Antlers, faux or real, are not just for those showing off their proud achievements.  Whether you’re a hunter yourself, or just like the natural element, check out these interiors that incorporate the antler attack!

It’s easy to throw a bunch of hand me downs into an extra space, call it a guest bedroom, and create a perfectly fine place for overnight guests to stay, but with a few small touches, you can create a room that is a wonderful and welcoming place for your guests to spend the night.

• Keep sentimental belongings to a minimum and limit any knick knacks or overly personal touches.  Just the bare essentials creates a more restful room.

• Stick to neutral decor.  Use taupes, beiges, and calming blues to create a universally appealing room.  While trendy, loud colors can make a big impression, they may not be what every guest wants to see first thing in the morning.

Photo: My Home Ideas

• Store extra linens in the room and make sure to let your guests know where they are.  If they need to replace the sheets or grab a new towel for any reason, they won’t have to disturb you at an inconvenient hour.

• Use the best quality sheets that you can budget for the guest room and find a pretty coverlet with complementing throw pillows to create a comfortable, relaxing bed.

Photo: Coastal Living

• A small sitting area is the perfect place for your guests to retreat at night.  They can read a book or newspaper before bed without feeling like they are getting in the way of your nightly routine.

• Good lighting is essential. Don’t leave your guests in the dark for bedside reading or getting ready in the morning.

• Since we don’t often spend time in the guest bedroom at night, we may not realize that the room is visible to the street or neighbors at night.  Make sure to provide privacy in the windows.

• Leave a small tray with toiletry essentials and a few snacks so that your guests won’t feel like they are bothering you if they realize that they left something at home or find themselves hungry.

Photo: My Home Ideas

A coverlet, duvet,  and bed linens can set the style and become the focal point of the bedroom.  By adding color, texture, and pattern through the sheets, bedspread, duvet, and shams, the bed can visually take center stage in the room.  The rooms below show the myriad of ways that bedding can change the look of a bedroom.

Photo: Real Simple

The florals, stripes, and checks on this bed work because they are in the same color family.  The knit yellow blanket adds a bit of warm textural appeal.  All of the varying colors and patterns create a homemade vintage look.

Photo: House Beautiful

Fluffy duvets in a black and white graphic floral inspired print are complemented by a large scale black and white stripe on the shams and bedskirt.  The modern look that results is sophisticated, even for a guest or girls’ room.

Photo: House Beautiful

Crisp, soft white sheets, shams, and duvet are accented with a pop of orange on the throw and blanket.  This look is contemporary and could easily work for a masculine inspired bedroom.

Photo: House Beautiful

An intricate and beautiful ethnic quilt stands alone on this bed.  Nothing else is needed except for simple white pillow shams.

Photo: House Beautiful

All white plain bedding can sometimes be the prettiest look possible in a room.

Photo: House Beautiful

These neutral, large stripes are zen like and relaxing.  The clean look of the lines in calming colors is perfect for a retreat from a stressful day.

Photo: Real Simple

A mix and match grouping of muted browns, limes, and taupes is a serene look for a young but sophisticated bedroom.

Photo: House Beautiful

Faux fur and rich textures in shades of brown are brought out by the starkness of the white coverlet.  This look is earthy yet stylish.

Photo: Real Simple

Multiple florals are lovely together when they are in the same two shades of green.  An updated country look, this monochromatic room is fresh and pretty.

Photo: House Beautiful

All white furniture takes on an airy, beachy look when given an overstuffed lavender duvet, purple printed accent pillows, and a bright yellow and white stripe on the headboard.

When choosing bedding, remember that the tone for the entire room can be set with great colors and textures starting on the bed.

The Design Selection Team at Ava Living has chosen our project from among 1,000’s for this past week’s Canopy Beds featured as Ava’s Choice! Our Mountain Living kitchen is one of the featured projects in Ava’s Choice slide show. The kitchens will be featured until Sunday, June 6th at 10PM PDT.

Calming blues and earthy taupes are the perfect combination for a relaxing bedroom.

Photo: My Home Ideas

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: My Home Ideas

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Photo: My Home Ideas

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Bed drapings can be just as beautiful in your room as window draperies.  Whether you are just looking for a touch of fabric and softness near your bed or are ready to take the plunge into a bed completely swathed in fabric, the images below will give you inspiration for a beautiful draped bed.

Photo: My Home Ideas

For just a small bit of fabric, try one long sheet of fabric draped above and over the bed.  Coordinate with your window treatments to tie the look into the rest of the room.

Photo: Coastal Living

A valance and fabric draped directly behind the bed add color and texture without taking up space within the room.  This look creates a picture frame for the bed.

