Tips for How to Set Up a TV in a Small Bedroom

Many homes and apartments have small bedrooms, and the bedroom may be the occupant's only private space. When you install a television in a bedroom space it should be elevated enough for easy viewing and sized correctly for the viewing distance. When possible, the television should be mounted directly to the wall to maximize floor space, and it should be positioned where it won't be bumped.

Direct View
The ideal viewing height for a bedroom television is the same as the distance between your eyes and the floor when you are seated or reclining in your normal viewing position. The center of the television should be even with the position of your eyes. Recline on the bed and look at the wall opposite your normal position. When possible, flat-mount the television to provide an unobstructed view of the screen. If you must position the television on a wall-mounted arm over a doorway, you will probably want to select a larger screen for better detail viewing.

Distance and Size
A 26 inch television can be positioned 10 feet from the viewing position, but it is likely the details of the action on the screen will be difficult to see. A 26 inch screen is ideal for viewing within 6 feet, while 40 inch screens work well for viewing from 8 to 10 feet. The television should not be located to the side of the bed as this may create awkward viewing angles and cause neck and back problems.

Glare
Improve your viewing by controlling for glare. Windows are often positioned so that they will throw glare on the television screen. Install solid fabric window shades with a blackout liner so you can control the amount of glare if you watch television frequently during the day. Cellular shades can cut glare while allowing some light from the window. Select room lamps with matte finishes to avoid bouncing light onto the screen.

Multi-use Televisions
If your bedroom also serves as your home office or other living space, consider positioning your television to do double duty as a computer monitor. This is especially important when you need to make every inch of space count. A television mounted on a bracket that can pivot close to a desk allows the monitor to be used for work or gaming as well as television viewing. The larger screen can help prevent eyestrain.

Organization Tips for Small Bedrooms

A bedroom should be a place of relaxation and serenity. No matter the size of your bedroom and how much stuff you own, it can still be a place of calmness. Small spaces require organization to not only house personal belongings but more importantly to keep the space clutter and stress free.

Maximize Closet Space
Double your closet space by adding a second hanging rod. Move the eye level rod up a few inches, and install the bottom rod at waist height. Increase space for sweaters or handbags by installing a shelf above each hanging rod. Use shoe shelves on the floor of the closet. Change out your hangers to skinny velvet ones, and use tie and belt hangers. Hang clothing from light to dark, with like items together. Store off-season clothing in an alternate location and rotate twice a year.

Under the Bed
Utilize under-bed storage. From wood to plastic to wicker, the selection of under-bed box options is vast. Use hard plastic bins or storage bags if your bedroom is carpeted. Wicker will slide better on wood floors and are decorative if you do not use a dust ruffle. If you are purchasing a new bed for your small bedroom, choose a storage bed. Storage beds maximize the area under a mattress by eliminating the need for a box spring. You can get one with drawers or open to accommodate baskets.

Multifunctional Tables and Cabinets
Use bedside tables with drawers for additional storage. In a small room, each item needs to serve double duty. Expand closet space with a wardrobe cabinet with drawers. Use drawer organizers and separators to make items easy to find. Roll socks and store underwear in rows instead of piles so taking out one pair won't upset an entire pile.

Maximize Vertical Space
Install floating shelves for storing fragrances, jewelry and books. Instead of table lamps, install wall lamps to free up bedside tabletops. Hang a bulletin board to display pictures.

Keep It Clean
The key to an organized small space is to keep it clean and clutter free. Hidden storage will help to keep open spaces clear, but too much furniture will also crowd the space. Use light colors to make the room feel larger. Purge the room often, and donate items that you don't wear or use. For every one new item you bring in, let another item go out.

Tips on Converting Your Attic Into a Bedroom & Bathroom

Converting an unfinished attic into a usable bedroom suite, complete with a bathroom, is an effective way to maximize livable space without adding square footage to a home. A successful attic conversion is usually less expensive than constructing additional rooms. It is also an investment that recoups, on average, 74% of renovation costs if the owners decide the sell the property. Homeowners considering converting their attics into a bedroom and bathroom should start by thoroughly examining the condition of the space to determine how much work needs to be done.

Measure Your Space
Before you start making plans for your attic renovations, measure the length, width and height of the space to determine exactly how much room you have to work with. Pay careful attention to the height of the attic. You'll need about 10 feet at the apex to allow enough clearance for most people to feel comfortable. Once you've determined the dimensions of your attic, allot approximately 1/3 of the space for the bathroom; the remainder can be used to create a bedroom.

Plumbing and Electrical Outlets
Locate your water pipes with a pipe detector. Once you've found your pipes, it is best to situate the bathroom nearby so hot water pipes can be easily extended into the attic to allow for a sink fixture, shower/bath and toilet. Once you've determined the location of the bathroom, decide how many and where you would like to place your power outlets. The bathroom and bedroom should each have at least one power outlet. You should also make provisions for telephone and Internet connections, if they will be needed in the new bedroom.

