Your bedroom is arguably the most important room in your house. Built for relaxation, this is the space where you unwind and decompress at the end of a tiring evening, and recharge your batteries for the morning ahead. And when you’re designing your dream bedroom, getting the most comfortable bed and setting it up to soothe is a top priority.
Looking for cot designs and bedroom styling tips? Here’s our take on how you can create the perfect bedroom. Read on to know more!
Bedroom Styling Tips
The styling of your bedroom is all about warmth, coziness and comfort. Visualise your dream space, think of all that needs to go into it, and get started. Here are some decorating tips to help you get it right!
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Choose a soothing, relaxing colour palette
Pastels and whites, blues and greens are calming and ideal choices for the bedroom— while colours on the opposite end of the spectrum like reds, oranges and yellows are not restful and are better left alone. If your preferred pick of colours runs along those lines, however, you can always use them in ways that add a burst of vibrancy, without being the primary hues in the room. A bright duvet or pillow, or unusual shades in the artwork, for instance, could make your bedroom pop.
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Work out the spatial flow.
Bedrooms should never, ever be cramped! If the footprint of your room is small, go minimalistic. Avoid any extra furniture, like coffee tables or bookcases, and try to optimise storage by using the space above and below the bed, and taking wardrobes up to the ceiling.
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Pick a cot design that maximises comfort.
You’ll be spending one third of your entire life in it (or even more if you love to eat in bed, work in bed or watch TV in bed!) and so comfort should always be the topmost priority. Pick a cot design that is ergonomic, follows the norms for optimal comfort, and allows you to fully stretch out and relax.
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Optimise the storage
Storage is an important consideration in any room, but assumes critical importance in the bedroom as it’s where you stash all your clothes, accessories, dressing essentials and more. And if your bedroom will also be used as your home office, then you should also factor in storage for your work things. A wall-to-wall storage wardrobe is always ideal, but if you don’t have enough space then opt for pull-outs below the bed, a chest of drawers and a smaller clothes closet.
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Reading Nook
Love reading? Carve out a reading corner in your bedroom—preferably by the window—where you can curl up with your favourite book and lose yourself inside its pages! A reading lamp, a comfy chair and a small side table to park your cup of coffee are must-haves.
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Add soft touches
Furnishings, bedlinen, drapes, cushions and rugs offer visual softness which heightens the feeling of comfort in your room. Keeping the bed at the centre of your focus always, distribute soft accents all around the room.
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Don’t forget the ceiling!
When you’re lying down in bed, you’ll be looking up at the ceiling. Don’t just settle for a plain white ceiling. Paint it an accent colour, wallpaper it, or design a lovely false ceiling with hidden lights that do not shine brightly down and hurt your eyes.
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Consider the lighting.
Efficient lighting design is key to the functionality of any space. Plan for different light sources in the room, which can include ceiling spotlights and recessed lights, wall sconces and pendants, dressing table lights and bedside table lamps for night reading. Put your lighting on dimmers, so that it’s easy to turn down the intensity when you’re falling asleep.
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Introduce relaxing accents.
Lavender scented candles, diffusers with ylang ylang essential oils, and woodsy cedar air sprays are just some of the stress-relieving aromas that you can introduce into your bedroom, for soothing frayed nerves and reducing anxiety levels. Dress up your bedside table with sprays of fresh flowers for fragrance that lingers.
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Follow your heart.
Last but not least, it pays to throw out all the interior design rule books, and just follow your heart. You already know the colours that you like and the look that you love. In the end, it’s all about your own personal sense of style, and something out of a designer’s lookbook just won’t make the cut.
A Peek into the HomeLane Archives
Searching for some design inspo? Take a look at these trending cot designs, straight out of the HomeLane design archives, and take your pick!
Quilted Comfort
There’s nothing to match the elegance of a classical design, as we can see in this spacious and high-ceilinged bedroom. The transitional cot design features a quilted headboard, done up in grey silk, against soft white bed covers and embroidered pillow cases.
Traditional Wood
Teak wood furniture lends a traditional look in this old-fashioned primary bedroom. The cot design features a wide, built-in headboard that extends beyond the side units on either side of the bed; while the vintage design does double duty as a dressing table.
Low Platform
A countryside home maximises bedroom views with long glass windows that frame the outdoors. The wooden bed is low and built in platform-style, doing away with the need for separate bedside tables. There’s ample space to perch your night-time novellas all around the mattress or just on the ledge above your head.
Modern Sensibilities
Opt for minimalistic styling, and try cushioned beds with sleek upholstered headboards and simple white bedside units. Not only will clean lines keep your bedroom looking less cluttered, but it will add an edgy modern vibe that is all the rage right now.
Four Poster Style
A pistachio palette beautifully melds with wooden accents in this charming and cozy bedroom. The gorgeous four poster metal bed lends old-world style, which is accentuated by frilly bed covers in floral accents. A vintage carpet completes the look.
