Imagine a clutter-free space dedicated to luxuriously restful slumber — a room where everything from the scent in the air to the sheets is carefully chosen to enhance feelings of relaxation, peace, and (yawn …) sleep. You’ve got the blackout shades, now here are 10 little things, from bedtime rituals to smart storage solutions, to help turn your bedroom into the ultimate sleep cave.
Choose a Nightstand With Closed Storage
Drawers or a small cabinet below your nightstand can help keep visual clutter to a minimum.
Use the storage inside to tuck away books, your journal, and pen, lip balm, reading glasses, and other essentials.
What to Keep on Your Nightstand
Keep the top of your nightstand simple and clutter-free, with just a few of these bedtime items:
- Bud vase of fresh flowers
- Current book
- Candle (unlit) with a relaxing scent (try lavender)
- Cup of herbal tea or carafe of water
Make Comfort Your Priority
Too many fussy details like beading and sequins, or stiff and scratchy bedding materials, make for a less than restful night’s sleep. When choosing bedding, make sure whatever you choose is delightfully touchable — think crisp cotton sheets and a cozy cashmere throw.
Choose the Right Sheets
Always choose breathable natural fibers, not synthetics, which don’t allow your skin to breathe. Higher thread count doesn’t always mean higher quality, so trust your fingers to determine the feel of the sheets, and read reviews from those who have been living with the sheets for a while to get an idea of how well they hold up.
- Linen is cool in summer and can last forever if well cared for. It can feel nubby (even a bit rough) or smooth and quite soft, so try to feel your sheets in person before you buy.
- Cotton percale is what you want if you love the feel of “crisp” sheets. This classic fabric is smooth but firm and performs well in warm weather.
- Cotton sateen is very soft and smooth, almost silky in feel. It may not be the best choice in hot weather.
Try One of These Soothing Bedtime Rituals
- Brew a cup of herbal tea (try chamomile with honey).
- Read something soothing or uplifting, like a few beautiful poems or an inspirational book.
- Gradually lower the lights over the last hour before bedtime, ending with just a candle, and then blow it out.
- Take a bath with relaxing lavender or rose oil.
- Spritz lavender-scented linen spray on your sheets and pillow.
- Listen to the same relaxing playlist each night before drifting off.
To Carpet or Not to Carpet
Carpeting feels plush underfoot, making it especially appealing to step out on first thing in the morning, and it can help muffle sounds for a more restful mood. However, if you have a dust allergy, carpeting is notoriously difficult to keep dust-free, so it’s best to skip it. If you love the feel of carpet but need to be able to thoroughly clean the floors often, compromise with a washable area rug atop hard flooring.
Rethink the TV
Screens emit a blue light that can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Keep the TV (and other devices) out of the bedroom, and commit to reading a real book (on actual paper, not an e-reader!) before bed.
Make Use of Baskets, Bins and Wall Hooks
Keep laundry, accessories, and spare linens neat and tidy by stashing them in easy-to-use baskets and bins.
Hooks on the wall behind a door can keep favorite jewelry in order, while small French market baskets make a chic stash spot for random small items.
Give Once-Worn Clothes a Home
Rather than piling your lightly worn clothing on the chair in the corner (or worse, the floor), give it a dedicated home in a basket or bin.
Make a habit of refolding clothes you plan on wearing again before laundering, and place these items in the basket each night.
Clean the Air
Allergies or no allergies, we can all benefit from sleeping in a cleaner, healthier bedroom. Here are a few ways to keep the air in your bedroom fresh and pure all year long.
- Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to remove dust, pollen and air pollutants.
- Keep a houseplant or two in the bedroom (rubber plants are especially good at cleaning the air).
- Make the bedroom a no-shoes zone.
- Vacuum and dust weekly (including under the bed), more often if you have allergies.
- Open the windows to air out the space for at least 30 minutes each morning.
- Choose natural fibers and materials that don’t contain harmful VOCs.
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