Decorating for Sleep
While we're all aware of the importance of decorating your room, there are some guidelines as to how that can affect your sleep! Sure, we might know that floodlights and circus music might not benefit our sleep, but how about the more subtle effects of our room on our sleep?
So, here are some tips to get the best night's sleep possible, while still keeping your room personal and cozy!
1. USE BLACKOUT CURTAINS
Blackout curtains are supremely valuable! In the city, it rarely becomes truly dark. Whether it's general light pollution, street lights, or neighbors, the light of all kinds can keep us awake at all hours of the night, and throw off our circadian rhythm!
Our circadian rhythm is our internal clock, influenced by what our body perceives as daytime, by what light is around us. However, light not in the daytime can make our bodies think it is daytime, making us want to stay awake at night!
It's not hard to see why this would affect your quality of sleep! Investing in some blackout curtains is likely to assist with your sleep, especially if you open them in the morning, allowing natural light to let your body know it's daytime.
2. Use calming colors
Anything too exciting is likely to cause the mind to work more! While you may picture color theory simply as a color chart, color has an entire science dedicated to it, and its effect on the mind! Like how we associate bright red with passion or anger, or green with nature, these associations can cause us to either become relaxed or tense!
Shades and tints matter as well! While a neon green might not be the best idea, pastel green or simply a shade of green you like is more likely to soothe you to sleep rather than paint your room black or white. Still, it's the overall serenity of the room that allows you to sleep, so if you're truly set on a color, just make sure that the rest of the room is properly soothing!
3. Lighting
While no one is likely to be using floodlights in their bedroom, there's more to it than that! Even heavy fluorescents can disturb the mind. It's best to use indirect lighting, like candles and lamps!
While light is needed for morning tasks, in the evening, it's best to wind down with gentler, softer lighting.
A popular choice nowadays is LEDs, which are customizable as to color, intensity, and some even come with timers and strobe effects!
Stay tuned for more sleep tips!