9 Ways to a Good Night's Sleep
A long and undisturbed night’s sleep can have amazing effects, research reveals. Check out these ways to slumber better
Sarah Warwick
October 22, 2017
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines and websites. A serial house revamper, I love great design, beautiful interiors and practical solutions.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a freelance journalist and editor writing for nationals, magazines... More
Getting in a eight hours sleep promotes good health and longevity, according to sleep science expert Matthew Walker – but many of us are scraping by on a whole lot less. How can we improve the nightly total? From maximising comfort in our bedrooms and keeping them dark to establishing good habits, there are plenty of ways life at home can be tweaked to keep sleep loss to a minimum. Try these strategies.
Stick to shades that soothe
Use the power of colour to create the mood for sound sleep. In this room, tones of grey are layered for a calming scheme that’s also rich in detail.
Greys can be cool in tone, so look for those with a yellow or pink base for a cosy room, and avoid blue-based versions.
Check out these tricks to make your bedroom the ultimate slumber cave
Use the power of colour to create the mood for sound sleep. In this room, tones of grey are layered for a calming scheme that’s also rich in detail.
Greys can be cool in tone, so look for those with a yellow or pink base for a cosy room, and avoid blue-based versions.
Check out these tricks to make your bedroom the ultimate slumber cave
Supersize the bed
The bigger the bed the better when it comes to sleeping with a partner undisturbed. This generously sized design offers plenty of space and looks super comfortable, too, with tactile blue upholstery and pristine bed linen. Need to test the width of your bed or try a new one for size? Partners should lie down together arms behind heads. For comfortable sleeping, elbows shouldn’t touch.
The bigger the bed the better when it comes to sleeping with a partner undisturbed. This generously sized design offers plenty of space and looks super comfortable, too, with tactile blue upholstery and pristine bed linen. Need to test the width of your bed or try a new one for size? Partners should lie down together arms behind heads. For comfortable sleeping, elbows shouldn’t touch.
eoinlyons.com
Ban the box…
Sorry, but a television in the bedroom won’t help in the quest for good shut-eye as the light from it delays the release of sleep-inducing melatonin. If a bedroom TV is essential in your household, try a gap of half an hour between viewing and sleep time to start the countdown to a good night’s rest.
Wondering how to hide the TV?
Sorry, but a television in the bedroom won’t help in the quest for good shut-eye as the light from it delays the release of sleep-inducing melatonin. If a bedroom TV is essential in your household, try a gap of half an hour between viewing and sleep time to start the countdown to a good night’s rest.
Wondering how to hide the TV?
… and mobiles
A charging station well away from the bedroom like this shelf and socket combo can get you in the habit of plugging them in elsewhere overnight. Of course, if it’s a mobile alarm that rouses you, a substitute is required. Go back to the 20th century with a clock-radio or add vintage style with an alarm clock with bells on top.
A charging station well away from the bedroom like this shelf and socket combo can get you in the habit of plugging them in elsewhere overnight. Of course, if it’s a mobile alarm that rouses you, a substitute is required. Go back to the 20th century with a clock-radio or add vintage style with an alarm clock with bells on top.
Let there (not be) light
The constant orange glow of towns and cities, motion-sensor lighting and passing cars can all hinder a good night’s kip. Bring darkness to the room with a window treatment that blocks out light completely, such as this room’s solid shutters.
Prefer fabric at the window? Try blackout blinds, which come in a huge range of colours, or opt for curtains with blackout lining.
The constant orange glow of towns and cities, motion-sensor lighting and passing cars can all hinder a good night’s kip. Bring darkness to the room with a window treatment that blocks out light completely, such as this room’s solid shutters.
Prefer fabric at the window? Try blackout blinds, which come in a huge range of colours, or opt for curtains with blackout lining.
Be the princess – or prince – and the pea
Once a mattress is causing aches or looking lumpy, it’s only right to complain about it like the fairy-tale princess who was (royally) sensitive enough to feel a pea below her mattress pile. A new version needs to be compatible with the base, whether it’s a bedstead or a divan, so it’s worth swapping them at the same time or, if not, ensuring a new mattress is suitable for the existing base.
Find out how to choose the right pillow for the perfect sleep
Once a mattress is causing aches or looking lumpy, it’s only right to complain about it like the fairy-tale princess who was (royally) sensitive enough to feel a pea below her mattress pile. A new version needs to be compatible with the base, whether it’s a bedstead or a divan, so it’s worth swapping them at the same time or, if not, ensuring a new mattress is suitable for the existing base.
Find out how to choose the right pillow for the perfect sleep
Take a bath and cool down
Yes, really. The science says that a decrease in core body temperature and warmer hands and feet – which is what a warm bath will bring about – make for quicker and better sleep.
A bathroom like this one will help pre-sleep relaxation, too. To turn a bathroom from functional to calming, follow this room’s lead with artwork for the walls, decorative accessories and a row of tea lights.
Yes, really. The science says that a decrease in core body temperature and warmer hands and feet – which is what a warm bath will bring about – make for quicker and better sleep.
A bathroom like this one will help pre-sleep relaxation, too. To turn a bathroom from functional to calming, follow this room’s lead with artwork for the walls, decorative accessories and a row of tea lights.
Keep office hours
When a bedroom has to double up as a home office, the boundary between the two can blur. To avoid ‘work creep’, steal the style of this room and opt for a desk that allows a laptop to be tidied away, leaving it as an attractive piece of furniture without work reminders on show. Desktop computer instead of a laptop? Invest in a cupboard-style desk – built-in or freestanding – with doors that close to hide the office.
When a bedroom has to double up as a home office, the boundary between the two can blur. To avoid ‘work creep’, steal the style of this room and opt for a desk that allows a laptop to be tidied away, leaving it as an attractive piece of furniture without work reminders on show. Desktop computer instead of a laptop? Invest in a cupboard-style desk – built-in or freestanding – with doors that close to hide the office.
Stick to a schedule
A regular routine can help sleep. Here, an oversize clock over the television ensures losing track of time (even if you’re binge-watching a box set) is hard to do.
Note that an upscaled design like this isn’t a no-no in a smaller living room. Adding in a large decorative accessory can often help a compact space to feel bigger.
Read more:
Bedroom Colour: The Secret to More Sex and More Sleep
Tell us:
How did you turn your bedroom into the ultimate sleeping space? Let us know in the Comments below.
A regular routine can help sleep. Here, an oversize clock over the television ensures losing track of time (even if you’re binge-watching a box set) is hard to do.
Note that an upscaled design like this isn’t a no-no in a smaller living room. Adding in a large decorative accessory can often help a compact space to feel bigger.
Read more:
Bedroom Colour: The Secret to More Sex and More Sleep
Tell us:
How did you turn your bedroom into the ultimate sleeping space? Let us know in the Comments below.
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We have a LEXON Flip+ Alarm Clock, which is battery operated, totally silent and only shows a light for a few seconds when you tap the top of it. It's very easy to set both the time and the alarm. No more bright green clock face glowing in the dark all night. No more worrying that the electricity may go off while you’re asleep. The alarm is quite a pleasant note which gradually gets louder if you ignore it. Turning it over cuts off the alarm instantly – no more fumbling trying to find the right button to stop a shrieking alarm. It's made in a range of fabulous colours and the batteries have lasted for several years.
I wish hotels would read this article :) . It is amazing how many "lights" they can create in one room: alarm clocks, charging/docking stations, phones, lights on switches, smoke alarms, lights on ovens, curtains with gaps around them. We have become quite creative with cushions and bits of cardboard. And then there is the barfridge........
And do not forget that loud mini frig that one must unplug then remember to plug in before leaving .