Making Black High Gloss Beds Work in Rooms with a Chimney Breast

Chimney breasts give Victorian, Edwardian and interwar bedrooms real character, but they also project into the room and decide where the bed can go. A black high gloss bed can look striking in this setting, provided the layout is planned around the breast rather than against it. This guide explains how to measure the projection and each alcove separately, and walks through three layouts: the bed centred on the chimney breast, the bed facing it so the fireplace becomes the view, and the bed on a side wall in long, narrow rooms. We look at how to balance a dark, reflective frame with lighter walls, pale bedding and a textured rug, and how painting the chimney breast a shade deeper can tie the scheme together. You will also find practical advice on choosing bedside furniture that fits shallow alcoves, hanging a mirror securely above the headboard, positioning lamps to avoid glare on black gloss, and checking stairs before delivery....