COULD YOUR BEDROOM BE MAKING YOU STRESSED?

Our expert tells how to create a space that will help you relax night after night…

Without realising it, your bedroom could be adding to feelings of stress and anxiety.

“We need a place where we can relax and be calm,” says psychologist Gemma Cribb (gemmacribb.com). “Otherwise, we can feel exhausted, overwhelmed, irritable and agitated.”

So, how do you turn your bedroom into your happy sanctuary? Follow Gemma’s five steps to bedroom bliss...

1 CLEAR CLUTTER

Clutter can make a space stressful as it represents a job undone or more work to do. The solution to a harmonious bedroom? Invest in storage – cupboards, boxes, shelves – and put away anything you don’t use every day. Clear your bedside table as well, as it’s the first thing you see every morning.

2 ADD SCENTS

To help you relax before bed, rub 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil onto hands and inhale from your cupped palms. Airing out your bedroom each day will help to reduce dust build-up, too.

3 DIM THE LIGHTS

Studies show light affects how your body relaxes, so make sure you turn down the lighting in your bedroom. In the morning, open the blinds as soon as you can to help you wake up faster.

4 CHANGE COLOURS

When choosing colours in your bedroom, pick shades of green, blue and purple as they’ve been shown to have a calming effect on the mind. Some experts even believe those hues can help reduce blood pressure.

5 UPDATE BEDDING

Aim for natural materials – cotton, linen and wool – as they help regulate your body temperature and stop you overheating. Mattresses should be changed every eight years (or sooner!), and wash your sheets weekly.