The quality of sleep is the highest priority for most families. Experts recommend that adults should sleep between 7-9 hours per night and children (depending on their age) should get up to 14 hours of sleep at night. That’s a whole lot of sleep. Sounds dreamy, right? Not if you’re not getting enough of it – like over half (51%) of Britons. Lack of sleep can have significantly negative effects on our minds and bodies if we don’t get enough of it. This is because sleep restores energy levels, strengthens the immune system, boosts metabolism, and even affects how we age and retain information. So, it’s vital to get good quality sleep and plenty of it. London Mums are here to help. If you’re struggling with poor sleep this article is for you. We share how to design a sleep-friendly spaces – bedroom layout and home interior.
Let’s get started.
What is a sleep-friendly space?
Protecting your sleep is essential for supporting your physical and mental wellbeing. That’s why so many people are designing sleep-friendly spaces in their bedrooms. Because it’s not just about creating a beautiful space that promotes relaxation, it’s about finding solutions that help you rest better.
Here are some points to consider when designing a sleep-friendly space in your home.
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Biophilic Interior Design
Biophilic design is definitely the way to go when it comes to interior design for bedrooms. Biophilic Design is specifically used to reconnect people with nature. It aims to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere that promotes wellbeing and allows the body to physically and mentally unwind ahead of a good night’s sleep.
Bringing nature into our homes, through Biophilic Interior Design, is a great first step. You can achieve this through the introduction of:
Plants
Introducing plants into your sleep space promotes relaxation. It also improves air quality by removing toxins from the air, which can boost cognitive function and improve health.
Daylight and Fresh Air
Whether you have shutters for windows or blackout curtains, it’s best to keep your curtains and windows open during the day to let in as much natural light and fresh air as possible. This will result in better sleep.
Paint Colours
The colour of your bedroom space can have a big impact on how wired you feel. Choosing nature-inspired colours such as soft greens, blues, and purples is a great way to promote relaxation and aid in quality rest.
Pictures of Nature
If you don’t have a particularly scenic view outside your window, consider bringing nature inside in the form of pictures, paintings, and wallpaper. From leafy scenes to far-reaching mountainscapes, there are plenty of natural scenes to choose from that will inspire and refresh.
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Feng Shui and your bedroom layout
If you want to optimise your sleep quality, you should consider Feng Shui when designing your bedroom layout.
Feng Shui comes from the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects in a way that creates balance and harmony. If you want to do Feng Shui sleep-friendly spaces in your bedroom, here are a few things to consider:
Declutter your bedroom
Clutter blocks chi which means it can be hard for you to relax and enjoy the space you’re in. Decluttering your bedroom is a great first step in designing a sleep-friendly environment.
Keep furniture away from the walls
One important factor in Feng Shui’s interior design is making sure furniture is kept away from the walls. When there is a gap between furniture and the wall, energy can travel around the bedroom space uninterrupted. Some people believe this encourages better sleep quality.
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Consider colour psychology
Chromotherapy, otherwise known as Colour Psychology, is one of the best interior design tips available when it comes to improving sleep quality. The best colours for bedrooms are colours that calm you down as you prepare for sleep. Although you may have your colour preferences, there’s no denying that certain colours have more positive emotional associations than others.
Some of the best colours to choose for your sleep space include:
Blue
One of the most popular colours for promoting sleep and relaxation, blue evokes the sky and sea, creating a sense of calm and supporting your efforts to sleep better.
Green
If you’re looking for peaceful bedroom ideas, green provides a great foundation to build from. Known for promoting tranquillity, green can introduce the peacefulness of nature to your sleep space. Reportedly those who sleep in a green-hued room wake feeling more refreshed and rejuvenated.
Pale Pink
Soft and nurturing, pale pink can be a great way to promote feelings of warmth and comfort in your bedroom space, making it far easier to drift off to sleep after a busy day.
Colours to avoid in your sleep space include: red, black, dark brown or purple. These colours can create a bedroom environment that is too gloomy and heavy, negatively affecting your sleep.
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Smart Technology for Sleep
People are increasingly investing in Smart Technology for sleep. Everything from sleep trackers to smart beds are being purchased to help solve sleep problems. Some of the top gadgets we’d recommend include:
The Oura Ring 4
Unlike a fitness tracker, the Oura Ring 4 is a sleep tracker that reports on your sleep quality. It measures factors such as heart rate and blood oxygen, reporting on how your sleep can impact your day. You will also receive guided meditations and white noise to help improve your sleep.
The Eight Sleep Pod 4
This piece of sleep technology is a big financial investment but worth it if you’re constantly fighting with your other half over the duvet. The Eight Sleep Pod 4 is a cover that slips over your mattress. It comes with a water pump that helps to maintain a comfortable temperature on both sides of the bed. Achieving the right sleep temperature is one of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep.
The Sunrise Lamp
One of the factors that negatively affects sleep quality is the jarring sound of your alarm going off in the morning. A Sunrise Lamp is a great way to wake up gradually and naturally in the morning. The lamp slowly lights up, simulating the sunrise. There is also the option to set audible alarms if you’re a deep sleeper.
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Creating a Kid’s Sleep Sanctuary
Designing your child’s bedroom in a way that’s set up for a good night’s sleep can be transformative (both for you and your child). There are numerous ways to create a sleep sanctuary for your child, including:
Night Lights
If your child is going through the fear of the dark phase, it might be worth investing in a night light. While dark rooms are optimal for sleep, night lights can be a big help for children who struggle to fall asleep on their own. They’re also a great option for parents of newborns who don’t want to turn on the main lights for every nappy change and late-night feeding. You can even buy voice-activated lights – ideal for parents who have their hands full.
Minimise Distractions
Your child’s bedroom is most effective as a sleep space when it is free from clutter and distractions. This means it’s best to keep toys to a minimum and simply focus on the bedroom being a room for sleep. Focus on the essentials to help your little one get a good night’s sleep.
White Noise
Many young children sleep better when there is limited noise. Whether you have other children around, creaky floorboards, or early risers, white noise is a great investment. The constant background noise can help muffle other sounds in your house so that your child gets a good night of uninterrupted sleep.
Our tips for setting up your child’s nursery.
As you can see, there are numerous ways you can design sleep-friendly spaces in your home. Whether you’re hoping to transform your bedroom space or you want to improve your kids’ bedroom so they can sleep better, we hope our tips have provided you with some inspiration.