Do you think that your bedroom design has much to do with the fact you’re not getting much sleep right now? Well, according to this article on Made.com, 91% of Brits agree that it does, saying that their bedroom environment impacts their sleep. So, shouldn’t we be paying attention to the way we design our rooms to avoid this? Here’s how you should design your room to ensure you’re snoozing in no time…
Invest in your bed
Most of us spend half the night re-positioning ourselves around broken springs, or sinking into a mattress that doesn’t provide our spine with the support we need, all in a bid to save a little extra cash. But, this is a totally false economy – we spend up to a third of lives in bed, so it stands to reason that we should be investing good money in ensuring we’re comfortable while we’re there. Visit Divan Beds Centre and treat yourself to a bed that actually suits your needs, whether that’s super soft memory foam topper or a firm orthopaedic mattress.
Block out the light
The next most important design task is to make sure that you’re blocking out the various sources of light that might keep you awake. The most obvious source of light is your bedroom window, be it the sunshine coming in because you’re working night shifts or just a garden light that seems to be illuminated all night long! Install a well-fitting black-out-blind to make your room as dark as possible and consider adding a pair of curtains over the top for an added layer of protection. However, you should also block out other sources of light too. Those seemingly inconsequential small sources of light such standby lights on electrical appliances can be eminently irritating. Turn everything off at the socket on the wall and remove whatever electrical devices you can.
Banish the screens
We know – sometimes there’s nothing nicer than falling asleep to the sound of the TV burbling away to itself in the corner. But, for all that you may have grown accustomed to sleeping with the TV flickering away, the light it’s emitting (not to mention the noise) is hampering the quality of your sleep. Remove your TV from your bedroom for four weeks and see if you notice a difference in your sleep cycle – you’ll get to sleep faster and sleep more soundly if you remove screens. Don’t just replace your TV with a tablet or smartphone though!
Regulate and circulate
For the best night’s sleep, you might need to install a ceiling fan or just crack open the windows so that your room is cooled to between 18C and 21C. Many bedrooms are much warmer than this and, when you factor in the warmth and weight of pyjamas and bedding, you’re most probably overheated when you’re in bed. Simply regulate the temperature and circulate the air if you want to sleep more soundly.
Add texture
The textures you use in your room (such as your bedding, rugs, curtains and other soft furnishings) aren’t just nice to look at. They’re also brilliant at muffling noise, which is ideal if you want to stay asleep. Consider adding a plush rug, as well as cushions and blankets to muffle the noise made elsewhere in your home.
Keep pets out of your bedroom
Your beloved four-legged friend might delight in curling up on your bed – and you might love it too – but you’re probably not getting a good night’s sleep with paws in your face or a cat that insists on curling up on your pillow! Take steps to move them further away from you when it’s time to go to sleep so that you’re eventually sleeping in separate rooms. You’ll be thrilled to see each other again in the morning.
Use good quality bedding
You can buy attractive, low-cost bedding sets from lots of places nowadays, but beware those with the cheapest price tags. Cheap bedding tends to contain materials such as polyester – something that doesn’t allow your skin to breathe and causes sweating and even skin irritation. Instead, look for bed sets that are made from 100% cotton or linen if you want a good night’s sleep.