How to Design The Perfect Bedroom Oasis
Cape Town-based designer, Kim Williams, focuses on designing interior spaces that are mindful of emotional and physical wellbeing.
30/04/2021
Our hectic daily lifestyles are a whirlwind of activity; we race through the days trying to meet deadlines and finish off the lengthy to-do list while still having to manage the ups and downs that are thrown our way. It is no wonder that our bedrooms become a refuge as the day finally subsides.
Having spent much of her childhood in her bedroom due to a physical limitation, Kim Williams has a deep passion for positively impacting the physical and emotional wellbeing of her clients’ so they can live their best possible life - at home and work. Kim understands that we need a soothing place that provides respite from the daily chaos of our lives and one that provides an opportunity to rest our bodies.
Here are Kims Top Tips to Creating Your Perfect Bedroom Oasis:
Functionality is key
The point of departure with a bedroom is to understand who will live there and what type of experience you want to create. The main bedroom of a single man, for example, will be different from that of a married couple and the functionality of the design must reflect that. Next, you need to decide on the atmosphere you want to create. Would you like to have a romantic bedroom or would you prefer that your bedroom have a luxurious hotel feel? Deciding on these elements will help you get emotionally invested in the design, the process and the finished room because you have cultivated an emotional connection to your space.
Pay attention to flow and energy
Excellent spaces are designed around what we would ideally like to use them for and should not constrict or dictate our movement. Paying attention to how you live, such as where you sit, where you stand and where you snuggle in your bedroom, will give insight into how you want to ideally move through your future space.
Be mindful that there is always going to be an element of what is adjustable and what is not. Once you have identified your unique living patterns you will find that layering your space with wonderful pieces of furniture and accessories will be a more seamless process.
Get inspired...
Looking through books of famous designers, magazines and Pinterest will help you gain an understanding of the lines, shapes and colours you are naturally drawn to. When you enter new spaces, look out for magical things that catch the corner of your eye because they will give you insight and direction. And, be mindful that your home is a larger entity than your bedroom is part of and make sure you have a cohesive design.
Kim believes is taking inspiration from a loved item of one of her clients, and in particular treasured and sentimental objects and artworks - because these represent the perfect microcosm of their emotional sentiment and intellectual tastes.
Embrace Multifunctionality
A bedroom is so much more than just a bedroom, and although we primarily sleep in the space, many of us are using our bedrooms as offices, dressing rooms, home gyms and relaxation spaces. An easy way to add functionality is with nightstands which easily double as desks and dressing tables. Multifunctional doesn’t have to be unromantic either. The colour palette selected and how you accessorise and use smart storage, will all contribute to how cluttered or spacious your bedroom feels.
If you are a neat person, open storage is a great option. If you are not, blanket boxes are useful for storing items at the end of the bed. The colour of the furniture, such as dark tones that recede into the background and arranging of your furniture to reveal the room one vista at a time is also very important when creating zones.
Have fun
One of the most profound parts of any project is combining creative understanding and skill to create a tailored retreat where you feel alive in your space. It evokes feelings of inspiration and excitement in us. Connecting with your changing space and being mindful of the new and old elements that evoke memories and emotion in you, help you to reconnect with yourself. When we create our environment there is a powerful sense of control and accomplishment we feel in the process, so take a deep breath and enjoy it.
Kim believes that as people we create spaces on an intelligent subconscious level and that by understanding where we feel the best, we will get closer to excellent mindful design. If we give ourselves the freedom to dream about our ideal environment and then act to construct it, we create asylum from the busyness of the outside world.
If you would like more tips from Kim Williams, sign-up for her blog at www.kimwilliams.co.za