From the choice of furniture to carpet and drapery, renovating your bedroom is not as easy a job as you may think, Leaving the rest alone, just the choice of furniture entails careful research and survey as the options are many.

With time, the process of expensive furniture purchasing is gradually transforming into more inclusive and coordinated methods. Avoid your awkward furniture-buying moments by following these simple steps and get beautiful furniture that you can cherish for eons.

Get a feel

The first step is to decide what is needed. Before setting out in the market get a sense of lights, shades and corners of your room and how movements flow from one room to the other.

Selecting furniture

A king/queen size bed, paired with a handsome dressing table and a wooden (oak or pinewood) sliding-door wardrobe are must-haves in any bedroom. There are a variety of beds available in the market, from platform to sleigh to four-poster beds, so decide before making a purchase.

Bear in mind, however, that intricate bed designs collect more dust and become difficult to clean over time. Always a useful factor in housekeeping when buying new furniture.

A good night’s sleep is priceless, so choose a quality mattress which is long-lasting and durable.

Another sensible purchase is a dressing table-ryumo (a large mirror in the center of the wall with a table and chair next to it) or dressing tables consoles with movable mirrors and drawers. These are most popular among women as they occupy less space and don’t leave any clutter.

Time to select new furniture; here are a few things to keep in mind

If there’s ample space, then a bedroom bench with a contrasting rug underneath and side-tables could be added too. We generally have an inclination towards fully-carpeted rooms, but they can be suffocating during electricity break-outs, hence it’s wiser to either opt for a hardwood floor, a laminated one, or have a shot at the marble floor, embellished with colourful rugs or carpets.

Remember, be creative and pick furniture that has personality.

Readymade or custom-made?

Countless families struggle when it comes to choosing between readymade or custom-made furniture.

While readymade is a relatively stress-free and an expensive commodity, it is made of cheaper materials and usually doesn’t last very long. Most ready-made furniture is made of 70 to 80 per cent wood powder, also known as particle board, which is not very resistant to moisture. Besides, there’s only a thin and flimsy layer of protection on them which can easy peel off during trivial wear and tear. Also, readymade furniture is available only in standard sizes, styles and quality, which may or may not suit your room.

Custom-made furniture, on the other hand, is crafted according to the size of your rooms, befitting your personal style sense, and design preferences. It might be heavier since it is made of authentic wood (of your choice) and will definitely last much longer. In some cases, custom-made furniture might become a ‘family heirloom’ too.

Wood for the furniture

We are blessed with many different types of woods which can be used in creating quality furniture. Deodar, walnut, white oak and mulberry wood are good options; however, they aren’t very durable. Sheesham (rosewood) and teak are better. These can be used for window frames and flooring, too.

The cost

You can furnish a bedroom beautifully in as low as Rs100,000 but it solely depends on your budget, desire and imagination. Remember, quality furniture isn’t only available at designer outlets; local furniture markets also offer great variations, combinations and ideas. Besides, you can always negotiate a good price with quality work at these shops.

Selecting suitable furniture isn’t as difficult as it might seem. Just trust your instinct and let your creative juices flow for the magical transformation to begin.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, May 3rd, 2015

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