Despite the average person spending nearly half their life lying in bed, they are more than likely to be unhappy with how comfortable it is. As well as learning to prioritize comfort over appearance when it comes to choosing a mattress, there are many other changes that can be made to a bedroom to make it more of a sanctuary and a quiet place to rest and sleep. With an increasing number of people working remotely and generally spending more time at home, for many the bedroom has become an extra office space and busy living room rather than a place in which to unwind and escape everyday stress. A good night’s sleep is vital for health and wellbeing, and with so much time spent in bed sleeping or trying to relax, creating a bedroom that is not only comfortable and attractive but also more conducive to rest is very important. From choosing the right colored blinds to block out light to keeping your bedroom clear of distracting clutter, there are a number of ways to create a better environment in which to rest, relax and sleep.
Choosing the Right Bedding for Comfort
The most important element of a space for sleeping is a comfortable bed conducive to a good night’s sleep. As well as choosing an appropriate level of firmness, other criteria for picking a mattress now include the special technology and materials that are used to make it. These elements can help to keep the body at an appropriate temperature all night. From luxurious linen to plush covers, the addition of good quality bedding with a high thread count will not only feel pleasantly soft and strong but will also help to regulate body temperature, keeping you cool in summer and warmer in winter. Adding heavier blankets in the winter not only provides extra warmth and comfort but also adds texture and interest to your bedroom decor.
Maintaining an Ambient Temperature
As well as making use of seasonal bedding to stay comfortable at night, the ambient conditions of your bedroom can be altered to ensure the best night’s sleep. The temperature of a bedroom can have an impact on the quality of sleep you experience. Body temperature drops before sleep and if your bedroom is too hot or cold this natural rhythm will be affected. The recommended temperature for sleep is 18.3° celsius and this can be maintained in several different ways depending on the season. In winter, the heating thermostat can be adjusted and set to turn lower at bedtime, while in the summer air conditioning, fans and open windows can all help to reduce the temperature in the bedroom.
Blocking Disruptive Sources of Light
The body’s drop in temperature before sleep coincides with the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone that regulates natural cyclical rhythms and ensures sleep is synchronized with night and day. To encourage this pattern, the bedroom should also be dark at bedtime. This can be achieved with the use of blackout blinds and curtains. They are an effective way to block out bright sunlight from outside which can be a particular problem on longer summer days or if you are working nights and trying to sleep during the daytime. While light from the sun and bright indoor lighting can make it harder to get to sleep, the blue light emitted from phones and other electronic screens is particularly disruptive to melatonin production and can disturb sleep patterns late at night. By avoiding screen time in the two or three hours before bedtime, the body has a chance to return to its natural rhythms and hormone production leading to a better night’s sleep.
Removing Unnecessary Distractions
To create a relaxing environment, a bedroom should be a sanctuary away from the stress of everyday life. Screen time is often work-related, so by removing tech from the bedroom at night you can also eliminate the potential stress and distraction caused by issues with work. Other intrusive items and visual clutter in the bedroom such as discarded clothes, baskets of laundry and piles of books can also create stress and disrupt sleep. Tidying these things away will make your bedroom a more relaxing space, but, if the clutter is because of lack of storage, adding an extra chest of drawers or fitting a cupboard in an empty alcove could be all it takes to streamline the room. Once the clutter is put away, keeping the room clean and free of dust and any allergens it may contain will also help you to breathe and sleep better at night.
With so much of our lives spent sleeping or in bed, creating an attractive bedroom that is conducive to rest and relaxation is very important. A good night’s sleep is vital for general health and wellbeing and it can be more easily induced by paying attention to the environmental elements of a room such as light, temperature, tidiness, and above all comfort.
