Discover how you can easily transform your bedroom into the perfect peaceful spot for relaxation
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Is your bedroom a relaxing haven where you can retreat from the world? Or is it cluttered and messy, with piles of laundry or books on every surface?
The world is a very stressful place at the moment, and we all need a safe space where we can feel relaxed and nurtured.
So why not spend a little time giving your bedroom a makeover to turn it into the welcoming and soothing space you deserve?
You don’t need to spend a fortune or completely redecorate your bedroom. With just a little work and a few well-chosen accessories, you can easily make your bedroom the perfect place to relax at the end of the day.
Read on to find out how…
Clear the Clutter
It’s hard to relax when you’re in a cluttered room, so your first step should be to clear up your room.
Throw away things that are not needed, and tidy up those that you need to keep. Make a separate pile for things that can be sold or taken to the charity shop, and put away things that belong in your bedroom. Anything that belongs in a different room should be taken out of your room.
Next tidy up any laundry and toiletries and put away piles of books, clothes and shoes. You might need to invest in a laundry hamper and some baskets or boxes to organise your wardrobe and drawers. It’s much more relaxing to be able to find things whenever you need them!
You’ll be amazed how much more peaceful your room feels when you’ve tidied up the clutter. It also allows you to see what other changes you need to make.
Lose the Electronics
It can be very tempting to head up to your bedroom to relax at the end of the day with your phone or laptop. But the blue light that electronic devices emit can trick your brain into thinking that it’s time to wake up.
So it’s a good idea to ban electronics from the bedroom, especially if you have trouble sleeping. You can make an exception for e-readers that don’t have a backlight, such as the basic model Kindle.
If you can’t bear to be without your gadgets completely, at least make a point of switching them all off an hour before bedtime.
Create a cosy bed
You probably spend a third of the day in bed, so it’s worth spending time and money to make it as comfortable as possible.
Make sure you have a good quality mattress that supports your body well when you’re sleeping, as this can make a big difference to how well you sleep.
Manufacturers recommend that you should replace your mattress every seven years. Choose the best mattress you can afford, and follow the instructions on turning and maintenance to help to prevent the mattress from sagging and prolong its life.
If you can’t afford to replace your mattress right now, you could buy a good mattress topper instead. This can help to make your existing mattress more comfortable.
Next make sure you have good quality pillows, and replace them every 1-2 years or when they start to sag. Removable pillow protectors make it easy to keep your pillows fresh and hygienic.
A summer duvet will make sure that you don’t get too warm on hot summer nights. Look for duvets that have a 2.5 to 7 tog rating for the spring and summer months.
Then add some high quality bed linen, some accent pillows and a cosy blanket for cooler nights, and you’ll have a relaxing and welcoming bed.
Choose cool colours
Cool colours are the most relaxing ones for the summer months, but you don’t need to totally redecorate your bedroom.
Cool pastel colours are the best for a relaxing summer bedroom. So when you’re choosing paint for your bedroom, look for soft shades of blue, green and grey. If those don’t appeal, then pastel pink and peach can also work. Steer clear of rich jewel tones or bright colours except as occasional accents.
But you don’t need to decorate the entire room for the new season. If your walls are already painted white and you have neutral flooring and furniture, you can easily change the look of your room.
Pick out throws, cushions and accessories in cool pastels, and you’ll soon have a summer bedroom that’s perfect for relaxing in.
Soft Lighting
Bright lights are harsh on the eyes and the lighting in your room makes a big difference to how relaxing it feels.
So put dimmer switches on your ceiling lights and use table and floor lamps to give your room a more relaxing ambience. You could also use fairy lights to give romantic and atmospheric lighting.
Floaty voile curtains at your window will soften the sunlight in your room as well. This will give the light a lovely dreamy look that’s very relaxing.
But do make sure that you have suitable light if you enjoy reading in bed. Eye strain isn’t relaxing at all!
Bring the outside into your bedroom
Adding plants to your bedroom is a wonderful way to give it a relaxing and soothing atmosphere.
Plants soften a room and give it a tranquil feeling, and you don’t need to be a plant expert to take advantage of this.
A large plant can stand on the floor, and will look very impressive. You can put plants on your bedside table or chest of drawers, or group smaller plants together on shelves. Plants that trail from their pot look great on high shelves or suspended from the ceiling.
Plants that are easy to look after include peace lily, monstera deliciosa (or Swiss cheese plant) and succulents. Check the plant’s instructions to find out how often you need to water them, it probably won’t be every day. And make sure that you open your curtains so that they get enough natural light.
And if you really can’t keep plants alive, then you can always add a vase of cut flowers to brighten your room instead!
Add relaxing scents
Don’t forget to pamper all your senses for the most relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom. Scent is the most evocative sense, and picking the right scent for your room can really help you relax.
Try using scented candles, reed diffusors or a vase of fresh flowers to crease a peaceful, spa-like feel to your bedroom.But do remember to blow out candles before you go to sleep, as they can be a fire hazard.
Delicate floral scents like rose, lavender or jasmine work well, or you could try the ever-popular vanilla. Some candles evoke the ozone-rich smell of sea air, which can be very relaxing.