Sink into sleep
Of Daylight Savings Time ending on Nov. 1, which means most Americans turn the clocks back and gain an extra hour of sleep, we reached out to experts to get some cozy bedroom ideas, from textured bedding and blankets that “hug” to
7 cozy bedroom ideas recommended for a good night’s rest
lush greenery and Himilayan salt lamps. h With these stay-in-bed-all-day tips, you can create your perfect sanctuary.
Create mood lighting
Where you sleep affects how you sleep. And that means coziness is a factor of restful shut-eye. h In honor
As days grow shorter, make sure you have a variety of lighting, says Los Angeles-based interior designer Ashley Scott. The ideal combination is three sources at varying heights.
“Something above, something at eye level (think floor lamp or wall sconce), and something close to your bed,” she says. “This will help you control the mood and function of your bedroom.”
Check your light bulbs for a lower lumen count (around 450), which offers a soft warm light in the evening hours.
Ready to take lighting to the next level? Install a dimmer switch.
“It’s a cozy vibes game changer,” Scott explains. If you don’t want to commit to the hard-wire, the C by GE Tunable White bulbs can be scheduled on an app to wake up with cool light in the morning and warm light to wind down the evenings.
Freshen the vibe with plants
Indoor plants create a peaceful environment and purify the air.
Studies have found that greenery reduces stress, blood pressure, and heart rate, and improves your sense of wellbeing.
Girish Nebhwani, Boston-based sleep expert, explains, “Indoor plants, such as pothos, monstera, and anthurium, are easy to maintain and help create a peaceful environment. These plants also add an element of life.”
Sleep better with scents
Aromatherapy oils help promote tranquility, making them perfect bedfellows to a relaxing room.
Choose subtle fragrances that calm, such as mind-balancing, anxietysoothing lavender.
Abigail Cook Stone, CEO and cofounder of home brand Otherland, says, “I make my bed every morning and spray a few spritzes of lavender at night to help signal that it’s time to go to sleep.”
You can also wear Goddess Garden Organics aromatherapy bracelets all night, with porous lava rocks that capture and hold the scent of pure essential oil blends.
There are many top essential oil diffusers on the market, including ones from Airomé and Asakuki, which rank number one and two on our best diffusers roundup.
With its warm, reddish glow, a traditional Himalayan salt lamp is known to potentially boost mood, lower stress, and improve sleep.
Research the right mattress
Nebhwani says, “We spend one third of our lives sleeping, but put very little attention to the mattress that we sleep on.” He notes that the wrong choice can have a significant impact on your life (think severe back and joint pain).
Getting fewer than the recommended daily zzz’s can impact your immune system, increase chances of diseases, stress, and anxiety, and lead to weight gain and mood swings.
According to Nebhwani, who cofounded the Drumi mattress brand, there are several types of mattresses in the market, but the two most common are foam and spring. A third option is the popular hybrid (the category Drumi falls in), which incorporates springs and layers of foam that allow for better airflow, reduced pressure relief, and decreased motion transfer.
Think about your comfort when choosing the right mattress. Are you a hot sleeper? Do you get easily disturbed at night? What side do you sleep on?
Play with fabrics and textures
Bedding plays a major role in creating a cozy experience, especially as cooler weather starts rolling in.
Stone says, “The bedroom is the most important room when it comes to beginning and ending each day. Embrace your nesting instincts and look for textures that help you relax. Whether it’s soft cotton, silk, or down, it’s crucial that you find something that you look forward to sleeping in when it comes to your sheets and bedding.”
Her best tip as the temperature drops is layers. Double up with a linen quilt – Scott loves an earthy tone like the Parachute box pattern quilt Surplus. Then, top it off with a chunky knit blanket to achieve a cozy space with tons of visual texture.
Add some weight
Plush weighted blankets and smooth bamboo sheets can really add texture to your bedroom.
Weighted blankets are designed to provide a gentle pressure that mimics the feeling of being held (known as Deep Touch Pressure). This type of pressure has been shown to increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of sleep that has a calming effect.
Many companies have also added weighted blankets to their lines. There’s a collaboration between Gravity and the Calm sleep and meditation app for a limited-edition weighted blanket and Calm subscription combo.
Rest your head right
“The proper alignment of your neck and spine throughout the night can surely result in a more peaceful night’s sleep,” says The Pillow Bar’s President Merrimac Dillon. But, she warns, one size does not fit all.
“Side sleepers need a firmer pillow than back sleepers, who need a more medium density pillow to keep the head in natural alignment with the spine,” says Dillon. “For stomach sleepers, we recommend a softer pillow, so the neck isn’t bent backward in the night resulting in neck and shoulder pain.”