Sleep Easy

Two award-winning interior designers order advice on creating blissful bedrooms to help encourage total rest and relaxation

WHILE THE KITCHEN is said to be the heart and hub of every home, the bedroom is a private retreat that should make us feel at our most comfortable and contented. Alexander Wong, a prestigious architect and interior designer based in Hong Kong, says, “Sleeping is a ritual and possibly the most important daily ritual of all. However, in a city that never really sleeps like Hong Kong, bedrooms become mere temporary sanctuaries for keeping us from getting slightly insane. Having said that, we still need to design them to the best of our ability and there are numerous criteria to consider including lighting, ventilation control, temperature control, noise control and size of the views out (if any).”

Alexander advises that there are no hard and fast rules in terms of bedroom lay-outs, although he does believe in Chinese feng shui or the art of geomancy. “One has to take into account the orientation, position of door and windows as well as other energy lines and gravitational pull aspects – mountains behind your back are supposed to be more beneficial for example. —This is in order to find the best layout for the bed and sleeping position of each room which should always be tailored for the individual.

“Colour is a very personal matter and different for individuals, due to their ethnic background, gender and age. However, let’s try and break it down to paint, wall coverings, fabrics and furnishings, as colours do not mean much without clear specifications and until we know exactly where they are to be applied. For paint – Light Teal, Periwinkle and Beige Sand are very popular now but Pure White, Dark Chocolate Brown, Flannel Grey, Chromium Yellow or Sky Blue are forever in fashion as far as colours for bedrooms are concerned.