How to Create a Master Bedroom Suite

To make your master bedroom suite a refuge for the two of you, dream big, plan carefully, and focus on your most-desired elements. Follow these tips below to create a master bedroom suite you'll never want to leave.

Step 1 - Brainstorm Together about Your Must-Have Elements

Brainstorm with your spouse or partner about the "must-haves" in your master bedroom. Use interior design magazines and books to spark your imagination. Consider a walk-in closet with storage, a luxurious bathroom, a deck or terrace, a reading corner, a king-size bed, or a table and chairs for dining ensuite. Towel warmers, magnifying mirrors, and wall-mounted bedside lamps are inexpensive luxuries. A heated bathroom floor may seem extravagant, but it will save energy costs.

Step 2 - Examine the Blueprints and Take Measurements

You may need to add extra electrical outlets or relocate plumbing to accomplish your master bedroom suite layout. Perhaps you want to change windows or add a French door. You may also want to move heating/air conditioning vents or floor registers. The blueprints will provide valuable information on floor and wall construction, which will prevent problems before you start renovating. Measure carefully to ensure every feature you want in your master bedroom will fit into a well-planned layout. Ensure you each get at least two of your highest-priority items in your master bedroom.

Step 3 - Draw Up a Budget

Your budget should include all your priority items, and have a 10 percent cushion built in for unforeseen costs. Include the cost of new bedding and towels, and discard worn-out linens.

Step 4 - Draw A Room Plan

Using 18 by 24-inch graph paper, draw the room to scale. Include everything from area rugs up to ceiling track lights on the plan. Leave two feet of clearance around the bed and large furniture pieces, and note the placement of windows, doors, and all electrical outlets.

Step 5 - Select Color Choices

Note that cool colors, such as blues and greens, cream and white, can make a room more relaxing. Avoid brown shades for walls and carpeting in a room with mostly wood furniture. Vibrant yellow, red, or orange in your decor will be stimulating, so limit the use of these colors in your sleeping area.

Step 6 - Create a Construction Contingency Plan

If your new master bedroom suite plan involves construction, move into another bedroom in the house, or stay for short intervals at a hotel or guest house.

Step 7 - Install Paint, Then Flooring

Paint the walls before doing flooring installation if possible, so you don't have to worry about protecting the floor.

Step 8 - Bring in All Furnishings

Study your floor plan carefully once more before bringing in the furniture. Be sure you are happy with the location of the bed, tables, chairs, and the entertainment unit, as it is exhausting to move them. Put bed linens on the bed immediately, so it is ready to welcome you when the master bedroom suite is complete.