During these chaotic, unpredictable times, we all need a place to go where we can feel safe and secure, our own personal sanctuary. Our bedroom is the logical place to create this space. By making it a peaceful and serene room, we are offering ourselves an escape, as well as encouraging better sleep.

We asked home design diva Cathy Lee of RSVPstyle for advice on how to turn a bedroom into a sanctuary.

"Color is the easiest place to start," she said. "It's the obvious answer to affecting mood. By choosing soothing, relaxing colors" you can create a zen-like living space.

When we asked Lee to choose some elements she thought would offer respite in a room, she began with calming colors in the purple family, accented with white, black and silver. These hues add warmth and depth, she explained.

The keys to good room design, Lee said, are layering and repetition.

While color is the easy answer, Lee believes texture is equally important in creating an appealing room.

"Even with the absence of color, you can have a luxurious room by adding texture," Lee said. "You can put a beige coverlet with beige textured pillows (embellished) with shells and a beige raw silk sham and natural linen drapery. Add a beige leather sofa and a cream area rug with gold threads running through it. It's devoid of color, but it's fabulous because of the layers of textures that give it depth."

When discussing texture, Lee emphasized the importance of lighting. "It can create a mood, atmosphere and texture on the wall." Although recessed ceiling canister lighting is the simplest and least expensive method of lighting, illuminating an entire room with a single switch, Lee does not recommend this style of lighting for a bedroom: "It's practical but not aesthetic. It's task lighting rather than ambient or decorative lighting." Instead, she recommends fixtures that can serve as a piece of art, such as table or floor lamps with linen shades edged with fringe or shells, and interesting wood or textured glass bases. One eco-conscious note: CFL light bulbs are now dimmable, making them more bedroom-friendly.

When it comes to shopping, Lee recommends spending money on "things you will touch every day, like good faucets and luxurious bedding." Furniture and accessories, she said, can be found at any price range. Her favorite places to shop? Anywhere from Price Busters and Ross to Macy's, C.S. Wo, HomeWorld and Neiman Marcus.

ENTER TO WIN

HomeStyle Dream Makeover Contest with RSVPstyle

The Honolulu Advertiser and designer Cathy Lee's company, RSVPstyle, have teamed up to offer Advertiser readers the opportunity to win a room makeover or other design-oriented prizes.

Grand prize: $30,000 room makeover, personal design coaching with Cathy Lee and a KITV4 one-hour prime time special featuring the grand prize-winning project.

Seven second prizes averaging: $3,000

To enter: Go to www.honoluluadvertiser.com/rsvpstyle

Deadline to enter: Feb. 3

LEARN MORE

RSVPstyle's "Learn to Decorate with Style with Cathy Lee"

A three-disk DVD and book set offering decorating tools and tips including how to: