If he's not your significant other, think about an all-white bedroom.
If your mind flashes to hay lofts, Victorian bed chambers and rural cabins when you study your white, wrought-iron bed and you think you're stuck in time when it comes to decorating your bedroom, listen up: White iron beds can be chameleons, adapting to myriad room themes and schemes. Whether your bed is an authentic antique that's just been dusted for cobwebs or a modern reproduction with charm to spare, the following ideas should set you free from those preconceived notions. Although sometimes referred to as rod iron, wrought-iron is the correct term. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Create a beautiful modern bedroom. Working with a white, wrought-iron bed that's sleek and streamlined can be a blessing if your tastes run to minimalism. Pick one dark color for the wall on which your bed resides - charcoal gray or taupe -- and paint the remaining walls a complementary shade: white-muted taupe or sheer gray. Euro furnishings in high-key white or black lacquer add plenty of contrast. Pick one decorative touch to finish the room. For example, Diego Garcia-inspired art, featuring bunches of calla lilies, adds a warm touch and a little color that can be repeated in the bedspread.
2. Decorate to emulate your romantic fantasy. No need to lavish a room with so much pink it looks like a stomach medication ad. Give your bedroom a sweet, romantic look. Gradations of periwinkle blue and lavender work equally well, and if your wrought-iron bed is highly detailed, achieve the highest contrast by placing it against a dark periwinkle wall. Use a pink floral comforter or duvet cover to set the room's tone. Your romantic, white, wrought-iron bed begs for white wicker furnishings, and if those pieces are distressed, you'll achieve the essence of shabby chic. Invest in high-count cotton pink, tan and white linens and you may not want to leave your bedroom unless there's a really good reason.
3. Be bold and opt for a whiter shade of pale. If there are no pudding-eating kids, guys who play soccer or Newfoundland dogs sharing your life, this may be the one and only time of your life you can pull off an all-white bedroom that starts with your white, wrought-iron bed. Here's the key: Pay close attention to the shade of whites you select. Warm rooms call for yellow-tinged paint while your paint mixologist can tint white with blue to produce a cool, coordinating shade. A soft tan carpet keeps the room from looking like Catherine the Great's winter palace, but you can enjoy a touch of splendor using gold-trimmed accents and furnishings and hanging a crystal-embellished chandelier. No chocolate pudding in bed for you if you choose this dramatic look.
4. Work with wood. Once upon a time, mixed media was considered a design violation, but your white wrought iron bed can coexist with wood very nicely. One of the classiest mixes under the sun is cherry wood, which exudes rich, red undertones and always pairs wonderfully with white. A tan carpet, ultra-light tan walls, cherry wood furnishings and your white wrought iron bed can make decorating magic, but you still need a dramatic focal point. Invest in a beautiful tapestry or large piece of art with a dominant color palette of reds and browns. If cherry isn't your thing, you can coordinate a beautiful room that showcases warm maple or oak furnishings.
Tags: white wrought-iron, your white, your bedroom, all-white bedroom, cherry wood, white wrought, white wrought iron