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We all want a good night’s sleep. Sleeping helps our bodies to restore and rejuvenate; it’s vital for our physical wellbeing and there is nothing worse than waking up feeling unrested and grumpy. There are many tips to induce good quality sleep such as drinking warm milk before bed, taking a bath, switching off our phones an hour before sleep and not drinking too much alcohol. In reality, most of us ignore such a wind-down routine and simply crash into bed when the day is done. Let’s face it; who has the time?
We spend 26 years of our lives sleeping, 7 years trying to get to sleep and 1-year making love. More time is spent in bed than doing any other singular activity so why is the bedroom often the most neglected room in the house? It’s often the last place we think about keeping tidy and can be a dumping ground for clothes, dirty washing and much more besides. But what if your crashing place was a beautiful and sensual place? A haven of peace and tranquillity that drew you in, and was somewhere to escape the fast-paced lives we live so often full of noise, stress and constant demands.
Creating a sleep-friendly room is surprisingly simple and simplicity really is the key here. The centerpiece of any bedroom is, of course, the bed and according to feng shui principles it should be faced away from the door and be easily accessible from both sides of the bed. Place a bedside table on either side, preferably with a lamp that can be dimmed. There exists a huge array of beds and bedroom furniture to choose from and you should be guided by your personal style be that opulent, minimalist or anything in between. Key pieces, apart from the bed and bedside tables, include a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, wall art and a mirror. Avoid mixing styles when picking out your furniture as you will lose the simplicity and elegance you are looking for. Experts say that in terms of your bed, size really does matter and a queen size or king size bed should be your top choice where possible. Invest as much as you can afford in your mattress and make sure you change it every 5-7 years. Do not neglect your bed linen either. Go for cotton and pay attention to the thread count (the higher the count, the higher the quality).
Ban clutter as much as you dare, decorate your room in calming colours and keep your gadgets and phones away from the bed. Asleep-friendly room is cool, dark and well paired with a good temperature being between 16-19 degrees Celsius. Changing the mood in your bedroom can be achieved with ambient lighting (get a dimmer switch!) and candles can create a romantic and calming effect.
Incorporating a wind-down routine into our schedule is tough for most of us but everyone can create a simple and beautiful bedroom that entices us in, night after night.
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This content is sponsored by Jim Bevin.
Photo: Shutterstock