For a lot of people, the bedroom is the least intentionally designed room of the house. Maybe because it is likely to be guest free, a mishmash of styles, or a makeshift storage room. However, the bedroom may be the key to improving your overall mental health, so it should actually be one of the most thoughtfully designed rooms in the house.
If you are just starting out on your wellness journey (aka taking care of yourself) or a full-throttle wellness guru, you know by now that sleep is one of the key components to feeling good and looking good. By creating a bedroom that is conducive to sleep, you will automatically be setting yourself up for success and improving your sleep quality in no time- and the other great things that come with a good night’s sleep.
Here are some simple tips on cultivating a bedroom design that is not only beautiful but beneficial to your wellbeing.
Neutral and Natural
One of the biggest parts of creating a calm environment is the design elements. When choosing your bedroom design, opt for neutral colors and natural materials. Try to keep the trinkets and bold prints for other rooms, besides, this is your personal oasis. A soothing neutral on the walls such as white, gray, sage, or soft blue will be easy on the eyes and the mind. Natural materials like wood, cotton, wool, and linen bring a grounding element to your space, which supports your ability to relax.
As pictured, our guest editor and interior designer Bobby Berk, used varying natural materials thoughtfully throughout the bedroom design starting with sand-colored grasscloth wall covering, then adding in a textural bed and soft and inviting fabric. When working with a low budget, Berk suggests framing a couple of large panels of textural fabric instead of using wall covering to give a similar feel.
Tech-Free Environment
Think of all the nights you’ve spent binge-watching Netflix in bed and the many morning scrolls through Instagram and emails. This constant overstimulation of activity in the evening and early morning can stress the mind during a time where it should be relaxing and working to heal your body. This overstimulation can also cause anxiety which can lead to poor sleep, and dare I say, a bad morning.
Removing tech from the bedroom can also have some surprising effects. If you share a bedroom with a partner, the time before bed can be a great time to read together, connect, or share gratitude for one another. If you have your own bedroom, you can create a routine including journaling and meditation, to truly have some incredible alone time.
Go Green
Plants can play a big role in cleaning the air, creating a relaxing environment, and giving a fresh scent to the room. Some indoor plants that are perfect for the bedroom are:
Snake Plant: Filters the air, increases oxygen flow at night, reduces allergens in the air
English Ivy: Filters the air from mold and other toxins
Bamboo Palm: Filters the air and is a natural humidifier
If growing plants isn’t your thing, these fresh flowers will aid in your sleep:
Chamomile: Reduces anxiety and may help with insomnia by enco-uraging sleep
Lavender: Relaxes the mind and eases anxiety and increases deep sleep
Jasmine: Promotes a night of more restful sleep, increases morning mental performance
Clean and Serene
If you are one of the many who still haven’t adopted the habit of making your bed, this is a great time to start. Studies have shown that making your bed first thing in the morning is a key component of happiness. The simple task creates a sense of accomplishment (marking something on your to-do list). It also gives you a sense of gratitude for the things you have in your life and encourages you to celebrate the little things- which is something we sometimes forget to do as adults.
Keeping clutter out of the bedroom can also be a key component to a good night’s sleep. The fewer distractions there are (think piles of laundry, stacks of bills), the fewer things you’ll have on your mind.
