If you’re easily stressed in your day-to-day life, it may be time to cultivate your own relaxing environment, a safe space away from all your troubles. No, that doesn’t mean you have to do severe renovations on the house and create your own personal spa (if only). All you have to do is incorporate a few soothing and sensual elements into your bedroom!
So if you’re suffering from insomnia or just want to have less anxieties as you wind down for the night, check out these easy environmental changes that will give you a much more calming atmosphere!
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Paint Your Room Blue
Become one with the color blue.
If you weren't already aware, blue is the most calming color when it comes to decor. In fact, it's prevalent in so many hospitals because it has a naturally soothing effect that will ease your nerves. The trick is finding the right blue to surround yourself with, and typically you want to lean towards a soft, more neutral tone for your walls.
Not willing to commit to a blue bedroom? Don't worry, a makeshift canopy can make for a blue cocoon, or if you're feeling like adding simple accents, add little cerulean touches with your comforter or curtains.
Available via Amazon: Calming Baby Blue Canopy — $17.39 | Beautiful Blue Matte Paint — $49.00 | Stunning Blue Window Curtains — $28.99 | Charming Baby Blue Comforter — $34.99
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Lavender Scent
Fill your room with the aroma of lavender.
We'll admit that we're obsessed with the miracle floral, and for good reason. Lavender is famed for its ability to relieve tension and anxiety, so that's definitely a go-to scent when it comes to drifting to sleep. Whether you use candles, oil diffusers, or stock up on all of the things, you'll feel ready to drift off on that sweet, stress-relieving perfume.
Available via Amazon: Cool Mist Humidifier with Lavender Oil — $39.99 I Luna Lavender Aromatherapy Spray — $13.25 I Manu Home Lavender Gift Set — $39.50
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Lighting
Light up your room strategically (and darken with care).
That means, first and foremost, abandoning all electronic devices before bed because your mind won't properly unwind with the distracting glow of the screen. Likewise, you may want to invest in black-out curtains to provide you with a dark, cool environment; darkness is imperative for rest.
So then, what lights are the best and brightest (or not brightest, whatever works) for your room? Obviously, you're not going to go for aggressive eye-searing fluorescents. Instead, stick with something minimal, like a bedside lamp and sconce combination. And invest in dimmers to gradually get to that perfect level instead of going from 0 to 100.
Available via Amazon: Aooshine Minimalist Bedside Table Lamp — $20.88 I Single Pole Dimmer Electrical Light Switch — $20.99 I Elitlife Elegant Style Modern Wall Light — $21.99
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Jasmine Potted Plants
Pick out plants that will bring you zen.
Grow a little garden of tranquility next to your bedside! There are a couple of popular picks to choose, and they all help in similar-but-different ways. Jasmine has been proven to reduce anxiety levels and promotes a more restful sleep. Aloe Vera improves sleep quality too by helping to up the oxygen in your room, plus you get all the additional cleansing benefits of its gel center. And Peace Lillies are able to cleanse the environment of toxins, potentially allergy-causing elements that would normally keep you awake.
Available on Amazon: Jasmine Potted Plant — $6.99 I Hirt's Potted Peace Lily Plant — $4.99 I Aloe Vera Plants — $12.00
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Peaceful Sleep
Fill your room with serene sounds.
This isn't for everyone, but if you're having insomnia troubles and feel aggravated by too much silence, you may want to start playing some ambient sounds. There are four types of filler noises that tend to work when it comes to drifting off: white noise, nature sounds, calming music (think classical or light jazz), and soft voices.
Available on Amazon: White Noise Sound Machine — $36.99 I Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser with Built in Speaker — $69.95 I Soothing Sound Machine for Sleeping — $30.99
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Layer Soft Fabrics
Layer your space with soft-to-the-touch items.
There's an obvious tactile advantage to this, but it goes beyond wanting the pleasure of being surrounded by cozy items. Something that creates a visually harmonious balance is having hardwood floors with a very soft carpet on top. A good sheepskin rug has a noise-canceling affect, so whether you accidentally knock over your glasses in your sleep or you put your feet down on the floor in the middle of the night, you'll be allowing yourself plenty of peace and quiet. There's also something to be said for sandwiching soft-upon-soft. Or, you can sandwich a fluffier rug on top of another area carpet for a defined look. The allure of the rugs is that you'll cushion your atmosphere in a way that discourages outside noise.
But of course, feel free to embrace soft layers in the more traditional way—literal and atmospheric coziness can be achieved by draping the right throw blanket (and we're partial to giant, fur-trimmed sweaters blankets) over you.
Available on Amazon: Sheepskin Rug Genuine Soft Natural Merino — $59.99 | Light Blue Swirl Shag Rug — $47.99 | Soft Cream Throw Blanket — $53.99
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Pastel Bedroom
Make your bed extra inviting.
Picking up sheets with a high thread count — which generally implies smoothness — is a great place to start, but be strategic about it. There are a lot of rules because not all sheets at a certain number are of the same quality — generally, you want something over 200, but under 800 because upwards of 800 doesn't make much of a difference. Color selection remains very important here, too. You want to stay away from bold colors and veer towards either white or pastel hues with light accents. Think about how nurseries rely on baby blues, carnation pinks, and buttercup yellows... nothing overwhelming, just a drop of color in a creamy palette. You want to bring in that same practice here, like you're a newborn who has not a care in the world.
Available on Amazon: 700 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheets — $60.00 I White Down Alternative Comforter — $57.94 I Vintage Pink Duvet Cover Set — $27.99
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