Ideas for Bedroom Decoration

Black and White All Over

Black and white is a popular contemporary decorating trend. This black-and-white duo is both flirty and sophisticated. Two floor-length mirrors complement the black wood-framed bed and highlight two glass chandeliers. Above the bed, three floating shelves allow for space to display photographs or other favorite accessories.

Floor-to-Ceiling Simplicity

This well-lit room with floor-to-ceiling windows is the perfect space for contemporary design. Simple bedding pops with colorful pillows in different textures. A sleek partition wall in a neutral shade keeps the bed space separate from the rest of the room.

Style Combination

This room transitions between contemporary and traditional. To make the two work together, subtle hints of traditional style sneak onto the bed with striped and floral pillows. A contemporary headboard with an upholstery pattern is nestled into the windows behind the bed.

Pillow Talk

In this room, modern elements can all be found in the bed. Oversize pillows in contrasting colors are a dramatic touch to a neutral down comforter. A tall headboard with a ledge allows for a unique way to display artwork.

Calming Retreat

Contemporary doesn't have to be bold. For a pared-down modern look like this, choose furniture pieces with simple lines and neutral colors. Unique lamps on the bedside tables provide additional modern flair.

Sleek and Fresh

Simplicity, subtle color, and clean lines help to define contemporary style in this master bedroom. While maintaining a very neutral and simple palette, two chairs in the sitting area add some personality and a dash of color. The design and visual appearance of the glass partition wall finishes the modern look.

Confident Color

This bedroom is exploding with warm colors, prints, and texture. Color and pattern were brought into the design with several pillows, contrasting rugs, and bold paint. A neutral couch sitting in front of the window allows for color to be spread beyond the bed and walls.

Understated Elegance

This room features a tone-on-tone color palette that relies heavily on brown, light blue, and pure white. By keeping the room basic, the brown leather headboard and decorative pillows are able to pop off the wall even more.

Wall of Windows

A wall of draperies calls attention to the focal-point bed with an extra-high headboard, plump pillows, and striking geometric throw. Nearby, matching contemporary lamps sit atop similar, yet different, night tables in dark wood.

Twist of Lime

Dark chocolate walls outlined with white moldings reinforce the geometry of the furnishings. A rectangular bed, striped bedding, squared-off nightstands, and angular lampshades are offset only by a handful of rounded elements.

Modern Canopy

This contemporary bedroom gets a shot of personality and interest from a repeating pattern of boxes and squares. Wall niches, built-in bookshelves, and a metal canopy bed each include geometric shapes. Canopy draperies are made of striped fabric hung from tabs.

Brown Beauty

Dark walls make all the difference in this contemporary space. White feminine bedding is offset by lime green fabric accents throughout the rest of the room. A built-in bookshelf displays modern accessories and hides personal belongings. A retro-inspired chair in front of the window completes the look.

Color Coordination

Contemporary style is a display of beautiful contrasts in both texture and color. This room focuses both on bold color and the basics of line, shape, and form that are signature to contemporary design.

Into the Woods

Contemporary style transcends all aspects of this room: the walls, the floor, furniture, and accessories. Natural wood elements bring warmth and beauty to the minimalist design and are combined for an unexpected but working mix.

ideas for Open-Plan Decoration

Vibrant open-plan living room

Make your living room an extension of the outdoors with clever use of vibrant textures, fabrics, plants and ethnic furniture.

Bold open-plan kitchen/diner

Red and cream walls highlight the sleek MFI lacquered units and wooden worktops in this kitchen. Two stainless-steel curved cupboards with roll-down doors add a modern edge. A breakfast bar gives extra work space. In the foreground, a glass table and contemporary chairs create a dining area.

Classic dining room table

For an evening table setting, replace chair cushions with smart white box-pleated skirts and transform a New Heights dinner table with a Ralph Lauren runner in delicate shell-pink linen, and co-ordinated place mats in a faded floral.

Modern family kitchen/diner

This kitchen has a wooden floor and simple flush units in lacquered white, both practical choices in a busy family space. The walls, units and paintwork are all in light-reflecting white to make the room seem bigger and keep it airy. The centrepiece is a Terence Conran wooden table and benches from Benchmark Furniture, with bright cushions and accessories and a lime green runner. Simple but striking blinds and glass pendant shades from Baileys Home & Garden complete the streamlined, modern look.

Open-plan contemporary living room

Everything in this eclectic contemporary living room is low-level, from the Designers Guild sofas to the coffee table that is in fact a dining table from Ikea with its legs cut down. The wall print is an enlargement of a Jordi Labanda picture from his book of illustrations, Hey Day.

