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Master retreat ideas


How to design a master bedroom retreat |

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

If you are looking for main bedroom ideas for your master suite, then you've come to the right place. More than any other space in the home, your master bedroom is the one place where you want to feel completely at ease, comfortable and well-rested. 

With fewer practical constraints than other areas of the house, once you’ve covered the basics – sophisticated lighting, clever storage and a comfortable bed to sleep on – deciding on the décor is the easy and fun part. 

Find out how to create a hotel-standard master with our main bedroom ideas below.

Main bedroom ideas

Take your sleeping quarters to next-level luxury with these luxurious bedroom ideas. From walk-in wardrobes, to sumptuous showers and cozy places to curl up in. 

Whether you're looking for bohemian bedroom ideas, small master bedroom ideas or more traditional ways to spruce up your space, you'll find inspiration here.

1. Opt for luxurious wall panelling in the main bedroom

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

Wall panelling ideas bring luxury and interest to any room. From traditional cladding and decorative mouldings to innovative designs using fabric, it is hard to go wrong with panelling. 

Add an extra dimension of softness and five-star luxury to a master bedroom by having a three-quarter height wall of fabric-backed panels behind the headboard, as shown in this scheme by Helen Green Design . An additional bonus is the sound insulation it offers from the world outside. 

2. Create a main bedroom that is at one with your surroundings

(Image credit: Future / Simon Brown)

A mixture of rustic touches and traditional elegance, smart yet accessible design is so relevant to the way we live now, whether among rolling fields or in an urban landscape. 

Serene, inviting and comfortable, this bedroom, with its simple and elegant Shaker-style bed idea, needs little additional adornment, but is freshened by some ultra-pretty floral wallpaper.  

3. Build in a slimline dressing area in a master bedroom

(Image credit: Future / Anna Stathaki)

Even small bedrooms need an area for getting ready. If space allows, invest in a narrow wall-mounted dressing table design as a sleek, discreet alternative to traditional dressing room ideas. 

When you’ve finished getting ready, the whole thing simply sits away, while cupboards above and either side provide storage for clothes, shoes and jewellery – perfect for bedroom ideas for couples.

4. Work with your existing space 

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Few of us have the perfect set-up. If you can, Philippa Thorp, director of Thorp , suggests locating a wardrobe between the bedroom and bathroom, so you can dress after showering: ‘We like to design all three rooms as a self-contained suite so there’s no rushing around in your towel.’ 

In tighter spaces, such as corridors or eaves, build to fit as much as possible – shallow niches are ideal for show shelves. Pocket doors are good for awkward spaces, says Sandrine Zhang Ferron, founder of Vinterior : ‘They won’t impact the space either side, so you can gain more room.’ 

5. Choose lighting to unwind by for your main bedroom

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

The way lighting is controlled is key in a bedroom, says Sally Storey, creative director of John Cullen Lighting : ‘Dimmers are essential to change the mood from day to night. Make sure each light is controlled individually and with accessible switches, so you can eliminate glare easily when you’re in bed.’ 

She also stresses the importance of lampshades – translucent ones give softer, more diffused light, while solid ones create harsh beams. Sally also recommends creating washes of light with bedroom lighting ideas such as LED strips concealed behind headboards and above curtains.

6. Don’t skimp on good flooring

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

When you're thinking about how to design a bedroom, don't forget the floor.

Soft rugs by the bed for bare feet to step onto are essential. ‘They’re not just tactile, but also soften acoustics – making them an excellent option for apartment living’ says Jo Littlefair, director of Goddard Littlefair .

If you are being adventurous with your main bedroom ideas and exploring master bedroom ideas with bath, a durable, hard-wearing flooring design is a must.

7. Choose colors that calm in the master suite

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

The right bedroom color ideas, textures and planning are key to a blissfully peaceful master suite. Everyone’s heard the line about blues and greens being the most calming colors, but it’s not the whole story. 