Lighting, Soundproofing and Insulation
Since attics are poorly lit. In order to make one seem welcoming you'll want to ensure there is plenty of light. If possible, install windows and skylights to allow natural light to enter the space. You may wish to have more than one light source in the bedroom to guarantee it is well-lit, since lighting can give the illusion of space. If you intend to install carpet, it is best to lay down sound absorbers that will muffle daily noises, such as people walking around, to prevent them from disturbing those living below. In order to make the attic livable, you'll also want to make sure the space is adequately insulated and free of leaks.

Work with the Angles
Many attics have sloped ceilings. Use them to your advantage to create built-in bookshelves and storage. This will help you make the most out of your space and let you store your necessities without introducing furniture, as large bookcases and dressers, which may be difficult to move up to the attic.

Romantic Tips for the Bedroom

If you want to heat things up in the bedroom, you need to set the tone. Ambiance has a lot to do with sparking the flames of romance, and there is more than one way this can be done. From lighting to the sound system, every change you make inside the boudoir may make a significant change in your love life.

Use Your Senses
Your five senses should be your guide when turning your bedroom into a romantic hideaway. Incorporate your sense of sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste to create the romantic bedroom you have always dreamed of having. Think about items that make you feel sexy when you feel them or give you a romantic chill when you see them. These are what you want to incorporate into your room's design.

Consider Your Budget
Creating an air of romance does not have to be expensive, you simply need to set a budget and stay within the boundaries. If you want to replace bedding, you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to do it. Instead, try silk or satin sheets. Sateen is less expensive, yet offers the same feel as satin against your skin. There are many ways to stay within budget and still create a romantic scene.

Save on Electricity
Rather than dimming your lights, use clusters of candles in various corners to provide the light you need. Not only do candles bring out feelings of intimacy, they have a way of melting away stress, making it easier for you to relax and enjoy the evening. In addition, they give your bedroom a romantic look; and if you see romance, you will begin to feel it too.

Tasty Treats
One sure-fire way to add romance to your bedroom is to have a tray of tasty treats available to feed one another. Strawberries accompanied with chocolate dipping sauce are wonderful treats to feed and entice each other. These should be washed down with a glass of sparkling champagne, all of which appeal to the sense of taste.

Smell Romance
Yes, romance is in the air; you can smell it. All you need to so is sprinkle your bed with body powder that drives your mate crazy, fill the bedroom with lavender sachet bags or burn incense. When your sense of smell is aroused in the boudoir, other things will soon be aroused as well.

Play Your Favorite Music
Romance does not include your favorite Monday night televison line-up, so turn off the TV in your bedroom and turn on the stereo. Be sure you have your collection of soft, romantic tunes ready to play. These can range from an instrumental piece by Yanni, to the romantic R&B songs of Keith Sweat. Use whatever works for you and your mate, and listen as you are swept away into a musical dimension of delight.

The Bed
Last, but not least, you need to think about your bed. The colors you choose for your bedding will set the mood and increase the romance. Colors such as bronze, gold, and red are synonymous with romance and bring out feelings of love. You also want to think about the feel of your sheets. Nothing is sexier than satin and silk against your skin. To top it of, place large, down pillows for you to lay against invitingly.

Cheap Bedroom Decorating Tips

The days of bedroom decor requiring bulky, expensive matching bedroom sets have passed. Refresh your space quickly and easily with budget bedroom decor. Use cheap decorating tips to save money. Clean, repair and paint the pieces you already own before buying new items for your bedroom. A different furniture layout and eye-catching accessories are all you need for a stylish bedroom makeover.

Walls
Changing your bedroom's wall color dramatically affects the look of the space. For a frugal wall color update, paint a single accent wall in a saturated hue, such as mango orange, turquoise, periwinkle blue, apple green or fuchsia. Give walls graphic pop--use stencils to paint a pattern along the base of the walls. Packaged stencil sets often include everything from paisley and ethnic motifs to fleur-de-lis and trailing ivy. Drape an embroidered or embellished wall hanging across one wall.

Headboard
Add a headboard to make your bed stand out. Cover a thin cot mattress in velvet fabric for a budget version of a lavish upholstered headboard. Set the cot mattress on its side behind the bed. For a more urban industrial look, paint an old wood door a dark color, such as cobalt blue or soft poppy seed black. Paint abstract designs or scenes on the wood panels. Place the door behind your bed.

Pillows
Rather than invest in expensive matching sheets or new comforters, update your existing bedding. Add pillow accents. Mix and match pillow cases for an eclectic, bohemian look, or stick to white, black, steel blue and gray for a contemporary aesthetic. Brighten a plain comforter or blanket with a scattering of small or oddly-shaped pillows across the bed. Place larger floor cushions around a window to create a casual reading area.