Zesty open-plan living-dining room

Dark cabinetry in stained oak and high-gloss ties in well with the lime green furniture in this open-plan scheme. The 1970s-style modular sofa in faux suede is ideal for separating the living space from the dining area. Statement furniture like the multi-level coffee table add a modern touch to the retro scheme.

Professional kitchen-dining area

Sleek lines and modern appliances give this open-plan kitchen a professional feel. A breakfast bar zones the modern kitchen, while the chic glass table and chairs add to the sophisticated yet welcoming feel of the room. Solid oak flooring keeps the look from being too stark and modern.

Open-plan dining area

A low shelf unit has been positioned to create a division between the dining and living area of this open-plan space. It also creates storage for the dining area and a handy surface for buffet-style lunches or drinks. A large table is useful for a number of activities such as homework, paperwork, as well as dining. Pendant lights have been hung above the table to add further definition to the area.

Cosy living-dining room

A comfy modular sofa is used to mark out the living zone in this living-dining room. Cushions are piled high for extra comfort and wallpaper is used to create a focal point. Homely accessories and light-wood ensures that the open-plan scheme is cosy. A modular storage and a cream rug is used to define the living space, while handy storage clears clutter.

White open-plan dining area

A reinforced glass panel on the staircase acts as a balustrade while maximising light in this open-plan dining area. White gloss furniture creates a contemporary feel that is softened by wooden stairs and surfaces. Modern orange dining chairs add colourful accents to the scheme.

So You Think You Know Your Christmas Plants - The 2008 Christmas Quiz

Three days to go, and just like every year I´ve still got everything to do for Christmas. So before I get too tied up with making the mince pies and wrapping the parcels, here´s this year´s Christmas quiz. You´ll find the answer at the bottom - no cheating please or Father Christmas won´t come ...

1. Two of the gifts brought by the wise men were Frankincense and myrrh, which come from trees of the genera Boswellia and Commiphora respectively. But what are they exactly?

a) a resin which oozes from the bark

b) an oilpaste made by pressing the berry-like fruits

c) a tincture made by soaking the leaves in alcohol

2. Ivy was traditionally hung over the entrance to the house at Christmas time because it was thought it would...

a) bring good luck in the coming year

b) frighten away goblins

c) protect from the plague

3. Something else you may have in the house this Christmas is Euphorbia pulcherrima. What is it?

a) mistletoe

b) holly

c) poinsettia

4. The most well-known Christmas tree in Britain is the one which goes up in Trafalgar Square in London each year. It´s a gift from the people of another European capital. Which one?

a) Oslo (Norway)

b) Stockholm (Sweden)

c) Helsinki (Finland)

5. How do you get your Christmas Cactus to bloom at Christmas?

a) Keep it in low humidity and stop watering around about the beginning of November.

b) Make sure it has 13 or more hours of continuous darkness per day starting around the beginning of October with temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

c) Keep it on a windowsill and turn it three times a day to ensure it receives light on all sides.

6. Christmas pudding was traditionally called plum pudding. But why, when there are no plums in it?

a) In the 16th century plum was a generic term which referred to any type of dried fruit - including raisins, which are a basic ingredient of the dish.

b) In the 17th century, plum was used as an adjective meaning delicious.

c) In the 13th century it was actually called plumb pudding. Plumb comes from the Latin word for lead, and it was a reference to how your stomach felt after eating it...

To see how you did just scroll down. And if you weren´t around in 2007 or 2006 and want to check out the quizzes for those years too, just click on the links.

OK here are the answers : 1.a; 2.b; 3.c; 4.a; 5.b ; 6.a

What ? 6/6 ? You´re too good for me. I can see I´m going to have to make them more difficult next year.

But till then, have a lovely Christmas - and don´t bother looking for the plums in your plum pudding ...

Bedroom , Spring Bed

The Montauk Marsh Grass Bed brings the romance of the Long Island shore into your home. Inspired by the fine details of cottage style design, furnish your home with the light and sunny tones of this classic American collection.

The Martinique Low Profile Sleigh Bed brings a sense of modern craftsmanship and time-honored charm into your home, and features the aesthetic and functional versatility to make it compatible with a whole array of interior looks. For use with a box-spring, this comfortably contemporary piece has a clean sense of form, with enough charming touches to keep your room warm and inviting. The gracefully curved headboard features paneled accents that show care in construction and a sense of style. Squared legs finish of the look of the gracefully sophisticated bed, sure to add new life and luxury to your bedroom.

