No longer just a place to get our precious shut-eye, the bedroom has, for many of us, also evolved to accommodate the gagdets and various implements that we use for work and recreation. Yet while trying to keep up with modern lifestyles, we should always maintain the sacred space where we recharge our batteries, and not let the stresses of the everyday encroach on our personal sanctuary to restore mind and body.

So should you have a television in the bedroom? Where should it go? How do you incorporate a work table without cluttering the bedroom? What decorating tricks help to emphasise a space?

Here are some pointers from three interior designers on how to to achieve the right mix to fit in with your lifestyle.

If your bedroom is solely for rest...
- The key is to remove anything that might keep you up at night, one the most prominent culprits being the television. By eliminating the television and other gadgets, noise and distractions are kept to a minimal
- Use natural materials and a neutral colour scheme to create a relaxed mood in the bedroom, such as light coloured carpets and pine-timber flooring

        

- Softening the walls with padded panels also help create the illusion of a sensual, cosy environment
- Have a good lighting plan and consider placement of light switches when planning the layout to offer easy access
- The use of bright lights can be directed at a particular spot or over a reading area, such as the Louis Poulsen OJ lamp designed by Ole Jansen, available at Space Furniture, as is its soft shape complements the restful nature of the bedroom's design
- Softer illumination (below 500 lux) can be used to evoke an intimate mood setting around the bed area. Simple desk lamps like the Daruma lamp by Fontana Arte, available at Marquis@Qsquare

    
Louis Poulsen OJ Lamp by Ole Jansen; Daruma Sergio lamp by Fontana Arte

 

Tips from Sarah Tham, director of design consultancy firm CUbE Associate Design
cubeassociatedesign.com

If you want to create segments in your bedroom...
- Consider zoning a corner off to create a lounge area that allows for the inclusion of modern conveniences and entertainment, such as a television and sound system
- Ensure that the television set is arranged so it does not face the bed directly, as flickering lights emitted from the television can be a disturbance to your partner. Wireless headphones connected to the television will also help to cut out the noise if your spouse is a light sleeper
- Spacious bedrooms can be decorated with bright, optimistic colours, although a standard theme should run through the room to accentuate the open concept

       

- Optimise the use of large bedroom interiors with classical touches to exude the opulent feel of luxury and decadent appeal such as silk and patterned wallpaper. Vintage French Toile de Jouy wallpaper prints recreated with modern fabric wallpaper are ideal for this purpose
- Upholstered furniture as key features or room accents in the bedroom is one of the latest trends. Design Intervention offers customised upholstered furniture designs for its clients, but homeowners can also refer to iconic collections such as The Barbara Barry collection, available at Proof Living

       

Chest and bench from Barbara Barry

 

Tips from interior designer, Wendy Smith from Design Intervention
www.designintervention.com.sg

If your bedroom needs to include a work station...
- Homeowners can work with interior designers to incorporate a writing desk with built-in spaces to conceal the various cables and wires from view
- Sliding shelves or wall panels can be installed so the entire work-area, along with bulky items such as the computer and printer, can be conveniently stowed away when not in use
- The key to computing from the bedroom is simplicity: replace the desktop with a laptop, set up the peripherals so that everything can be done wirelessly

     

- To retain the cosiness of a bedroom setting, work desks should be created in a smaller size compared to the standard office furniture used in conventional studies
- Darker hues and soft furnishings such as carpets also give the executive suite a more restful ambience.
- For those who like to spend time browsing through general updates or catching up with the day's news before bedtime, a lounger can offer the ideal reading location without looking cold or formal. Montis Marvin by Montis, available at XTRA, is a sleek addition with its delicate lines and plush support

       

Tips from Terri Tan, director of local firm Designworx
designworx.net

 

 

Pictures courtesy of CUbE Associate design, Designworx Interior Consultant, Design Intervention

This article is adapted from 'Rest Assured', published in Singapore Tatler Homes Jun-Jul 2011 issue.