SET YOUR SPACE FOR A SOLID NIGHT’S SLEEP
Brain research shows how relevant sleep is to health, so it’s more important than ever to get a good night’s sleep. In the bedroom, that means not just decorating in calming colours but also minimizing stressors and optimizing conditions for a restful night. Eustachia Huen asks experts for advice to achieve that.
MINIMIZE NOISE
A key obstacle to uninterrupted sleep is noise. To reduce it, New York-based architect and designer Adam Meshberg, founder of Meshberg Group, recommends soundproofing the walls — building an additional thin wall in front of the original, adding a layer of QuietRock Sheetrock, or sealing any cracks or gaps within the walls. To a lesser extent, wallcoverings can also absorb sound, he says, though a padded wallcovering will do more than a simple wallpaper.
Cracks and gaps are also a problem when it comes to windows. Restoring or replacing drafty windows won’t just improve your heating and cooling bills, it can make a huge difference in the amount of noise seeping in. If renovation isn’t an option, some companies will install a thin window behind your existing window for extra soundproofing.
For a simpler fix, getting an upholstered headboard (or a bed that comes with one) helps with acoustics, says designer Adriana Hoyos. Go for fabrics at least one millimetre thick; suede, velvet, leather and leatherette are stylish options for absorbing excess noise.
Andrew Bowen, director of staging at ASH NYC, suggests a combination of loose items — a large area rug, floor-to-ceiling window drapery and a fully upholstered bed — for a quiet, relaxing environment.
Alternatively, try white noise. A fan might do the trick, but Julien Baeza, assistant project manager at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, suggests Spotify and soundscape machines.
KEEP THE LIGHTS OUT
Lights out is essential to bedtime. In particular, avoid exposure to the blue light from LED bulbs and electronic devices, says Pablo Castillo, sleep medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic. “The body reacts to this artificial light as if it (were) still daytime,” he said in an email, “and the pineal gland will stop producing the sleep hormone melatonin, resulting in poor sleep quality.”
That’s why you should stay away from bright light for at least three hours before bedtime, reduce screen time, and set devices on night mode an hour or two before bed, plus use bluelight-blocking coating on screens or glasses if you “use computers and digital devices heavily,” Castillo says.
To lightproof the bedroom, “blackout window treatments are a must,” Los Angeles-based Greg Roth says. “Installing a cornice box at the ceiling level can help prevent light from escaping upward from the windows and reflecting off the ceiling.”
GO SOFT AND SIMPLE
Simplify your space for sleeping only. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a mansion or a studio, you can declutter for a calming effect, according to Meridith Baer, founder of staging company Meridith Baer Home.
A sleep-friendly bedroom is like a “good snuggle” — one that makes you “feel embraced and safe,” like a cocoon, furniture designer and decorator Alex P. White says. So keep things “tonal and tactile with as many luxurious materials as your budget allows.”
As for decor, keep things light and uncomplicated, says designer Ryan Korban. He recommends using light-coloured paints that are warm and not stark (he likes Lily White from Benjamin Moore) and lightwood floors.
For the most soothing tone, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, recommends sky blue, says that it’s a “positive colour” with a sense of “dependability” that can help you fall asleep.
REGULATE YOUR SCHEDULE
Not everyone needs eight hours of sleep, but to “avoid chaos in your circadian rhythms, it is suggested that you maintain the same schedule every day,” says Rachel Salas, sleep specialist and associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
“Lights in the bedroom should be dimmable or have the ability to adjust to a low setting,” Meshberg says. They can help your brain transition to slumber mode. Go for bedside sconces or lamps.
For frequent travellers and those working night shifts, a circadian lighting system, which adjusts from a warm colour spectrum to a cooler spectrum and back to mimic natural light cycles, can be especially useful. Such systems can “artificially create an ambience that minimizes jet lag and allows for deep sleep,” Baeza says.
The brand Ketra sells lighting fixtures, bulbs and controls that can create such natural lighting and integrate with home automation systems.
FOCUS ON THE BED
No doubt, the most important component is the bed. That’s why selecting the right mattress, sheets and pillows can help you get a good slumber. Meshberg recommends 200- to 300-thread-count organic cotton sheets; they “breathe well” and don’t get “too satiny and shiny” like sheets with higher thread counts.
Also, “the quality and proper weight of your duvet and down comforter are essential in regulating your temperature,” Meshberg says. Generally, 700-fill comforters are best for winter and 600-fill works well during summer. (Fill refers to down; synthetics might be labelled as heavyweight or lightweight.)
The National Sleep Foundation also recommends setting your thermostat at 60 F to 67 F (15 C to 19 C).
For a mattress, he suggests Casper’s Original ($1,295-$1,495) or Wave ($2,850-$3,150) for those who prefer more support.
As for pillows, “synthetic is the best” because you can wash it, he says.