How would you describe the style of your bedroom? Minimalist? Maximalist? A well organised mess? The reality is, everyone’s perfect sleep space is different. But since our bedrooms can have a big impact on the quality of our sleep, we asked a group of experts for advice on how to create the perfect sleep sanctuary.
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choose calming colours
Harriet Paterson. “The bedroom is personal, so the perfect palette will be different for whoever you are designing the room for,” she explains. “Generally, I’d suggest sticking to three main colours. Colours that are calming and aid sleep are hues like blues, yellows and oranges as they’re very relaxing and warming. For others who prefer to sleep in rooms that are dark, a really deep indigo blue might work better.” -
fill your room with greenery
Is the only plant in your room a slightly droopy bunch of flowers? It’s time to go green to bring your bedroom to life. Indoor plants also release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, freshening up the air and getting rid of nasty toxins. “Plants actually purify your bedroom,” explains Urban Jungles author and blogger Judith de Graaff. “Something simple like aloe vera is a great place to start. It’s also a very good ritual to take care of your plants before going to bed. Give them some water and take a little moment at the end of the day to relax.” Now watch your plants thrive. -
get the right type of bed
When it comes to sublime snoozing, one of the most important things to consider is where the magic happens: the bed itself. Choosing the right bed frame and mattress for you is one of the best things you can do for your sleep, says eve’s co-founder Kuba Wieczorek. “It’s amazing how many people sleep on incredibly old and uncomfortable beds,” he says. “There are lots of brilliant frames and mattresses out there. So start with those, and build everything else around them.” -
pick sheets that suit your sleep
Think back to a relaxing hotel stay you’ve had. Chances are, those luxurious sheets had something to do with your good night’s kip: “If you look at the science behind sleep, your body cools at night,” explains sleep expert Christine Hansen. “Anything that can support that is really useful. I recommend linen for good ventilation.” -
let in fresh air
Lots of us keep our bedroom windows closed. But according to Christine, it’s worth opening them for at least some of the day. “Having fresh air really helps,” she says. “Even opening the window for 10 minutes and then closing it to get the air circulating is really useful for stopping the room from getting stuffy and uncomfortable.” -
make your room soundproof
Reducing the amount of external noise coming into the bedroom is super helpful for sleep, says Harriet. “Think about your bedroom. Is it in a very noisy part of the house, with noisy floors for example? Soften noises with floor-length curtains or rugs which will absorb the sound.” -
waft some relaxing scents
If the most familiar aroma in your room is that overflowing washing basket, it’s time to make a change. “I often recommend aromatherapy and pure essential oils in the bedroom - so nothing synthetic,” says Christine. “They can help trigger certain feelings like calmness. Use them as oils dabbed onto a pillow or in a diffuser before going to bed and they’ll work their magic overnight.” -
relax with mood lighting
Dimmer switches are a great way to control the light and create an atmosphere (ooo err). “I’m a big fan of a dimmer switch as it gives you that flexibility to dim the lights really low. Always aim for a very warm light so that you have an orange glow around the room. It’s very relaxing,” says Harriet. “Or think about reading lights. These give you flexibility for a low light to be closer to you if you’re sharing a bed and your partner is asleep.” -
keep the light out
When it’s time to snooze, some people are more sensitive to light peeping through the curtains than others, says Christine. “I’m from Luxembourg and we have thick, roll-down blinds. But in many other countries it tends to just be curtains or blinds.Our eyes register light even when they’re closed because it goes through the skin. And some of us are very sensitive to that as it’s a signal for our body to wake up. So try an eye mask to keep the light out or maybe rethink your curtain or blind situation.” -
resist that bedtime scroll
Getting good sleep can be tricky if you’re partial to a nighttime scroll. “In general, I advise people to keep harsh LEDs out of the bedroom - like the one that comes from smartphones,” says Christine. “The light from your phone can disrupt melatonin production which will make sleeping harder.” Feel naked if you don’t have your phone? We recommend starting with baby steps. Put your phone on ‘night mode’. Create yourself a cracking wind-down routine (check out our top bedtime reads or a bit of ASMR). And go from there…
Happy snoozing.