How to reorganise your bedroom to improve your sleep
If 2016 was the year of decluttering, then 2017 is shaping up to be the year we prioritise a return to Zen living
Having learnt to “let it go” and live a simpler, more functional life, it’s time to focus on how we make better use of the new spaces we’ve created — and no more so than in the bedroom.
This week, Donald Trump reignited the debate over work/life balance for reportedly conducting White House business in his bathrobe.
But when we bring our work to bed, it disturbs our ability to work and sleep efficiently. Here, then, are eight ways to better dress your bedroom for sleep and serenity.
1 The view from your bed:
notation of sleaze. According to Lazenby, they “activate energy”, and at bedtime, “you want a room to feel cool, dark and small”. Mirrors do the opposite, giving a sense of greater space. Instead, hang mirrors on the inside of wardrobes, or cover them with a muslin cloth before bedtime. “You’ll feel the difference,” she insists.
Colour psychologist Karen Haller recommends lashings of soft blue in the bedroom. “Blue is the colour of the mind, and soft blue has a low saturation which is mentally soothing.” Avoid dark blues, though — especially the wall colour of the moment, cobalt — as they are highly saturated and “stimulate thinking and con-
3
.
Paint a wall blue:
centration”.
Those wanting a sensual and romantic ambiance should opt for soft (low-saturation) pinks or apricots. “But definitely don’t paint all four walls in these colours,” says Haller. “Too much of any colour can make you feel adverse effects, and your body will feel over stimulated.” Paint one feature wall, or dot soft blue about on curtains, blinds or lamps.
Cutting out light is important to stimulate the body’s natural production of melatonin, the hormone that encourages sleep. Architect and design expert Tomas Klassnik suggests investing in thick, dark curtains or blackout blinds. Silent Gliss
4 Get light right:
does a range that varies in opacity to blackout.
Changing lamp bulbs to colourchanging LEDs can also help you snooze. “At night, you want light to be a warm orange, but during the day it should be bluer and brighter, similar to natural daylight,” says Klassnik. A dynamic system such as Phillips Hue (meethue.com) will allow you to control accent lighting to suit sleep patterns, and can be controlled through your phone or set on timers.
Bookshelves positioned above the bed are not conducive to relaxation, according to Lazenby. “If you lie underneath a bookshelf — or have a
5 No shelves above beds:
wooden beam running across the bed — the room’s energy will exert pressure on you.” Clear your head space, in all senses of the words.
Soft furnishings, such as full-length lined curtains and wall hangings, will absorb echo and reverberations and reduce sound inside a room, as will adding a thick carpet with a quality underlay to bare floorboards. “At the extreme end, you could use foam padding on the walls, like that used in a recording studio, to absorb noise,” says Klassnik.
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As well as being decorative, English ivy and aloe vera are air-purifying plants that realise oxygen at night. One US study reported that English ivy removed 78 per cent of airborne mould in 12 hours. Lavender, used in aromatherapy for centuries, is known to have a calming, soporific scent.
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Adam Black, owner of handmade bed specialists Button & Sprung, swears by a oversize bed. “As you get older, you need every advantage to help you sleep, especially if children now mean you wake up with more bodies in the bed than you went to sleep with.” Upgrade from a king to an emperor (7ft by 7ft), or buy a bespoke mattress to fit in as much bed as possible. “Force yourself to spend more money and invest in a pocket spring mattress, which have more springs and are more comfortable.”
8 Soundproof your room:
At night, you want light to be a warm orange, but during the day it should be bluer and brighter.” Tomas Klassnik, architect and design expert
Try sleep plants: Buy a bigger bed: