From House To Home

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It is inevitable that some furnishings jostle certain memories. Rocking chairs evoke glimpses of early childhood. Vintage stoves recall Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma’s house. La-Z-Boy chairs remind you of winter afternoons spent watching old movies in your friend’s rec room. And then there are twin beds, which made a statement of sorts via their presence in I Love Lucy and other 1950s sitcoms. However, in the hands of inventive designers, twin beds are taking on a sophisticated, versatile new life that’s perfectly suited for the ever-changing moods of the 21st century.

Atlanta-based Bill Musso says the best place to start is to always assume that an adult will sleep in this room and to approach its overall décor with the same level of comfort and sophistication, right down to having a high-quality twin mattress. In other words, treat this bedroom as if you were going to sleep in it.

“I like to use color on twin beds,” Musso affirms. “While white sheets are great for that ‘hotel look’ on larger beds, on smaller beds, they look institutional. Whether you do the beds traditional or contemporary, always use a coverlet and a duvet to achieve that feeling of luxury, and make sure that there are at least two pillows on each bed, excluding throws. Twin beds are practical when you have related or nonrelated guests. For a guest, there is something special about having your own personal space, even if space demands for a room to be shared.”

Anita Beyer recently transformed a client’s guesthouse by rethinking twin beds in a contemporary way. “I was asked to create a space that would be very inviting to guests,” recalls Beyer. “This meant that the color had to appeal to the senses. In my end design, twin beds heightened the drama, thanks to the tactile effect from layered sheets with embroidery on the edges, layering of pillows, texture of matelassé shams and coverlet with monogramming, and old carved headboards. The frieze carpet and large velvet ottoman punctuate the look.”

It is important to consider other items in the room so it truly feels like a retreat for the guest. This can include a comfortable sitting area equipped with proper lighting, side table for a drink, colorful coffee-table books and reading material, a clock, and fresh flowers. Vicki Hammerly of the Victoria Signature Collection in Ohio used white but increased visual impact with blue details, monogrammed headboards, and fabrics with blue cording. The overall look is classic, yet not boring.

“Twin beds lend themselves to great flexibility, especially as different guests who visit you may have different tastes, and changing the look of the room can be as easy as changing the linens,” Beyer says. “Layering different textures transforms the room, whether it is to appeal to the guest, achieve a seasonal look, or be cohesive with the rest of your home. I did another guest room where the client had an heirloom quilt with bright colors. I used white, antique, lacy pillow shams along with bright hot-pink and yellow shams and a vivid sky-blue, solid-color quilt along with white ruffle bed skirt. All the colors played off the heirloom quilt but let the quilt be the main point of attraction.”

Double Your Pleasure

Easy ways to make twin beds twice as alluring in your décor scheme

Louis Cohen of LBC Design + Construction notes that by following a few simple rules, you won’t have to think twice about a twin bed-clad guest room appealing to your style-conscious guests. “Smaller second bedrooms for guests often require twin beds, as opposed to a king, so that there is flexibility between the sleeping options,” he says. “In order to carry the overall look of the room, consider these.”

Make beds easy to push together so that they can form a king bed. Select bed frames with headboards that will look as good apart—as twin beds—as they do together as one king bed.

Create other interest in the room that’s out of the normal. Beds are often the focal point of a bedroom. Try to make another aspect, such as color, carpentry, or art, more prominent.

Use the wall behind the twin beds to create a wall-to-wall treatment. Use an accent color, wall covering, upholstery panels, or wood panels. It will dominate the space, leaving the twin beds as accents against it.

Tips

From Anita Beyer:

• Don’t resort to bed-in-a-bag packages. For an individual look that’s true to the rest of your home’s décor, mix and match sheets at your favorite linen store for a more custom feel.
• For a personalized look evocative of your favorite hotel, take ready-made shams and have them monogrammed.