In sci-fi movies, men and women of the future retreat to rest in pod-like structures. While we’re not quite there yet, there are a number of fun features you can add to your bedroom right now if you want to add a futuristic and highly modern feel to your home:
A High-Tech Bed
The cornerstone of your bedroom can be much more than just a place to lay your head at night when you opt for the world’s most modern and innovative bedding solutions:
- The HiCan bed. This is more like a tiny futuristic sleeping pod than just a bed. In this bed, you can watch movies on the pull-down theater screen at the foot of the bed or play games via the integrated consoles or personal computer. If you want to indulge in some low-tech book reading, there are integrated reading lights and shades that allow you to get a full lights-out effect once it’s time to sleep. You can find out more at the HiCan website here.
- The Bediator. If you live in a cold climate, you may appreciate this unusual bed. It acts as a radiator during the day and can be flipped down to a heated bed at night. You can see the futuristic design at the Yanko Design website here.
- Magnetic Floating Bed. Check it out here. This bed uses magnets to keep it afloat, although it can also be lowered to the ground.
- The Mobelform bed. The Mobelform bed is round and rotates so you can see the view out your window and then look at your TV with a simple spin.
- The Panasonic bed. Developed by Matsushita Electric Works, this bed monitors lighting, movement, sound, and air temperature as you try to drift off and automatically adjusts lights, TV, and music so you can drift off without having to turn anything off. In the morning, it turns everything back on again. Prices for the bed start at over $12 000.
Futuristic Lighting
Who needs a traditional lamp with lampshades? Futuristic lamps involve sleek, unusual designs. For example, the Pouring Light Lamp by Yeongwoo Kim looks just like a cup suspended in mid-air, pouring out liquid. Stylish and sleek. To take a look at this and other lamps, check out The Fancy blog here. If you want something practical, consider the Senzo Nightlight, designed by Soledad Clavell and Marcos Madia. This long light is mounted mid-way up the wall and is activated by a simple touch.
Do you dream of light sabers and laser beams? If so, you might appreciate the Draw The Lights lighting solution by Seo Dong-Hun. A network of LED lights is installed on the ceiling and you can use the light wand that comes with the solution to draw patterns of light on the ceiling, to make the lights dimmer or brighter, and to generally create the light you want. You can see the design at the Inhabitat blog here.
The Latest in Entertainment
You may remember glow-in-the-dark star stickers from your childhood, but if you want the more modern take, consider the Homestar Pro from Segatoys. This device projects an image of the galaxy on your bedroom walls or ceiling – perfect if you want the feel of the outdoors inside.
If you like the idea of having a TV in your bedroom, the Samsung transparent TV looks like something out of Star Trek. Sleek and clear, it blends easily with any décor. In screen sizes such as 46-inch (116cm) and 55-inch (140cm), the TV does not even need a stand. It can lean up against a wall. You can read more about it at the RedOrbit site here.
Pillows
Want to drift off to the sound of your favorite tunes? The iPod Speaker pillow comes with built-in speakers that can be hooked up to your favorite player. Find out more here.
The Technogel pillow regulates temperature and molds to the shape of your head. The blue design also looks great – even without a pillowcase. You can find out more about this pillow at the official site here.
Alarm Clocks
No matter how modern and comfy your bedroom is, you will eventually need to get up to face your day. You could set your iPhone or other mobile device to wake you, but there are also other, more futuristic options. For example, the iQ Alarm clock requires you to answer trivia questions to shut the device off. There’s no snooze button to turn it off – you have to wake up enough to answer questions. If you aren’t that awake in the mornings, you can try the flying alarm clock. A detachable helicopter arm flies away from the base when it’s time to wake up and you’ll need to catch it to turn the alarm off. You can take a look at this alarm here. If you are waiting for the latest eco-alarm clock, thinkgeek also has an alarm clock that runs on water (and other drinks – including beer). You can check it out here.
A futuristic bedroom can look sleek and stylish. A few unique gadgets, cool colors, and spare furnishings can help create a modern look. As an added plus, some of the gadgets and innovations mentioned here can actually help you get a restful night of sleep.
