Your bedroom is where you spend lots of time, so it’s important to create a space that’s peaceful, calm, and inviting. We have the Ultimate Bedroom Guide to help you make your bedroom a relaxing oasis.
From the most soothing paint colors to lighting, bedding, temperature, and aromatherapy, there are many things you can do to enhance your sleep environment. Here are some ideas to make your bedroom a soothing place of slumber.
There are a ton of benefits to transforming your room into a calming oasis. You’ll be more relaxed and have better sleep when you feel comfortable and at home in your bedroom. That’s not all – the benefits of better sleep and relaxation extend outside the bedroom. When you’re more well-rested, your overall health will be better and you’ll have improved productivity. A calm, clean, clutter-free bedroom means you’re able to keep better track of your belongings and have a less cluttered mindset. If you’re in a relationship, the relaxing oasis of a beautiful bedroom could improve your relationship, especially if your other half is an organized and neat person.
Clean it up
This is surely the first thing on our Ultimate Bedroom Guide. One of the most important things to encourage relaxation and calm is to make sure your space is clean. This ensures your senses won’t be overwhelmed by piles of laundry waiting to be folded and put away, shoes strewed around, dust bunnies, or piles of books waiting to be read.
Dust dressers, nightstands, ceiling fan blades, and every other surface so you’re not breathing in dust. Clear the cobwebs, and clean the floor. Keep your bed sheets and blankets clean.
Keep the floor clean. Utilize totes, shelves, a coat rack, or closet space to put your items instead of leaving them on the floor. Put shoes in their place and place your bag or backpack on a coat rack or desk. Keep the floor clutter-free to make your space seem larger, brighter, and reduce the risk of tripping over your favorite pair of shoes!
Put the laundry where it belongs. Wash your sheets at least every other week, hang clean clothes every time you wash them, and place dirty clothes in the laundry bin. Hot tip: place laundry baskets in multiple areas of your home, not just the bedroom. This way, when you dirty up bath towels or drop muddy socks in the entryway, they’ll get put in a basket instead of staying on the floor.
Declutter
Decluttering your bedroom is a good way to ensure you’re not visually distracting from relaxing in your bedroom. Chaos in your home can create chaos in your mind, and that doesn’t lead to a sound night’s sleep.
Sort through your room’s items and consider which items are of actual value and which items are just taking up valuable real estate in your home. Find a home for the excess stuff. Your goal is to have a minimal amount of possessions in view.
Clear your dresser top and bedside table of all but the essentials and a few sentimental or decorative items. Go through your closet and donate what clothes, shoes, and accessories no longer fit and are in good shape or ones you haven’t worn in a while.
Don’t clutter your walls with pictures, but hang a few serene pieces of art or personal photos that bring a smile to your face.
Hide the wires. Grab clips, tape, or velcro ties, and hide any protruding wires behind the bed or dresser. Concealing these unsightly wires makes your bedroom look and feel less cluttered and reduces the risk of tripping over them.
Move the furniture around. Move the bed in accordance with feng shui principles for better sleep. If possible, put it against the wall facing the doorway, and leave space on either side of the bed for easy access. This positions the bed in a place of prominence and sets the stage for grounding, peaceful energy. Move around other furniture to give the room a fresh look — layer rugs for warmth, limit electronic devices and screens and make sure your bedside tables are no higher than the bed itself.
Cool colors
Paint the walls of your bedroom in cool, soothing colors known for helping you relax.
Pick up a color wheel from your favorite arts and crafts store, interior designer, or home improvement store, or find a color wheel online. This wheel shows primary, tertiary and other colors and their relationships with one another. The color wheel also shows warm and cool colors. It’s an important tool in picking wall colors and complementing decor colors for furnishings and accessories or less dominant walls.
When it comes to your bedroom walls, choose cool colors, which promote a calm, peaceful, soothing feeling. Cool colors include blues, blue-greens, purples, and lavenders.
Blue is a calming, serene color that helps you relax, re-balance, and clear your mind after a stressful day. Blue also helps lower blood pressure and steady your breathing. These are great aspects to help you fall asleep or unwind. You can warm cool colors by adding warm-colored accents like pillows or wall art.
Green hues invite an aura of prosperity and relaxing restoration. Green hues coax mind-clearing, composing, restful feelings. Green also is a great choice for people who love the outdoors, giving your room a natural look.
Check out our favorite relaxing bedroom colors:
- Light Lilac
- Pale Beige
- Pale Blue
- Light gray
- Light green
You can keep neutral colors for accents, or add a dash of color. Remember, your goal in decorating is to bring an element of soothing relaxation.
Choose a Style for Your Bedroom
For the ultimate bedroom oasis, deck out your space in an interior design style that you love. There are as many styles as there are personalities, but these are a few of our favorites.
Retro, baby. Go for a vintage vibe with natural wood furniture, soft yellow bed sheets, and burnt orange walls. Pull out your macrame plant hangers, layout a shag rug, and hang some abstract art for a groovy 70’s feel.
