How to Create a Bedroom With 1940s Glamor

Opt for bright colors. The 1940s was known for its jewel-toned style. Bright pinks, blues, purples, greens and yellows were part of what made the decade so glamorous, so don't be afraid to add colors that "pack a punch" to your bedroom.

Go for the wallpaper. A classic 1940s-style wallpaper helps bring the whole room together. Common patterns include stripes, plaids and over-scaled floral designs.

Build a vanity shelf in the wall. In the 1940s, space was often saved by building shelves in the walls to store bedroom items such as makeup and brushes.

Hang up chintz curtains for your window treatment if you'd rather skip the wallpaper. These curtains are made of cotton and often include a shiny finish. Bright colors with floral designs were popular. Choose either a floral print for the walls or the curtains.

Look for colonial-style furniture for the bedroom. The 1940s was booming with this style. The colonial style features four-poster beds, often with a canopy attached, antique-looking dressers and bureaus -- and quaint vanities with attached mirrors. Interestingly, the contrast of colonial-style furniture and bright, jewel-toned colors represented the clash in the culture as a result of World War II.

Choose bedding that includes ruffled edges. Using similar patterns and colors of the curtains you chose will help tie the room together.

Install wall-to-wall carpeting in your bedroom that complements the colors you chose for the room. Usually, a more neutral color works well to balance out the space. Wall-to-wall carpeting was popular in the 1940s, but if it poses a problem for you due to allergies, for example, opt for a large area rug instead.

Incorporate the history of the time. Consider hanging posters from 1940s films such as "Casablanca" or "The Shop Around the Corner" (remade into the 1998 movie "You've Got Mail"). You could also purchase '40s memorabilia to give your bedroom additional glamor, such as a collection of that era's perfume bottles, an antique hairbrush and comb set or decorative handheld mirrors.

Hang modern art on the wall. During the 1940s, art was becoming more abstract.