Can't Sleep? Your Bedroom Could be the Problem

Is your Bedroom Balanced?

Balance is an important concept in interior design, and nowhere is that more important than in where it’s essential that you feel relaxed and at one with your environment. After all, this is where you’re supposed to be able let go of the worries of the day.

Psychologists tell us that when we enter a room, we tend to take in the whole space before we can perceive the specific design features or furnishings. The simplest way to create an impression of harmony and balance in a room, especially a bedroom, is to utilise the principle of symmetry. That’s why most bedrooms have matching bedside tables on either side of the bed and you’ll often find art in matching frames on opposite walls of the bedroom.

Colours Can Actually Help You Sleep

While it’s tempting to create a statement in your bedroom with hot colours like red or vibrant colours like yellow, studies have shown that the best colours for a bedroom are either blue or green, and blue is actually the best colour for inducing sleep hormones. 



Now, you’re probably wondering why colour is so important when you normally have the lights out and your eyes closed when you’re trying to sleep. Well, it’s the wind-down to sleep that makes the difference to whether you’re going to have a good night’s kip or not, the part where you feel completely warm and safe and relaxed.

Cut The Lights

It wasn't that long ago that people went to sleep when the sun set and rose with the sunrise, but modern man's invention of artificial light has shortened the time we spend in bed. Light can play havoc with your sleep. You should be able to dim the lights or use mood lighting to sooth and relax yourself before you go to sleep. Any light from outside your home and even those tiny LED lights on your electronic devices can can prevent or disturb your sleep, so fit light-proof curtains or blinds and keep your gadgets covered or in a drawer. 

Cool Down for the Perfect Sleep

Did you know that your body and room temperature play a vital role in helping you to fall asleep?

Your body temperature naturally fluctuates during the day, reaching its highest point in the late afternoon, before it starts to cool down and prepare your body for sleep. The cooling temperature signals to your brain that it’s time to start the production of melatonin production, the hormone responsible for regulating your sleep. You can aid this process by keeping your bedroom at the optimum air temperature for sleep – between 15 and 19 degrees.

Don't Forget Your Bedding and Mattress

My son was having back problems and wondered whether it could be his posture at work or running that could be causing the problem until his physiotherapist asked him about his mattress. As it happened, he was sleeping on an older mattress that gave him poor support. As soon as he replaced it with a medium-firm memory foam mattress, his back pain quickly vanished. Your bedding plays an important part in feeling comfortable and regulating your temperature at night. 

What About The Kids?

Sleep is even more important for children than it is for adults and as every parent knows, if your kids can’t sleep, then you probably won’t get a lot of shuteye either. One of the reasons we’ve pictured the "treehouse bed" at left is that children can feel happier and more relaxed in a bed that’s uniquely their own and provides them with the sensation of being in a safe cocoon. 

Another reason is that you can't see any toys in the picture. It can be a problem letting children use their bedroom as both a playroom – a stimulating place – and a place for sleep – a peaceful place. It’s a good idea not to leave toys lying about in children’s bedrooms at night and to store them out of sight and mind.