Does the romance in your life beginning to tizzle out? Or do you need to spice things up with the lady? Then consider a makeover for your bedroom. With $100, one assistant and a couple of hours, transforming a bland bedroom to an intimate getaway is fun, easy and worth the effort. there. By just rearranging things you are able to dramatically change a space."
It isn't rare these days to hear of couples searching for ways to liven up their relationships. Each year, couples attempt to harness their lust by embarking on exotic vacations, dining at overpriced restaurants, or buying outrageous diamond rings. However, few couples realize that creating a more intimate environment in their bedroom might be the key to a successful relationship.
Laurie Bornstein, a Feng Shui designer and owner of Living Space Designs in Lawrence, advises couples wanting to redesign their bedrooms to stand back and examine their existing spaces. Then, with closed eyes, picture what they believe to be a perfect space. "You want balance and strength in a relationship, and you can achieve this by allowing each person to imagine their ideal space. This gets a couple to cooperate," Bornstein says.
With this advice, I sought out a couple who was willing to have their cluttered bedroom transformed into a romantic environment. Mike Garcia, Lee's Summit, Mo., junior, and Kara Asher, Overland Park freshman, agreed that their relationship was good, but thought the room makeover might spice things up a bit. "Right now we don't spend too much time in my room. I only am in there to do only homework. But if my room was redone, we might be able to hang out there a little more," Garcia says. Mike and Kara were up for anything. So, with $100 and a few designer tips, a partner and I set off to find the perfect items to improve the quality of Mike and Kara's bedroom and relationship.
Rest on the table with the perfect items to improve the quality of Mike and Kara's bedroom and relationship.
The first thing my partner and I noticed about the room was that it needed color, especially on the walls. Bornstein explained that it is important to find wall colors that are warm and inviting.
Next, we decided there needed to be softer elements of lighting in the room. Four large windows screamed sunlight. Adding a floor lamp and shutting the blinds, we were able to cast light from the ceiling softly about the room. We invested in a variety of candles that made the room feel cozier and more personal. Bornstein says choosing lighting for a room is important. "Your lights in your bedroom should embrace you and make you feel warm," she says. "Sort of like a big bear hug."
However, we didn't have the time to paint, so we decided to settle for color in other places. We accented an already large window in the room with warm red fabric laced around a silver steel curtain rod. This gave the window more character and added depth to the room. That same material was draped across a chest at the foot of the bed. These minor alterations draw your attention away from the barren white walls. Bornstein says most couples are afraid of adding color to their walls because it is such a dramatic change. So, by adding small hints of color like the curtains and the fabric at the end of the bed, we hope to convey what the walls might look like if they were painted.
With hints of color and lighting in place, we decided to add other livelier features such as exotic plants, a mirror with silver molding and a single picture frame on the bedside table. Bornstein stressed the importance of a clutter and photography-free room. "You don't want all your friends and family baring down on you in your bedroom. One photo of them is enough."
We had poured all of our items into the room and had $13 to spare. But we were scratching our heads. Something was missing. Or so we thought. We spent the entire time focusing on new items, but this was wrong. Bornstein says you don't have to add new items to create a new romance. "Most couples already have what you need right
"Rearranging allows you to manipulate the energy in your space so that you feel better about your bedroom and yourself," Bornstein says. Taking her advice, we moved the bed away from the wall and directly under large the windows. This made the room appear more spacious.
With only minutes left, my partner and I were in a scramble to put the final touches on the room. For the past two hours Mike and Kara had not seen anything we had done. It was now time to unveil our work. As the door squeaked and swung open, Mike and Kara walked in. Their eyes drifted about the room and a look of awe came upon both their faces. My partner and I knew we had succeeded. When we asked Mike and
Kara what they liked most about their "new" room, they explained they liked the arrangement most of all. "I had always wanted my bed in the middle of the room, but thought it would take up too much space," Garcia says. Even roommate Alex Raines felt the room's redesign was a good idea. "Mike's room was boring. Now it has more space, is brighter and warmer. I'm sure that Mike will feel more comfortable here and the redesign will certainly have desirable effects on his relationship."
So, the next time you and your partner think about ways of adding zest to your romantic relationship, a good place to start might be in the bedroom. Remember, with a little give and take and a small budget you can design a bedroom that will make you and your partner discover the romance you thought you never had.
— Brant Stacy can be reached at bstacy@kansan.com.
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