How to Design Your Bedroom More Peaceful and Sleep-Friendly

Never before have we received such regular information on how to prioritise our wellness and mental health. One of the biggest factors for maintaining our wellness, which in turn helps us feel calm and focused, is sleep. I can’t deny I feel a million times better when I’ve had enough zzzz’s.

So how can interior design help with this I hear you ask??

There are many helpful hints and tips out there that can help you get enough sleep for you to feel rested such as no screens before bed, drinking camomile tea, journal to get things off your mind etc.

I also believe your environment is a big factor in helping you to switch off and relax.

You can’t feel relaxed and drift off if you have a chaotic and cluttered space which means a well thought out and designed bedroom is basically crucial to help aiding better sleep, and with better sleep = better functioning the next day, feeling calmer and rested.

Colour is also very important – if you prefer calm then bold loud colours won’t be sleep inducing at all.

What we all define as calm can differ but here are some key points you can implement that will make a big difference to your bedroom/environment.

Read on for our top tips for helping create a bedroom that makes you not only want to spend time there but also relaxes you into a deep slumber...

Tip 1 – Space/Storage

Have a look around your room…does everything have a place? Are you organised or do you have piles of ‘stuff’ hanging around? If you do then storage needs to be addressed to prevent clutter happening.

If it’s mainly clothes - review your wardrobe, firstly can you declutter anything? Can you  pack away seasonal clothes and give space to a current wardrobe?

Do you need to add more storage? Is the wardrobe large enough? Can you overspill in another room? Can you add more pieces to the room or perhaps reconfigure the space to add in more storage, perhaps a larger chest of drawers, larger wardrobe, or bigger bedside tables that double up as extra drawer space? Can you use the space under your bed to store away pieces not needed, or have an ottoman bed – just think what space a bed takes up in a room and how much you can hide away in here.

Dressing area – do you have space to include a dressing area if you have lots of beauty products – this can be an area that can easily look cluttered so perhaps a designated space with storage can help this feel more organised and less busy in your bedroom.

Tip 2 – Colour

We all react differently to colour and what one person finds relaxing can be hugely different to the next person. Some people will find a restful bedroom as light colours but another person may want that cocooning feeling so darker colours could be what helps them drift off at night. Once you’re clear on what side of the fence you reside on then you need to look at your current décor…is it working for what you find peaceful? If not then painting the walls the right colour can make a world of difference to how you feel in this space…

You want the room to not feel gloomy, so colour theory is super important here.

You can keep the space light and airy if that works for you but make sure the tones of the lighter colours work in the room, to do so you need to know how much natural light the room gets, which way the room faces – North, South, East, West as this all impacts how the colour looks in the room from morning until evening.

As you will mostly use the room during the evening go with the colour you feel will make the room relaxing at bedtime…

Some great colours to use for bedrooms are; Green & Blue - obvious choices representing the sea/sky and grass, can be very calming.

Then more modern neutrals of dusky pinks, peach tones or beige can be soft but warm adding to a cosy feeling.

Tip 3 – Textures

It’s no surprise that the feel of the bed covers, your bed etc is super important to your experience of comfort in your bedroom.

Have you go the right mattress for your needs and how you sleep? Have you added a mattress protector as these add another layer of comfort too.

What about your pillows? Are they the right firmness, do they suit back or side sleepers? Getting these elements right are absolutely fundamental to a good night’s rest.

Then the more luxury factor – but in my opinion still very important – the bedsheets. Yes we all want them to look pretty, fit with the décor or even have a much needed pop of colour/pattern – but things to also consider are;

How comfortable are the sheets – are they breathable?

Do you prefer linen, cotton, sateen – they all feel very different so it’s knowing what fabric you like against your skin to feel cosy.

Perhaps you need to feel really safe and cocooned – in which case invest in a good quality bedspread – these offer more detail/styling to a bed but in practical terms they can add another layer of comfort and warmth – especially for older houses with more drafts or in general during winter months…

Another tactile element is the carpet or rugs on the floor as we all mostly walk about bare footed in our bedrooms, well initially after getting out of bed, so consider things like a more sumptuous carpet or if you like wooden floors, a nice tactile rug under the bed until you can pop your slippers on.

Tip 4 – Lighting

It should seem obvious that lighting is important in a bedroom – it’s not a room we need super bright intense lighting, but you don’t want to feel like you’re fumbling around in the dark either…as we use bedrooms for both going to sleep but also getting ready in the morning so two very different uses.

Planning lighting means looking at the layout of the room – do you have/want to include a dressing table? Ideally you want this in a position where you can use natural lighting which is best for putting on makeup – however some rooms/layouts don’t allow for this so you will want lighting around here to light up the area sufficiently.

Are you an avid bedtime reader? If so make sure you have reading lights – this might mean having pretty wall lights/bedside lamps that offer soft lighting, but then adding a specific reading light for a more direct light when you need it – otherwise you will be straining to read…

Avoid spotlights where possible – in my opinion there is little need for these to be used in bedrooms – they can be harsh and feel very clinical….usually a good central light and beside lights are enough for a standard size room – and of course any lighting a dressing table.

Lighting doesn’t need to get too technical and overly done in a bedroom – as long as you can see enough and have sufficient task lighting for reading/makeup then that is more than enough for how you will use your bedroom.

However if you have low ceilings then of course these can be a good option – but perhaps explore how these look and use something like these options for a more decorative appeal.

Wardrobe lighting can be integrated into the cupboards so they operate when opened…

Similarly it's how well you block the natural light out for sleeping. For some people light sensitivity can really impact their sleep, especially when going to bed early in summer.

If you need total blackout then invest in blackout curtains. If you need super blackout, they layer with blackout blinds too as even with the best made curtains light can seep in around the edges. Doubling up offers more blackout coverage.

Or perhaps the french curtain poles that bed around will help close off those edges.

All these add to creating the perfect environment for you to get your 8 hours!

Tip 5 - Accessorise to make you happy

Now this may sound like an unusual tip, but hear me out.

We all want our bedrooms restful, cosy, relaxing rooms - but this doesn't mean not having anything in them. Choose some artwork you love, maybe have some cushions on the bed or curtains in a fabric that makes you smile. It could also be some quirky ornaments on your bedside table or dresser...

Have a 1000s cushions on your bed or have none - make sure you create a room that doesn't evoke stress, if removing all the cushions is more stress then only have a couple or dare i say it none at

I'm not saying to add clutter and fill your bedroom, but these more personal items are what bring us joy and can make us smile in the morning. Personally in my bedroom I love the art I have and I always love waking up to my art deco patterned curtains!!

Thanks for reading

NB x