It happens to the best of us. We move into our homes with the intention of having the coziest bedroom around, but before long it just becomes another place where we work, study, eat, or veg out in front of the TV. While there are certain pros to many of these things, wouldn’t it be nice to have a bedroom that felt like a retreat?
Here are a few tips for taking back your bedroom, even if you’re on a budget.
Get Rid of Clutter
Whether you have kids whose toys collect around the bed or it takes you three outfits to decide what to wear in the mornings, bedrooms can be magnets for clutter. From bedside reading material to piles of clothes and shoes, it’s tough to relax with all that stuff lying around.
Commit to the mentality of “a place for everything and everything in its place” by doing a quick de-clutter once a day. Place a basket at your bedside for books, magazines, and journals. Get a laundry hamper with a lid that closes so you can quickly move laundry into it and forget about it. And for shoes, bags, hats, and purses, a canvas organizer that hangs vertically from your curtain rod becomes a convenient place to stack your things and easily find them later.
Make it Feel like Midnight
Studies have shown that the darker your bedroom is, the deeper you’ll be able to sleep. Consider investing in a set of blackout drapes to get your room as dark as possible. These thick curtains, which often cling together at the center with the help of magnetic strips, help block out street lamp glare, outdoor noise, and early morning sunlight.
Look for a pair that attaches to the back of your existing curtains or a set that coordinates to your bedroom’s colors. If you like to sleep in or you suffer from migraines, these curtains provide the maximum amount of darkness even in the middle of the day.
Slip into Something Luxurious
Get yourself a set of really comfy sheets. If you have room in your budget and you’ve never owned a set, there’s nothing quite like slipping into a set of high thread count sheets at the end of the day. As a rule of thumb: the higher the count, the better the quality of sheets. Don’t know anything about thread count? Aim for a set around 400. That’s the number Consumer Reports found that most people are satisfied with. These sheets might not help you sleep better, but it’s an added piece of luxury that will make you look forward to bedtime.
On the other hand, there’s no rule that says you have to have high thread count sheets to be comfortable. Jersey sheet sets, which are made from the same material used to make T-shirts, are probably some of the softest sheets you’ll ever come across and they’re a fraction of the price. Don’t believe us? Oprah called them her “best discovery of the year”.
Make Scents of Things
Never under estimate the power of scent. For centuries, a handful of scents have been tied to inducing sleep. Lavender, bergamot, sandalwood, and mandarin are among the aromas said to bring about a sense of relaxation and well being.
There are a number of ways you can incorporate these scents into your bedtime arsenal.
For starters, candles are a popular choice for decorating, but they become all the more sumptuous when they’re actually lit and enjoyed. Develop an evening ritual of lighting a few and snuggling between the sheets for a stolen moment of reflection or a few stolen kisses with your sweetie. Sandalwood, which is said to bring about a calm and meditative state, might be particularly useful in this setting
If you’re afraid of falling asleep and forgetting about those candles, try a scented pillow mist. Available in many stores that carry linens or bath supplies, these concentrated sprays layer a fine mist of scent over your sheets. Spray on just before bedtime and your linens will carry the scent until you drift off. Be sure to look for one that doesn’t stain.
Finally, you can always go old school with your scent by creating a sachet of dried herbs to place between your pillows. You don’t have to be a whiz at sewing – it’s just you who’ll see it, remember? – just slip a handful of your favorite dried herbs between a small pocket of fabric and stitch it up. Lavender, which is still a popular garden plant and dries easily, is perhaps the best choice to fill your sleepy-time sachet.