If you’re like most people, you spend a good chunk of your day in your bedroom. In fact, assuming you’re getting the recommended eight hours of sleep each night, that means you’re spending at least a third of your life there. This is why it’s so important to make sure that your bedroom isn’t just a space with a bed, but a relaxing and peaceful sanctuary. Making over a bedroom may not sound like the most appealing of home projects, but it’s important to understand the potential benefits:
- Better sleep – So many health problems can be linked to poor sleep habits. By creating a bedroom that allows you to escape from the pressures of life with sound slumber, you’ll feel more energized each morning.
- Better health – A good night’s sleep is the springboard to good health. You feel more alert, you accomplish more, and you make decisions that increase your well-being. Remember all those benefits we discussed in the last post Why Sleep is Important for the Brain?
- Better life – Introducing quality sleep into your life is critical. With better sleep, your body is better prepared to handle the challenges life throws your way, including stress, depression, anxiety — all of these elements are combated with sound sleep.
The following tips can help you achieve a serene and quiet space that allows you to get the sleep you need:
Reduce Noise
Let’s face it, neighbors can be noisy, and reducing “noise bleed” from adjacent living spaces is especially important if you live in a small home or tiny apartment, according to Apartment Therapy. If you live in an apartment, your bedroom wall might border your neighbor’s apartment. If you live in a small house, your bedroom might be close to the children’s rooms. By lining furniture on the walls that border other rooms, you can create a buffer zone to lessen the unwanted sounds in your sleeping space. Large furniture will provide additional protection from loud noises, and can make your bedroom a more peaceful place to sleep. You won’t hear the argument between your neighbors next door, and you won’t be subject to every whimper and snore your young children make. Without these distracting noises, you’ll be able to breathe easier, rest more peacefully and get to sleep faster.
Add Aromas
Many hotels use pricey aromatherapy diffusers to create unique, welcoming scents for guests. If you want to go all out, you can invest in the same kind of model used at your favorite hotel, complete with their signature scent — but the less expensive oil diffusers that fit into an electrical outlet work just as well in a home environment. For those who prefer greener options, add a few drops of essential oil to a spray bottle and then fill it with distilled water. Use this spray to freshen up your hotel bedding and upholstery. You can also use some of the oil combinations covered in Natural Sleep Remedies: Your Solution to Helping you Fall Asleep Naturally.
Choose Calming Colors
According to an interesting study of 2,000 homes conducted by Travelodge, the color of our bedrooms may also have a direct effect on the length and quality of our sleep. That study found those who slept in blue rooms slept the most, while those who slept in purple rooms slept the least — two hours less, on average! Researchers say the eye cells that respond to blue send the strongest signals to the deep area of the brain responsible for our 24-hour-cycles, which may explain why blue encourages longer sleep. Green and yellow also earned top honors, while gray and brown ranked only slightly higher than purple.
Creating a relaxing room also depends on the way colors are used. In general, rooms that use no more than two predominating colors, combined with neutrals like white or ivory, create the most relaxing palette. Too many colors or patterns can be disruptive or stimulating, working against rest and relaxation. Consider painting walls a light shade of your color of choice, adding occasional pops of a darker color in the same shade, all tied together by soft down bedding in a pale shade for a calm, soothing effect.
Getting a good night’s sleep is important for your health and well-being, as well as your ability to remain alert and productive throughout your busy workday. Making just a few simple changes, like choosing a soothing color scheme or investing in quality pillows and comforters can make a big difference in your ability to get those all-important Zs.
Author bio: Guest post contributed by the Downlite Bedding team. Downlite designs, manufactures, and markets comfort bedding for major hotel chains, airbnb hosts, and consumers. The family-owned business is an industry leader with three generations of product knowledge and experience.