Turn Your Bedroom Into a Sleep Sanctuary to Make Your Next Day Your Best Day
Sleep is important on so many levels. It impacts your personal health on so many levels. Your eating habits, decision making, and more all suffer if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep. It’s always smart to prioritise sleep as a restorative habit and what better way to start than a bedroom refresh? I tell my clients that their bedroom should feel like a calming retreat, a sleep sanctuary. Here are my top six tips to turn any bedroom into a restful and relaxing space so you can sleep tonight and live tomorrow to make your next day your best day.
1. Symmetry and harmony – Your bedroom should be peaceful. Make the bed the central focal point and build the rest of your design around it. If you must have a TV in the bedroom, try placing it in an armoire or another space where you can hide it away. Have furniture and accessories like baskets, bins and other clever resources to store knickknacks, small electronics or books.
2. Lighting in layers – Use a combination of overhead light and lamps on nightstands. Dimmers are a great option for bedrooms. If you have large windows, layering window treatments help block out brightness in the evening but allow the light to shine in during the day. Finally, don’t forget to limit your blue light exposure when you’re winding down as it can impact your natural melatonin production and keep you up at night.
3. Cozy bedding – I think it’s really important to have layers on your bed – think quilts, duvets, throw blankets – that support your individual sleep style and make you feel cozy through the night. For example, if you tend to wake up in a full sweat, try cooling or light cotton sheets. For those who wake up cold, try flannel sheets. I also always say it’s worth investing in quality pillows and covers that make going to sleep feel like an indulgence every night.
4. Keep sleep tools nearby – Bedside tables are a great place to tuck away your nighttime tools, whether it be a journal and pen to help calm your mind, or earplugs and a sleep mask handy to help make your space quiet and dark. I like to keep my favourite Natrol Advanced Sleep Melatonin by my bedside, so they are nearby when I know I need extra support to get a good night’s sleep.
5. Calming scent – Look for tranquil scents to bring into the bedroom for their calming properties. Whether a candle, diffuser, or essential oil, find your favourite tools using lavender, chamomile or ylang ylang to set the sleepy mood.
6. Serene, soothing colours – While bright colours and bold patterns are fun and tempting, they aren’t ideal for a peaceful bedroom. From the walls, to bedding, furniture and décor, you want a bedroom colour palette that features serene and soothing colours to help promote ultimate relaxation.
