Essential bedroom considerations

• Design your dream bedroom
• The bed
• Choosing between a fitted or freestanding bedroom
• The inside of your wardrobe
• Essential bedroom considerations
• The look and atmosphere

The flooring
As your bedroom gets much less traffic than other rooms, you can have more textured carpets – like a loop-pile – and choose paler shades than you might use downstairs. Wood floors – either solid or engineered – and laminates are becoming more popular in the bedroom and can be combined with underfloor heating. If you're unsure about the minimalist look, add comfort by having a deep-pile rug next to the bed.

The lighting
Don't leave the lighting to the end – particularly if you are going to need extra sockets or want to fit wall lights. The basic rule is that bedrooms need to be bright in the morning and atmospheric at night. Fitting a dimmer switch and having bedside lamps helps achieve this balance. You can also use lighting to highlight features, for instance, line the front of your wardrobes with discreet low-voltage downlighters.

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