Not exactly as Shakespeare put it, but the point is made. And, while we are not at Hamlet’s juncture of whether “to be or not to be,” it may veritably seem that way. With so many people, especially adults, plagued by lack of sleep each night, insomnia may as well be the plague, for all the suffering it has caused.  
 
As an interior designer, I’m often asked to create environments that are conducive to a “good night’s rest.” Of course, there is no easy answer; would that there were! Having had to personally deal with insomnia, I am always problem-solving and looking for solutions as to what constitutes the ideal physical and aesthetic conditions in which to sleep. So, what can we do to make our sleeping environment more welcoming and comforting? There are actually several things you can do to make your home receptive to sleep. Here is my checklist.

1. COLOR has a strong pull on our emotional psyches. To sleep better, we need a serene environment.  Blue, tinged with a grey tone, is soft and inviting. It should be combined with off-whites. It’s best to stay away from bold, vibrant color combinations. Pastels are effective, but blue is the color of calm and serenity.
2. DRAPERY has a strong effect on mitigating a room’s brightness. If possible, always have your curtains lined and then interlined with blackout material. Should the confines of your window allow, place a blackout shade (this does not mean it is the color black) to cut out the initial layer of light that may penetrate your bedroom.
3. CEILING HEIGHTS should be lowered over the bed, if possible. This is because if the ceiling is so high, it creates a feeling of being “lost.” In effect, a room with a high ceiling lacks a humanistic appeal of scale, proportion and ratio. Making the sleeper feel like a small pebble in a big ocean, over large and very high spaces are not easing to one’s sensibility. Enclosed spaces are more comforting to the individual. Keep in mind that these types of environments can be achieved in any size room, large or small. It has to do with how well designed your bedroom is and how comforting a feel it evokes.
4. WAINSCOTING is a highly effective tool in creating a comfortable bedroom. Install a chair rail that is close to the height of your bed around the perimeter of the room. Below the chair rail, either paper or upholster the wall; the softer the feel and look, the better. Wainscoting positioned, as such, adds to a sense of enclosure, thus evoking a sense of well-being. This is similar to the womb effect a crib has on a baby. And, if you notice your animals nestling into a corner, it is true for them, as well.
5. WALL UPHOLSTERY is essential for sound absorption. At an optimum, all the walls should be padded and upholstered with fabric. A second best option is wallpaper or a combination thereof. Wallpaper is a good choice if you decide not to upholster the walls. Use an overall muted pattern, one that is recessive and doesn’t pop. Patterns placed below the chair rail and solids above, both in paper and fabric, work best.
6. CARPET your bedroom with plush, smooth wool or silk. Cut or looped is fine. Closely knit fibers are  effective sound absorbents. Again, pay attention to the colors and patterns. Soothing and calming is best.
7. LIGHTING is best when it’s both ambient and task. This means that both an overhead ceiling fixture, whose beam casts an overall even glow, along with bedside table lamps, are most effective. Sconces are also great, because their lighting is usually soft and ambient. Drop lights are fine over the nightstands, not over the bed. All lighting should be on a dimmer, if possible.
8. ARTWORK needs to be comforting to the eye, and not filled with nightmarish, disturbing imagery.  Pastoral scenes, landscapes, beautiful vistas are good whether modern or representational.
9. CLEAR AND CLEAN is best; stay uncluttered. Too many objects for the eye to bounce off of is disruptive. It’s just more to think about at night, when you need to reduce your intake of thoughts.  Here, less is more!

In creating a comforting serene, peaceful environment, perhaps one can now hope “to sleep, perchance to dream.”

Would you like to create a better sleeping environment? Do you need advice on how to make a serene and comforting bedroom?
 
For more helpful ideas and a complimentary copy of the full article email us at Gail@GailGreenInteriors.com.