Small living: Tips for the bedroom

Having a small bedroom doesn't mean it can't be interesting. By carefully choosing your furniture and color palette, you can create a beautiful space to get your beauty sleep :)


Evaluate your space
First, plan your bedroom. Measure it, how much space do you have? Not only on the floor but the walls as well. Both length and height! Also note placement of doors and windows.
Think about how you want to arrange the furniture, should the bed be under the window so you have space for a cabinet against the other wall etc.

If you have a long narrow bedroom, as on the picture, a bed with a wide head board is a good idea to underline the length of the room. On the opposite side the wall is being used for a huge wardrobe which can store all your clothing, bed linings and other extra stuff you want to hide away. Sliding doors are brilliant as they don't take up any space.
The mirror gives the room more depth


Choosing the furniture 
Go for sleek and clean cut lines when choosing furniture for a smaller bedroom.
Curvy furniture tends to take up too much unnecessary space.
Make use of vertical space with tall furniture as cabinets or wardrobes.
Shelves and hanging cabinets are great to add some extra storage without taking any extra space from the floor and give more air. But don't overdo it, otherwise it will  have the opposite effect and make the room seem cramped.
If you have really limited space, a bed with  lift top is practical as you can store extra linings inside.

Choosing a color scheme 
To make a room seem balanced it's a good idea to plan a color scheme before going out shopping for new furniture and accessories. If you like dark colors consider using these as accessories only, and go for lighter furniture. If you use dark furniture in a small room it may feel a bit like a dungeon. Keep it light.
Whether you go for a monochromatic tone in tone look or a multi color palette,
keep it simple and light

Decorating a small bedroom
Don't buy too many accessories. You probably already have a lot from gifts, vacations or the like and you may want to add new, which is good, but don't overdo it. Instead of scattering your accessories all over the room, place them together in sets to make it more organized.

Small "tile" galleries

For galleries choose smaller frames that can be hung together. For bigger artwork go with no frame or a very thin frame to avoid making it too dominant in the room.
When choosing curtains, they of course needs to provide privacy and keeping light out. Get a light colored rolling blind and hang a curtain in a light and transparent material over it. The light material will make sure that the room doesn't look to 'heavy', but instead light.

Get some decorative baskets to hide away clutter in a beautiful way, they will look nice on shelves, in wall units or under the bed and at the same time they hide away any mess. Keep your bedroom clean and avoid too much mess.




The last advice would be to choose things that you really like. That way it will be personal  and you will love walking into your bedroom every night.

Small living: Space saving ideas for hallway and dining rooms

Yesterday I showed you some really awesome small apartments. At BoConcept we are aware that you may live in smaller homes, especially in the big cities.

Get some ideas here how you can save some space in your hallway and dining room with clever functional furniture

Hallway 

Your hallway may be very small, or a part of your living room or kitchen, but it is still nice to have a place for shoes, keys and jackets
 This cabinet can be turned around so you can hide shoes and other stuff, the other side has a mirror. You can choose to have knobs on the side of it. It's a great space saver and can fit in even the smallest space and allows you to keep a clean look.

Another solution could be a wall hanged shoe cabinet. It's a good idea to have as little on the floor as possible to give some more breathing space. 

Dining area

Have no space for a dining table? Fear not! We have the solution

                                      

This table can be both a coffee table and a dining table, it's true magic!!! Or maybe not magic, but really clever design. Check out the video to see how it works. This way you can still throw dinner parties, even though you don't have the space for a designated dining area.

With a table like this you'll need to have some folding chairs. Even though the chairs are not there for long at a time, they should still look nice and be comfortable enough to sit on for an entire evening.
These chairs looks great with the table 

If you do have a dining area, but limited space go for an extendable table and chairs that can easily be stacked and moved to the side 

Stack-able chairs and extendable table

           

Stockholm sleeping sofa

Links: Adjustable table, extendable table, Breda chairs, oslo folding chair, shoe cabinet, wall hanged shoe cabinet

Spring: how to easily bring spring into your home

Spring is here! The last few months with weather where you can actually walk around outside without getting soaked after 5 min. Do you want to create some spring feeling in  your home? Then this is for you.

Cool and beautiful vases for flowers is sure to bring spring feeling into your home.  Nothing says spring as colorful flowers. But if you, like me, can't keep flowers alive for more than a second, floral cushions is a quick, everlasting fix. This one is fresh but still subtle and not screaming for attention so you can easily fit it in with your furniture.

Crisp white, like the vase above is cool, especially with some kind of texture and pattern like shown.

The ottoman in the Minto fabric is a great and funky extra seat for your guests, or just to rest your feet on. It has some great bright colors and can easily be coordinated with existing furniture and accessories.

A good tip to not get tired of your accessories is to "recycle" them. Hide away a few accessories and change them for new, and then after some time change the new with the old ones, that way you can change your accessories to match the seasons and you are not likely to get tired of them  as you often will have fresh styled interiors.

Meet our team - Ulysses Manalo

So in the showrooms, we have store managers who makes sure that the daily life in the stores are running smoothly. In Dubai the store manager manages to do this with a smile, humor and extremely hard work, and if you ask him, good looks (discussable) ;)  He and his whole team can help you with all your questions.

Name: Ulysses Manalo


Age: 42
Position: Store manager
Showroom: Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road

How long have you been working for BoConcept
I have been working for BoConcept for 10 years now

What is your best style tip?
Maximize the space you have, but never compromise the design. Choose a few pieces that makes the room seem bigger. In Dubai many of us lives in smaller apartments. I suggest putting mirrors, it will create the illusion that the room is bigger than it is. Also choose glass or see through coffee tables, it will make the room look lighter and less cramped. If you have an unused corner, place a nice chair where you can read and relax.

