark, or not? I would have said yes for many years, but now I don't object to being awakened by daylight.
 
Posted by Graven Image (# 8755) on :
 
I have removed all curtains and shades from my bedroom windows, no neighbors, so I can go to sleep viewing the stars and wake up to the sun.
 
Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
Nobody up for four-posters, water mattresses, rotating beds, floor to ceiling mirrored wardrobes, fireplaces, skylights, bell pulls to summon servants? Not even a simple trap door or garderobe? Ah well.
If we can go nuts, I want:

A bed
A device to prevent Certain People from snoring me out the window
A dedicated invisible servant to clean up all the crap that mysteriously finds its way onto the bed and every other surface (seriously, those aren't MY stuffed animals, and I never left the phone there, nor yet the random socks)
A skylight or three, for enjoyment of trees and thunderstorms
Somebody to keep the freaking skylights CLEAN and the place dusted, and to put all the books I admit accumulating back in the library
No window draperies and no nosy neighbors either
A freaking lock
An electrical outlet OUTSIDE my freaking door so the kids aren't always running a surge suppressor into my room to power their tablets off of (incidentally forcing the door to stay open, which permits all kinds of "Mom, could you...?" requests through the door crack as I vainly attempt to take a nap
A whine-proof door and a wine-full glass on a table next to me as I enjoy a long-awaited novel with NO CRISES going on outside!

ETA: religious accoutrements: The Bible will be in the bookstack, of course, along with God in the Dark and a few others.

[ 02. May 2016, 01:44: Message edited by: Lamb Chopped ]
 
Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
Four. We all have forebears.
[Big Grin]

As it happens, that is the correct number (there are three, and one of them has a little bear of his own, for a total of four bears). [Smile]
quote:
Originally posted by Brenda Clough:
Should the bedroom be closely curtained?
Yes, especially in the summer when it starts getting light at silly o'clock.

Our bedroom gets a fair bit of early-morning sun, and when we had the windows replaced we bought some "black-out" curtains. They don't keep out absolutely all the light, but they do a good enough job (and much better than the old beat-up Venetian blinds we used to have).

[ 02. May 2016, 03:06: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 


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