Creating a Bedroom Oasis

Whether you're a bookworm, sports enthusiast or a nature lover, the lighting in your room should be soft. Whether store-bought or natural, there should be plenty of light so you can practice the guitar, read or lounge around without straining your eyes. Consider installing skylights to let in natural light during daylight hours. If you have a room with limited access to natural light, paint a fresh coat of brightening colors such as beige, peach, pastel blue or green.

Similarly, bathroom lighting should be warm and pleasing. For light fixtures near the bathtub or shower, choose a soft or low-wattage bulb. Also, for those that enjoy soaking in bubbles after a long day of work, install a dimmer to match the light with your mood. Lights near or over the vanity should be bright enough so you can properly shave, pluck or apply makeup without worrying about making mistakes.

The floor of your bedroom should match the tone and style of your updated lighting fixtures. If there is a visible path through your room that's been worn into the carpet or flooring, you should consider replacing it. But before you tear up floor panels or rip up carpet, choose the right material.

One of the worst aspects to getting out of bed in the morning besides noting the time is putting your feet on the ground. If your toes tend to get cold, keep them toasty by installing bamboo or wood flooring. If you already have ceramic, marble or porcelain-tiled floors, purchase a plush area carpet to keep your feet warm. For a more modern or cosmopolitan-style room, install tiling. As a bonus, tiles are easier to clean, and it's next to impossible to create a sneaker track on tile!

If you're installing a wall-to-wall carpet, be sure to have the proper border trim that matches both the carpet and the walls. Be sure to replace old, out-of-date floor registers. Update existing registers with an antique-plated register that both decorates and conceals your vent simultaneously.

After you've properly decorated your walls and flooring, it's now time to make sure your lock mechanisms and other door hardware items match and are secure. Your newly renovated room should reflect your style-both inside and out. Replace your old door knob with a decorative knob that matches your room's interior. Options include oil rubbed or matte for darker rooms, or for brighter interiors, choose a polished or satin finish. If you're ultra trendy, choose a lever handle instead of a typical turn knob. Avoid mismatching your door fixtures; be sure that the door hinges match the knobs, the door stoppers and floor registers.

Additionally, for a soothing, comfortable room, be sure all your belongings are properly organized. Instead of purchasing a new bureau or drawer set, consider recoating your existing furniture with a new coat of varnish to tie the room together. Be sure to choose drawer pulls that match and accent your furniture, walls and carpet before you start to paint! For smaller rooms, loft your bed onto plastic cone-like stands; they offer 6-10 inches of extra storage space. Purchase flat plastic storage bins and keep your off-season within reach but out of sight by storing them under your bed.

For additional design tips, purchase small accent pillows for your bed. If your walls are bare, hang your favorite posters or paintings in decorative frames. With these cost-effective redesigning pointers in mind, you'll transform your room instantly from 'sleeping room' to 'sanctuary'!