6 Ways To Create A Relaxing Bedroom Sanctuary For Better Sleep

relaxing bedroom sanctuary plants hammock and platform bed

Your bedroom should be reserved for sleep and relaxation. But, with the hectic lives we all live, this sacred space often becomes the office, television room, and playroom for many of us.

Instead of keeping our bedrooms off-limits to anything outside of sleeping, we’ve invited the chaos in through television, laptops, and smartphones, not to mention the binge eating during Netflix marathons.

Unfortunately, doing this has led to less sleep and higher stress levels.

It’s time to take back your bedroom and create a bedroom sanctuary that promotes a sleep-positive environment.

To create a relaxing bedroom sanctuary you don’t need to spending a lot of money, buy new furniture or take on an entire room makeover.

It’s about clearing out the chaos and distractions to create a serene and restful space so you can sleep better and feel more rested each morning when you wake up.

The following six ideas will help you create a bedroom sanctuary that focuses on an open airy natural space that whispers relaxation and instills peaceful vibes.

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01. Choose A “Cool” Paint Color

blue painted bedroom

As much as your favorite color may be fiery orange or sunshine yellow, the bedroom is not the place for bright, vibrant walls.

Instead, choose a soothing color. Many studies have concluded that color affects our mood, emotions, energy level, and sense of order (or disorder).

When it comes to choosing a paint color for your walls we suggest sticking to cool colors such as:

  • blue
  • green
  • light purple

Cool colors create a calm, relaxing, and soothing energy, perfect for a bedroom.

Your bedding should also be simple and neutral. If that sounds boring to you…well that’s the point.

You want your bedroom sanctuary to feel relaxing and calm, not flashy and upbeat. But, if you really feel the need to add something vibrant do it with accent pillows.

02. Breathe Better With The Help Of Plants

large plant beside blue denim bed

Plants are an excellent addition to any bedroom sanctuary. Not only do plants look beautiful, but they also help purify the air in your bedroom, which creates a better atmosphere for sleeping.  

Plants naturally convert carbon dioxide into oxygen during photosynthesis, increasing the oxygen level in your home. With good oxygen flow comes a good night’s sleep.

Related Reading: 10 Best Bedroom Plants To Spruce Up Your Decor

Another benefit to having plants indoors is they help reduce stress. Just like going for a walk in nature is a great way to release stress, you can replicate this feeling in your home by bringing some of nature indoors with you.

Here’s a few different ways you can add plants to your bedroom decor.

  • Hang English Ivy from your favorite hanging planter, in a corner near a window.
  • Place an Areca Palm inside an oversized natural seagrass woven basket in a bright corner.
  • Plant a Snake Plant inside a decorative pot and place it in a short plant stand beside your nightstand.
  • Place an Aloe Vera plant on your dresser or nightstand. As an added bonus, aloe vera plants are an excellent skin moisturizer.

Related Reading: 10 Decorative Indoor Hanging Planters + Where To Hang Them

03. Create Ambience With Proper Lighting

create a relaxing bedroom sanctuary with ambient lighting and plants

Lighting plays an important part in creating a relaxing bedroom sanctuary. We like to use a combination of overhead lighting and task lighting, all with dimmers. This way you can create a brighter space when getting ready in the morning, and a soft ambient space when preparing for bed.

Take advantage of natural light in your bedroom by opening blinds/curtains when you awake. When getting ready in the morning, use the dimmer on your overhead light to adjust how much light you need. This will help prevent you from feeling overstimulated by bright light, giving your mind and body time to adjust naturally to the new day.

For task lighting (bedside lamps), use soft white/warm white light bulbs. Lifehacker has compiled this comprehensive guide to help you choose the best light bulbs for every room. The warm white bulbs are bright enough for you to read before falling asleep yet contain less blue light, making it easier for your eyes to adjust and prepare for sleep. Try this 3 stage dimmable bedside touch lamp.

