We all know the feeling: the tiredness dragging at our bones, eyes that refuse to open, the alarm blaring in our ears, making us beg for just five more minutes of sleep. If this description sounds familiar, you're not alone. According to the National Sleep Foundation, fatigue caused by "poor or insufficient sleep" affects forty-five percent of Americans. But what can we do to change our lives so that we never have to feel this way again? In this article, you will find four ways to design your bedroom in order to maximize sleep, comfort, and welfare.
Related Blog: How to Make Your Bedroom a Relaxing Oasis
1. Keep it Dark
While it might be nice to wake up to bright morning sunlight, drawing your blinds at night can help you fall asleep faster and allow you to have a higher quality of overall rest by blocking out stray light that would otherwise be telling your body to stay awake. You can combine coziness and functionality by investing in long curtains or drapes that come in soothing neutral colors, or you can mix and match patterns and textures with the rest of your bedroom for a vibrant daytime effect that nevertheless allows for maximum rest.
2. Control the Temperature
Research from the National Sleep Foundation indicates that the most restful temperature for the human body is a cool and comforting sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Installing a thermometer in your bedroom can allow you to control temperature fluctuations, creating a personalized environment perfect for combating insomnia.
3. Mind the Bedding
On a similar topic, mattress materials can differ greatly in terms of how well they handle your body heat, just as people can differ greatly in terms of the mattress firmness necessary for their individual needs. Shop around until you find one that works for you! This is also your chance to combine your personality with getting a great night's sleep. When picking sheets and comforters, choose soft, touchable fabrics for a relaxing slumber, but use your imagination when it comes to color and pattern. Florals can brighten up a room, but choosing darker colors like blue, grey, or even black can create a calming atmosphere, perfect for sleeping. It's also important to note that bedding can carry allergens that can impede sleep, so make sure you're washing your linens regularly or buying hypoallergenic if necessary.
4. Add Some White Noise
Some people, especially those who live in cities where the ambient noise is particularly high due to traffic, can benefit enormously from investing in a white noise machine for their bedrooms. The sound waves from the machine cancel out the distracting sounds from outside, making it easier to drift off. Not a fan of white noise? No problem! Lots of people have found success using soundscapes such as a crackling campfire or crowd noise, or nature sounds such as rain falling or waves crashing on a beach. If you think you could do with some soothing sounds in the bedroom, but are hesitant to go out and buy a machine, try downloading an app that comes stocked with an array of options for better bedtimes.
Now that you've finished reading this, we hope that you can use some or all of these techniques to take control of your comfort. Bedroom design is a highly important but often overlooked element of a good night's sleep, so take our words here to heart, and go forth and sleep well!
