Adding a Sitting Area to the Bedroom

Creating a sitting area is one of the easiest ways to add some class and functionality to your bedroom. This small area of living space when added to a bedroom will visually transform the room into a bedroom suite. This will not only add a lot of functionality and enjoyment to your home, but it will also be a selling point if you put your house on the market, because sitting areas are a popular bedroom trend.

Advantages of a Sitting Area

Depending on your tastes and needs, a sitting area connected to your bedroom will provide a place to sit and relax, read, watch television, enjoy a snack, and other types of activities. As opposed to an office space, sitting areas are traditionally used for relaxation as opposed to work, although you might also choose to add a small desk to your sitting area. When you have a sitting area, you will be able to participate in relaxing activities in the bedroom area, even if you are not quite ready to go to bed. Sitting areas are also ideal if one partner cannot sleep or isn't quite ready to go to bed, allowing them to remain in the bedroom suite without disturbing the other.

How to Define a Sitting Room Area

Depending on the layout and size of your bedroom, there are several ways to define a sitting room area. In some cases, there might be an adjoining area, such an area outside the bedroom that is divided by a doorway. If this is the case, there will already be a natural division between the bedroom itself and an area that can be used as the sitting area. If there isn't a door between these two areas, you can either install a standard or sliding door, or simply hang a curtain or drapes to divide the main bedroom area from the sitting area. Free-standing room dividing screens also work well to divide the area. If you are trying to create a sitting area within the confines of a room, you can use an area rug or simply the arrangement of furniture to visually separate the sitting area from the bedroom area. Or, use a light fixture such as a chandelier to help define the space. Wall color and metal wall art decor can also be used to help delineate the area visually.

Furnishing a Sitting Area

Sitting areas are generally furnished with standard living room furniture, although it is important to keep size, scale and style in mind when choosing pieces to maintain a complementary appearance with the rest of the bedroom. A small loveseat, chaise lounge, or a couple of side chairs often work well; the wall space above may be accented with contemporary wall decorations. Daybeds and futons are also excellent choices since they can double as an additional sleeping area, which can be handy if one partner isn't feeling well. A coffee table and an end table are also good additions to a sitting area. Bookcases can be used to help define the space, especially when creating a sitting area within the confines of an existing room, since they can create the illusion of a wall. A television can also be a good addition to the room.