Who doesn’t want a bedroom that is comfy, cosy, and well designed? Phil Lawlor, Sleep Expert at Dormeo, shares his tips for turning your bedroom into the perfect sanctuary for sleep.
Your bed can often feel like your favourite place in the world, especially in those few sleepy seconds before your alarm is due to go off in the morning. But what you may not have realised is that there’s so much more you could be doing to turn your bedroom into the perfect haven for sleeping.
Not only can these changes improve the aesthetics of your room, but they can improve the quality of your sleep, too. Below are my tips for creating the perfect sanctuary that aids sleep while looking beautiful, so read on if you want to fall back in love with your bedroom.
Assess your bed and mattress
When it comes to sleep, the best way for you to begin developing your sanctuary is by thoroughly assessing your bed. Squeaky or lopsided beds indicate that there’s an issue with the frame: your bolts may need tightening or loose elements replacing, which can help to keep noise to a minimum when you roll over if that’s keeping you awake.
Lie down on the mattress to check how comfortable it is. Mattresses that dig into your body can be painful and, if you do manage to fall asleep, can lead to stiffness the next day or even long-term problems. So, lumps in your mattress mean it’s time to invest in a new one.
Mattress firmness can also impact the quality of your sleep, even if all the springs are intact. A mattress that is too hard or too soft to adequately support you can make it difficult to nod off. It could be worth swapping for a memory foam mattress as these adapt to the curves of your body and alleviate pressure points, helping you sleep better for longer.
Keep your room clean and tidy
Mess causes anxiety (Psychology Today), so maintaining a tidy room can not only make things look nicer but make you feel calmer, improving your ability to drift off as well as your sleep quality. Check you have adequate storage for your possessions, such as a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, or under-bed boxes, and try not to leave too much clutter on your surfaces or bedroom floor.
Once everything is tidied away, clean your room. Regularly dusting, polishing, and hoovering can not only help reduce stress but remove nasty bacteria and allergens that could be keeping you awake. Take extra care to wash your sheets regularly to keep them fresh, as most people report being able to sleep better when they have clean sheets (Sleep Foundation).
Use design to help you drift off
While making your bedroom a clutter-free zone is proven to improve your sleep, that’s not to say that you can’t have decoration. In fact, some choice ornaments can contribute towards your sleep sanctuary vibe, like potted plants. Look for herbs with strong yet calming aromas, like lavender or jasmine, which have been used to aid sleep for centuries.
If you’re planning on repainting your walls or choosing new furniture for your sanctuary, try to stick to cool tones, like blue, green, and violet, as these beautiful colours have also been shown to reduce anxiety.
Another way to maximise sleep potential is to seek out the right lighting. Blackout blinds and curtains help keep your room dark, perfect for sleeping but make sure they can be opened fully during the day. A touch of sunshine can brighten any room, and getting enough daylight is just as important for our circadian rhythm, which helps us fall asleep at night. In the evening, keep things calm and dimly lit by choosing lamps over your main light fixture to ready your body for sleep.
With the tips in this guide, you can begin to change aspects of your bedroom design to turn it into a clean, comfy sanctuary for quality sleep.
Image credits: Unsplash