Karen Haller, an expert in color psychology and author of the Little Book of Color , explains: ‘It’s specifically the paler, softer shades that are restful. This is to do with the way we perceive color in wavelengths that travel to the hypothalamus, the centre of the brain  that governs our emotions and sleeping patterns. ’ 

Warmer colors, such as pink and apricot, are just as soothing if they’re pale, she adds. 

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

The key ingredient in a master bedroom is good flow of space and smart bedroom storage ideas will ensure that nothing gets in the way.

‘Ensure you have room to make the bed easily and that movement around it is unhindered,’ says Tiffany Duggan, founder of Studio Duggan and TROVE. 

’Symmetry promotes a clear mind, too – match lamps and bedside rugs and hang art in pairs.’ 

9. Enhance your mood

(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)

Phillipa Thorp, director of Thorp, believes vistas are important for your mood. 

To create a relaxing bedroom, position the bed close to a window for a sense of calm and tranquility. ‘We always make beds high enough so that you can see out of the windows to a view beyond,’ she says. 

10. Use tactile texture for comfort

(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)

Experts agree that when it comes to textiles, natural is best. ‘Because they are breathable, natural fibres wick away moisture and prevent the body overheating – the primary cause of sleep disturbance,’ says Mark Tremlett, founder of Naturalmat . 

Linen and silk have the same breathability. ‘Linen won’t leave you feeling clammy like synthetic fibres, which can irritate skin,’ says Jessica Mason of Piglet in Bed . 

When it comes to how to style a bed in a master bedroom, Jo James, co-founder of bedding brand Bedfolk , makes her space more cosseting with an extra later of pillows and ‘going one size up on the duvet.' 

11. Factor in a walk-in wardrobe with modern steel-framed glass doors

(Image credit: Future / Alexander James)

The owners of this home had the luxury of space for a walk-in closet, but didn’t want to block the light from a large window at the end of the room. The solution? A contemporary, black steel-framed glass screen, which adds a sharp definition to the pale decor without inhibiting the flow of light.

The designers have used a dark parquet floor throughout to create a sense of unity and flow in this luxury bedroom.

12. Use panelling in a modern main bedroom

(Image credit: Future / Adrian Briscoe)

Panelling does not need to look period or rustic, as this modern bedroom scheme shows. Painting the stacks of square Jacobean-inspired panelling in a dark hue creates the perfect backdrop to offset strong pieces of furniture and accents of color.  

‘Paneling is a useful way of introducing warmth and character to a bedroom,’ says Bruce Hodgson, founder and creative director, Artichoke . ‘There is something cozy about being surrounded by wood. Panel mouldings are used to create shadow and catch the light, adding a definition that is particularly important when you opt for painted panels.’ 

What is a main bedroom? 

The main bedroom, also known as the primary bedroom or master bedroom, is usually the largest bedroom in the home. Its main function is to provide a sleep sanctuary for the owner of the property, whereas the smaller bedroom often incorporates a guest bedroom, spare room or children's bedroom.

How would you describe a master bedroom?

The master bedroom is the main bedroom in the home. Its primary purpose is to provide a place for sleep. However, with more and more people working from home, the bedroom is often used study, or even a dressing area.

How do you design a main bedroom?

One of the first things to consider when designing the main bedroom is lighting. ‘Well-planned lighting can make a bedroom or dressing room look larger,’ says lighting designer  and Design Director at John Cullen, Sally Storey.   

Always make sure you have directional light for reading, as well as an ambient option. 

‘I often double up by combining a task light, such as a small wall-mounted Anglepoise, with a lamp on a bedside table,’ says interior designer Suzy Hoodless . 

‘I also like to use  decorative wall lights as well as a central pendant in bedrooms. They offer an opportunity to create a sculptural look on the walls as well as providing soft, warm light. '

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

Master Bedroom Designs - Bedroom Retreats Ideas

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Master bedrooms have taken on a new status in homes—evolving from a place to lay your head at night into master retreats. As noted in last month’s article about designing for resale, paying attention to design features, especially in the master suite can reap financial rewards as well as provide a really nice master bedroom to enjoy in your new log home.

