Powerful tips for healthy sleep

Lily Cichanowicz Lily Cichanowicz
Casa JIR, Majones (Huesca), DMP arquitectura DMP arquitectura غرفة نوم
Loading admin actions …

Sleep is the foundation to a functional and happy life. Our bodies need it just as much as the food we eat and the air we breathe. A well-rested person is more productive at work, patient with their children, and giving towards their significant other. When we are sleep deprived we are prone to illness and generally less effective at meeting the demands of daily life. Plus, a good snooze is one of the cosiest pastimes of all. For these reasons, it is crucial to cultivate a bedroom that is as conducive to rest as possible. There are lots of theories and approaches to achieving the optimal bedroom for a good night’s sleep, and clinical psychologists and Feng Shui gurus alike seem to have opinions. No matter your life philosophy, we have comprised a list of 8 tips to consider in transforming your bedroom into a bastion of healthy, restful sleep.

Position the bed

For starters, let’s consider the position of the bed in your bedroom. Obviously the bed steals the show in terms of décor with the biggest impact on your sleep cycle. Thus, we will be spending a good deal of time discussing it at various angles. As for its position, most would agree that the door should not be located behind the headboard. This can make us feel unguarded and unable to reach a deep and restful level of sleep. Employing the help of Feng Shui, there are lots of other important rules to keep in mind when deciding how to position the bed.  For one, you definitely do not want the foot of the bed to be facing directly out the door. It is ideal if the door can be diagonal from the bed and that the doorframe is facing the bed long-ways. If we imagine that the photographer who took this photo is standing at the door, it illustrates a proper positioning of the bed according to Feng Shui.

Avoid a metal bedframe

While we are on the subject of the bed, it is best to avoid metal furniture. Metal furniture, according to Feng Shui, will disturb the flow of energy throughout this important space. A metal bedframe in particular can even cause headaches! Be mindful of the amount of metal furnishing including metal lamps and electronics present in your bedroom. Additionally, watch out for large mirrors. Instead try to choose natural materials like wood for the bedframe and other furniture. Invest in a quality mattress and choose bed linens with simple patterns. Here we can see that the majority of the furniture is made of wood and the bed linens are primarily in solid colours. 

Avoid sleeping in your ex partner’s bed

Third thing to keep in mind on the topic of the bed is that you should seriously consider swapping out the bed you shared with an ex. The energy of this old love turned sour has deeply permeated the bedroom, and the bed in particular. It is a very important step in going through a breakup that you remove items that remind you of this person and that you rid yourself of the bed if possible. If not, you should at least get some new sheets. It can be quite difficult to attract new, lasting love interests into your sphere when the bed is still energetically bonded to another. This can be a great symbolic opportunity to let go of the past.

Quiet surrounds

Next, it’s best if you can minimise the background noise of your surroundings. Many of us have lost sleep over noise neighbours or even because of the meanderings of our own night owl family members. Perhaps you live on a noisy street or the sound of the ticking clock really gets under your skin. Whatever raucous you have to deal with, there are some sure fire ways to minimise their effects on your sleep. For one, you could always purchase some earplugs if things are particularly bad. Otherwise, be sure that you windows are well insulated from outside, and that your door is made of a material that obstructs stray sounds when shut. Another effective tool is to choose a bed with sliding doors like the one featured in this bedroom by Your Project. It adds an extra barrier to the noise and offers added privacy.

Avoid electric smog

Another kind of invisible disturbance that can definitely throw off a good night’s sleep is the presence of electronics in the bedroom. Sleep psychologists would agree with the Feng Shui enthusiasts on this one. Even the small lights on our computers, phones, and game consoles have been documented to disturb the body’s ability to regulate the secretion of the body’s sleep hormone called melatonin. Additionally, these items have a massive impact on the electromagnetic energy present in our sleep space. To minimise the electric smog in your bedroom, ditch the TV. Reading instead of watching TV before bed is also linked to better quality sleep. Most of us rely on an alarm clock to wake on time in the morning. We suggest you switch to an actual alarm clock and keep your phone in another room while you sleep. Lastly, check computers, tablets, and laptops at the door. Choose a different space in the home for getting work done.

Avoid working in the bedroom

Speaking of which, it’s essential that we clear our heads in order to get some real rest each night. We’ve all experienced lying awake in bed for hours on end while our minds race about that disagreement had at the office, our to-do lists, insurance, or family challenges. It can indeed be stress inducing just thinking about these things! Therefore, along with your electronics, check work tasks and other to-dos at the door. Your mind and spirit will definitely thank you. Enjoy a few moments of quality time with your partner, of time spent journaling, reading or meditating. With this being said, keep physical items like desks and documents somewhere else. There is a lot of debate about whether or not the presence of plants is positive in the bedroom. Feng Shui dictates that they can actually steal our energy in this space. Just keep them away from the bed.

Avoid aggressive decoration

Минимализм с человеческим лицом, artstyle artstyle غرفة نوم

Now that we are on the topic of plants, another set of items that also should stay out of the bedroom are decorations that are overtly aggressive, involve aggressive colouring or imagery, or those that simply arouse strong thoughts and opinions in you. Of course, it is wonderful to be passionate about things, but in the bedroom they can disturb sleep and contribute to those racing thoughts. Remember that taking a break and engaging in leisure time is essential to high performance. In place of aggressive décor, choose neutral colours and objects that help inspire a sense of tranquillity in your heart and mind. This bedroom is largely comprised of neutral tan, timber and white tones. The soft curtains and small painting of a landscape add just the right touch of decorative tranquillity to this bedroom.

Avoid too bright light

Finally, it’s critical that the light in the bedroom is not too bright. This can also affect our circadian rhythms and thus disrupt restful sleep. We’ve all been woken up before we were ready by the bright sunlight on an early summer morning. They mitigate the blare of unwanted sunshine invest in some quality curtains that can obscure sunlight when closed. Further, choose light fixtures with adjustable dimmer switches like the one featured overhead in this bedroom. Small reading lamps on either side of the bed work as well because their lampshades diffuse intense light. Recessed lights will also work well to create a gentle glow in the bedroom.

If you'd like to know more about how best to light each room in your home, check out this guide on choosing the best lighting for every room. Happy decorating! 

تريد مساعدة في إتمام مشروع بيتك؟
تواصل معنا الآن

يبرز من مجلتنا