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Turn your bedroom into a zzzing room

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 nowhere 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 dress your bedroom better for more relaxing slumbers.

The view from your bed

Repositioning the bed so it offers a clear view of the door is a simple calming technique, says Gina Lazenby, founder of The Healthy Home (thehealthyhome.com). “This helps you to drop your guard, and to feel as though you’re in a protected space, so you relax more.” She also advises mounting a large canvas depicting a bucolic scene or a favourite place on the wall facing the bed. “To lessen anxiety, the last thing you see before sleep should be gratifying or inspiring. And definitely not a television set.”

Banish mirrors

In the bedroom, mirrors are a no-no – and not just because of the slight connotation 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.

Paint a wall blue

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 concentration”.

Those wanting a sensual and romantic ambience 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.

Get light right

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 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 adjust accent lighting to suit sleep patterns, and can be controlled through your phone or set on timers.

Soundproof your room

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.

Try sleep plants

As well as being decorative, English ivy and aloe vera are air-purifying plants that release 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.

No shelves above beds

Bookshelves positioned above the bed are not conducive to relaxation, according to Lazenby. “If you lie underneath a bookshelf – or have a 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.

Buy a bigger bed

Adam Black, owner of handmade bed specialists Button & Sprung, swears by an oversized 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.”