Design

How to Turn Your Bedroom Into an Oasis

By Cristina Cleveland

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I’ve painted my bedrooms various shades of turquoise, gray and purple over the years, and had all manner of colorful bedding and prints on the walls. As a child, and especially as a teenager, my bedroom was my domain to express my creativity. After college I painted my walls a dark blue and had velvet curtains to block out the light to create a cave to recharge from my first job. But now I can think of nothing more ideal than a light-filled white room, with plain linen bedding and lush plants – my own oasis. It’s funny how what we need from different rooms changes with time. Keep reading for four simple ways to create an oasis at home…

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1.Hide the clutter – The first and crucial step to creating an oasis is to banish all clutter from your surfaces. You can make this step so much easier on yourself by starting with enough storage. While I love the trendy look of a garment rack, it can be really difficult to keep this looking clean unless you stick to a monochromatic color scheme, so opt for an enclosed wardrobe or dresser to keep your clothes tidy. I’m definitely guilty of forming tall piles of books on my nightstand, but try to keep this area clear with just the essentials.

2. Plants -No oasis is complete without lush greenery. In the inspiration photo there’s a small garden above the wardrobe, which as styles Abigail Ahern points out “draws the eye up.” You can incorporate large leafy plants, hang fern wreaths on the wall or even just hang a photograph of plant life.

3. Keep a tightly restrained color palette – It may be difficult for those of you who adore bold colors, but whites, linens and neutral colors will set the tone for your sanctuary. Stick to just one accent color, like the fresh green of the wardrobe here, to keep your palette restrained.

4. Set the mood – Take a cue from the yoga studio and use candles, incense or a scent diffuser to set the mood. These small but important sensory touches will transform the way you feel in the space, especially if you use your bedroom to pray or meditate int he morning or at night.

Sources linen chandelierfern wreathsbedreed diffusercandlelight votivelinen sheet setdresser, inspiration image via Abigail Ahern

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