Creating Personal Space

If you’re the typical northern California homeowner, you’ve a lot on your plate—the pressures of work, family schedules, and the Bay Area commute. And let’s face it—as much as we love our kids—having a quiet place for ourselves away from the video games, the music, the friends, and the movies can be golden. 

Yet with the economy is still recovering, and vacations a dim memory, many of us are discovering the perfect place to catch our breaths and create our very own personal retreats—our master bedrooms and baths.

To achieve that perfect balance of calmness and serenity, here are some suggestions:

Think soft colors that invite you to linger

While turquoise may be the color for 2010, take a page from the latest designs from award-winning spas and hotels—it’s no accident that many use paler tones in taupes, mints, and light blues to achieve a sense of tranquility. 

If you’re not a fan of cool tones, consider warmer paint tones which suit our California climes, light caramels and creams. Avoid vibrant energetic tones, such as oranges and bright reds, which stimulate rather than relax.

Make your master bedroom a true retreat, not a second office

It’s a challenge to relax when work notes, the kids’ schedules, and your emails are reproaching you from across the room! Desks have no place in a personal retreat. For a true, calming retreat, you need to be free of daily distractions, with a quiet area to rest and gather your thoughts. Is there room to sit and read or to put your feet up other than your bed? Corners can be the perfect spot for a comfy armchair and ottoman.

Take advantage of natural light

What do the most relaxing bed and breakfasts places have in common? They take advantage of windows and exterior doors to let the outdoors in—why shouldn’t you? Our bodies respond well to natural light. If you have patio doors leading out to a deck or small garden area, extend your bedroom space with a charming patio table and chairs—the perfect spot for a morning coffee or evening aperitif.

Lighting sets the mood

Bathrooms need a bit more brightness for safety, but it’s a challenge to maintain an intimate quiet space with the fluorescent lighting our energy code requires. Consider instead high-efficacy LED lights which can be controlled with dimmer switches for perfect soft lighting over the tub, or combine a dimmer switch with an occupancy sensor for incandescent lighting.

A bedroom has different requirements. Think gentle pools of light where you need them, using a combination of dimmable table or floor lamps. If you read in bed, wall sconces or reading lights over the bed are much more beneficial—and restful!—than overall room lighting.

With the right steps, your bedroom and bath can be so much more—a true retreat to rejuvenate your mind and body. Enjoy!

Kelly Morisseau, CMKBD, CID, is a designer at Main Street Kitchens, http://www.MainStreetKitchens.com, and a member of the Northern California Chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. The NKBA is your source for design ideas, expert remodeling tips, and advice. To find a design professional near you please visit http://www.nkba.org