Think floral. Add a touch of spring to your bedroom with floral wallpaper, colorful floral bed sheets, or a few flower-shaped throw pillows. Why not toss in some real flowers while you’re at it? House plants are the creme de la creme of floral decor – try pothos for its hardiness or a moth orchid for its extraordinary beauty.
Get eclectic. Can’t decide on one style? Consider eclecticism. Mix a few of your favorite interior design styles to create a decor that celebrates contrasts. Add bright pops of color, play with textures, and juxtapose the old with the new for a room that’s big on personality.
Try minimalism. Minimalist bedrooms are ultra-chic and perfect for people who don’t like clutter or are limited on space. Clean lines, a neutral color palette, and a ‘less is more’ attitude are the tenets of minimalism. Throw in a rug with a bold pattern to spice things up.
Cooldown
Cooldown the nighttime temperature in your bedroom for a comfortable, deeper sleep. Overheating is one of the most common roadblocks to restful sleep.
According to the Sleep Foundation, sleep experts have concluded through research that the ideal sleeping temperature is somewhere around 65 degrees. Your temperature naturally dips at night, and if your room is too warm, it can cause you to be restless during the night because it doesn’t align with your body’s natural dip in temperature.
Try experimenting with the nighttime temperature in your bedroom until you find the perfect match.
Layer your bedding so you can easily adjust your own temperature over the course of the night. You don’t want to fully wake up to adjust the blanket.
Block Out the Noise
Ah, sweet silence! Studies have shown that sleeping in silence has a positive impact on sleep quality. For those living in noisy areas or with noisy partners, consider investing in noise-blocking earplugs or a noise-blocking headband. If you’re the type that needs a little background noise in order to fall asleep, consider a white noise machine or turning on a fan. White noise is soothing and peaceful, which helps you fall asleep faster. White noise machines are great for people who need to block out sound but don’t want to wear earplugs.
Choose a good pillow and keep it smelling fresh
Your pillow plays a big part in how well you sleep at night. You need one with support and one that aligns with your preferred sleep position, whether that’s on your back, side, or stomach. Some people prefer a firm pillow while others sleep best on a soft one. Your pillow may also be beyond its life expectancy. Experiment to find a pillow that fits you best.
If you have access to an outdoor clothesline, hang your pillows and pillowcases out in the air for a bit for a soothing, sunshine-fresh scent when you rest your head.
Try Weighted Blankets
A weighted blanket molds to your body like a gentle hug. The pressure relaxes the nervous system and encourages serotonin production, which lifts your mood. When serotonin naturally converts to melatonin, your body takes the cue to rest. This means a calmer mind and deeper sleep for a healthier life.
Weighted blankets are designed to apply a gentle, even weight to the body, simulating the effects of Deep Pressure Touch, or DPT. This has been shown to encourage restful sleep. The response is an all-natural, calming effect that soothes and supports deeper, sounder sleep.
These effects have been studied and published in the journal Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, the Journal of Complementary Medicine, and several others.
Choose the right pajamas
Having the perfect pair of pajamas is essential for your relaxation. Find pajamas that let you move freely, without lunky buttons or restrictive elastic. Fabrics can make a big difference in helping you get a good rest, too.
Pick sleepwear that makes you comfortable. Some prefer silky nightwear, while others love to snuggle in soft cotton.
Cotton is breathable, lightweight, and cozy. It also doesn’t irritate your skin. However, it’s not good at wicking away any night sweats.
Silk helps you regulate your body temperature, but real silk requires dry-cleaning and slips around while you sleep.
Flannel is oh-so-comfortable and helps you stay toasty on cold nights.
If you suffer from night sweats, look for moisture-wicking sleepwear. The materials in these pajamas help lock the moisture away from your skin. Bamboo is a natural fabric that’s soft, hypoallergenic, and wicks moisture naturally. It’s a great choice for those suffering from allergies. Bamboo pajamas also are biodegradable, which is good for the planet.
Fleece and wool keep you warm, but you may become overheated, too. Wool can be itchy on your skin, and fleece doesn’t breathe well.
If your feet get cold, this can interfere with a good night’s sleep, so make sure you have comfy, lightweight socks to wear to bed.
Prep your bedside table
Once you’re in bed, you don’t want to be popping back out to get something you’re missing. So, prep your bedside table to have everything you may need while you’re in your bedroom. This may include lip balm, body cream, an alarm, a charger for your cell phone, a glass of water, and a noise machine to block out noises like neighborhood barking dogs or city noises.
Treat your senses
Try to add sensory experiences in your bedroom that help you focus on physical comforts. Focusing on these can help coax your mind into the present and make a difference in your mindset and mood.
Add a subtle, nice aroma to your space. Inhaling the scents of essential oils, or aromatherapy can help improve your sense of well-being, reducing anxiety and stress. Try these relaxation-promoting essential oils in a diffuser: lavender, chamomile, jasmine, rose, and vanilla.
Position a few battery-operated candles in your bedroom within your sight. The flickering can be visually soothing and relaxing.
Wrap yourself In something soft
Find super-soft sheet sets with a high thread count. The higher the thread count, the more luxurious the fabric feels. This can make a difference. If your sheets aren’t soft on your skin, you won’t sleep as well. Experiment with different fabrics to find what works best for you, such as Egyptian Cotton Sheets. Some people love sleeping on satin fabrics, while others find them too slippery.
