People spend a lot of time, effort, and money in designing the common areas of the house like the living room and the kitchen. Sadly, bedrooms take a backseat. In a day, Bedroom essentials is necessary because you spend an average of 8 hours in your bedroom. Shouldn’t this space require equal, if not more of your attention?
Coming home to a comfortable, well-designed, and cozy bedroom is a luxury that everyone should enjoy. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to achieve this. Here is a list of 7 bedroom essentials that you need to have a good night’s sleep every day.
1. Mattress
There are no second thoughts about the importance of a good mattress. How old is your mattress? If you cannot remember which year you bought it, then maybe it is time to change it! Mattresses get saggy and bumpy with time. These can end up causing pain and discomfort when you sleep.
There are so many options when it comes to choosing mattresses – foam, innerspring (coils), latex, memory foam, and hybrid are few types depending on the filling inside. In terms of firmness levels, these mattresses vary between scales of extra soft to extra firm. Talk to your mattress provider and understand which model suits you.
Once the right mattress is in place, that’s half the work done.
2. Bedding
In the list of bedroom essentials needed for a good night’s sleep, bedding is also one of the most important factors to consider. Bedding is also called bed linen and includes all the types of fabrics you add over a mattress to protect and decorate it. Are you a person who checks just the print/design on bedding linen and ends up choosing it?
You would be surprised to know that there are a lot of factors that play a role in making your bedding comfortable. The material matters. Pick up pure cotton bedding that is safe and soft on the skin and also low maintenance all through the year.
For those who have a keen love for handmade stuff, handwoven and handcrafted bedding made of vegetable dyes and natural block prints is perfect. These make your bedroom look unique and comfortable and add to the aesthetic appeal too.
Choose bed sheets with higher thread counts for winters and moderate thread counts for summer. Pick up bedsheets that get softer with every wash. This extends their life and also ensures you sleep comfortably.
3. Pillows
Have you seen few pillows retailing for a couple of hundred rupees and others for thousands? What makes the difference? The quality of the filling and the material it is made out of matter. Some pillows offer neck and shoulder support too. Are you a person who prefers thicker, harder pillows or wants soft ones? Make a choice. Your pillow determines how comfortably you sleep all through the night.
A bad pillow can end up causing muscle strains and neck pains.
Pick breathable, cotton pillows that keep you cool all through the summer too.
4. Lighting
Experts say that using really harsh and bright artificial lights in the bedroom can confuse your biological clock. When you are in a dark place, the body secretes a hormone called serotonin. This hormone helps the body relax and fall asleep.
It is recommended you use neutral and subtle lighting after 7 PM in your bedroom. This helps you fall asleep quickly and sleep for an extended period. Consider using eye masks if you have a partner who wants the light on after you go to bed.
Are you a person who likes to read at night before falling asleep? A nice bedside lamp is a good investment then. This not only makes your room look cozy and elegant but is also very practical.
5. Ventilation
Does your room have windows that allow cross ventilation? A lot of people find it difficult to sleep if the room feels stuffy and claustrophobic. You can add sheer curtains to the windows to allow a fresh breeze in the daytime. At nights, use net meshes for the windows and have blackout curtains that block light but allow cross-ventilation to sleep better.
6. Uncluttered Bedroom Space
Consider the below bedroom. How happy would you be to come back and sleep here? Will you fall asleep quicker or take more time? Does the clutter bother you? According to experts, when your bedroom has a lot of unwanted clutter, the mind keeps unconsciously going through the objects around and takes time to sleep. Such clutter is also the breeding house for microorganisms and dust mites.
Do a deep clean once in a while and remove objects and furniture that are not needed in the bedroom. Keep the space clean, uncluttered, and minimalistic to sleep better.
7. Fan or Air-Conditioning
Staying cool is important if you want to sleep better. In a country like India where the summers are extreme, fans and air conditioners are a must in all bedrooms. These not only keep your room cool and ventilated but also act as a source of white noise, helping you sleep.
Conclusion
Sleep is one of the most important needs for human beings. Lack of sleep can cause a variety of physical and mental health issues. How do you feel when you get up in the morning?
Irritable, angry, and tired?
It means you have not had a good night’s sleep. The lack of one or more of these 7 bedroom essentials could be causing havoc to your sleep routine. Slowly work through this list and see the dramatic difference in your sleep quality.
