HG Openhouse Blog

Decorating your bedroom is indeed an art form.  But so is sleeping!  I’m always envious of those who fall asleep easily, stay asleep all night, and wake up perky in the morning (5 minutes BEFORE their alarm clock goes off).  Aren’t they annoying? LOL

For the rest of us “sleep-challenged” folks, there may be simple reasons why we’re not sleeping through the night. Perhaps your bedroom is not sensual enough. 

Think about your five senses (we’ll leave the famous sixth sense alone for this exercise).  Is there something you can change in your bedroom that might help you? 

Sight

• Darkness – make sure curtains block enough light, and check room electronics – they can put out a lot of light!  Consider power strips to turn them off and save energy while you sleep (but not the alarm clock!).
• Keep your décor minimal and with a clear focal point (typically the bed) to allow your eyes to rest.  Avoid the temptation to go crazy with accent pillows as they can make a room too formal.  Seriously – you can have too many decorative pillows!

Sound

• It’s difficult to fall asleep in a bedroom that is too noisy OR too quiet.  But the solution is the same in both cases.  Consider adding a fan for some white noise.

Touch

• Sheets matter – go silk or high percale. You and your quality of sleep are worth it!  Consider flannel for winter months.
• Temperature.  Ever wake up cold in the middle of the night? Lay a quilt at the bottom of the bed in a tri-Z fold so you can pull it up without fully waking up.  3 am is not the time to negotiate a fold in a blanket!
• If you have wood or tile floors, add a soft area rug to greet your morning feet.

Taste

• Keep a glass or bottle of water handy.

Smell

• Scented candles or flowers (if not allergic) can add a layer of aromatherapy to the room. I’m also a fan of pillow sprays. 

What other ways can you make your bedroom more sensual?