Alison Hughes Shares 5 Interior Mistakes That Are Affecting Your Sleep

 

Your bedroom should feel like a sanctuary where you go to rest, recuperate, and get away from it all. However, there might be some elements of your interior design that are preventing your bedroom from being the calm, relaxing environment you want it to be. Alison Hughes, Interiors Director at Coast Road Furniture, breaks down five home design mistakes that could be interfering with your sleep.

If you often find yourself feeling restless or distracted when trying to sleep, your interiors could be to blame. Read on to find out if you’re making some common design mistakes in your bedroom and, if so, our top tips on how to fix them:

Not Enough Storage

While keeping your home clean and organised is always important, this is especially true when it comes to your bedroom. It could have the most carefully thought-out arrangement, colour scheme, and light levels, but if your bedroom floor is covered in clothes and the surfaces are filled with clutter then it won’t be the relaxing, welcoming space you envisioned.

In the same way that making your bed in the morning sets a positive, productive tone for the day, going to sleep in a de-cluttered environment can help you feel calmer and more centred as you wind down in the evenings.

Try investing in clear or neutral-coloured home storage equipment to help keep your room tidy without clashing with your interiors. Things like under bed storage boxes, hanging pocket organisers, and extra compartments for your wardrobe can help transform your bedroom into a more calming, tidy environment, so all you need to focus on is getting a good night’s sleep.

Too Much Light

Not having the right curtains and blinds for your bedroom can also have an impact on your quality of sleep. The ideal conditions for a good night’s sleep are a dark and relatively cool room, so if your windows allow sunlight or streetlamps to filter in, this can disrupt how well you drift off each night.

While an eye mask might be an effective short-term solution to this problem, it’s always worth investing in high-quality curtains and blinds if you can. They may be a little more expensive, but things like blackout blinds are an even better alternative to curtains or venetian blinds as they ensure a dark sleeping environment every single night. Just be careful you don’t sleep through your morning alarm!

Wrong Interior Layout

If you can’t make any permanent changes to your bedroom (for instance, if you’re renting the property), then changing the layout of your furniture is one of the best ways to switch up how it feels. For example, if you’re still bothered by sunrises or artificial light through your window but can’t change your blinds, then moving your bed to a different angle or position could help you to create a more sleep-friendly atmosphere.

Additionally, if you often work from home then the layout of your house is even more important. Wherever possible, try to keep your workspace separate from the rooms that you relax and unwind in. For instance, always put any desks and computers in a designated office or spare bedroom, as having your workspace right next to your bed can make it difficult to fully switch off from your day.

Over Stimulating Colour Scheme

While you may have a specific vision for your bedroom interiors in terms of its colour palette and soft furnishings, it’s important to remember the impact colours can have on our mood and energy levels.

Studies into colour psychology have generally agreed that cool tones like blue and green may have a calming effect, and even help to increase our creativity and concentration (Neurofied). This would not only make them conducive to sleep, but it could also be useful when winding down with a book or another off-screen activity like a puzzle.

Similarly, be cautious of painting your walls or furnishing your interiors with colours from the stimulating end of the spectrum like red, orange, or yellow (Verywell Mind). If your heart is set on this palette, however, then using pale, pastel shades of these colours (or accents like pillows or wall art) could help to reduce their energising effects and their interference with your sleep.

Bad Bedroom Atmosphere

Bedding can have a bigger impact on our sleep than you may realise. Sheets and pillowcases made from natural materials like wool or cotton are actually far better than synthetic fabrics for facilitating a peaceful night’s sleep. This is because these natural materials are lighter and more breathable, helping us to regulate our body temperature: this way we’re less disrupted by any temperature fluctuations throughout the night.

Similarly, essential oils and scented candles are a popular way of creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that’s conducive to a great night’s sleep.  However, using too many of these aromatherapy tools at once can overwhelm your senses and end up having the opposite effect. What’s more, you may be inadvertently using oils or scents that are designed to be awakening and invigorating, such as peppermint, rosemary, or sweet orange. Instead, make sure you’re using a few relaxing ingredients like lavender, chamomile, and clary sage in your scent diffusers, body oils, or candles.

Your home should be a welcoming, inviting space where you go to unwind, and this is especially important when it comes to your bedroom. By correcting some of these common interior mistakes, you can avoid any unnecessary stressors that can disrupt your sleep.

 Now you have some tips to work on to improve you sleep.

What are you going to change today in your bedroom?

Leave me a comment as I’d love to know how you got on…

 

 

About The Author

 

Alison Hughes, Interiors Director at Coast Road Furniture.  Previously working for North Wales Police for several years, Alison has been more involved in Coast Road Furniture since 2010.

Possessing a keen eye for interior design, Alison now visits the various furniture trade shows in our industry to select new models for the store. She works to pick out fabrics and colours that work for our particular region. Not only this, but as Interiors Director Alison is also available to help plan décor and furniture for times when we are responsible for fitting several rooms in one customer’s home.

Outside of Coast Road Furniture, Alison is a keen supporter of all things Welsh rugby and heading out for adventures with her grandchild Osian.

To find out more visit the links below:

https://coastroadfurniture.co.uk/

Neurofied- https://neurofied.com/effects-of-color-on-behavior/

Verywell Mind- https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824

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