Your  favorite item in the store? 
The Cenova sofa! I like that you can choose to have loose, casual cushions, it is so relaxing and comfortable. It also looks great with the fixed cushions! It is really a sofa where you can lay back and relax. I of course also love that you can change material, color and size so you can create a sofa that is perfect for your home.

Meet our team - Ajay Kurian

The next guy I want to introduce you to is a friendly, happy and always calm guy.

His name is Ajay Kurian and you can read his answers below

Age: 28
Position: Sales associate
Showroom: Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road

How long have you been working for BoConcept?
For 9 months

What is your best style tip?
Find out your style. Do you want a big contrast of your furniture, or do you want to blend the colors?
Grey is good as a base, it looks great if you blend it with different nuances of grey, but also all colors will look great and stand out on a grey background.

What is your favorite item from BoConcept?
Volani! You have so many different options to design a media unit or sideboard that fits your space, style and needs. You can create just the look you want.
See below pictures to get an idea of what I mean :) (pssst, we have 25% off on volani right now)

You can check out more volani combinations here; Design your own Volani

Meet our team - Gervacio Paja

Our sales staff that you can meet in our showrooms are some of the kindest people I have met. They are all unique individuals and I thought I would like to introduce you to them. They have in common that they are all really nice to be around, they listen to your needs and will not stop until you have a solution you are satisfied with.

The first I would like to introduce you to are a guy that are always happy, laid back and helpful. His name is Gervacio, and he will always greet you with a smile, just as he did when I asked him a few questions. Read them below;

Name: Gervacio Paja jr. 

Age: 35

Position: Sales Associate
Showroom: BoConcept Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road

How long have you been working in BoConcept?
I have been working for BoConcept for almost 6 years now.

What is your best style tip?

Be playful in the items you are choosing. Add a rug underneath your coffee table and choose cushions that match the rug and your personality. Don't forget to add a lamp to go with the rest. 

What is your favorite item in the store?

Our Mezzo sofa! It just has the whole package. It is big and chunky, but thin top cushions adds elegance to the sofa, it has some unique design details, just take a look at the stitching. Other than being stylish it is also very comfortable and the foam triangles behind each cushions makes it possible for different seating positions, another unique detail. It is also very easy to maintain, the top cushions and back cushions can be removed to be cleaned.

Take a look at a few of the many combinations that are possible with the Mezzo sofa below.

Check out more here; Modern Mezzo sofas

nendo / BoConcept - the cooperation

Below you can see a presentation of our new design cooperation between BoConcept and Nendo.

A classic beauty: The Fargo sofa

 Introducing the Fargo sofa. The Fargo sofa is a classic sofa with a distinctive design details and it's feminine with it's soft and rounded curves. It is also very comfortable, and you can even choose between two different kinds of fillings and backrest height.

Fargo sofa in light grey felt

The coolest thing though, is that you can completely change the look of the sofa by choosing between different arm rests and leg designs. If you want a bit more casual look go for brushed steel legs and the bigger bulkier armrest. If you want a really formal and classic design, go for wooden legs and a thinner armrest.

 You can choose between so many different leathers and fabrics. The sofa is also modular (like all BoConcept sofas), so you can really make a sofa that is a perfect fit for you! Below is just a few combinations that you can create with the Fargo sofa. You can design it in 3D, save it and it will give you a price instantly. You can also print it and bring it to the showroom so that it can be ordered. There are seriously a lot of opportunities with this modern, beautiful sofa.

Fusion by nendo!

1st of March we received the new collection in our stores, and oh my is it beautiful!

Mr. Oki Sato

I want to tell you a bit about nendo and Oki Sato, as we are very proud to have a the furniture in our store.

"Oki Sato is Japanese. But his huge talent and distinct design touch have made him widely recognised on the international design scene. In 2012 he was announced Designer Of The Year by both Wallpaper Magazine and Elle Deco International Award. Oki Sato is the man behind the fusion collection for BoConcept - a unique design collection that is inspired by origami and fusing different elements. It’s the perfect blend of two great design cultures: Japanese aesthetics and Danish functionality." -from our website BoConcept UAE webpage

So what is Nendo?

Nendo was founded in 2002 by Oki Sato, at that time he was only 24! The name is Japanese for modelling clay and that very well describe the nendo design philosophy "To transform people’s interaction with everyday objects by creating ‘small moments’ in everyday life". You can see this in each nendo design in the minimal yet characteristic form, with a pinch of humour and friendliness. Today nendo has offices around the world and can display an impressive list of awards, exhibitions and great designs.

As soon as I knew the furniture was in the showroom I went to see it and try it out. It is beautiful, high in both quality and design, and each piece really is a statement. I can truly recommend coming to one of our showrooms to check the collection out! To see the entire collection click here.

Fusion chair

Fusion sofa

Fusion wall system 

Welcome

Hi and welcome to our blog!
My name is Melissa and I work for BoConcept UAE and Bahrain, but I live in Dubai, and I am the one who is going to be the editor of this blog. I have worked in the store before I transferred to the office, and have been doing a lot of decorating of the showroom, but also helped customers with getting their dream home. I have a strong passion for interior design and for writing, so when I got the chance to do both I could only say yes. 

Here you can expect to get inspired by pictures, updates on interior design events around the UAE, information about new trends and everything in between, all with a touch of BoConcept. 

I am really excited to start sharing the BoConcept world with all of you. 

The team in a very rare well dressed and well behaved moment :)

From our Dubai store grand opening

                             

Me, Melissa :)