Turn Your Bedroom into a Relaxation Station

I’ve always felt like my bedroom was my own little sanctuary. After a stressful day, I love to come home to lie on my bed (listening to my Coldplay Pandora station). I like to think my bedroom is a little piece of myself that’s supposed to reflect my style and personality, but I always try to keep the purpose of my bedroom in mind when rearranging my space. Try to keep in mind that our bedrooms’ main purpose is to provide a place for a peaceful night’s sleep.

Creating a bedroom that’s visually appealing is very important to some people, while others might focus on things, such as functionality, harmony or efficiency of the space. Balance is key when it comes to creating a space that you will be able to feel the most comfortable in.

There are systems to help those who are looking to find harmony within their bedroom space. Feng Shui, a Chinese philosophical system, is used to help people harmonize with their surrounding environments. Geomancy is another method that uses the positions of tossed handfuls of soil, rocks or sand to give insight into the balance of a room.

If you’re looking for more of a D.I.Y. approach to finding balance within your bedroom space, below is a list of tips to help you create a more relaxing ambiance:

 

 

Eliminating Clutter

Whether it’s taking five minutes at the end of the day to just organize your desk or straighten a bookshelf, waking up to a clean room will give you a fresh start to the day, according to the Huffington Post article, “6 Things a Restful Bedroom Should Have,” published April 8, 2016. Lack of space is a huge contributor to the small messes that can really add up over time. Invest in a storage tote for smaller items that you’re having trouble finding a permanent place for. You can store them under your bed, then the mess is out of sight and out of mind.

 

Texture

Texture can serve more than one purpose. Textured pieces, such as pillows or blankets, can be design elements but also have the ability to take the comfort level of your space up a notch. I always keep a plush blanket at the bottom of my bed for when I want to feel cozier while reading a book or watching a movie.

 

Personal Touches

Simple, D.I.Y. touches, such as hanging up a few photos or finding artwork that reflects some of your style, can make it easier to connect to your space. For myself, having a picture of my dog on my nightstand makes me feel closer to home every time I look at it.

Katie Gregory, a buyer for Homegoods, suggests finding artwork that matches the color scheme of your bedding to help your space have a more cohesive feel.

“I usually use the color of my sheets as my accent color and try to incorporate a little bit of that color into every item in the room,” she said.

 

Aromatherapy

Essential-oil diffusers can be used as decor but can also serve a very important purpose. Aromatherapy has a variety of benefits based on the type of oil that you choose to put in your diffuser.

Ali Carrigan, an independent sales consultant for an essential-oil retailer, suggests doing some experimenting with different scents before choosing the best mix of essential oils for your space.

“Don’t be afraid to experiment with different options until you find the right balance that you’re looking for,” she said. “Essential oils are a great way to play up the scents found in your room, and it’s much safer than lighting a candle.”

To create a relaxing aroma, Carrigan suggested sticking to scents, such as lavender, jasmine, chamomile or cashmere. I prefer a mix of lavender and mint, as it’s refreshing but not overpowering. Scientific studies have proven some scents, such as lavender and jasmine, have a calming, relaxing effect.

 

Separation

The easiest way to improve your sleeping habits is to make your bedroom, especially your bed, a sleep-only zone. Keep other things, such as homework or studying, to your desk. This will help train your brain to recognize your bedroom as a place for rest.

Julie Youngs, an interior design student at Illinois State University, wrote a term paper for her conceptual design class that focused on creating an effective bedroom work space that wouldn’t take away from the relaxing ambiance of a bedroom.

“I did a lot of research into how even the style of a desk can really change the entire feel of a bedroom space,” she said. “I came to the conclusion that if having a workspace in the bedroom is absolutely necessary, then springing for an old-fashioned roll-top desk will give a person the functional space that they desire, but it will also give them the option to separate themselves from their work with just the closure of a slide.”

Of course, at the end of the day, you’re the only person who knows exactly what you’re looking for in your bedroom space.