I love my bedroom! I find that if I have a good night's sleep then I can achieve anything – well almost anything – the next day. Sleep however can sometimes be elusive, for lots of reasons, but I believe it is a good idea to at least start with a calm bedroom environment. I have 5 top tips to help you to set up your bedroom space well so that you have a chance of getting a good rest and being your best self.
This post may contain affiliate links which means that if you click through and buy something I may get a small commission. But there is definitely no additional cost to you.
Fresh Air for a calm bedroom
Even in cooler climates, just a touch of fresh air is one of the most important elements for a comfortable calm bedroom environment.
We all know the stale feeling of air conditioned hotel rooms and however luxurious, well appointed and comfortable they are, many are lacking that all important element – fresh air.
So unless you live in a smog filled city with dangerously high pollution levels then crack open the windows – just a touch – to let in some fresh air. It is free and believe me one of the best ingredients for a good night's sleep.
A soft calm bedroom colour palette
Take note when I tell you that colour will have both a psychological and physiological impact on you. It has been proven that red will make your heart rate quicken – great news for you romantics out there but a bold red bedroom is probably not a great idea if you need to sleep!
Blue has the opposite effect which is why it is the favourite colour choice for bedrooms, by a long way. The key really though is to keep the colour palette simple and muted to create a calm bedroom environment.
Select colours that have large proportions of white or grey so that you knock out the harsh brightness and make them easier to live with.
Neutral colour palettes are sometimes given a bad name by colour enthusiasts as they are perceived to be a little pedestrian, but this beautiful bedroom environment sums it up – a lovely calming and soft colour palette.
Texture and layers are an important element to remember when you are working with either a simple white or neutral scheme. The image above demonstrates this beautifully; a rug over the timber floor, a bed which has several different textured layers in the bedding and cushions. and a heavily textured throw blanket. Wall panelling and the heavy fabric of the curtains also works really well. Natural greenery is always a great addition to a simple white or neutral scheme.
Related: Feminine Bedroom 101
Breathable bedroom fabrics
That you have a good quality mattress, goes without saying, but don't skimp on the bedding and other fabrics used in your bedroom if you would like a calm bedroom environment.
Natural linen is my favourite as it has a beautiful relaxed look and its appeal lies in the fact that it is breathable so will keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Natural cotton too is a great choice, particularly with a high thread count.
This gorgeous bedroom has all the elements I love, beautiful windows, quirky bedside tables and lamps and a pretty soft colour palette – you can even have that touch of red if you use it sparingly!
Related: How to choose an upholstered bedhead
The right lighting for a calm bedroom
As bedrooms are used predominately for sleeping, it is important to ensure you have bedside lamps in addition to overhead lighting that is controlled separately.
I love natural light too as there is nothing worse than a dingy bedroom in a dark corner of the house – you just need to ensure that you have the right window dressings to block out daylight when you need to sleep, but let in the light throughout the day to ensure the room is fresh and clean.
I love the room above with its lovely natural light, unobtrusive roller blind, bedside lamps and feature pendant – great ways to control the light during the day and evening.
A clutter-free zone makes a calm bedroom
Finally avoid the clutter if you want a lovely calm bedroom environment. The image above shows how you can have an interesting environment without clutter. It is important to surround yourself with things that are important to you and add to your comfort but make sure that you don't have piles of magazines, books, clothes etc around.
Use built in wardrobes, bedside tables and chests of drawers to store everything and to ensure that your mind, like your environment is calm and uncluttered.
Related: What's on your bedside table?
If you are planning a bedroom makeover or simply want to update and have a space that is a haven of calm then I have lots of inspiration on my Pinterest bedroom board and I would love to hear from you if you have any comments of suggestions in the section below. I also have a FREE e-book that you can download to help you put together a mood board. These are a very handy tool to gather all your thoughts and ensure that the scheme works together.
You can access it in my FREE Resource Library here.
Interested in making a guest bedroom work? Then you may be interested in these related posts
Related: How to style a holiday house spare room
Related: Country Home Ideas – Guest Bedrooms
Pingback: How to select the right rug - Making your HOME beautiful
Any idea where I can find the 2 blue coral artwork pieces in your “clutter free zone/calm bedroom picture” (image- shift property styling). I would appreciate any info you can give me. Thank you
Hi Rebecca I don’t know unfortunately – you could send the image to Shift Property Styling and ask them. They are gorgeous aren’t they? Sorry I can’t be of more help Samantha
Howdy, we will be building a Hampton style house later this year and looking on the internet, we like the idea in the bedroom of navy blue walls with vivid white trim. Do you think that would work or do you think neutral coloured walls are better for a bedroom. Thank you!
Hi Julie navy blue is a very calming colour and it certainly suits a Hamptons style scheme. Just ensure you have enough light so that it won’t be gloomy. Hope you love your new home. Samantha
Where can I find the bedding and pillows in the picture with the navy blanket across the bottom with blues whites and gray pillows
Hi Marcia I’m sorry but this is an old image and this is no longer available. You could look at Linen and Moore and Aura Home which have some lovely bedlinen. Hope this helps Samantha