You probably know first and foremost that sleep has a direct effect on our mood and health. While we sleep, we’re not just resting from the day that has passed but our bodies are busy working overnight to keep our health and wellbeing in check for the day to follow. So, getting in enough shut-eye is vital towards living a happy, healthy life, but how can we ensure we’re giving ourselves the best opportunity for this to happen?
If you aren’t always enjoying a good night’s sleep, have you considered whether your bedroom interior is sleep-friendly? Our bedroom has a lot of power over how we sleep at night. The colour schemes we choose, the bed and mattress we sleep on and the kind of environment we create all play a part on whether or not we get a good night sleep.
To find out more, we’ve teamed up with Hypnos, the experts behind our range of sumptuous mattresses who know a thing or two about getting a good night’s sleep, to see how our choice of bedroom decor can affect our abilities to sleep.
Create a sleep-friendly environment
Amanda explains what to think about when you’re turning in for the evening. “Firstly, think about your lighting and noise control. Try to keep your room completely dark when you’re going to sleep. Consider blackout blinds where streetlights are facing your bedroom window, and switch off all lights and electrical equipment, such as your mobile phone that may emit a blue light, as this type of light affects levels of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and can disrupt you drifting off.”
Another thing to consider is ensuring your room is clear of clutter. Having clutter around the room can cause uneasiness, leading to a bad night’s sleep. Try to keep your bedroom organised so you’re not worried about tripping over things if you need to get up in the middle of the night or you’re having to clear up before you turn in for the night. There are several bedroom options which can eliminate this problem, such as beds with storage divan bases, ottoman bases or beds on legs which provide space underneath to neatly pack away storage boxes.
Is your mattress right for you?
Achieving a good night’s sleep may be as simple as ensuring you have the right mattress and pillows to suit your body. “All this time lying down means you need the right kind of support and comfort from your bed. A pocket sprung mattress with luxurious fillings is designed to actively minimise pressure points on the body and alleviate tension, which in turn allows muscles to relax. The pillow you choose is vital to help support your head and neck depending on your preferred sleeping position, helping to achieve the natural alignment of your spine– ideal for getting the perfect night’s sleep,” explains Amanda.
A worn out mattress which leaves you feeling tired or achy in the morning has to go if you are to get a rejuvenating night’s sleep. Make sure when you are purchasing yourself a new mattress that you go and test them out. Our range of Hypnos mattresses are designed with your complete comfort in mind, however, they do come in different tensions – so if you are particular with whether you like a firm or softer mattress, pop into one of our showrooms and test them out for yourself.
Choose your colours wisely
If you have problems getting to sleep at night, choosing colours for your walls and sheets that elicit warmth and calm may help you drift off at night. Remember, the colours in your room are the last thing you see when you go to sleep and the first thing when you wake up, so be careful to choose colours that are associated with feelings of relaxation, such as muted blues, greens and yellows and earthy tones. One of the most popular choices for a bedroom colour scheme is blue. This is ideal for someone who wants something a little more colourful then grey but doesn’t want to be too bold. Different variations of blue, such as duck-egg blue or icy-blue, each bring a calming vibe to your bedroom retreat. A blue colour scheme has notes of nature in too, such as the sky on a clear day, which helps bring on feelings of serenity – always a bonus when you’re trying to fall asleep!
If you want to incorporate bright colours into your room, stick to accents of colour such as with scatter cushions, artwork or your headboard, like we have here with our beautiful Knightsbridge double bed in Dusty Rose cotton matt velvet.