Designing a Bedroom For Restful Sleep

As the days grow shorter, many of us desire an increased amount of sleep to accompany the longer nights. This occurs because your body produces more melatonin when it is dark, and melatonin causes drowsiness. Centuries ago, people did sleep longer in the winter months. With the advent of artificial lighting, however, people sleep less in the winter. This makes it all the more important to make the sleep you do get as effective as possible. Here are a few design choices in the bedroom that will help you consistently have a great night’s sleep.

Use Simple Bedding

Given the number of weary business travelers that frequent them, it is no surprise that hotel chains have conducted a great deal of research on people’s sleep patterns. Marriott conducted a study at their “sleep lab” in Maryland, testing which amenities promoted better sleep. When it came to bedding, elaborate throws and excessive numbers of pillows interfered with getting a great night’s sleep. Instead, bedding consisting of a sheet, duvet, and minimal number of pillows promoted the best sleep.

Go Natural

Similarly, Starwood Hotels has found that natural themed bedrooms promote restful sleep. As we’ve discussed before, the natural wood tones of your log home are a great start to a relaxing bedroom. To extend the theme further, a few house plants in the bedroom really increase the natural charm. By adding a few paintings or photographs of plants and animals, you can create a great, natural, restful bedroom.

Keep the Room Dark

You will sleep the best if your bedroom is kept as dark as possible. To keep exterior light out, use opaque curtains that block all light. If you keep interior lights on in the house at night, keep your bedroom door closed. Blue light is the most disruptive to sleep cycles, and modern devices like smartphones and computer monitors tend to emit a great deal of blue light. For this reason, it is best to refrain from using electronics for up to an hour before you plan to sleep.

Keep the Room Cool

Many people keep their home very warm in the winter, but this is not the best strategy for sound sleep. For most people, the ideal sleeping temperature is between 64- and 70-degrees Fahrenheit. If you have a heating system with a separate zone for the bedroom, consider lowering the temperature at night and raising it in the morning. This will allow you to sleep well and still make it easy to wake up in the morning.

We hope these tips for creating a bedroom that make the most of your sleep cycles has been helpful. If you’re looking to design a bedroom and log home that are ideal for both your sleeping and waking hours, please call Real Log Homes today or fill out the form below for more information.