When it comes to bedroom design, many people focus on elements that reflect their needs when they’re awake.
Clothes on the chair? Easier to grab in the morning. Cluttered furniture? You need your bed, desk, dresser, and chair. Does overflowing laundry hamper? With everything you have to do, laundry is pretty low on your priority list.
You also keep your computer and phone close at hand, since you never know when you might need them. You try to avoid looking at them after you turn off the lights, but your resolve doesn’t always stick — especially when you have trouble falling asleep.
Your bedroom might offer convenience by day, but there’s a chance it has a different impact at night. Even if all you do is sleep in your bedroom, you still spend about a third of each day there. A hot, bright, cluttered room can disrupt your sleep and keep you lying awake for a chunk of this time, which can mean bad news for your waking health.
But, here’s the good news: Updating your bedroom can help you get better sleep, which can, in turn, improve overall well-being. Our guide below can help you get started.
Tips for creating your ideal sleep oasis
Many people decorate their bedrooms to appeal to their waking senses. This might mean bright colors, fun paintings, plenty of sunshine, and strong light that lets you get your work done.
The most important activity that takes place in your bedroom, however, is sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep trusted Source, your brain and body don’t get a chance to rest, recharge, and carry out the essential processes that keep you functioning as you should.
The amount of time you spend sleeping matters, yes, but so does the quality of that sleep. If you spend 4 of your 8 hours in bed tossing and turning, you might not feel very rested the next day.
Making a few changes can help you create a more comfortable sleep environment. According to sleep experts at Johns Hopkins, the following bedroom features can make a big difference in the quality of your sleep:
- Temperature. A cooler room and bed can reduce nighttime sweating and improve sleep. Aim to keep your bedroom thermostat set to 65°F, give or take a few degrees.
- Light. Bright blue, be it from the sun or electronics, can disrupt sleep. Putting down your devices, using blackout curtains, and using very dim lights at night can improve your rest.
- Pets. You can love your furry friends without loving their nighttime commotion. If you’re unable to get good sleep with a restless pet, consider keeping them off the bed.
- Tidiness. You may not see your bedroom clutter while you sleep, but it could still have an impact on your rest. For better sleep, try tidying up and making your bed each day.
Wondering whether it might be time for a bedroom upgrade? We’ve got more detailed tips and product recommendations below.
Change your bedding (and bed, if you can swing it)
sleep. If your bedding is old, worn-out, or in a state that prevents you from maintaining an ideal sleep temperature, you may not feel great in bed.
Quality bedding doesn’t have to cost a bundle, but it should feel comfortable. Who wants to crawl into bed and pull up the same scratchy sheets, or nestle under blankets that are too thin, too heavy, or falling apart? Probably not you. Better bedding doesn’t just improve your rest, it can also make bedtime more inviting.
