Creating intimacy in a room is about finding a mixture of elements that combine in such a way that they make both you and your partner feel comfortable and close. Some of these elements include lighting, color, decoration, and furniture. In order to develop a truly romantic space, you will have to experiment with different ideas, always paying close attention to your most subtle subconscious preferences and dislikes. Your goal is to find a design that makes you feel both relaxed and sexy. In this way you yourself will reinforce the intimate nature of the room, by the air you give off when you enter it. Others will pick up on this, and instantly feel at least some of the effect you are trying to achieve.
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If you have a significant other, you will want to incorporate their taste and feedback into the planning of the room. It is ok to occasionally spring a sexy surprise by redesigning the bedroom, but you have to be prepared for the eventuality that they are not going to be inspired by what you have done. Worse, the redesign may even make them uncomfortable. This is not a rejection of you, simply a matter of taste, and should only inspire you to work with them to achieve a room you both feel good in.
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Color
Color has a very strong and subtle effect on our minds. Just looking at colors can evoke powerful emotions in us. By carefully selecting the colors you use in the decoration of your bedroom, you can influence the undercurrents of mood in the space
Red is a very inspirational color that can evoke passion and desire. Adding a red comforter or some red pillows to your bed can sometimes serve to light a flame in your relationships. However, you should be careful not to let the fire get out of control. Red also evokes aggressiveness and anger. Those prone to such traits should avoid this color, especially in the bedroom.
Blues and greens are calming, intimate colors. Their use in a room may serve to create a feeling of ease. Green is also historically a color associated with fertility and marriage. In this way it may have a powerful potential to inspire passion in the collective unconscious of a person.
Some colors you will probably want to avoid in an intimate bedroom are white, grey, yellow, and pink. These colors can be used as accents, but their over use may lead to certain side effects that you would want to avoid. White and grey are considered to be very plain colors, and their predominance can create an almost trance like state for people in a room. Yellow in large doses can irritate eyes and cause nervousness. Pink will probably have a slightly beneficial effect subconsciously. Generally pink causes people to feel calmer, happier, and more romantic at a deep psychological level. However, due to societal associations this color has been very heavily tied in to females. This may cause a male in a relationship to feel uncomfortable in a room where this color is dominant. These are, of course, only loose guidelines, and you should refer to your own taste when making any decisions on which colors to choose in a setting.
Lighting
Lighting is an easy way to instantly set the mood in a room. Bright lighting can make a room feel open and happy, evoking invigorated feelings of excitement. However, if you are trying to create a romantic decor you are probably going to want to go in the opposite direction, towards dimmer more intimate mood lighting.
An easy cost effective way to introduce mood lighting into a setting is to install a dimmer switch. These are relatively easy to install yourself, although if you are at all unsure about your ability to do this it is best to hire an electrician. A dimmer switch allows you to make the decision as to whether you want the lighting to be romantic or exciting. In this way a mere flip of the switch can completely change the look and feel of a room
Some people may find colored lighting helps to create an intimate feel. Colored light bulbs can be bought at almost any novelty store and fit into most outlets. They are relatively inexpensive, so you can play around with a number of colors. Red or black is probably your best bet, as these lights will give the room a darker, sultrier feeling. Unlike with hard colors, green, and blue light can have the opposite of your intended effect, casting a sickly and distracting shade on the space. If you decide to use this method, play around with different colors, and don't tie yourself into any one. Leaving colored lighting on in a room constantly may cause eye irritation, so you probably want to make this a temporary change.
Specialty mood lights may be a better way to add colored light accents to a room. Onyx lamps range in color from orange to green, and give off only a gentle illumination. The soft, warm nature of this light tends to bath a space in intimacy. Lava lamps are another great accent light. The shapes and movements of the lava are sensual, and the light is subdued. They are a bit out dated, but in many ways retro décor is making a come back. If your space can pull off a lava lamp without looking silly, they can provide intimate and mesmerizing illumination to a room
Perhaps the simplest method for creating an intimately lighted atmosphere is with candles. Candles are very inexpensive, and come in a variety of colors and sizes. They provide understated light that flickers, making the space seem to move at each twist of the flame. Scented candles will add yet another touch of sensuality to the feel of the bedroom.
Decoration
If you are decorating for intimacy, you want to be careful about the kind of accessories you choose to display in the setting. You want every item in the room to be beautiful. Ugly or tacky images will be a distraction that can ruin the mood of the entire space.
Certain kinds of art are wonderful accents for an erotic setting. Try to find pieces that are lovely to the point of being inspirational. Seeing landscapes, portraits, portrayals of beautiful bodies or of nature can prime a human's subconscious, readying it for intimacy. Avoid any work that is violent, or overly bizarre, as it will only take attention away from the room's sensuality.
You don't want to decorate with objects that directly turn you on. Instead you should try and find things that touch you in a subtle way, stirring emotions rather then pure lust. If you do choose to incorporate erotic pieces into your décor, try and be tasteful in your choices. Tribal fertility art or renaissance body portraits are one way to add sexy decorative items to a room in an understated and elegant manner.
Furniture
The most important piece of furniture in a bedroom is, of course, the bed. In an intimate setting this piece will almost certainly be the focus of the room. You want your bed to be both comfortable and beautiful. You want it to be a setting that will inspire you, and make you feel relaxed enough to let down your inhibitions and be yourself.
You can think of the bed as a canvas, and use sheets, pillows, and blankets to paint your scene. Use colors that make you feel sexy. Pay attention to your feelings as you try different sheets and comforters in different ways. Purchasing satin or silk bedding can be an easy way to instantly make the bed a sensual centerpiece.
A simple trick to increase the perception of intimacy in a room is to get rid of your box spring. By lowering your mattress to the floor, you will make the room feel closer. You can surround the bed with short night tables, and move larger furniture such as dressers against the wall, to complete the feeling of intimacy. Now the room focuses in three dimensions on one spot. Climb into the bed with a partner and you will almost feel the room itself funneling the two of you together.
An intimate center piece can also be created around a bed by building a simple canopy. Nail pieces of 1x2 to the ceiling around your bed, making sure to secure them into studs. Then simply staple some gauzy fabric to the border of this frame, creating pleats as you do. A canopy can be a private little cove where two lovers can be alone from the rest of the world.
The creation of an intimate bedroom is totally dependent on your specific taste. You have to feel comfortable and sexy in a room, before you can expect anyone else to. As such, you should experiment with colors, lighting, and accessories, to create a setting which is both calming and exciting. Don't be afraid to change the look or feel of a space. You're enjoyment is the ultimate measure of your decorating success.
Copyright Joey Lewitin 2005 - This article free for reprint as long as it contains a resource box with the name of the author and a clickable link.
Decorating a Romantic Room
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