Making the Most of Your Bed: Part Three

There are three factors to consider when picking out pillows for your traditional bed.

Do you sleep on your side or your back?

Foam pillows are the most stable and are the right choice for you if you sleep on your side or your back, because they keep your neck in a neutral position. Neck muscles can tense up if your neck doesn’t maintain its natural curve, which could lead to headaches. If you sleep on your side, choose a contoured version of a foam pillow (the front mound fills in the gap between your neck and shoulder).

Or are you most comfortable on your stomach?

Density isn’t as import if you sleep on your stomach (because your neck requires less support in this position), so choose a down pillow. Down compresses easily so when you move your neck in your sleep air passages won’t be restricted.

Do you suffer from allergies?

Down isn’t the right choice for you, as dust mites burrow into down. Invest in a miteproof cover.

Here at Zara Furniture, we hope our bedding tips help!

Making the Most of Your Bed: Part Two

Do you want a simple blanket, quilt, comforter or decorative coverlet to keep you warm and complement your bedroom furniture? Read ahead to find out in part two of Zara Furniture’s guide to all things related to your traditional bed.

Selecting a bedcover – pick from these common types:

• Quilts: Filled with cotton or polyester batter, quilts can be machine-washable but make sure to check the label.

• Simple blankets: Choose one with a border for the most longevity.

• Comforters: Choose from different types of fillings:

               o Cotton: The most breathable choice.

               o Fleece: Usually made of polyester fibers made from recycled plastic bottles. A plush choice.

               o Wool: This natural insulator will keep you warm. Looking to make your bed as luxe as possible? Pick virgin wool.

               o Down: Ask about the fill power (the space an ounce of down fills – 550 is adequate; 800 is luxury) and where it comes from (the fluffiest down will come from geese from colder regions).
Caring for a bedcover:

• If you use a top sheet, wash your duvet cover one a month. If you don’t wash it weekly.

• Down comforters should be laundered twice a year, or every three to five years if covered. To prevent clumping, put a few (clean) tennis balls into the dryer.

Making the Most of Your Bed: Part One

Once you’ve picked your traditional bed, you still have a lot to consider, like choosing a mattress, bedcover and pillows. Read the first part of Zara Furniture’s bedding guide and stay tuned for parts two and three later this week.

Selecting a mattress - choose from these three main types:

• Innerspring construction: A good way to determine the amount of support in this mattress—the most common—is to see the number of steel coils it contains. The coils are topped with layers of padding. 350 coils are recommended for a full-size mattress, 480 for a queen and 580 for a king.

• Air-filled models: Composed of air chambers surrounded by foam, you can adjust the firmness to your liking. A top layer of high-density foam is smart.

• Foam mattresses: Choose from latex (composed of natural or synthetic rubber), polyurethane (density varies) and viscoelastic (think: memory foam). If you get hot during your sleep, choose open-cell construction to maximize breathability.

Caring for a mattress -make the most of your investment with these tips:

• Flip and rotate your mattress every few months to ensure even wear and vacuum as well.

• Air your mattress out for a few hours once a year.

Decorating Without Breaking the Bank

Just because you’ve filled your home with low cost furniture doesn’t mean your space is complete—you still have to decorate! Follow our tips for decorating your space without breaking the bank.

• Have shells and sea glass lying around from your last beach vacation? Make use of it by creating a display on an entry way table or bathroom counter. Bonus: it will remind you of your vacation all year long.

• Want to introduce a new color to your living room or bedroom without spending a lot? Brightly colored lampshades will pop and redefine your space.

• Make your own coatrack. Seriously. Even if you aren’t crafty, it is easy to glue found materials like stones and pieces of driftwood to a plank of wood to create a natural-looking coatrack that serves as a utility and conversation piece. Have kids? Make it an after-school craft project.

• Is your place tight on space? Prop up a large mirror to open it up. This decorating trick will create imaginary square footage and brighten your room.

• Don’t have enough cash to purchase artwork? Hang like-colored plates or oriental rugs on your walls for a dramatic (and inexpensive) answer to artwork.

Give Your Home a Beach Resort Makeover

Too pinched financially to take a vacation this summer? Have a staycation instead! Just be sure to summerize your space so it will feel like you’re at the beach all season long. Use the following easy tips to make your home feel like a beach resort:

• Scatter shells and other beachy items around the house to remind you of the beach. Who says a glass bowl filled with sea shells isn’t art?

• Wood hutches in neutral colors and white end tables lighten up your space, adding to the vacation-house feel you’re looking for.

