Last week, we confessed that our home indulgence is having our sheets cleaned and ironed; Beth Z recently pointed out some ways to put a hotel room spin on your home bedroom. But more than high thread count sheets and fluffy duvets, what makes a bedroom restful is when it is treated as a retreat from the outside world. This weekend, we visited a friend who has an altar in her bedroom. While you may not want to go that far, here are some ideas for keeping the focus on rest and relaxation...
How To: Get a Better Night's Sleep
- Light: If you're bothered by light, try light blocking shades or a sleep mask.
- Noise: We use a fan to help drown out street sounds but some people like ear plugs or a white noise machine.
- The sense of touch, the sense of smell: Freshly ironed smooth sheets cradle our skin. You may prefer the softness of linen or the plushness of a down filled mattress or the smell of sheets dried on the line. Even better if you spritz your sheets with a favorite scent. Lavender's a classic sleep inducer.
- Air and Temperature: We use a fan at night to block out noise, diffuse scent (we tape a magazine scent strip to the fan and let the air blow through it) and cool the air. Even in the winter we sleep with the fan on and the heat off. Next on our list: an air purifier or humidifier. An orchid plant next to our bed is not only beautiful but helps to filter the air.
- Spiritual space: If an altar's not your style, at least consider eliminating work and television from the bedroom. Declutter the room and clear off all surfaces, including your nightstand of all but the essentials.
- Eating in bed: Although we've been known to eat cookies or breakfast in bed, eating a big meal right before bed can having you counting sheep rather than getting 40 winks. Eat light.
- Tossing and turningIf you can't sleep, get up and out of bed and start a quiet activity (read a book or a magazine, write in your journal, drink a warm cup of milk, take a warm bath) until you start to feel sleepy. Then go back to bed.
[image: Camilla's Victorian Townhouse, Melbourne]
Comments (20)
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Where is that artwork from?
view jamiealyse's profile
That artwork would pretty much guarantee I wouldn't get any rest.
view madampince's profile
yeah that bedroom does not look restful to me. All the clocks!!! Eeek!
view atlantadesigner's profile
Ironed sheets and pillow cases are fabulous! Crisp and Fresh with a bit of linen water. Time consuming to do, but I find it relaxing and meditative.
view reb's profile
The artwork looks like Australian Aboriginal Art.
view banjolamb's profile
I love the scent and feel of clean sheets. How often do you guys change them?
view Esther414's profile
I like how they've taken two very different lamps and made them harmonious by putting the same (unusual) lampshade on them.
view sarajill's profile
The art above the bed is AMAZING, where can I get something like that!?
view That70sHeidi's profile
My friend tries to convince me to iron my sheets but I just don't want to take the time... I shouldn't be so lazy. ( But I love sleeping in my bed anyway.)
view djohnson's profile
That70sHeidi, the photo is from a house tour of a lady who lives in Melbourne. Here's the link:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/at-australia/house-tour-camillas-victorian-townhouse-melbourne-060901
She runs this business:
http://www.camillamolders.com.au/
You may reach her there and find out the source of that painting. Good luck!
I believe it is aboriginal, by the way.
view *heather leaf*'s profile
i agree about "all the clocks! eeek!" at least with all of them right on the bed. everything is too mish-mashed for me. the sheets look nice though! maybe i'd be comfortable there ...once it was dark.
view dM's profile
Actually, I thought that was a good use of the clocks. Visible while in the room. Not visible while lying down in the bed.
I would say that a key to a restful bedroom taking the view while lying in bed into account. One of the cooler bedrooms I've seen (on a decorating show) had a TV that wasn't visible from the bed. The parents could watch weather and news in the AM and non-kid approved shows at night, but not have the TV/bed distraction.
view feathers's profile
I doubt a single orchid will do much for your air quality.
view Griffin's profile
I think it's lovely and the red and deep purples/blues make my brain happy. The kitty is pretty adorable and cuddly looking too!
view Monica's profile
The art, I believe, is a work by Gloria Petyarre. Her paintings have a beautiful sense of movement. Her work is on the top of my wish list.
view wendi_c's profile
I like this room a lot. I recently re-did my own bedroom in lavender and red.
view Lisa Hunter (Montreal)'s profile
No one mentioned the obvious--a cat on the bed will help you sleep (unless he's busy with a serious Power Washing; those can shake the bed!) However your average warm, soft, purring cat is definitely a sleep-inducer.
view kuroneko's profile
I think the first step on the road to better sleep is not to have a print of a gaping black hole over the bed. Yikes!
view repressd's profile
I absolutely love everything about your lovely home! I'm just starting to decorate my little one bedroom garden apartment which is a rental and I've been looking for crystal lamps as well. I love the striped shades. I actually thought they were black and white stripes but I see they have a taupe stripe in daylight.
Along with others, I also love your chandelier floor lamp.
My own kitty would be very happy on that bed too. Thanks for all of the information you've provided. I love Camilla Moulders site as well. I wish I could bring her to San Francisco to decorate my own abode!
view worldtraveler's profile
Wow, I would never try to block out sounds at night with my fan. I live near railroad tracks, and hearing the trains pass is very comforting!
I always drink a glass of cold water before going to bed, and usually sleep pretty well.
view asurroca's profile