How to Decorate & Create a Boudoir
A boudoir is a lady's private sitting room designed to entertain guests or serve as a private retreat. This room is surrounded by opulent, feminine and romantic furniture, decorations and accessories. These sitting rooms originally were dressing rooms attached to bedrooms where a lady of the house could have her maids assist her in getting dressed. The room had access to wardrobes, wig, hat and shoe storage as well as dressing tables for brushes, perfumes and makeup. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Paneling
- Fabric
- Ceiling medallion
- Chandelier
- Dimmers
- Wood floor
- Bordered carpet
- Draperies
- Tassels and trims
- Posts and tiebacks
- Personal portrait
- Chaise lounge
- 2 large chairs
- Tables
- Chests
- Ottomans
- Beaded lamps
- Cashmere throws
- Pillows
- Candles
- Fountain
- Music
- Mirror
Instructions
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Panel or upholster the ceiling and walls of the boudoir with a dark wood or expensive fabric. Position a medallion at the center of the room ceiling and hang a crystal chandelier. Everything should be slightly excessive in size and shape. All lamps and lights should have dimmers.
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Select an inlaid wood floor or a carpet with a carpet border to define the floor. Boudoirs should not be open to other rooms. Add doorway draperies if no doors are installed. Draperies should have tassels and trims and doorway and window draperies should create a sense of enclosure and privacy. Use posts and tiebacks to gather the draperies to the sides.
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3
Commission a large personal portrait of yourself wearing seductive clothing. Position this portrait on your focal wall and have a gallery light installed to light the portrait.
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Select a chaise lounge in French, Baroque or another opulent style. Have the chaise upholstered in an extravagant unusual fabric that evokes a strong mood. The chaise should be viewed as the centerpiece furniture in the room because it is designed for the lady of the house to recline upon and would be her primary seat. The chaise should make the lady look good and its color, texture and style should all be oriented in that direction.
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Choose at least two complementary over-sized French, Baroque or other opulent chairs. These chairs should look good with the chaise but they are secondary chairs and should not compete with the chaise in drama. It is a good idea to bring gold or silver reflective surfaces into the room on these types of furniture. The reflective surface will add a sense of glamour to the room and bounce light around.
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Place curvy side tables, chests and ottomans around the room so that any seating place has a lamp close at hand and a table surface to set drinks. Lamps should be opulent or even sculptural and edges of lampshades can be beaded to match the chandelier.
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Include accessories such as cashmere throws, soft pillows, candles, plants, remote-controlled music, a decorative fountain and a large mirror leaning against the wall.
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Tips & Warnings
This is the type of room where more is more. The room should feel like a decadent jewel box that addresses all of a woman's senses.
