| One of the most interesting things about working | | | | contemporaries in today's homes. Several |
| behind the scenes in furniture is the opportunity to | | | | manufacturers have created and introduced new |
| see new and emerging products enter the retail | | | | designs which give straight clean lines to the bed |
| landscape. Among those trends are the latest styles | | | | posts and have refined the look of the headboard |
| and designs in modern platform beds and matching | | | | and footboard to give us a more modern poster bed. |
| furniture. In this article I'll take you through some of | | | | I think folks who liked the idea of a poster bed but |
| the newest and most popular designs in bedroom | | | | were perhaps discouraged by the traditional look can |
| furniture and we'll also take a look at some of the | | | | take great joy in knowing that a modern approach to |
| hottest colors available for beds today. | | | | this classic design is now available. |
| Heading into 2008 several manufacturers introduced | | | | In 2007 a large majority of manufacturers in |
| new bedroom products which combined rich wood | | | | contemporary furniture were using darker wood |
| tones with an outer framework made up of steel | | | | tones in the ever popular cappuccino and espresso |
| metal. In many of these products dressers, chests | | | | finishes. For those who aren't familiar with these |
| and nightstands feature wood construction on the | | | | finishes they are very deep finishes with brown |
| main upper case units and a steel base introduced at | | | | tones that almost look black but have a strong |
| the bottom of the unit. Many of these pieces use | | | | brownish tint when exposed to direct light. Furniture |
| straight, clean lines and wood tones featured include | | | | manufacturers in the industry have been using these |
| cognac, espresso and java. Several manufacturers | | | | colors more and more over the last several years |
| are also giving consumers the choice of steel finish | | | | and I think a majority of the modern furniture you |
| color and with a variety of earth tones and metal | | | | see in the marketplace are shown in these colors or |
| finishes it really gives the opportunity to create a | | | | at the least available in these finishes. In January |
| unique look all your own. | | | | 2008 though several manufacturers are introducing |
| A popular design element from 2007 has continued | | | | cognac or reddish-brown colors into wood tones and |
| into 2008 and consists of beds which feature a | | | | finishes much like the casegoods we talked about |
| headboard design that have a slight angle towards | | | | towards the beginning of this article. Look for these |
| the wall. Often shown in modern and contemporary | | | | colors to start appearing in stores either showcased |
| designs these same features are starting to find their | | | | as floor models or available as special order. |
| way into more traditional designs as well. When | | | | In this article we discussed many of the new trends |
| you're out shopping notice these beds as they move | | | | in design and finishes moving into 2008 for modern |
| away from the typical headboard features which | | | | bedroom furniture. We looked at manufacturers |
| tend to be straight vertically. Most of the beds | | | | combining wood cases with steel bases to create |
| designed with this slight angle to the headboard can | | | | new bedroom furniture designs that bring metal and |
| be measured away from the lower portion of the | | | | wood together. New design elements like slightly |
| bed by no more than 4-5 inches. So these beds are | | | | angled headboards are also becoming popular with |
| not increasing the overall length of the bed by much | | | | today's platform beds designs. Four poster beds are |
| and create a more interesting design. This design | | | | getting a modern touch with designs featuring |
| aspect really makes you think about traditional sleigh | | | | straight lines and refined headboard and footboard |
| style beds with the curving features found in both | | | | features. We also looked at some of the emerging |
| the headboard and footboard and perhaps these | | | | trends in finishes and rich colors which include cognac |
| new design elements borrow on this classic design. | | | | and espresso. I hope this article has given you a |
| Four poster beds are also getting a modern | | | | inkling of the many trends that are happening in the |
| makeover and a well deserved one this year. | | | | bedroom today. I encourage you to visit your local |
| European designs from the 16th and 17th centuries | | | | furniture stores, watch the many home shows that |
| predominantly featured many of the traditional | | | | are on television and read through furniture |
| designs that furniture makers today draw from for | | | | publications to keep up with what is happening in the |
| inspiration. These timeless designs have their place in | | | | world of furniture today. |
| many homes but don't blend so well with modern | | | | |