Bedroom Alteration Tips For Optimising Sleep

In our busy lives these days we all seem to know the value of getting a good night’s sleep but I wonder how much we are aware of the importance of a good sleeping environment to help us to fully optimise our 8 hours of rest.

I bet many of you have heard of the saying “tidy home, tidy mind” and this is particularly true of our bedrooms, if you can create a warm, tidy and comfortable sleeping area you stand the best chance of getting that all important good night’s sleep.

So where do we begin? Here are some ideas to help you to get the very best out of your bedroom

Think about the Bed

As a general rule of thumb you should look to change your mattress around every seven years, however whether or not to change your mattress will come down to a number of factors.

If you are finding that your bed is no longer comfortable for you, you are waking feeling achy, your mattress is sagging or the springs can be felt when you lie down then it is maybe the time to treat yourself to a new one.

For those with allergies (and probably for those without) it is worth using an anti – allergy mattress protector to try and reduce dust mites, turning the mattress regularly and vacuuming will also help in the fight against the little critters.

If you decide to go for a whole new bed then really think about size, measure your room carefully and always go for the largest bed you can afford whilst ensuring that your room can comfortably accommodate the new bed without it feeling cramped or cluttered.

There are many designs to choose from but is worth looking for a bed with extra storage potential underneath if space within the bedroom is at a premium.

Bedding

Some new pillows and a duvet once in a while make such a difference to the quality of your bed. Bear in mind room temperature, seasonal changes and your own body temperature when you are shopping for these types of goods. Memory foam pillows are slightly more expensive than synthetic filled pillows but support your head and neck perfectly.

When thinking about your duvet you may find that a four season one suits you best as it can be transformed from a thick winter duvet to a much lower tog item of bedding by simply undoing the poppers that hold the layers together, this offers great flexibility and is often much better value than buying individual duvets for the seasons.

It is worth protecting your new pillows with anti – allergy protectors, these are great for keeping dust at bay and stop your pillows from getting marked or stained.

A new bedding set can make such a difference to the look of the room, simply by choosing a different colour duvet set or throw can create a fresh and vibrant new look. When thinking about colours, choose items to compliment your curtains or blinds rather than match them, this will give a nice contrast. You can add a luxury feel to your bedroom with some nice decorative cushions for the bed.

Window Dressings

A bedroom should feel safe, private and secure for maximum sleep potential; this is where it is worth thinking carefully about your windows. If you live on a street where there are lights outside or if you have a particularly sunny bedroom I can’t speak highly enough for the benefit of black out blinds.

If fitted corrected blinds can really help to block out light and create a feeling of privacy. If you are not keen on the aesthetics of blinds you could try using heavy, lined curtains in your bedroom, there are so many pretty styles and colours available on the market you should be spoilt for choice.

Of course there is nothing to say that you can’t benefit from the best of both worlds by combining black out blinds with the softness of some light curtains in a complementing colour.

Lighting

There is nothing better than unwinding in bed with a good book after a busy day; this is where some good lighting comes into play. Stark overhead lights are not conducive to relaxation and it is terribly annoying when you have to get out of your warm bed to turn them off.

This issue can be easily overcome with some bedside lamps. Choose lamps that work well with the style of your room and you can add some extra glamour without it costing the earth.