Zen Décor
Calm colour palettes and minimalistic décor are the hallmark of Zen style, and this bedroom has it in spades! The choice of abstract wallpaper piques visual interest, while the simple straight lines of the platform bed are in sharp contrast to the bare, twisted branches in ceramic pots.
Hanging Bed
A wooden bed suspended from the ceiling by ropes is great for lounging around the whole day in, especially when it’s located in such a scenic spot! Hanging beds offer a unique sleep experience, and are a lot of fun in the daytime as well. Make sure your bed is installed by a professional so that the ropes don’t give way when you’re in slumberland.
Low-Slung
A low bed always heightens the illusion of space in a compact room. Here, the pull-out futon is great for creating extra sleeping space when unexpected guests arrive.
An Eye on Sustainability
Rattan and bamboo offer sustainable alternatives to wood or metal, and this wickerwork single cot design is cost-effective, light-weight and high on comfort. Besides which, it’s drop-dead gorgeous! Style the room with handmade wicker accents, cotton bed covers, and plenty of lush greenery, and tie the organic look together.
What is a Cot Bed? Some Common Terminology, Explained!
A cot bed is a term commonly used in UK, and refers to a small bed for infants or very young children, with removable safety bars on the sides. If the side rails and end panels are removed, a cot bed can be converted to a bed for an older child. Cot beds often come with height-adjustable mattresses, to accommodate the growing needs of your child.
In America, a cot bed is referred to as a crib. A ‘travel cot’ refers to a lightweight bed that is used for camping.
The term ‘cot’ in India is used interchangeably to refer to a bed, and does not specifically allude to a bed for a child.
Cot beds for babies can also be designed to be drawn up against the parent’s bed, with a side panel removed so that the baby can be easily comforted at night. This lovely white cot bed has gracefully curved corners and no sharp edges, making it very safe for even the naughtiest toddler.
Here, a cot bed has had one of the sides removed, converting it to a day bed or seating space in a pre-schooler’s room. As every mother knows, one can never have enough space in a child’s room! The storage drawers below optimise space and can be used to stow away toys, books or bedlinen.
To Conclude
Have you already fallen in love with any of the cot designs we’ve showcased in this article? Or would you like to look at some more?
For expert home décor ideas that fall within your budget and match your personal style, connect with a HomeLane designer. We’ll hand pick every element that goes into your home, to help you get the interior that you’ve always dreamed of!
FAQs
1. What is a cot bed?
A cot bed is a term used in the UK to refer to a small bed with side rails for children. The same is referred to as a crib in America. In India, the term ‘cot’ is used to refer to the bed itself; in other words it is the piece of furniture used in the bedroom, on which you sleep.
2. What is a cot used for?
A cot is the piece of furniture used for sleeping. When referring to a bed for children, it is a bed with bars or panels all around, to prevent the child from falling out.
While in India co-sleeping with an infant or small baby is considered normal, it is a practice that is frowned upon in western countries, as you could accidentally hurt the baby when you roll over at night. They would always prefer to put a baby to sleep in a cot bed or crib that is either in a separate nursery or in the same room where the parents sleep.
3. What is a simple cot design made of?
Wood is the most popular cot or bed frame material. In India, sheesham wood, teak wood or mahogany are very popular hardwoods used for building fine furniture. A sustainable cot design option would be made of wood and wickerwork, wood and bamboo, wood and plywood or even with a metal frame instead of a wooden one.
4. What are the typical sizes of cot designs?
If used for an adult, a double cot can be king-sized (72 in x 85 in or 183 cm x 216 cm) or queen-sized (60 in x 78 in or 152 cm x 198 cm). A single cot is 72 in x 36 in, or 183 cm x 91 cm. These sizes can vary between different brands.
A cot for a baby could be 25 in x 50 in, or approximately 65 cm x 125 cm. Cot designs for babies are customisable and can be designed based on the space available in your nursery.
5. What are the different types of cot designs?
Cot designs vary greatly between geographies, and also depend on the kind of usage.
Wooden cot designs are very popular in countries like USA, UK and all parts of Europe, countries where wood is in plentiful supply. White cedar, beech and oak wood cot designs are popular in Scandinavian countries, where furniture is built using solid wood with minimalistic designs.
In India, solid wood cot designs are expensive, and the most popular material used for cots is MDF or plywood on a wooden or metal frame. MDF is an engineered wood that is made of waste wood, and is therefore considered to be a cost-effective and environmentally safer alternative to wood. It is not as durable as solid wood, of course, but the cost difference makes it worth your while. Do remember that MDF cannot bear as much weight as plywood or solid wood, and must be supported with a firm framework at 2 feet intervals to prevent sagging or breakage.
6. What is another word for a cot?
A cot can also be referred to as a crib, if it is used for young children, or as a bed, if it is used for adults.