• Drape a blanket over a chaise lounge to create a comfortable spot to read. It will be just like the beach—minus the sand!

• Get fresh flowers. Because they are an indulgence, it will add to the vacation vibe you are going for. Just try not to smile every time you pass by a vase full of fresh flowers. We dare you.

• Give your bedroom furniture a mini makeover. For the summer months, transition to unfussy bedding in relaxing shades of white and blue. Bonus points for splurging on a high thread count.

• Frame those pictures from your last beach vacation that have been sitting on your digital camera. They will summarize your home and get you thinking about your next beach getaway.

Laid Back Design Style We Love - Cottage Style

Ok, here's the last of our suggestions for the day. The laid back cottage design style.

"Laid-back best describes your way of life, which means cottage style is right up your alley. You love rooms that feel casual, breezy, and informal. Consider slipcovered furniture and painted wood pieces to achieve a put-your-feet-ip vibe. Use crisp white as the ideal backdrop for layers of soft accent colors found in pillows, rugs and vintage accessories."

Think of your favorite little cottage by the sea or in the countryside for inspiration. Simple and quaint and relaxing are all things that are synonymous with this style we love so much. Check out our website for furniture to match this!

Polished Casual Design Style

Ok, so onto another popular design style that you can incorporate into your living room and bedroom design and furniture. It's called polished casual.

Here's Better Homes and Garden's great explanation:
"You love to mix and match your favorites from several styles, so polished casual is the best way to describe your look. Crisp, fresh and always comfortable, this approach anchors itself in neutral, subtle hues and furniture that isn't fussy but isn't slouchy either. Pair your clean-lined sofa with a dark leather wing chair or a weathered metal table - anything goes, but simplicity is key."

This look is great for the casual, fun person. It allows you to bring in different pieces of your personality and mix and match.

WAKING MY BEDROOM UP FOR SUMMER

The other day I was taking a look at my bedroom and started to think that perhaps it’s time to make some updates. Spring is upon us, and that always reminds me of cleaning, shedding layers and starting afresh. Now that winter is coming to a close, I want to try out a different look in my room. Something fun, something to rejuvenate me.

I’m thinking of a textural, beachy feel. Something reminiscent of Caribbean romance and cool ocean breezes. To obtain that look I am going to focus on draping the bed in white linens, adding a few textural pieces and fun pops of color. Let’s start with the bed. Covering it in white linens, I am planning on adding a nice gold and pink bedspread to lie across the foot of the bed. I want to create a mosquito net feel, by attaching white, gauzy linen to the ceiling and to the head of the bed frame.

Next, let’s move on to the flooring. I may consider ripping out any carpet and replacing with wood paneled flooring or tile. A really fantastic area rug, with a great jute-like textural feel would look phenomenal here. As for new bedroom furniture, a desk or armoire made of darker, teak wood would look great, especially with a vase with a couple of fan palm leafs on top. Rattan seating would complete this look giving the room a generous touch of rustic island flavor.

With just a few changes here and there, it would be very easy to get rid of my stale, winter bedroom look and lighten it up for the spring and summertime. I think I’ll go for it. How will you rejuvenate your room this spring?

Feng Shui Your Room For Better Rest

So you are thinking about rearranging your bedroom to make it more of a peaceful place. Have you ever thought about applying some feng shui tips to your room? Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. Its purpose is to reveal how to balance the energies of any given space to assure the health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. If you believe in it, it has some pretty cool ideas to make the energy of a room flow better. Let’s see how a little arranging of your bedroom furniture can make an impact on the feeling of your bedroom.

The first important thing to do is to position your bed correctly. The ideal placement of your bed allows you to see the bedroom door while laying in it. According to feng shui, being able to view the door, even while sleeping, allows you to feel more safe and at ease. The foot of the bed shouldn’t point at the door. According to feng shui, this is called the “coffin” position and puts your bed in the main flow of traffic, which is not relaxing. The head of the bed should be placed against a wall as opposed to under a window or away from the wall. If it is against a window it is thought that the chi of a room will be able to enter and leave the room quickly, causing unrestful sleep.

Another important thing to keep in mind is to have your bedroom act only as a place to sleep. Television, computers or exercise gear are believed to distract you from sleep and take up energy. If you have to have a TV in your bedroom, consider buying an entertainment center or armoir that matches the feel of your room. That way you can close the doors to the TV when not in use.

Following these few tips should help you have a more relaxing environment in your bedroom.