Turn your tired bedroom into a peaceful oasis
Good decor can not only make where you sleep look better, but make your shut-eye better quality, too.
Layout is key to achieving a sense of calm in a bedroom, and according to U.K. architect Rodrigo Moreno Masey, it’s all about going back to your roots and channelling your inner cave-dweller.
“Make sure you’re facing the door when you’re in bed, so that you don’t have a sense that someone could be coming into the room beside or behind you, and avoid ‘floating ’ a bed in a room without something substantial behind it,” he advises.
“Try to remove all functions from the bedroom besides sleeping and relaxing — even dressing, if you can,” he adds. “It moves the chaos out of the room.”
When it comes to decoration, the received wisdom is that a calm, Zen-like space is most conducive to a good night’s sleep — but some designers are turning toward using colour and pattern to lift the mood and create a restful ambience.
Interior designer Lucy Barlow (barlowandbarlow.com) advises against going for an all-white bedroom in a northern climate: “The result can be very cold and stark,” she says. “An off-white is more inviting, but colour can have a huge impact on our mood. Green, blue, yellow and pink are known to have a relaxing effect, and are therefore perfect for the bedroom. We often go one step further and use textured wallcoverings in our clients’ bedrooms, sometimes in silk or linen, for ultimate warmth and coziness.”
Similarly, interior designer Tara Bernerd (tarabernerd.com), suggests a layered design to create warmth and atmosphere.
“Texture is key to achieving this,” she says, “and fabrics form an integral part of the process: from tweed and corduroys in cooler locations to soft flannels or textured linens in warmer climates.”
If you’re inspired to go for a colourful, maximalist look in your bedroom, try dressing your bed with reversible bed linen and loading it with blankets, throws and cushions in contrasting patterns.
If a more muted take on colour is to your taste, the recently launched Piglet in Bed (pigletinbed.com) specializes in natural stonewashed linen in tasteful tones such as sage, indigo, dove grey and blush pink, and is ideal for iron-phobes, being suited to a slightly crumpled look.
“What makes linen stand out is how fantastic it looks on a loosely made bed: the folds and creases create a beautiful texture,” says founder Jessica Mason.
Lighting is vital in creating a somnolent space — harsh light in the evening can interfere with the body’s circadian rhythm. “Good lighting can be mood enhancing, and bedroom lighting is especially important,” says interior designer Sophie Ashby (studioashby.com). “All lights should be dimmable, and low-level lighting is more ambient, flattering and atmospheric. In a bedroom, I would rely on table lamps, floor lamps and wall lights rather than spotlights; a combination of vertical uplighting and downlighting is best.”