That said, there are some things that can be included in the design that are not budget breakers, as well as ideas for the over-the-top retreat many home owners aspire to in their new homes.

Master the Essentials First
In master bedrooms, size does matter! The master bedroom should be roomy and provide enough room for a queen or king sized bed, night tables and dressers. Ample closet space for each person should also be adjacent or in the main room. Add lots of good-sized windows that take advantage of the view and the result is a fine standard master bedroom.

Some other basics to consider: depending on the stage of your family, the master bedroom might be located either adjacent to children’s rooms or well separated and even on another floor for privacy. Many folks build in separation by locating the master on the main level with kids’ bedrooms either upstairs or down— or separated as “wings” by common areas.

Walk-in Closets
Beyond merely ample closet space, walk-ins provide additional storage and space for couples. Individual walk-in closets cater to different needs and space requirements. For example, a man’s walk-in might have hanging racks stacked for suit coats, pants and shirts, while a woman’s closet might have a space for longer hanging items, like dresses. Built-ins for shoes might have different configurations depending on the couple’s individual collections of footwear.

A walk-in closet might include enough room for built-in drawers and shelves, or allow space for a freestanding bureau or dresser. Another nice touch would be to line the ceiling or walls with unfinished, aromatic cedar to deter moths. Custom finished closets and built-ins can add extra utility and style to a master suite.

Master Bath Option
Bathrooms can easily be the second most expensive room in the home, after the kitchen. Most modern master retreats have what is termed an “en suite” bath, one that is accessible only through the master bedroom and separate from the rest of the home. Basics include sink, toilet, shower and/or bathtub. How these basics and additional upgrades are arranged and designed is where imaginations step in. Here are some of the options being included in master baths:

Fireplace—Nothing is cozier than a fireplace in the master bedroom. It evokes the romance of a New England bed and breakfast while taking the chill off of cool evenings. Unless you’re a hardcore wood burning enthusiast, the best way to accomplish this feature in a bedroom is a natural gas or propane fired stove unit. If your master bedroom is spacious, consider leaving enough room for a comfortable reading chair or two near the hearth. Above all, situate the fireplace so that it can be viewed and enjoyed from the bed. This may involve a raised firebox or one of the more contemporary, linear gas fires.

Outdoor Spaces—Whether it’s a balcony, an extension of the wrap-around porch or semi-private deck area, expanding your master retreat space into nature is a great way to add features without much expenditure. Instead of sliders, select French doors for an elegant access point. If your area is vulnerable to mosquitos or black flies, consider a screen/storm combination enclosure that can add extra space and passive solar in the cooler months. Log home gazebos are also a great addition to a master suite. They also add some architectural interest to the house exterior.

Laundry Room— Nothing is easier than a laundry that is accessed from the master suite. One nifty way to accommodate the laundry is to access it from two doors, one from the master bedroom area, and one from a hall or kitchen. Another tip: make sure that soundproofing insulation is doubled up between the laundry room and adjacent sleeping areas.

Built-ins— Custom cabinetry can take many forms in the master retreat. Add a window seat to an alcove for seating and storage below. Build in cabinetry to hold the television, sound systems, and bookshelves in the bedroom itself. Add drawers, cabinets, shoe racks, vanities, mirrors, for custom walk-in closet amenities.

One thing is certain: when it comes to master retreats, they can be as individual as their owners. Don’t hesitate to make the master suite a cozy and comfortable retreat in your new log home.

How to understand the retreats and choose the perfect one for yourself?

Recently, social networks are full of invitations to various yoga tours and retreats.

Agree, a great idea is to go on vacation not just for rest, but also for self-development. True, if you have never attended such events, it is quite difficult to understand what will happen there, what level of practice you need to have, what such a trip can give, and in general - is it worth it for you to spend vacation days and go there. In today's How to Green article, Rita Nesterets, a well-known blogger and creator of the Nesterets Detox detox tour, will talk about such trips and help you understand which option is right for you.

What is a retreat?

