Tips to help bedrooms become restful spots

Brain research has shown 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 colors but also minimizing stressors and optimizing conditions for a restful night.

We asked some experts for a few ideas to achieve that.

• Minimize noise: A key obstacle to uninterrupted sleep is noise. To reduce it, soundproof the walls, said Adam Meshberg, a Brooklyn-based architect and designer and founder of Meshberg Group. He suggests 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.

Cracks and gaps also are a problem when it comes to windows. Restoring or replacing drafty windows won’t just improve your heating and cooling bills; doing so can make a huge difference in the amount of noise seeping in.

For a simpler fix, getting an upholstered headboard helps with acoustics, Florida-based designer Adriana Hoyos said. Go for fabrics at least 1 millimeter thick; suede, velvet, leather and leatherette are stylish options for absorbing excess noise.

• 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, said Meridith Baer, founder of staging company Meridith Baer Home.

As for decor, keep things light and uncomplicated, New York designer Ryan Korban said. He recommends using light-colored paints that are warm and not stark, and light-wood floors.

For the most soothing tone, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, recommends sky blue, writing in an email that it’s a “positive color” with a sense of “dependability” that can help you fall asleep.