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Bedroom FAQ: How can I silence a squeaky bed?

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A loud bed does more than just lie there while you’re trying to sleep. It has a say about how much you move around during the night, and won’t shut up when all you want is some shut eye. So what can you do about it? I found a few tactics to help ensure a silent night’s rest:

Tighten the Joints
Sometimes, fixing a squeaky bed is as simple as tightening a few screws and bolts. Check out all the joints on your bed frame and take a wrench or screwdriver to any that are loose. You can also try adding washers to the screws (if they don’t already have them) to get a tighter fit. Plastic or rubber ones work particularly well.

Socks
Silence your bed frame with old socks. Just remove the mattress and line the middle bar of the frame with socks or other scrap material (e.g. old tee-shirt). This keeps the mattress from making direct contact with the frame, which should take care of the sound. Plus, it gives you something to do with all those mismatched socks.

Wax
Just like sticky dresser drawers, wax is great for squeaky beds, too. Once you figure out which joint the sound is coming from, rub a candle stick or a bar of paraffin or beeswax all over the contact surfaces of the joint. Depending on what type of bed frame you have, you may need to take the joint apart. You may need to apply several coats to get rid of the friction causing the sound.

Oil
For metal frames, oiling the joints or springs can get rid of squeaking. A few drops of vegetable oil or a spray of WD-40 will lubricate the joints and keep them from making noise.

Found at MacGyverisms.com

Check back for more Bedroom FAQ’s as we continue to collect information to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s Guides.

Bedroom FAQ: What should I think about before remodeling?

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If I don’t get a good night’s sleep, I already know the next day is going to be rough. A dark, depressing, cluttered bedroom is, truth be told, pretty bad for your health. But even if you know you need to make some changes, it can be challenging to decide where to start — especially if you’re on a tight budget. So how can you proceed with remodeling plans to create the sleep space you deserve? Here are a few key questions to keep in mind:

1. Do you have ample space?

  • Does your bedroom comfortably accommodate the bed and other furnishings, such as dressers? Would you like to have space for a window seat or a seating area?
  • If you’d like a more spacious bedroom, can you expand into an adjoining area, such as an underutilized guest room or another space?
  • Is adding on your best option? How will an addition affect your outdoor living space? Would you like to have access to the yard from your bedroom? How will this affect privacy? What local codes and regulations may influence the design?

Also, think about:

2. What are your furnishing needs? 

  • Would you like a larger or smaller bed? Do you need additional storage pieces, whether for clothing or the television?
  • If you have space for a seating area, how do you like the furnishings? Do they need re-covering or replacing?
  • What’s the condition of the room’s furnishings in general? Do the pieces suit your style?

3. What are your storage and display needs?

  • Is your bedroom cluttered with books, newspapers, DVDs, CDs, or other items?
  • Do you have good storage on each side of the bed, or are the nightstands laden with books and clutter?
  • Are you able to personalize the bedroom with special belongings?

4. Do you like the current style?

  • Does the look of the bedroom work with the style of the rest of your home?
  • Is the bedroom palette and design restful?
  • Is the style updated and a true reflection of your tastes?
  • How do you feel when you wake up in the morning?

And last but not least:

5. How’s the lighting?

  • Are you reading or doing other relaxing tasks in shadows?
  • Do bedside lamps glare in your eyes?
  • If you dress in the bedroom, do you have lighting to assess how you look?
  • Can you adjust lighting levels to suit the time of day and mood?

Thanks to HomePortfolio.com for shedding light on these tips!

As part of our efforts to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s guides we are constantly searching the web for great pieces of advice.

Check back for more Bedroom FAQ’s as we continue to collect information to create the ultimate Bedroom Homeowner’s Guides.