Retreat is a program of activities aimed at rebooting and cleansing the mind and body. Usually retreats take place in beautiful ecologically clean places - tropical islands in the jungle, on the sea, in the forest or in the mountains. Most often, people go to such programs to start practicing what they had planned for a long time, but in ordinary life it didn’t work out in any way - yoga, meditation, proper nutrition. Some retreats offer to try new things that are not always safe to do on your own if you are not experienced, such as dry fasting for several days or a week on a raw food diet.

What are the retreats?

Retreats are completely different, we have already told you about some types in this article. In Karelia there is a clinic "Kivach", in which a person chooses a program with a light diet, procedures for cleansing the body for several days and takes care of his physical and mental health. You can go to Marve Oganyan for cleansing for 21 days, where they give a course of lectures, teach different methods of nutrition and restoring health. There are many centers in Russia and around the world where you can learn and practice yoga, meditation, detox or try fasting. In India, an Ayurvedic panchakarma detox program is being conducted, the main goal of which is to cleanse the body in various ways, including massages, and the 10-day Nesterets Derox retreat in Bali is aimed at rebooting and cleansing both the body and the soul.


How to choose a retreat tour?

To choose the right tour, you need to carefully read the program, understand what exactly it focuses on. Most often, one thing is distinguished - nutrition, yoga, meditation, fasting, detox. It is worth talking with the organizers and clarifying all the questions that interest you. Keep in mind that the words “yoga” and “meditation” can hide not only your usual practice, but also something fundamentally different and unfamiliar to you.

As practice shows, it is best to choose a retreat on the recommendation. If one of your friends, colleagues or just acquaintances on social networks went on a retreat, then he will be able to tell you about his impressions and share his experience. Another option is to carefully study the opinions of other people about retreats: it is better not to write, which are difficult to verify, but video reviews of those who attended the event you are interested in.


Pay attention not only to the retreat itself, but also to the living conditions, food, the location where the program will take place, what additional entertainment and opportunities are possible. For example, a yoga retreat on a Thai island can take place in a place far from the sea and civilization, so if you planned to go swimming in the morning and go to Thai massage after class, but you don’t know how to ride a moped or its rent doesn’t fit into your budget, then you may be in for a serious disappointment upon arrival. It may turn out that, despite the beautiful view, the bungalows in the middle of the jungle do not correspond at all to the level of comfort that you are used to and that you expected during your vacation. And so on and so forth. Do not be lazy and make a detailed list of all the questions that you have and ask them to the organizers. Feel free to also ask for additional photos of the place you are planning to go.

Who is better to go with?

You have to look at your own feelings. Some people prefer to ride alone and don't need support. It will be easier for others to starve or eat a raw food diet with a girlfriend or sister, for others it will be more comfortable to get up every day at five in the morning for yoga with a husband or boyfriend.

However, if your goal is to focus on yourself, reboot, renew, enter a new vector of your life, it may be worth going alone. The company of familiar people can interfere with rethinking your life and understanding what you want to change in it.


What preparation is needed for the retreat?


As a rule, no special preparation is required before the retreat. There may be an exception before a multi-day fast, which the organizers will warn you about in advance.

The most difficult thing is to prepare for vipassana. You must be prepared for the fact that you will spend 10 days in isolation from civilization and your environment, in complete silence and the absence of any contact with other people. All this time you will spend without a phone and the Internet. So, before the trip, you need to solve all the problems in advance and warn relatives and colleagues that you will be unavailable. Another problem of this type of retreat, for which you may be completely unprepared, is the daily routine and many hours of meditation. Usually you get up for Vipassana at four in the morning, and meditation takes 10 hours a day, which you spend sitting still. It is better to prepare in advance and start practicing early morning rises and meditations.

In ordinary life, many do not have enough willpower to start practicing yoga or proper nutrition on their own, and the familiar environment prevents them from drastically changing their lives, even when they really want to. If you recognize yourself, then a retreat is a great opportunity to review your life and habits. People with similar views gather for such programs, forming a circle of like-minded people. Therefore, when you go home after a retreat, you not only have a new life, but also new friends who will support and help you overcome the difficulties of integrating your new thinking and lifestyle into ordinary life.