The Georgetown Contemporary Bed epitomizes modern design in the way that it takes traditional elements, updates them, and seamlessly incorporates them into a seamless whole. A contemporary interpretation of the popular sleigh style, the Georgetown features complementary horizontal round spindles with square posts

Drawing its design from the Art Deco period, the Roselle Bed combines fine detail with handcrafted construction to create a truly unique and timeless appearance. The generous headboard and footboard boast elegant inlay panels that bear a repeating hourglass pattern. A hand-rubbed dark walnut finish coats the hardwood solids and cherry veneers for a touch of true visionary charm. The Roselle Bed is more than just a place to sleep; it's a work of art.

Metropolitan chic with a timelesss appeal, the Soho Bed is the alternative to design excess. With bold lines and the lushness of warmly finished wood, the Soho achieves a uniform beauty that most beds can't equal. A raised headboard features three recessed cubbies for filling with design elements and a lack of footboard simplifies your look.

The Spice Island Panel Bed blends tropical and transitional styling to create a lasting appeal which is at home in a variety of spaces. The fusion of materials includes prima vera veneers and hardwood, lending a distinct island sensibility to the design. Turn any area into a lush getaway with Spice Island.

If a true bedroom centerpiece that will catch the eye of all who enter while giving you a luxurious sense of style is what you seek, then the Florence will oblige perfectly. This unique design is centered around the diamond casting and regal arch on the headboard, and beautiful give and take between wood and metal elements, which set the tone for this comfortably lavish piece. The artistically fashioned posts of this bed, with beveled top accents and grooved front edges, finish off the look perfectly.

Blending retro designs with contemporary flair, the Odetta 54" Bed will transform your bedroom into a comfortable living space. Different from most beds, this completely upholstered bed features a generously high headboard that fully accommodates your support pillows with ease. Welted edges along the head and footboard reinforce the shape ensuring that the fabric will not be easily compromised. Complementing most bedroom decors, the Odetta 54" Bed is the perfect contemporary addition to your home.

Day Beds

Another introduction of a wood and iron piece with the addition of the Tivoli daybed. The back and sides have a fanciful scroll and wave design, secured by straight spindles that connect to the dark Walnut posts. The Pewter metalwork is made either with flat square wire, or twisted square wire, giving the daybed some extra sturdiness and stature. The Tivoli is adaptable for seating or extra sleeping and the design and color scheme of this bed lends itself to be used in an extra room, study or family room.

Red, white, and blue stripes in all cotton give this contemporary ensemble the patriotic feeling of the 4th of July.

A cottage feel with bright crisp lime greens, yellows, and cool blues with a plaid comforter and bed skirt of coordinating stripes and solids.

An ultra-contemporary pattern with a solid camel tan shantung fabric for the comforter, accented by stripes and polka dot accessories in chocolate, and turquoise.

A solid pine daybed features 4" legs, a solid wood panel in both arm and back, and pretty turnings throughout. Solid wood construction made from Pine.

The Surrey Daybed is the finest example you'll ever see of a sleigh bed adapted to a daybed. The functional design saves space and creates a comfortable haven in any room. Use as a sofa in a spare bedroom, office or in a child's room. Surrey's bent wood construction creates a marvelous sleigh bed effect. It features a raised, split back panel and substantial, curved arms that flare outward. The arm top rail is fluted for added drama. Even an exquisite solid brass rosette is applied on the front of each arm. The bed is made of solid popular hardwood. The lovely hue of the furniture quality finish is what will win you over. This daybed accepts standard twin size mattresses.

Traditional wood sleigh daybed featuring molded raised panel side and back with antique metal finished rosette. Finish is a deep, warm cherry of unusual clarity. All wood construction made from tropical hard wood. All carvings are done by hand.

A sophisticated Victorian-styled bed that marries interesting scroll work with vivid castings. Fully-welded construction featuring foundry-poured aluminum castings, heavy gauge tubing, and solid bar wire. Outer frame is made from 1 1/4" legs and a 1" top tube.

This lovely piece that is constructed of mixed media-wicker, meranti wood and metal stands alone. Intricate details are visible throughout, from the black, metal scroll work on the back and both side arms to the wicker topping the back and side arms. Never before has a mixed media daybed exuberated such sophistication and art work. This daybed is guaranteed to prompt oohs and ahhs from all that have the privilege of being in its presence. Wicker and wood parts of the daybed are finished in a rich autumn brown. The metal scroll work is finished in black. 88"W x 40-1/4"D x 46-1/4"H. Assembly required. Imported.

Beautifully understated, the Carolina Daybeds are a lovely addition to any home. The simple styling and choice of finishes offers versatility, complimenting any decor.

Whether your bedroom decor is contemporary or eclectic the Brookland daybed is a perfect fit.

The charming appeal of cottage styling meets the trendy uptown finish in our Augusta Daybed.

Daybed Link Spring with Down Bracket included.