While it may have other uses, the bedroom is primarily for sleeping; and if it’s not helping you sleep, its not doing its job.  Some people don’t consider sleep as a priority when they’re designing or decorating a bedroom, only to find themselves having trouble drifting off at night. Here, we’ll take a closer look at the design elements you should be focusing on if you’re trying to improve your sleep, rather than aesthetic concerns alone.

Make Your Mattress Your First Priority

A good mattress is the backbone of good sleep, in that it can directly affect how your backbone is supported, which dictates your comfort levels. There are all kinds of innovative mattress designs to consider, incorporating memory foam, cooling surfaces, and even those that make less noise. Choosing the right softness level should be a priority, however, as firmer beds tend to work best for those who sleep on their back, and softer mattresses allow people who sleep on their sides to cushion those contact points more effectively.

Balance Temperature With Your Bedding

A comfortable sleep environment is all about the temperature. Too cold or too hot, and you’re likely to be waking up in the night. This can be made worse by bedding that traps heat or moisture, leading to overheating, night sweats, and frequent waking. Breathable bedding options like Antipodean Home wool bedding, which allow you to layer on the warmth when you need to, but without trapping it under the covers with you. Layering lightweight blankets with insulating options like wool comforters allows you to adjust warmth without disrupting sleep, allowing for a little flexibility to adjust during the changing seasons.

The Importance Of Adjusting Your Light Levels

Lighting plays an important role in preparing the body for sleep. In general, you should avoid blue light from digital screens in the bedroom and, as you’re preparing for bed, use warm, low-level lighting like lamps or wall sconces to avoid the harsh glare of overhead lighting, while creating a more calming atmosphere. This soft light can help with the body’s natural melatonin production, which helps the body transition into rest mode. Preventing environmental light with blackout blinds and heavy curtains can be just as important, too.

Control Noise To Prevent Deep Sleep Disruption

Excessive environmental noise can keep you up for longer, making it difficult to drift off. Even when you do manage to get to sleep, noise can cause barely perceptible mini-awakenings at night that deeply affect your sleep quality. Using draft excluders and other noise blockers to prevent external noise can be greatly helpful, but a lot of people find it easier to sleep with a white noise machine. This effectively creates a wall of low-level background noise that the brain easily acclimates to, and also makes it difficult for other background noises to break through and grab your attention.

Any time you’re thinking about redesigning the bedroom, think about how it’s going to affect your sleep environment first and foremost. That way, you can avoid decor mistakes that might keep you up at night.