Your bedroom might be the reason you can’t sleep, here’s 5 tips to fix it
You might have heard rules like, you can't make a bedroom red, and you must always have blackout blinds, I’m here to tell ya, that's not true. Design isn’t something that is black and white, it exists in a constant grey area where you make decisions based on human emotions, experiences & functional relationships with the built world.
The design of your bedroom is entirely dependent on who YOU are, and how you function best. However, with that said, there is a reason you're here reading this. If you are struggling with sleeping through the night, keep reading for some tips that will get you sleeping deeper & longer.
COLOR
Now like I said, it's a common misconception that you shouldn't have a red bedroom. There is evidence backed by basic color theory that states the color red activates our brains (something you'd clearly rather avoid when trying to fall asleep). However, the color ‘red’ is very broad. There are thousands of variations to every major color group. I believe it is not the color itself that you need to think about, but instead the hue & saturation.
Take these images for example, the left is a scenario with intensely saturated ‘reds’, it is activating your eye and brain because it is coming across as more dynamic. Alternatively, the right has a muted red, and its saturation level is lower, triggering a calming effect.
Use whatever ‘color’ you want in your bedroom, but make sure you pay attention to its level of saturation, as well as, the contrast (or lack thereof) in pairing different colors.
The monochromatic color palette is in right now, and I'm certainly not mad at it. However, you don't want everything to fade into each other. No one wants to live in a giant ball of everything green (I mean maybe someone does, & all the power to ya, but, I'm not sure I’d recommend it for YOU). Throw in a pink duvet cover, make your bedframe cream, and use your color choices to create either a sense of respite or activation. What I mean by this, is If your room is mostly white/cream have some colorful art or bedding, and vice versa, if you want to have purple walls, go for it, but use the bedding as a breather with neutrals to create a sense of balance.
2. LIGHTING
Natural:
A lot, if not most people will tell you you need blackout blinds/curtains in your bedroom, period. I disagree. Make this decision based on your own personal sleeping patterns and behaviors.
If you are sensitive to light and you know that directly affects your ability to fall and/or stay asleep. Then yes, get some cute blackout window treatments girl.
However, if you're like me and you're body struggles to exit out of its deep sleep mode in the morning, the light-filtering window treatments are a godsend. The filtered natural light that pours into my bedroom in the morning is truly THE BEST. (especially when I wake up to my dog's face next to mine being lit like he's an angelic creature, which he is, of course).
So take some time and think about how you want the light to interact with you as you try to sleep and wake up.
Artificial:
The most important thing to consider when it comes to lighting in the bedroom .. is how good it makes you look & feel. As we’ve all experienced, some lighting just makes us look like straight shit.. No one wants that, especially in their bedroom.
The key to solving this age-old problem is warmer ambient lighting. I'm sure you've heard this before, so what exactly do I mean by that?
The way to go about this is with 2 key elements:
Multiple light sources that are NOT overhead. Think table lamps, floor lamps & sconces
Use the correct bulb! (I suggest somewhere in the 3000K or less range), but be careful, if you've decided to paint your walls a warm color (think reds & oranges), you don't want a bulb that is too warm (stay closer to 3000k, the lower the kelvin rating, the warmer the light).
3. BEDDING & MATTRESS
I firmly believe there are 3 non-negotiable products worth everyone's investment to a happier & healthier life. 1. your skincare products 2. your sex toys and 3. your bedding/mattress. Luckily for you, I can help you solve at least ⅓ of those priorities. For me personally, this is the MOST important category to consider. The feeling of quality bedding against my skin is truly a sensual experience that I look forward to every single night. There’s a lot of different bedding out there and at distinctly varying price points. I always recommend either 100% cotton, linen, or hemp, as these materials actually get softer the more you use them and don't pill.
When it comes to mattresses, I tend to split them up into 3 categories:
Side Sleeper: you want something a little softer to support the curves of your body, especially the hips (hybrid)
Front or Back Sleeper: you’ll want something firmer (memory foam)
An all-over-the-place Sleeper: you're going to be like goldilocks & the 3 bears .. you want something somewhere in the middle (probably a firmer hybrid).
4. AREA RUG
Area rugs can make or break a space. If it's too busy your eye will be too activated and have nowhere to focus in the room, if it's too plain, it’ll just be boring, lifeless & uninviting. You want to find the sweet spot where the room & area rug are having the same conversation.
5. SCENT
I adore my dog, he's truly my favorite, but I don't want my bedroom to smell like him, that's for sure. We can't be having natural body orders ruining your vibe in this room that you’ve just spent so much time, energy & money perfectly curating. The solution is a combination of candles, reed diffusers, oil diffusers, and a low-waste fabric refresher. A quality reed diffuser especially goes a LONG way. As a last resort, the plug-in air fresheners also work, however, I try to avoid those as they produce more plastic waste.
I know I threw a lot of variables at you, and the answers to your questions aren't always as cut & dry as I would like them to be. Interior design is a multitude of layers and decisions, that can get to be extremely overwhelming. If you would like some more advice, guidance, or are interested in speaking to me about potentially working together, click the button below! I’m so excited to hear from you!
LOVE,
SAVANNAH