Artwork
Do-it-yourself artwork personalizes your bedroom decor. Gather swatches of vintage or retro fabric from thrift shops, or use funky fabric from old dresses or skirts. Stretch the fabric over a canvas and staple it to the stretcher bars on the back of the canvas for instant artwork. Embroidery hoops provide affordable frames for fabric swatches. If you want to display a collection of photographs, art postcards or small drawings, stretch a fishing line between two eye hooks. Knot the line around the eye hooks so it's taut. Use paper clips or small clothespins to hang your artwork.

Small Master Bedroom Decorating Ideas

A master bedroom doesn't have to be large, but it should be comfortable and inviting. One of the things you should consider when decorating your small master bedroom is what you can do to create more space. Creating more space is the first step to make a small room look larger -- which can be achieved using different tips and tricks. Once this problem is solved, you can start decorating by knowing what to place in your room and what to leave behind.

Walls
The walls of a small master bedroom should be painted with light colors to make the room appear larger. Another trick to make a room appear larger is to paint large vertical stripes on the wall or installing wallpaper with vertical stripes. Light colors include tones of white and beige, as well as pale colors instead of bold ones. Avoid wallpaper with large, busy patterns. Keeping the color of the ceiling white will make the room appear larger.

Furniture
It's important to keep the size of your furniture in mind in a small master bedroom. A bed with a footboard and a four-poster bed will make the room look smaller, so choose other beds aside from these. Additionally, you may be comfortable in a queen or double bed rather than a large king-size bed. You'll also find that small bedside tables are available and using one instead or two is acceptable. If you have enough room, include an armchair in the room where you can sit and read or watch TV. As with your walls, your master bedroom will also appear larger if you use light-colored furniture. Furthermore, you can also use furniture that serves as storage, such as a storage ottoman.

Bedding and Window Treatments
Not only will a master bedroom look larger if you have light-colored walls and bedroom furniture, but window treatments and bedding as well. To keep the room pulled together, try to match the color of your window treatments with your bedding or with the walls. Avoid any bedding or window treatments with large prints -- such as a big floral design, geometric prints or plaid -- since it will overpower the bedroom. To make your bedroom more visually interesting, play with different textures such as satin, velvet or quilting and add coordinating pillow shams.

Feng Shui Tips for a Small Bedroom

Feng shui practices maximize bedroom space by removing the clutter that impedes energy flow and hinders restful sleep. Feng shui philosophy and practices focus on the flow of chi -- life force energy -- throughout a home, a room or any space where you apply it. Imagine chi as if it were moving water to visualize how you can increase and enliven its flow in your space. And be sure to hide electronics, televisions and computers in armoires with doors that close. These elements bring too much yang, or male energy, into the bedroom, which can prevent a restful sleep.

Declutter the Space
When you sleep in a small, cluttered space, it contributes to stagnant or dead energy in the room. Don't store items under the bed, and take down pictures of family members on the walls in a bedroom. Don’t hang up mirrors that face the bed, as they can amplify the energy in the room. If you need a mirror in the room for getting ready in the morning, angle a standing mirror away from the bed or hang it on the back of a closet door.

The Command Bed Position
Place the bed so that its foot board doesn’t face the door -- considered the death position in feng shui practices because those who die in a room are removed feet first. The best place for the bed is with the door at a diagonal to the bed. Don’t position the bed in front of a window, but position it against a wall where you can see the door to the left or right at the bed beyond the feet. When the bed and the door are on the same wall, or the door is just opposite the bed, this hinders healthy, restful sleep.

Decor and Artwork
The key to successful bedroom artwork is to include items that inspire you and have personal meaning. Remove decor, artwork, mementos or accents that bring up memories of failed projects or relationships. Feng shui traditions suggest the use of live plants to increase prosperity and good luck and enhance personal growth. Choose plants with rounded leaves or flowers that reach upward for positive energy boosts. Round leaves have a more calming effect in a bedroom environment as opposed to plants with spiky leaves, which are more suitable for active spaces.

Computer Workspace
Move the computer workspace out of the bedroom completely if there’s room for it elsewhere in your home. But if it must be in the bedroom, hide it and other electronics, such as not-in-use televisions or stereo equipment, behind the doors of an armoire, a curtain or a screen. Electronics emit yang energy, even when off, which can interfere with a good night’s sleep.

Less Is More
The idea behind feng shui is to arrange the room in such a way that it promotes balance, harmony and well-being. A minimalist approach works best to energize a small bedroom. Clean, simple furnishings, clutter-free dresser and nightstand tops, and subdued lighting help create a calming effect in the bedroom -- with relaxation and restoration at the top of the list.