How to Enhance the Look and Feel of Your Bedroom

How much of your life to you spend in bed?

Most of us don't realise that we spend about 40% of our lives in bed. Not all of that time is spent sleeping of course! So if we spend more than a third of our lives in the bedroom then surely we should spend some time and money to make it as beautiful and comfortable as the living room. Even though not every guest may visit the bedroom, it still deserves a good personal investment. So what are some things that we can do to liven up our bedrooms look and feel?

The first change that you can make is in the sheets. There are two main factors that go into a great sheet, thread count and fibre. Usually, the higher the thread count, the softer the sheet. However, you can still some across 1000 thread count sheets that feel like cardboard because they are made cheaply. A 300 tread count is the recommended minimum because it is great for summer. Then you can move up to 1000. The other very important factor is the sheets fibre. Ensure that you don't chose anything synthetic as it won't breathe. Egyptian cotton is the softest cotton by far as well as cotton bamboo blends. Linen also looks great and breathes, but the negative with cotton is that takes lots of washes to really soften up. Anything marked "sateen" will have a silky feeling to the surface of the sheets.

After you have your sheets covered move onto a new a blanket. It is highly recommend to have a lightweight blanket in between the sheet and comforter. This provides extra warmth in winter and is great in summer when the comforter is too hot. Some good things to look out for here are waffle weave or lightweight merino wool.

After your blanket we have the top layer. There are three main choices in this category to suit all preferences.

1. The traditional quilt or bedspread - This option is lightweight and has a neat and tidy feel when tucked in. The only drawback is lack of warmth in the winter time and your traditional quilt can look rather flat on top of the bed.
2. The comforter- This is a fluffy blend that is usually top stitched with a decorative fabric on the outside. This provides lots of warmth and also looks fluffy and neat. The down side to a comforter is that it is not easily washed because they are usually too big for household washers. Therefore a visit to the drycleaner or big Laundromat is required.
3. The Doona - The most popular option in these days consists of a sheet like envelope that goes around a fluffy insert. Advantage is you can pick the insert to suit your climate, so use a light doona in summer and a thinker doona in winter. In regards to the filling, down is the warmest and microfiber provides great fluffiness. You can also get alternative non-allergenic fibres like corn or eucalyptus for people with allergies. Polyester fill will not breathe and will go flat over time. The other advantage of a doona is that you can launder the cover on a regular basis, so you can change the colour and the style. A disadvantage is that a doona tends to look messy and you will forever be readjusting the insert.

The next added extra that you can add to a bed for detail is a throw. It adds style, texture and colour to a boring bedroom. It is place to rest your feet when you sit on the bed, and it is great way to add an extra bit of warmth in winter. You can also throw over your legs when lounging during the day without having to ruin your nicely made bed.

Accent cushions are another nice detail to add. It is vital to not overdo it though with cushions because as good as they look made up in the shops, a bed with 101 cushions can be annoying when you are tired and ready to get in bed. Keep it to a few well chosen accents that work into your colour scheme. Adding three mismatched cushions looks stylishly eclectic. Two square Euros in a contrast colour is good if you are looking for a more classic look. Or for a more minimalist dream try one big bolster. They are nice to rest against when sitting up in bed. Put a basket or ottoman at the end of the bed to throw them into when you go to sleep- another nice touch to add to your bedroom and great for storage.

Your head pillow is not as vital to the aesthetic to the room, but having a good pillow to support your next is still very important. It is recommended you replace your pillow every 6 months, but this can easily be extended with a good pillow protector. Latex is the best pillow but expensive and some people don't like the feel. Down is nice but can cause allergies and flatten over time. Microfibre or corn fibre is other good alternatives to avoid these problems. Make sure you try your pillow out for comfort before purchasing.

The styling of the bedroom is best left to the owner's preference and taste. However some aspects that one should ponder are the colour scheme of the walls, carpet, bed and cushions. And when all else fails, check out some example online or in magazines for inspiration!

Indian Wooden Handicrafts

For centuries, Indian wooden handicrafts have retained a traditional place in ancient scriptures and mythology. There have been instances where instructions have been found in holy books on the process to manufacture wooden doors. Wood from India has especially been used for making utensils in several parts of the country and they are still used at many places for that purpose.

The famous walnut wood from Kashmir that is mostly used for carving small book racks, bowls, trays and numerous items of conventional use, have earned recognition and fame all across the world. Examples of Indian woodwork, influenced by ancient architectural styles, are in demand globally. There is also the famous sandalwood work of Karnataka which is recognized all over the world because of its distinctive smell. It is used for manufacturing intricate and eye-catching craft work. Another fine example of Indian wooden handicraft is the sandalwood hand-fan. When used, the fan spreads the fragrance of the wood all across the room. Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh, the red sandalwood variety is used by Indian furniture manufacturers for carving idols, deities, figurines, statuettes and dolls. Particularly valuable are the trinket boxes that are carved out of rosewood and ebony. These are mostly manufactured in northern India.

The western state of Rajasthan, known all over the world for its majestic forts and palaces, is considered to be the hub of Indian wooden handicrafts. The state itself boasts of a rich tradition and culture. It has gained all the more recognition for creating fascinating and native handicrafts. The woodcraft of Rajasthan is especially famous for the state's distinct art and design forms.

A very popular type of wooden handicraft of this western Indian state is the puppet. Wooden puppets are an integral artwork form of the famous Rajasthan handicrafts. Long strings are usually attached to these puppets which move and dance when the strings are pulled. There's a narrator who tells a story, mostly pertaining to history or mythology. This is a very popular and ancient art form, still very much on display in the state. It's a native form of narrating a story and extensively used to entertain tourists to Rajasthan.

Wooden handicrafts of Rajasthan, also sometimes made by Indian furniture manufacturers, are usually characteristically colorful. They carry intricate craftsmanship as well. Wooden candle holders, blinds, toys etc. are widely manufactured in Rajasthan. Interestingly, sandalwood too, is often used for manufacturing such objects. Desert caravans manufactured from sandalwood are attractive show-pieces of this place. In fact, key chains, trinket boxes and other similar items, manufactured from fragrant sandalwood, are hugely popular all across the world.

Indian wooden handicrafts made in Rajasthan, are not merely restricted to gift items. The state's creative domain has extended its influence over furnishings and furniture as well. Inlaid brass sheet wooden furniture is a signature woodwork style of this state. People here love to flaunt wooden coasters and trays on their dining tables that are handcrafted exclusively by skilled artisans.

No wonder that Indian handicrafts are renowned all over the world.