Interior design tips for a great night’s sleep
I was recently asked to provide interior design tips for a great night’s sleep for an article for Domain. I wanted to share these tips which help you style your bedroom for a rest and relaxation. But also to style your bedroom within your personal interional style preferences. The key is focusing on the functionality of a bedroom.
The bedroom important for health and wellbeing
In the home the bedroom is the primary hub for optimal health and wellbeing because this is where we sleep. And we know that a good night’s sleep has many health benefits such as brain function, maintaining a healthy weight, physical recovery and in general reduces the risk of disease.
So, because the basis of good interior design factors in functionality as a priority to a successful space and because the key function of a bedroom is sleep, I do think the bedroom is an important room in the home for health and wellbeing.
When I work on a bedroom, while achieving the client’s interior style goal is important, I also look at how to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes through the function of the space which is primarily sleep.
Ideal colours in a bedroom
I like to feature my client’s preferred colours in any bedroom project I’m working on.
There are colours that lend themselves well to the function of a bedroom due to their soothing qualities. For example, blue is known to be calming and green in synonymous with tranquillity.
But everyone is different and if you don’t like blue or green then this will impact your sleep.
Some of the colours I’ve used in bedroom projects include dark grey, white, khaki, purple, whatever the client’s preferred colour scheme is what I think supports the function of a bedroom to achieve health and wellbeing outcomes.
Ideal materials in a bedroom
The materials I like to feature in a bedroom are mostly natural or soft. But again, materiality in a bedroom is driven by the client’s interior style preferences. I’ve used materials such as leather, rattan and timber for bedheads.
But for some clients, I’ve also used velvet or mixed cotton materials for bedheads. For bedside tables, I’ve also used a range of materials from rattan, timber to glass and metal bedside tables.
Bed sheets are also natural, such as linen, cotton, or bamboo. Accessories such as throws and cushions are also mixed materials depending on the interior style goal and client’s budget.
Colours and materials to avoid in your bedroom
Overly bright colours can be highly stimulating. Colours like red, which can increase your rate heart or primary colours such a yellow. With materials, I think if a bedroom has a mix of materials with some naturals and some not then a good balance can be achieved to fulfil health and wellbeing goals for a bedroom.
What pieces to invest in for your bedroom
The piece in a space that supports the primary function is the piece to invest in. For example, in a living room this would be the sofa and, in a bedroom, this would be the bed.
The bed can be a frame or a bed head and mattress and base combo, but this is the piece to invest in.
Secondly, I would invest in good storage. Good storage ensures a clutter free space which again supports the function of calm space for a healthy sleep pattern. The other aspects of a bedroom I would invest in is good quality window treatments.
This could be blinds and or curtains, but window treatments are important for the bedroom’s primary function of sleep because they can control light and the temperature of a room.
Both light and temperature being important elements to achieving a cohesive and harmonious bedroom.
Common bedroom interior design mistakes
Bedrooms with devices, with poor light control, too many synthetic fibres, or a room that is too cold or too hot and that is cluttered are common design mistakes that compromise a restful night’s sleep.
My interior design tips for a great’s nights sleep is to keep things minimal. Focus on the bed, bedside tables, good natural bedding, and the light. Don’t try to do too much to your bedroom or worry about the number and layout of cushions, because as we know sometimes less is more.