Create a Blissful Retreat...

Collette Hanlon

Today’s life is fast paced and stressful to say the least, and the long term effects on our overall well being can be draining.  Most of us yearn to escape, find a retreat, a place of calm and comfort, well the good news is you don’t have to go too far....!
One positive way to combat everyday stresses is to create a tranquil quiet place within our homes that we can retreat to for relaxation and rejuvenation.  The bedroom is the place we retire to each night and recharge our batteries for the following day, therefore creating the most blissful and comforting sanctuary will impart a feeling of calm and enhance your feeling of well being.
Built in storage not only offers the maximum storage space, but also the most streamlined solution to eliminate clutter. To get the most out of the given space look for internal wardrobe fittings that meet your needs.  Keep windows sparkling clean and throw them open them first thing in the morning to let in fresh air.

The choice of colour is a key factor in the overall ambience of the room.  The cool side of the spectrum is much more calming and conducive to relaxation.    Statement ‘feature’ walls look great behind the bed, make this a deeper tone, or hang over-sized patterned wallpaper for drama and edge.  Add harmony and balance to the scheme by selecting natural materials, like wood, cotton, silk and linens.  If it is glamour that rocks your boat, opt for sparkling glass, nickel, and mirrored furniture, with warmth from cashmere and shimmering silk.
A truly blissful sanctuary should be full of divine touches to stir the senses!  Crisp, cool, clean white cotton or linen sheets are the ultimate ‘Ahhh!....’ factor at the end of the day.  Make your bed the comfort zone, by layering contrasting textures of cool smooth sheets, with soft velvet and silky throws and sumptuous full pillows, just begging to be sunk into!  Rugs and thick pile carpets evoke a sense of luxury on bare feet first thing in the morning.
Create symmetry and balance by using matching bedside tables and table lamps for low level mood lighting.  This is particularly important in a minimalist interior where the room can look austere and too clinical, here, the injection of warm pools of light adds a new dimension. 
If space allows, an upholstered armchair adds another dimension of comfort to the bedroom. Tall deep buttoned headboards are very on trend; this is the much sought after hotel boutique chic look, both practical and sumptuous.  To enhance the glamorous effect further dress the bed with pillows standing up, and place cushions symmetrically in front of the pillows.  Choose contrasting tactile fabrics from scrunchy slub silks to soft velvets for ultimate luxury.
Finally, a blissful retreat would not be complete without a favourite fragrance to infuse the room; a carefully chosen scented candle will subtly scent the air, and enhance your mood, while a simple vase of fresh flowers like white narcissi add a touch of pure luxury, designed to lift the spirits.