Getting a good night's sleep is essential to feel rested and ready for the day. It can also lower your risk of heart disease and improve your mood. Medical professionals say you should get about seven to nine hours of sleep a night — but we know that’s a goal that can easily slip through our fingers.
Fortunately, we can let our environments do a lot of the groundwork to help us sleep. One way to get better rest is to create a relaxing bedroom environment. Here are seven design ideas to try out.
1. Declutter Your Space
A messy room can cause stress and anxiety. So, remove items like excess clothes, books, and electronics from the floor. Also, clear off and organize the top of your dresser. Leave only essentials like cosmetics and jewelry.
Do the same for bedside tables and just keep lamps and journals. Try storing items under your bed or in nightstand drawers for less visual clutter. Then, you're not tempted to sort through your things before bed.
2. Store Your Electronics
Removing electronics before bed is an excellent idea. These can distract you and keep your mind active, making it harder to fall asleep. Also, the blue light from your phone can disrupt your sleep schedule. It suppresses your body's release of melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel drowsy.
So, put away your smartphones and tablets before bed. If you have a television in your room, turn it off. You could even hide the screen inside an armoire or cabinet. Once your devices are off or away, try doing something relaxing like reading a book.
3. Paint With Soothing Colors
Go for cool colors that relax your mind, like blue, gray, and green. These hues can lower your heart rate to help you fall asleep faster. Also, look for pastel shades that aren't as vibrant. Suppose you want a minimalist style? White is a classic option and the least distracting.
You can then work in subtle accents of warmer colors. Keep in mind that brighter or darker shades, like red, can keep you more alert. However, darker tones make it easier to sleep during the day, which is ideal for late-night workers.
4. Hang Blackout Curtains
Too much light can make it harder to fall asleep. You want to make your room as dark as possible. Blackout curtains are one easy solution. They block light from entering and can even limit outside noises.
You can add efficient lighting to supplement the window treatments, like human-centric lighting. This type of lighting benefits overall health and well-being. Human-centric lighting increases your exposure to light during the day. So, you can be productive in the morning and unwind at night.
5. Find the Perfect Mattress
Your mattress is the key to getting a full night's sleep. If it is too hard or soft, you can spend hours tossing and turning. So, you want to find one with the perfect balance of comfort and support.
Look for a mattress with good pressure relief that’s large enough for you to roll around in. Memory foam is an excellent option for the best pressure-point relief, since they adapt to your body. Also, if you have an older cushion, it might be time to upgrade. The bedding can lose elasticity and become more sensitive to pressure points.
6. Make the Space Quieter
Too much noise can make falling asleep more difficult. Rugs reduce noise and add extra comfort, especially if you have hardwood floors. Choose soft materials like faux fur, wool, or silk.
Place them under the lower portion of the bed, so you have a cozy place to step out on. Get rugs with fun patterns, like florals, to add more personality. Upholstered furniture and wall art also reduce noise. Plus, ceiling fans can provide a soothing sound to fall asleep to.
7. Control the Temperature
Being too hot or cold can leave you tossing and turning all night. Excessive heat can distort sleep patterns, so keep it on the cooler side. Try to keep your bedroom at a temperature of 60-67°F.
If you have room in your budget, a smart thermostat can automatically adjust your settings. These can also lower your electric bills. If not, fans and opening windows can also help with temperature control.
Make Your Bedroom a Restful Room
With a busy schedule, you need all the sleep you can get. Your bedroom provides that ideal space. It should make you feel relaxed and ready to unwind. So, follow these tips to create a peaceful layout for your bedroom.
Comments (3)Subscribe to CommentsComment