Make use of texture in different parts of your room. Place a high-shag rug beside your bed so your toes sink into its luxury when you get in or out of your bed. This is a much more inviting, pampering feeling than a cold floor right before bed or first thing in the morning.
Look for luxuriously soft blankets that match your climate. If you’re in a northern climate, winter nights can be chilly, so choose a down comforter or something that holds your heat well. If you’re in a warmer climate, seek a lighter but velvety-soft blanket that breathes and doesn’t trap air. Try two lighter blankets – you can cast aside a layer if you become too warm.
Decorative pillows on your bed can present a look of relaxation. When you walk into your bedroom during the evening and see those inviting pillows, you’ll look forward to sinking into your bed. Keep them on your bed until you’re ready to retire for the night.
Select a good mattress
Having a good mattress is essential, (check here for the best mattresses this year), keep a good quality mattress for your sleep surface. If your body is not supported well, you will toss and turn and wake up with aches and pains. Some people require a firm mattress, while others prefer a softer one. There are numerous luxurious mattress-toppers, too. For help in choosing the best one for you, check out this mattress-buying guide.
Create a playlist
Soft music can help ease your day’s worries and lull you to sleep. There’s a reason parents sing lullabies to their children. Try soft, soothing music, or guided meditation videos.
Reach for a book
Keep your favorite books nearby. There’s something so relaxing about reading a good book, and it helps keep you at the moment so your brain is no longer spinning with playbacks of the day’s activities or challenges. Keep one or two by your bedside within easy reach.
Create a “no work zone”
Promise yourself you won’t work in your bedroom or look at electronics like your cell phone or computer when it’s time for bed (and at least an hour before). Consider your bedroom haven a no-work zone. If you conduct business in the bedroom, your mind won’t be prepared for sleep. Your goal is to calm your brain down and focus on the now, on relaxing.
Your bedroom is a place where you should disconnect from the troubles and challenges of your occupation. The less you work in your bedroom, the better you can work the following day. This is your sanctuary, a stress-free zone.
Make a Cozy Corner Just for You
Cozy corners make every room better. If space allows, find a part of the bedroom to create a cozy corner just for you. It could be a comfy chair for reading, a hammock, a small desk for writing, or a spot to practice yoga and meditation. Amp up the cozy factor by adding some throw pillows, a place to set a drink or snack bowl, and a throw blanket. Make this spot your exclusive place for quiet contemplation and restoration.
Develop a Routine
Research shows that establishing a bedtime routine helps us to wind down, relax, and fall asleep more easily. If that sounds like a slice of heaven to you, read on for our tips on creating a nighttime routine and sticking to it.
Set yourself up for success. Give your future self a boost in the right direction by doing some light prep for tomorrow. Take care of a few morning chores, like dishes or making your lunch, lay out the outfit you’ll wear, and make a to-do list of anything you need to get done the next day.
Wind down. Cutting the caffeine at least six hours before bed can help you have a more restful sleep. While you’re at it, cut down on screen time, too. Leave your phone on the nightstand instead of staring at it before bed, and try a relaxing activity instead — meditating, reading, and journaling all send your brain cues that it’s time to wind down.
Self-care. Wash your face, brush your teeth, put some lavender essential oil in a diffuser, and dim the lights. Doing these things makes you feel good and gives your body time to adjust to going to sleep.
Invite light and nature into your space
Light and nature are important elements to incorporate into your home and bedroom to encourage relaxation as you prepare for sleep.
Invite nature into your bedroom. Until you’re ready for bed, let the natural light come through and add breathing bedroom plants and flowers. They help clean the air of toxins and produce oxygen. Plants that are great for your bedroom include lavender, rubber plant, pothos, English ivy, Boston fern, snake plant, and spider plant.
If you need to sleep longer in the mornings, try adding darkening blinds to your window treatments. This is helpful if you work night shifts, need rest during the day or if you don’t get up at the crack of dawn. Having a darkened room lets you sleep longer. But at other times, open the blinds and let the mood-lifting sunshine in.
At night, use LED soft, white light bulbs instead of intense incandescent lights. If you want a more relaxing ambiance, position a few battery-operated candles in your space.
Crystals and calming stones
Add some crystals and calming stones to your decor. Calming stones act as a physical object that you can create a ritual around to keep your mind focused. Blue-hued stones that are connected to the third eye chakra make the best calming stones. Some of the most calming, stress-relieving stones are:
- Amethyst
- Angelite
- Black tourmaline
- Blue lace agate
- Celestite
- Fluorite
- Lepidolite
If you’re intrigued by adding this affirmative approach to your decor, check out this website for more information on calming stones.
Make your bed every day
Develop a habit of making your bed every day. This helps you begin your day. And at the end of the day, the sight of an already-made bed, not a messy one, is welcoming so you feel more relaxed.
Enjoy your oasis
With these ideas, you can transform your bedroom into a serene, sleep-promoting oasis of calm.
Source – PORCH
