The home is a healing space that we retreat to at the end of our day. With the overwhelm of the outside world and so many things demanding our attention, it’s important to create a space that reinvigorates us for the day ahead and that promotes sleep for a restful and restorative slumber. Here we’ve put together a list of few simple updates to your bedroom to help ensure a better night’s sleep.

De-clutter

To put it simply, clear out the clutter. Sometimes our bedrooms can accumulate things that don’t belong. If there are things that don’t serve a purpose to your space, find another place for it to belong or alternatively gift or donate it. Remove any reminders of work — if you are working from home, you may have a desk set up in your bedroom; is there a way this can be cleared away at the end of your day? Ensure there are no reminders *or alerts* while you are in bed. Having a clutter free and organised environment helps to inspire calm, improve focus and lower levels of stress, putting you in a more relaxed state for ideal sleep.

Lighting

As it gets dark, avoid the use of bright fluorescent lighting and dim the lights with a lamp or candle. Also consider reducing exposure to screens for some time before bed. Too much exposure to blue light in the evening can disrupt the rhythm of our natural body clock, contributing to poor sleep. One way to incentivise tech boundaries is this phone home by Rachel Saunders Ceramics. A home for your phone, based on the concept of giving all the objects in your home a designated spot to live in order to create harmony and routine. Designed to inspire healthy tech boundaries, mindful screen time and a restorative sleep routine. Regain rhythms and take agency over your time by putting your phone away before bed or any time during the day when you need time to disconnect. 

Phone home by Rachel Saunders Ceramics

Scent

Create a nightly ritual with scent. You can do this by mixing some relaxing oils into a diffuser, adding a scented candle or incense to your space that can be routinely lit before bed or simply spraying a pillow mist before sleeping. By creating intentional rituals with scent, it can help signal to our brain we are nearing bed time — bringing us closer to a relaxed state. There is research to show small physical acts done regularly with awareness imprint on our sub conscious creating positive feedback loops and new neural pathways. Read more on the benefits of scent here. 

Linen

Nothing compares to the feeling of fresh bedding and we can’t deny the benefits of quality linen bedding for a better nights sleep. The thermoregulating benefits of sleeping on natural fibres, help to regulate your body temperature, ensuring you stay temperate and comfortable regardless of the season. Linen is also one of the hardest wearing natural fibres and becomes softer with every wash. With absolutely no need to iron, linen is effortless and visually delicious, view our linen here. There is also something to be said for making your bed before beginning your day. Not only offering a sense of calm it also creates a feeling of accomplishment, and helps to set the tone for your day. As well, serving as a welcoming oasis to return to as the day draws to a close. 

Zinc & Moon linen bedding available here.

Sound                                                                                            

Try to minimise noise where possible. If you have difficulty switching off, there are some great audio options that can help induce sleep or simply act as a relaxation aid. The Sleepstream App offers a rich selection of calming sounds and soothing melodies such as ocean waves and thunderstorms. Alternatively the mindfulness Calm App features hundreds of calming exercises, helpful breathing techniques, and narrated sleep stories to help drift off to. 

Greenery

Not only purifying the air by absorbing toxins; plants can add life to a space, boost your mood and rejuvenate the body and mind. There is research to show the presence of plants in an interior environment can help to reduce stress levels and fatigue. Absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen while you sleep, the perfect bedroom companions are of the sansevieria, pothos, orchid and aloe vera variety. 

We hope this article may help you find a few simple adjustments to creating the perfect sleeping environment, helping you to find peace and comfort in your own space. We would love to hear any suggestions you may find helpful for getting that perfect night’s sleep, feel free to drop us a line. Or if you know someone who may benefit from this article, feel free to pass on.