INTERIORS
CAN YOUR BEDROOM DESIGN
HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER?
Tempur guide on updating a bedroom for a good night’s sleep
During these testing times, it’s only natural that our sleep
may suffer. From the change in our daily sleep routine, less
outdoor time and less exercise, to juggling work and children
or worrying about vulnerable family members, good sleep
hygiene has never been more important.
Good quality sleep has multiple benefits: it reduces stress,
boosts our mood, ensures we concentrate better, reduces
anxiety, and allows the body to better rest and repair.
As the place where we lay our heads every night, the
bedroom is an easy place to start when it comes to
improving our sleep. From a soothing colour scheme, to the
role of Feng Shui and symmetry, there are several design
features to consider creating a bedroom environment for
optimal sleep.
Ahead of DIY season and given we’re all spending more time
at home, Tempur Sleep Expert and chartered psychologist
Suzy Reading has compiled a guide on how to rework a
bedroom for better sleep.
Suzy says: “The bedroom is the ideal place to start when
considering how to improve our sleep environment.
It sounds simple, but without careful consideration, a
bedroom can inhibit good sleep.
“Loud, brash colours in a bedroom can inadvertently keep
us more awake, while gadgets emit blue light and prevent us
feeling drowsy in the run up to sleep.
“Good bedroom design needn’t cost a fortune; it’s about
making small changes to improve the space and boost its
sleep-inducing qualities.”
Read on for Suzy’s sleep-inducing bedroom design tips.
Colour scheme
In interior design, colour groups fall into two categories –
cool colours and warm colours. For the best night’s sleep,
use cool colours in the bedroom as these help the body to
unwind, ready for sleep. Light blue, moss green, soft yellow
and dusky grey all work well. Choose a colour that has
meaning to you. If you love green, it will work better for you
than blue, for example.
Warm colours, on the other hand, can have an adverse effect
and have been shown to raise the heart rate and blood
pressure, increasing our likelihood of staying awake. Avoid
using red, purple or any bright colours as these prevent
melatonin release, which the body produces to wind down
ahead of sleep. If you are really set on using a bright colour,
try adding as an accent colour, rather than one overpowering
block of colour. Include colours in artwork or cushions, for
example.
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