A bedroom where you feel comfortable and relaxed can help you sleep well. Good design can help you achieve that, but if you’re not careful, some design trends could be a problem for sleep quality. Too much exposure to light, overwhelming colors, even noisy surfaces might look good but be an issue for getting the quality sleep you need each night.
- Basic window coverings. Your circadian rhythm relies on light to tell you when it’s bedtime (dark time) and daytime (light time). So when you’re exposed to light at night, it sends the wrong message and could make you too alert to sleep well. Indoor light can have an effect, but so can light from outdoors (even at night). A street lamp, headlights, even the moon might be too bright for you to sleep well. Good window coverings can help with that. It can be a good idea to use blinds as well as blackout curtains, which can keep the light out at night.
- Big, bright lights. Good lighting can help illuminate your bedroom, but you should tone it down at night. If you have a big overhead light, avoid turning it on at night, or use a dimmer switch so it’s not so bright. Even better, use a small lamp that’s pointed down and below eye level so you don’t have bright light shining in your eyes.
- Stark design. Some minimalism is good for sleep. Cutting out clutter can offer a more calming sleep environment and can even help you cut back on dust that could disturb you while you’re sleeping. However, a bedroom full of hard surfaces could become an echo chamber. Every little noise could reverberate through your bedroom, keeping you up or waking you up. So make sure you’re baffling hard surfaces somewhat. For example, if you have hard floors, consider adding an area rug. If you’re stuck on minimalism, a white noise machine could help you tune out noises at night.
- An ill-fitting mattress. If you’re working with a small bedroom space, a small bed might look the best. And while a mattress that’s too large could overwhelm your bedroom, you should prioritize mattress size over other furniture pieces. If you’re trying to sleep on a bed that’s too small for you, it will be tough to sleep comfortably. Even if you have a small bedroom, make room for your mattress, even if it’s at the expense of choosing smaller furniture pieces to complete your room.
- Overwhelming design elements. You might want to make a splash with colors, patterns, and other design elements. But save it for another space. Your bedroom should be a zen area where you can feel relaxed and recharged, not excited or overwhelmed. It’s best to avoid busy patterns, and choose colors that are soothing, such as a light blue or earth tones.
Your sleep environment can have an effect on how well you sleep. So it’s important to consider not just how your bedroom area looks, but how it functions, too. Design your bedroom for sleep, and you can get more good quality rest at night.
Jackie Kepler is a MattressReviews.net sleep professional. She enjoys sleeping with cats, but sleeps on a king size bed because she needs her space, too.