Have you ever been lying in bed wishing you were far away, on a steamy tropical island with the feeling of romance in the air? The atmosphere we experience when on holiday in the tropics does not have to be left where we found it.
Anyone with just a touch of creativity can bring that same relaxing feel home to their own bedroom, creating romance and ambiance in their homes. Try a few of these ideas in your room to create your own escape to paradise and lay the groundwork for many romantic evenings at home.
The Walls
There are lots of choices for wall covering and you don’t have to be an expert to make your walls look great. Choose wallpaper that is made to look like bamboo or a light coloured wood for a rustic, tropical feeling. There are real bamboo wall coverings and even grass look options, but these can be overwhelming when used on all four walls, so just choose one or two walls to decorate and paint the others a calming, solid colour.
Photo murals are also a great way to bring a taste of the tropics home. These can run from moderate prices to extremely expensive, so keep your budget in mind when choosing one. Another option is to have a custom mural painted on your wall or even paint it yourself if your talents allow. When choosing the placement of a mural, behind the bed as a headboard or on the wall closest the foot of the bed as a focal point are the most effective choices.
The Floor
Change out your flooring to help enhance that tropical feel. Light coloured tiles or pale hardwood are both great choices, if your budget will allow you to make drastic changes. If you live in a colder climate, you can add a few throw rugs for comfort and to keep your feet warm when you first climb out of bed in the morning.
If you can’t afford to do really big things with the flooring, add a couple of bamboo style or tropically themed throw rugs in strategic places to add flavour to the floor without going over budget. Do not ignore the floor if you want to get a true tropical effect, as it will be very noticeable if you skip this step.
The Ceiling
Many people forget about the ceiling when they decorate a room, however just a couple of small changes can really tie your tropical theme together. Bordering the ceiling with bamboo would be an inexpensive way to draw the ceiling into the theme. You could even tack up some grass matting or sheets of bamboo wall cover, if your ceilings are a bit on the higher side.
Of course, no tropical bedroom is complete without a ceiling fan to complete the look. Choose a fan with paddles made to look like natural wood or even the large banana palm leaves as paddles. Either can be found at most home improvement stores at a relatively minimal cost. If you choose to install them yourself, make sure you know what you are doing and don’t forget to shut off the power!
The Bed
Choose bedding that reminds you of the bed in the hotel of your favourite tropical holiday spot or just choose colours that make you feel relaxed and refreshed. The bedding departments at most discount stores and department stores have lots of different options featuring tropical themes and relaxing colour schemes, so shop around and choose your favourite.
A canopy over the bed can make your bedroom feel even more romantic, and coupled with draped, gauzy fabrics the tropical feel can be truly authentic. If your bed is not equipped with the option to add a canopy, simply screw a few hooks into the ceiling and thread the fabric through to create the desired canopy look.
Accessories
Finish your tropical theme off with some wonderful accessories that suit the overall tropical feeling of the room. Frame your bedside photos in beautiful bamboo frames. Matchstick blinds are a perfect choice for window treatments, or if you prefer curtains, go with gauzy, sheer white panels, hung from a bamboo pole.
Live tropical plants are a great addition to a tropically themed bedroom, but can sometimes require living conditions that might not be achievable at home. If using live plants might not work for you, add a splash of green with some realistic artificial options. A true tropical oasis wouldn’t be complete without a palm tree for authenticity!
Recommended Reading
For more information and advice on bedroom decorating, take a look at the following books:
Beautiful Bedrooms
Bedrooms: Creating and Decorating the Room of Your Dreams
Creating Your Dream Bedroom: How to Plan & Style the Perfect Space
Simply Romantic Decorating: Creating Elegance and Intimacy Throughout Your Home
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By Harmon Smith on 02 Dec 2008
Great Ideas. For a lot of people decorating a specific room can be great fun but for others it can be challenging. What should you do to cover the huge TV when you don’t want to see it? Arranging furniture in a bedroom is different than arranging furniture in a master bedroom. And decorating a kitchen is different than any room period! My house was decorate by Nina . A professional in this regard and in my low budget she did her job very well