Megan Baker of My Fitted Bedroom says that getting organisation and storage right are top of the agenda for bedrooms in 2021
The events of 2020 have seen a surge in people organising their homes – re-evaluating what they really need and maximising every inch of space with clever storage. As a result, demand for fitted bedroom furniture soared towards the end of the year, and 2021 looks set to be the year of the fitted wardrobe.
For homeowners with space to spare – walk-in wardrobes and designated dressing areas are high on the agenda as people look to create tranquil, organised spaces that offer a little bit of luxury, completely freeing up sleeping areas from any form of clutter.
As a result, central islands within walk-in wardrobes are a popular must-have. The benefits here are that wall space can be fully maximised for hanging and shelving configurations, and the central space – often dominated by a bed – is used for additional storage.
The beauty of a walk-in wardrobe is that you have ample space to play with, but it is important to take time to consider the design and configuration is best suited for your needs. For example, do you want a door-free fitting or would you prefer everything to be sleek and tidied away? Are you looking to create an impact with bold colours, or do you want a more pared down, tranquil finish? Would you like to make a feature of statement pieces? For example, open shoe storage (which is proving to be very popular within walk-in wardrobes) and shelving to display handbags and jewellery.
Of course, a walk-in wardrobe is a luxury that might not be an option for many self-builders, but that’s not to say that you can’t create the same effect in the bedroom itself.
FURNITURE
Increasingly, fitted furniture is being used to zone bedrooms, fulfilling two key design criteria. It provides plenty of space for the organisation and storage that people are demanding, while helping a larger room feel cosier and more relaxing.
Creating purposeful vignettes, i.e. groupings of furniture within a bigger space will give the room a luxe feel, but will also help break it down into individual zones, creating a mix of focal points and helping to draw the space in without making it feel small.
In zoning a space, layout is key. Pay attention to where natural light is coming from and position all furniture around the bed. Where a room can accommodate big, statement furniture, go for it, and feature it front and centre. Include a bed as big as the room allows, ideally positioned lengthways, and pick an oversized headboard in a lush fabric or print, to make a dramatic statement.
Small rooms can also benefit greatly from fitted furniture. With a blank canvas to work with at the design stage, you can really maximise the use of space by thinking vertically and designing in all of the key pieces that a room could need – such as hanging space, overbed storage and a desk or dressing table.
COLOUR EXPERIMENTS
Another key bedroom trend that we have seen come into play this year is people’s willingness to experiment more with colour – stepping away with playing it safe with white and wood-effect furniture. Greys – in all shades – are proving very popular, as too is cashmere which works exceptionally well in both gloss and matte, creating a comforting colour scheme and base palette in the room which is easily compatible with soft furnishings.
Darker colours – such as dark oak and classic indigo blue are also starting to dominate as people become braver with the colour choices, and look to fitted furniture as a way of making a style statement with a big impact piece, rather than something which blends into the background.
Nature continues to have a profound effect on interior design, a trend which grew over the course of 2020. As such, green colour palettes are set to be big this year as people embrace botanicalinspired colour schemes throughout their homes – with the bedroom being no exception.
We’ve seen a big change in the way people use their homes change in the past 12 months – with homeowners evaluating what is important to them as they look to create tranquil, cosy retreats with very clear areas for relaxing, work and socialising. Having spent more time than ever at home, bedrooms have become a place to fully escape from work and home life, and this demand for a slick, uncluttered space is set to be a dominant trend for years to come.
Megan Baker is head of design at My Fitted Bedroom