Sound sleep advice
There are many ways to make your bedroom conducive to good sleeping
March is National Bed Month and, furthermore, Friday 18 is World Sleep
Day – and although it is easy to be cynical about such marketing exercises, a good night’s sleep is a fundamental contributor both to mental and physical wellbeing.
A good quality, comfortable bed and mattress are, of course, the most immediate factors in achieving this but there is much else which can be done to provide optimum sleeping conditions in a bedroom: something Hartleys has been doing for more than 30 years.
Over that period, the Skipton-based company has perfected the art of room design throughout the home but, as a business which started out by building and fitting bedroom furniture, it still takes particular pride in creating a relaxing sleep environment for clients.
According to Hartleys’ Sara Haggas, there are five key factors which combine to provide sleeping conditions.
Alongside a comfortable and supportive bed and mattress, the surrounding bedroom environment is crucial. “This is a room where you should feel calm and clear headed,” she says. “It should be cool, quiet and dark, as a light room makes our bodies think it is time to wake up.”
Research has found that the colour of the room is important, too, with people in blue bedrooms sleeping longer and having lower blood pressure, while greys, silvers and neutrals are good, too.
“By opting for a calming palette of colours for your décor and soft furnishings, you’ll be well on your way to a peaceful night’s slumber,” says Sara.
Lighting plays a part, since lower light levels lead to increased melatonin – the hormone which prompts sleepiness – and so lamps, dimmed bulbs and candles are ideal bedtime illumination. What is not, however, is the blue light of mobile devices, as this has the opposite effect.
Finally, the enemy of relaxation and thus sleep is an untidy, cluttered bedroom, for while you may be able to turn a blind eye to it, subconsciously it has a negative effect.
“On a subconscious level, your brain will believe it needs to complete a task, such as sort laundry, collect cups and glasses or clear away piles of magazines,” says Sara.
“Combat clutter with a ‘spring clean’, no matter the time of year, to make your space fresher and calmer.”
Your bedroom’s furniture plays a fundamental role in creating the allimportant space and ambience – and if space is at a premium then fitted furniture is the ideal solution.
Hartleys have been designing and building fitted furniture for more than three decades, creating spaces which are not only efficient but aesthetically pleasing, too.
By combining their principles of savvy design and clever construction with the ones outlined by Sara, your bedroom can become the relaxing haven you deserve.
To book a home visit by a design team member, telephone 01756 700471 or go to www.hartleysbedrooms.co.uk
Your bedroom’s furniture plays a fundamental role in creating … space and ambience