Tags: retreat vacation the trip meditation relaxation

What is a retreat and what to do if you need it right now

Non-stop work, bad weather, terrible news about world events, lack of money and sleep, frequent colds, endless calls and messages in instant messengers - if you wanted to drop it all for once and go “somewhere, most importantly far away”, then perhaps you need a retreat. We tell you what it is.

The word retreat has many meanings in the English dictionary. The most basic ones are "solitude", "retreat", "removal from people" or "calm". For more than a millennium, the practice of retreats has been common in many world religions and cultures. But it is in the last five to ten years that they have become very popular among those who care about their health. Modern retreats are devoid of religious overtones, and everyone can try them.

A retreat is a kind of sanatorium, but they put in order not physical, but mental health. Remember Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love? In it, the heroine goes on a retreat in order to realize why she lives and what she really wants from life.

A scene from the movie Eat, Pray, Love. courtesy photo

There are several different retreat formats. They can be group or individual, they can take place in silence (this is when you take a vow of silence and cannot talk to anyone during the entire trip) and even in the dark (a dark retreat takes place in complete solitude and in the complete absence of light, but to him only experienced spiritual practices are allowed under the guidance of a qualified mentor). But the most popular retreat format for “beginners” today is yoga tours. You leave with a group of like-minded people somewhere warm, practice on the ocean, meditate and learn awareness. It is important to remember that even if you are with a group of people, the goal of retreats is to find solitude and clear your mind. To do this, you will have to completely abandon smartphones and any other gadgets, as well as switch exclusively to vegetarian food (retreats and vegetarianism are almost synonymous). Coffee and alcohol are also prohibited.

Many mistakenly believe that a retreat is a vacation. This is not true. This is not a vacation or even a rest, but hard work on yourself. Try to put your phone away for a few hours or go outside and leave it at home - it will be unusual, uncomfortable and even disturbing. And on a retreat, you must completely renounce communication with the outside world. Even if you love the idea and often think about how wonderful life would be without smartphones, it can be difficult to break through the habitual patterns and habits. The new environment will force you to leave your own comfort zone, and in order for the new experience to go as smoothly as possible, you need to prepare and tune in.

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As a rule, the retreat lasts one to two weeks. The optimal period is 10 days. In less time, it is difficult for consciousness to get rid of habitual attitudes - it will perceive the retreat in the same way as outdoor recreation. Longer periods are also not recommended, especially for the first time - staying outside of civilization for too long can trigger defense mechanisms, and you will be counting the minutes until the end of the retreat.

Such an attitude does not lead to anything good.

You need to prepare for the retreat in advance. Before the trip, it is important to resolve all the necessary issues - complete the set work tasks and talk about key points with relatives who are not traveling with you (if you have children, discuss everything that will be important for the partner staying with them).

Warn relatives, friends and colleagues that you will be unavailable for some time

It is also important to review your diet before the trip: it will be difficult to give up everything at once in one day. If you eat meat, start reducing your intake and increase the amount of vegetables and fruits in your daily diet.

And if you can’t live without coffee, first try to reduce the number of cups you drink per day. The better you prepare your body for the retreat, the better the result will be.

Where to go

Most of the offers can be found in Asia. The conditions here are ideal for retreats - comfortable temperature all year round, low prices, fresh exotic fruits and Buddhism (the religion that encourages retreats more than others). But there are also European retreats and even retreats near Moscow.

We talk about a dozen places where you can have a great reboot.

one. Copan Monastery , Nepal
© kopanmonastery. com

A very popular option, tested by thousands of travelers. Here you can learn various meditation techniques from the monks and meet like-minded people from all over the world. The monastery is located on the top of a hill overlooking the city of the same name Copan, a few kilometers from the border with Guatemala.

2. Samahita Retreat , Koh Samui, Thailand
© samahitaretreat.com

The best option for beginners. It helps to relax, improve your health and master the techniques of yoga and meditation (there is a whole garden for these practices). The center is located right on the beach on the south coast of the island, you can fly from Bangkok in less than an hour. Certified trainers from all over the world work here. All this can be combined with various detox programs.