If you have a large bedroom with seating space, consider placing a chandelier over the sitting area for a unique focal point. Chandeliers are no longer just for dining rooms, this unexpected element is sure to add a calming elegance to your bedroom.

04. Give Your Feet A Soft Place To Land

grey tones bedroom sanctuary

There’s always a big debate when it comes to which type of flooring is better in the bedroom – hardwood or carpet?

As Debbie from The Flooring Girl explains, her customers are split 60/40 on the decision. This one really is going to come down to personal preference.

Our suggestion is, if you’re going to use hardwood flooring in your bedroom, add a soft shag area rug, around your bed so your feet have something warm and relaxing to feel right before getting into bed and something plush to land on when climbing out of bed.

If you opt for full carpet throughout your bedroom, make sure to give it a good shampooing every 12-18 months. Not only will this extend the life of your carpet, but it will also remove any built-up dirt and debris that isn’t always visible to the naked eye.

Because flooring in the bedroom is going to be decided based on personal preference, go with what is going to make you feel the most comfortable and relaxed. Aim for flooring that that will add to the chill vibe of your new relaxing bedroom, keeping colors soft and neutral.

05. Sink Into Comfort

bed with white knitted throw and accent pillows

Linen is an excellent choice for sheets, they’ll keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. New linen sheets often feel a little crisp to the touch, but they soften up over time and use.

These linen sheets are a top seller on Amazon and are an excellent choice to create a relaxed inviting look that also feels great to sleep in. 

Even though the linen sheets are what you’ll feel against your skin while sleeping, the major piece of comfort comes from the top. To keep your bedroom light and airy feeling, choose an all-season duvet and cover it with a textured duvet cover that is light-weight and encourages you to sink into comfort.

For the final touch on your bed, you’ll want to have an array of pillows. For the most comfort, choose pillows that match your sleeping position (two per person should be plenty). You can then add an array of accent pillows of different sizes with different fill types that can be used to create a visual appeal while also contributing to your sense of touch.

06. Keep Things Organized

wicker laundry hamper with clothes

You want to have space to move around in your bedroom. By keeping things organized and only having the amount of furniture necessary, not only will you have space to move around, your mind will feel at ease when you enter.

Clutter is a reminder of things not completed which has no place in the bedroom. By removing work materials, toys, and any other items that don’t pertain to relaxation and sleep, you’ll be able to create a mental association between sleep and your bedroom.

In keeping with the feeling of serenity and space to move around, don’t cram too much furniture in your bedroom. A nightstand for each side of the bed and a dresser are adequate. Your closet will hold any clothes that need hung or don’t fit in the dresser. If you absolutely need more storage space, choose a tasteful armoire that is not too big for the room.

You’ll also want to keep your dirty laundry tucked away – out of sight, out of mind. One way to keep your dirty clothes off the floor is to place a woven hamper. We love this extra large woven rope hamper from Amazon’s best sellers list. Place it in a corner or inside the closet. Not only will this help keep things organized, it will also add texture to your space and add to the natural relaxing vibe. 

Put It All Together To Create A Relaxing Bedroom Sanctuary

The most important thing to remember when creating a relaxing bedroom is that your bedroom is a place where you go to relax. A place to unwind and let go of the day’s stressors.

If you’re someone who skipped to the bottom, here’s a quick summary of the 6 steps to create a bedroom sanctuary:

  1. Choose a cool paint color such as blue, green, or light purple
  2. Create ambiance with lighting by using dimmers and avoid blue light
  3. Breathe better with the help of plants that will work to purify the air and create oxygen
  4. Give your feet a soft space to land, whether that be wall-to-wall carpet or using a shag rug around the bed
  5. Sink into comfort under a soft set of linen sheets topped by an all-season lightweight duvet
  6. Keep things organized by using hampers for laundry and limit furniture to only what is necessary

Use the above six decorating tips to create a place of peace and relaxation where you can leave the rest of your troubles behind.

Let me know how much better you sleep after incorporating some (or all) of these tips in your bedroom.