Most of us have specific rooms in our house designated for sleep.

While there are some people whose living situations preclude this, having a room set apart specifically increases the chance of enjoying a good night's sleep. But sleep isn't the only reason to cultivate a restful bedroom situation. If managed with care, our bedrooms can easily function as restful spots for leisure. 

We can foster restful bedrooms for both lounging and sleeping by focusing on four specific factors: sight, sound, smell, and set-up.

Sight

When planning the overall layout of your bedroom, the use of light and space is key. Taking advantage of natural light helps your body adjust to the rhythms of the day, and large, empty space (where possible) gives the room less of a "busy" feel, promoting a restful vibe.

The use of color should likewise be considered carefully. 

According to what we know about color psychology, vibrant shades like yellow, orange, and green encourage socializing and communicating, while dark hues like purple, deep blue, red, and darker shades of green reflect a bit gloomy feel. Still, when applied in appropriate places, they can evoke sense of comfort. Warmer shades of yellow and orange inspire relaxation and boost creativity. On the other side of the thermostat are icy blue and green, which evoke a sense of calm.

When planning a bedroom conducive to both sleep and relaxation, you'll want to choose colors that promote calmness and order. Although there are a few exceptions, save your bright and vibrant colors for your main living spaces.

If you're not sure how best to go about this sort of planning, there's no shame in consulting a pro. Interior designers live for these sorts of challenges and are often more affordable than most people assume. As experts in their fields, they can most likely solve your problems in their sleep. (Pun intended.) 

Sound

There are more and less obvious links between sound, sleep, and relaxation.

Most obviously, loud and disruptive sounds can prove antithetical to rest. Although there will always be some people who are more sensitive to loud sounds than others, most of us can become "habituated to" noises particular to our own environments. That is, over time, sounds like rattling water pipes or trains going by at regular intervals eventually are sorted out, and our brains no longer wake us up when they occur.

Less obviously, ambient noises can have an ongoing, low-level impact on our sleep. Because it's less noticeable, it's more likely to go unaddressed. The good news is that we can guard against this. While some things are always beyond our control, there are a few steps we can take to ensure that our bedrooms are comfortable environments for both sleep and rest. 

Short of professionally soundproofing your room (which may be necessary in extreme cases, but for the most part is just extra), a little thought invested as you settle in can go a long way.

If you have any say in the matter, choose a solid wood door rather than one with a hollow core. Doing so will stop a large percentage of ambient noise coming from outside your room. For apartments abutting other units, consider large, well-filled bookcases stacked against shared walls. If you don't own enough books to warrant shelves, large wall art may help create a natural sound barrier.

In most cases, commonsense solutions are available. Again, if you're stumped, consult an interior designer. We're sure they've heard questions like yours before. (Yes, pun intended. Again.)

Smell

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the vast majority of people claim that fresh scents improve their ability to sleep well. 

Overall, about three-fourths of the respondents (78%) agreed that they are more excited to go to bed on sheets with a fresh scent. Notably, those who agreed that they get a more comfortable night's sleep on sheets with a fresh scent were much more likely than their counterparts to agree that they are more excited to go to bed on sheets with a fresh scent (93% vs.49%). 

It's no coincidence that aromatherapy has long been used to help people relax. Research has shown that aromatherapy can alter brainwaves, increase feelings of contentment, decrease people's perception of stress, and have beneficial effects on symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

In short, the smell can have strong effects on both sleep and regular relaxation. With that in mind, put some thought into how your bedroom smells from day-to-day. In addition to keeping the room clean and your sheets fresh, consider investing in lightly scented candles, essential oils, diffusers, and other air fresheners. You'll want to do your homework and focus on scents that promote rest and relaxation rather than energy and wakefulness, but we believe your investment will lead to restful rewards! 

Again, if you have further questions, check with an interior designer. We're sure they'd be happy to sniff out a solution for you. (Come on. You knew this was coming.)

Set-Up

If your room is going to serve as a spot for daytime relaxation, consider moving beyond the standard furniture pieces.

To preserve the bed for sleep, consider adding a lounge chair for reading, surfing the internet before bed, or watching TV. The truth is, doing these things from bed doesn't promote the bed as a sleep-friendly environment. Whether you're answering e-mails, binging Netflix, or video chatting with your best friend before shutting off the lights, you're training your body to associate your bed with something other than sleep.

While not all bedrooms boast enough space for a comfortable bed and a separate lounge chair, adding one to your set-up wherever possible will make your room increasingly amenable to both sleep and rest. 

We Can Help

When it comes to the matters of sight, sound, and smell in your bedroom, you have many decisions to make. 

We're here to help simplify your decision-making process in the best way we know how: by providing quality mattresses at affordable prices.

To hear more about our premium products, feel free either to contact us or to stop by one of our showrooms at any time. Our friendly staff is on hand to chat as much (or as little!) as you'd like. We'd love to pair you with the perfect product to meet your specific needs.

We look forward to serving you soon.