Ways to Enhance the Relaxation and Bliss of Your Bedroom

Lisa Franchi April 16, 2013

The bedroom is your personal refuge after a long and tiring day. It’s where you can simply be yourself, relax and recharge your batteries for another day to come. But too often, your bedroom can be a source of distress too, especially when it is disorganised and full of clutter.

Certainly, there are ways to revamp your bedroom and make it a serene, peaceful and relaxing sanctuary. Here are some ideas to help you out:

Keep Your Bedroom Well-Organised

A highly organised bedroom will surely make you feel relaxed and at peace. Making sure that everything has a home and putting it back there right after use is the easiest way to maintain order in your bedroom. This way, you can reduce the need for cleaning every now and then. Having a designated storage area for all your belongings will also take away the morning hassle of finding what clothes to wear, what jewellery to put on, etc.

Invest on Proper Storage

You should have enough space for everything. Otherwise, your room will look messy no matter how you rearrange it. Keep your clothes properly hung in the closet or folded in a dresser. It will be better if you have a bigger cabinet to accommodate all your personal stuff like bags, shoes, accessories, and so on. If you’re buying a table, choose the one which has drawers so you will have additional storage for small items like gadgets, phones, etc. If you feel like your room is getting smaller and smaller due to unwanted items, consider downsizing. If you haven’t been using an item, say a bag or pair of shoes, for more than 6 months, you may want to take it away from your room and place it somewhere else – maybe in the basement or in the attic. Better, give it to someone else, or donate it to a charity.

Pick the Right Colour

Colour is a very important aspect of a relaxing and stress-free bedroom. But it can also be a major source of stress. When redesigning your bedroom, any colour will do, as long as you like it. If you are not allowed to repaint the wall probably because you’re just renting it or your parents don’t want you to, consider adding decorative items or accents of the colour you want.

If you’re the kind of person who finds it hard to wake up in the morning than to nod off at night, consider using vibrant colours to decorate your bedroom. But if you find it hard to fall asleep at night, try darker hues. If you want your room to appear larger, go with lighter colours like beige and cream. If you want it cosy and comfortable, try brown or chocolate.

Use the Right Lamp

To drift off easily, you want a lamp with softer bulbs. Super-bright lights can help you get up in the morning but they can also affect your quality of sleep during the night. Choose the light with bulbs labelled as ‘incandescent’, ‘warm white’, or ‘soft’ rather than the daylight bulbs. If you have a habit of reading a book, or working on a late-night report inside your bedroom, make sure to have a desk lamp ready for use. If you are using a bedside lamp, consider the one which has adjustable light.

Do a Little Rearranging

Instead of going for an expensive renovation, consider doing a little rearranging to give your room a facelift. Your goal is to position your bed in a way that you will have a clear view of it from your bedroom door. What makes it so relaxing? This specific arrangement, according to Sally Augustin, PhD, an environmental psychologist, evolved from our basic need for security. Being able to see who is coming in and out of your bedroom helps you ward off anxiety, she said. Consider positioning your desk so it’s not in the direct view of your bed. Otherwise, you may simply get more stressed for being reminded that you still have lots of work to do!

Give it a Lavender Scent

Don’t hesitate to invest on air fresheners as they can make your bedroom look, smell and feel more relaxing. Lavender has been shown to help alleviate stress, lower blood pressure and relieve nervous system arousal – a fact that makes it a great sleeping agent. If you can’t get real lavenders to place in your room, consider using lavender essential oil. Just place the bottle in your bedside table or put a few drops on your pillow. Hmmm, refreshing isn’t it?

Make Your Bedroom Sleep-Friendly

Your bedroom is not an office, not a kitchen, or a recreational area. It is a serene space where you can lie down, chill and sleep. You don’t want to associate it with any stressful places. When in the bedroom, the least thing you want to think of is your unfinished report in the office or the dainty dishes in the kitchen. To keep your bedroom sleep-friendly and completely relaxing, consider using light-blocking curtains, removing unwanted items, and keeping it under a comfortable temperature. You may also turn on your music player to a low volume and play some classical or jazz tunes to help you fall asleep easier.

Quality rest begins with having a comfortable bedroom. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a thousand just to make your room a sleep-friendly place. Doing simple things like changing the colour, using soft lamps, adding more storage as needed, adding a scent of lavender, removing unused items, and doing a little rearranging, you can have the kind of bedroom everyone else is dreaming of – cosy, soothing, and most of all – sleep-friendly!

Dear Readers,

If you were to rate your room from a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest), what will your score be? Do you have some other tips to share about making a bedroom sleep-friendly and relaxing?

Share your comments below.