Photo: House Beautiful

This nautically inspired look uses a curtain and rod draping similar to that on a shower curtain or on a window treatment.  This is perfect for someone who wants the flexibility of easily opening and closing the bed draping depending on the time of day.

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: House Beautiful

These two bed drapings envelope the bed in fabric that is mounted directly from the ceiling.  Creating a romantic, luxurious feeling, both of these looks borrow their inspiration from the nearby window drapery.

Bed drapery is a fabulous way to dress up the bed and tie in the look of your entire room.

A master bedroom canopy can be a captivating and indulgent statement.  Though they may seem feminine at first, canopies can work in any bedroom.  Below are a wide array of canopy styles, from a stark wooden look to a gauzy, flowing, beach feel to thick, royal drapery.  If you aren’t the canopy type, try a tailored, small fabric canopy… maybe even extend the fabric down the wall behind the bed to up the glamor.  Regardless of what you style, one of the looks below is sure to suit your taste.

Our bedroom is the one room that can completely make or break our day.  A good night’s sleep is so important for our waking hours,  it seems logical that the bedroom would be one of the most important rooms to decorate.  Beyond just making the room look pretty, it is essential to make it as restful and relaxing as possible.  The tips below will help you create a calming retreat in your bedroom (however, you can certainly apply these principles to any room where you would like a bit of serenity!)

• Use restful colors and a limited palate.  Stick to neutrals and muted colors.  Steer clear of reds, oranges, yellows, or anything too bright.  Though these colors are wonderful in other, livelier parts of the home, they will only serve to create energy and keep you awake. Try to use colors from nature.

• Calming colors will be most effective when used in large expanses, so make sure that your walls and rugs are pretty and subdued.
• Stick to symmetry.  It creates a sense of balance and order; think two nightstands, two lamps, matching pillows.
• Consider textures. Soft silks, cozy knits, rough sisals, and faux fur all contribute to an organic, tactile experience.  Use a variety of colors and textures in your bedding.  The sheets, duvet, coverlet, shams, and blanket should be a mix of fabrics that complement each other beautifully.

• While an overhead light might be functional, it is certainly not the most relaxing way to light your bedroom.  Use a variety of lamps and sconces to create an intimate feeling.  Pink, low wattage bulbs are the most flattering.
• Hang artwork that is peaceful.  Landscapes are the best option.  Limit photographs and mirrors; these pieces are too high energy for somewhere that you should be relaxing.

• Make sure to keep your nightstand uncluttered.  The last thing that you want to do is go to sleep to and wake up to a pile of to-do’s and mess.  This could mean using a nightstand that is too small to fit clutter.  A small vase of fresh flowers is a lovely thing to wake up to.

Use these tips to create your own version of the perfect restful retreat and remember that creating a calming bedroom is one of the best investments that you can make in your life and home.

The following are some clever tips and tricks for updating your bedroom.

Create a small sitting area in an empty corner of your room.  A comfy chair will become a beloved spot for you to relax with a good book or a cup of tea, to sit while getting dressed, or to simply reflect at the end of a long day.  If your room is large enough, try incorporating two chairs and a small table; otherwise a small slipper chair will work perfectly.

If you are short on space, mount your bedside lamp from the wall.  You will have more space for your nightstand essentials and if you use a swing arm sconce, you will have the ideal bedtime reading light.

Add visual interest to the room with a piece of furniture placed at an angle.  Try your bed or dresser entering the room from one corner.

A bold comforter or quilt can become the centerpiece of the room.  Everything else can be neutral in a room when there is a graphic, statement comforter to take the center stage.  Choose a print that will carry you year round or vary it according to the seasons.  Add luxurious linens and soft pillows that will make getting into bed a treat.

If a plain wall is asking for something exciting and you don’t have any artwork available, try a beautiful quilt or large piece of fabric.  With a strong graphic print that contrasts with the bedroom wall, there is no need for a more expensive piece of art or headboard.  Coordinate with the bedding for a sophisticated look.

Is your new years resolution to get your house in order? Are you trying to stay a little more organized this year?  Use the ideas below to incorporate creative and stylish organizational ideas into your own home.

Under the bed is a great place to store things as long as you keep it in order.  Rolling bins such as these are attractive and also functional.  They are easily accessible for reaching items in storage and can be moved for cleaning under the bed dust.

Install cubes on the wall in the bathroom for storage.  Towels and other bathroom supplies are within reach and take on a contemporary look.

For extra bathroom supplies that are not needed on a daily basis, install a hanging shelf above the door.  This creates an architectural look while adding several feet of extra storage.

A bench that opens is a spacious place for storing sports equipment, pet supplies, or toys.  When closed, no one would ever know how much is hiding beneath the seating.

Photos: Martha Stewart Living