3. Wonderland Healing Center , Koh Phangan, Thailand
© wonderlandhc.com

A luxury wellness center with yoga, meditation, delicious vegan dishes and very beautiful nature. Suitable even for those who have never done yoga in their lives and have no idea what kind of asana “downward-facing dog” is. After the practice, you can go for a massage or body wraps.

four. Blooming Lotus Yoga , Bali
© blooming-lotus-yoga.com

Bali is another popular destination with a large selection of retreats. One of the most interesting centers - Blooming Lotus Yoga - is located in the tropical jungle near the city of Ubud. The programs are suitable for people of all skill levels and combine practice with theory. You will be introduced to Ayurveda and shared knowledge about what yoga is and what it is for. Plus: there is a healer (that is, a traditional healer) here, to whom you can turn with any problem and see what alternative medicine is capable of.

5. Surf Maroc , Aourir, Morocco
© surfmaroc.com

An alternative retreat where you can combine yoga and surfing! The retreat takes place in a quiet Moroccan village surrounded by banana plantations, which is famous for its peaceful atmosphere and coast with high waves. This retreat is suitable for both beginners and professionals. Yoga helps to develop not only spiritual strength, but also physical strength - it is it that will come in handy for surfing after practice.

6. Island Yoga Retreat , Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
© islandyoga.com

The tiny island of Aruba in the Caribbean Sea, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, boasts of its perfect beaches with white sand, clear blue water and summer all year round. Therefore, this place attracts fans of windsurfing, kiting, diving and, of course, yoga. Swedish Rachel Brathen (aka @yoga_girl), an Instagram star with two million followers, organizes five-day retreats on the island. They can combine yoga and meditation with dream vacations.

7. Shambala Gatherings , Bergslagen, Sweden
© shambalagatherings.com

Let's move closer. A couple of hours drive from Stockholm, you can also practice yoga and relax with a view of the lakes. A site with a large selection of different options will help you choose the right program (there are even those that do not include traditional yoga, but, for example, focus on walking through wild forests or musical practices). The menu is completely vegan, organic and gluten free.

eight. Villa Mandala Manor & Resort , Loviisa, Finland
© villamandala.fi

An hour's drive from Helsinki, in the absolute wilderness among coniferous forests, there is a center that offers 4-day yoga retreats five times a year. The main idea of ​​this place is healing through nature. Therefore, in addition to yoga, you can enjoy cycling, swimming in forest lakes, a classic Finnish sauna and “gastronomic therapy” (as they themselves call their menu).

9. The Bornholm Yoga & Retreat Center , Bornholm, Denmark

The Danish island of Bornholm, which is located in the southwestern part of the Baltic Sea, can be reached from Copenhagen in 35 minutes. The island itself is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime (even without retreats) and looking at deserted beaches, yellow fields of alfalfa, nimble goats climbing sheer cliffs in search of figs and orchids that are completely exotic for the Baltic climate, stones on which you can find petroglyphs of times Neolithic, dense dark green forests. At The Bornholm Yoga & Retreat Center, you can visit amazing retreats throughout the year, which have been led by an experienced trainer Solveig Egeberg for many years. Here, just like in Finland, the emphasis is on the forces of nature, without which, according to Solveig, purification and healing cannot be achieved.

Solveig Egeberg / © bornholmyoga.dk
ten. EcoCamp , Crimea, Russia

The good news is that retreat centers are starting to appear in Russia as well. EcoCamp in Crimea is a unique place on the slope of one of the mountains of the Belbek Valley in the Bakhchisarai region.

© healthspirit.ru

Comfortable climate, interesting retreat programs, professional mentors, delicious food and the amazing nature of Crimea - in general, there is everything you need to restore your vital resources.

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Retreat at home

If you're not ready to buy plane tickets yet, or you can't afford to be away for a few days or weeks, you can start doing mini-retreats without going far from home.

Learn more