FURNISHINGS : Create a Relaxing Bedroom to Recover From the Rat Race

When deafened by the roar of the busy working world, come home to quiet comfort. Slip into a bedroom decorated in eloquent and understated tones, suggests Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

Begin with a sense of simplicity derived from the out-of-doors. Imagine dropping out of the rat race and letting a decorating style grow naturally. Then take these simple steps toward creating a relaxing room:

* Unclutter the view. It’s a good idea to pare down from time-to-time, clearing the decks of non-functioning possessions. Sell or trade them, or store them until donating them to a better use.

If privacy isn’t necessary, uncover windows to let nature’s panorama entertain. For privacy, hang simple roller shades or miniature blinds that disappear during the day.

* Brandish the brush. To simplify the room, paint the walls and furnishings white. Coat the ceiling with white enamel that will reflect the light around the room. Then, add white accessories. The beauty of an all-white room is not having to worry about coordinating colors. Also, white cleans and purifies, sets the room aglow, and helps the space seem larger than it really is.

When secondhand pieces of furniture are located, see each one with imaginative eyes, new potential, and unexpected uses. For example, while moving into her new house, one homeowner came upon a dark red chest and a kitchen table abandoned by previous owners. She adopted them, gave them refreshing coats of paint, and made them feel wanted and useful again.

* Touch with whimsy. Hang on to a sense of humor and include it in the bedroom.