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

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

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.

Designed to hide unsightly box springs or foundations, bed skirts also help prevent dust from getting under the bed, which can further attract  dust mites and even bed bugs!  Yikes!  Available in many styles, sizes and patterns, there are a few things to consider when selecting a bed skirt.  The size of your box spring, specifically the thickness is the most important measurement.  You will hear the term “drop”  which refers to the measurement from the top of the box spring to the floor.  Ready made bed skirts typically have a 15″ drop.  If your “drop” measures 16″, the standard bed skirt will not go all the way to the floor.

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Southern Living

Below the ruffled bed skirt adds whimsy to the bedroom with its puddled effect.

Photo: Southern Living

Crisp pleats tie this clean, classic bedroom together with a pop of color and pattern.

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Traditional Home

French for linen cloth or canvas, Toile entered the English language in the 16th century.  A typical toile consists of a linen or cotton fabric with rustic country scenes and have a neutral background,  usually in a red, black, or blue printed scene.   Green, brown, and magenta were less common.   Toiles are one in their own, they make for a pleasing overall background design from a distance, but once an onlooker gets a closer look, the subtle images tell a story.

Toile doesn’t have to be strictly traditional!  Below a living room uses a toile in a cool blue for a modern twist.

Photo: Decor Pad

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Elle Decor

Photo: Southern Living

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Traditional Home

Crafted from the Kuba tribe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuba cloth, (also known as raffia cloth) is springing up in pillows, rugs, and textiles everywhere.

Originally, Kuba cloth was a vegetable dyed textile, tightly hand woven from the strands of the raffia palm leaf to create interlocking geometric patterns.  These were traditionally used for ceremonial skirts, wall hangings, and mats for sitting or sleeping on.

Below, pillows add the perfect texture and hint of global flare.

Neutral colors are the most common color palette for Kuba textiles

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: House Beautiful

Porch swings are not just for the outdoors, as the concept is now rubbing off to the inside of the home!  Maybe not practical for everyone, but definitely a conversation starter.

Suspending the bed not only fits in with the theme of the space, but allows for as much storage as you could possibly want underneath

Photo: Southern Accents

Photo: Coastal Living

Below the suspended bed gives the feeling of being at a tropical retreat

Photo: Southern Living

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!

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.