Cultivating calm: How to create the quintessential serene bedroom

Given the busy modern lives most of us lead, having a quiet and calming space to retreat to helps us maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Our bedrooms are the perfect place for this in our homes but to set it up for success (as a relaxing sanctuary) you need to be mindful of how you style it as well as think carefully about what you keep in and what you keep out.

Your colour scheme plays a vital role when creating a relaxing bedroom environment. Soft, muted colours like beiges, light greys — even shades of blues and greens can make a a bedroom feel calmer and more serene. Earthy tones also work in this way as they evoke natural elements and sentiments that speak to warmth and stability.

One of the biggest causes of stress in a bedroom, or any space for that matter, is clutter. Ensuring your bedroom remains clutter-free will remove this tension and make it look and feel cleaner too. Simple storage solutions like bedside tables, wardrobes, closets and under-bed storage can help you keep your possessions in order.

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For the mind to be relaxed, the eyes need to be relaxed. Harsh, bright lights in a bedroom can cause the eyes unnecessary strain which is neither good to wake up to nor nice to fall asleep to. Lighting fixtures with warm bulbs and dimmers will give you more than enough ambient lighting as well as a measure of control. You can complement this by using bedside lamps with fabric shades or frosted glass for a gentle glow or even consider candles for a shimmering shine.

One of the easiest and most effective things you can do, as far as relaxing bedroom ideas go, is to incorporate natural elements like pot plants. As already mentioned, evoking nature is a great way to create a calming effect, turning your bedroom into a truly relaxing sanctuary. Popular options include orchids, lavender, snake plants and peace lilies but there are plenty to choose from. On top of this, they will also improve the air quality in your bedroom too.

A relaxing bedroom isn't just about aesthetics and styling but the experience you have in the space too. Key to that experience is the quality of your bed and bedding, features that should be prioritised at all costs. The type of bed that is best will differ from person to person based on sleeping style and preferences and it's crucial to understand that before making your choice. Quality bedding, like sheets, pillows and duvets are a bit more universal with natural fibres like cotton and bamboo good options to ensure a restful night's sleep.

The phrase "peace and quiet" should be front of mind when trying to create a calming space. Admittedly this can be difficult in busy urban settings but you might be surprised how effective some simple techniques can be. Heavy curtains and drapes are a great place to start, acting as sound barriers to minimise outside noises. Soft rugs underfoot can also help dampen noise within a bedroom and from below. If you need more help on top of this, a white noise machine can drown out disturbances throughout the night.

If you want to create the ultimate peaceful sanctuary, filling the air with sweet scents and aromas is a great way to go about it. Certain aromas, such as lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus, have been shown to decrease cortisol levels in the body, making one more relaxed. Diffusers or scented candles can help disperse these scents throughout a room just before bedtime to help you achieve that restful sleep. Floral notes can also work in this way if you'd rather include seasonal botanicals in your space.

While our tech and gadgets are a great source of entertainment and add a huge amount of convenience to our lives, they can detract from your efforts to create a relaxing bedroom. Some of these devices, like our smartphones and laptops, are strongly associated with work (and stress) which can create a bit of tension in the air. The blue light emissions from these devices can also reduce the sleep hormone, melatonin, which can make it harder to get a good night's sleep. Finally, the mental stimulation you get when using these devices can also be intense, again making it difficult to fall asleep.

Textures are a great way to make a bedroom more cosy and inviting because they draw so heavily on our sense of touch. Seeing a warm throw blanket or a plush pillow will immediately make you think of their comforting qualities. Playing with different contrasting textures can also accentuate these feelings even further, for example, a soft rug on a hardwood floor will heighten the softness of the rug. There are plenty of ways to experiment with these and in doing so you'll also make your room more visually interesting too.

There are few things more soothing than the warmth of a fireplace, especially during those cold winter months. It's not just the heat from the fireplace that works wonders here too but the noise, smell and shimmering glow of the crackling fire, adding a lovely ambience to your space. It'll give your bedroom a great focal point, something interior designers always encourage, mesmerising one and all.

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If you're lucky enough to have a reasonably large bedroom, one of the best relaxing bedroom ideas to consider is to create your own personal sanctuary spot. This can be your own little space in the room that you can have just to yourself to enjoy. An example of this could be a simple reading nook with a comfortable armchair, a soft throw blanket and a floor lamp. Another option could be a meditation and yoga space or something really casual like a bean bag. Whatever your choice, it'll allow you to spend more time in your bedroom winding down, allowing it to become the peaceful haven you deserve.

There is no shortage of incredible vistas in New Zealand with plenty of houses built in and around them. If your home is in an especially idyllic location, then you're almost obliged to ensure your bedroom takes full advantage of them. This could involve a range of measures from the drastic, like installing new windows in your room, to subtle, like replacing your heaving drapes with sheer curtains. The ability to include stunning surroundings in your bedroom will have a huge impact, especially natural surroundings which will infuse your space with tranquillity in a very calming way.

The bedroom is your personal sanctuary so it makes sense to furnish it with items that are personal and meaningful to you. Artwork and décor items are excellent ways of doing this as they are often a true reflection of your tastes, passions and interests. Obviously, the specific choices will be different from one person to the next. Some enjoy serene landscapes while others prefer abstracts with soft colours. The same goes for ornamentals and sculptures which are equally diverse. So long as they resonate with you in a pleasant and peaceful way, you'll find they impart the mood you need them to.

As you can see, there are some great relaxing bedroom ideas for you to consider to help you create a private space that is calming and meaningful to you. From selective choices of bedroom furniture to warm overhead lighting and decorative pieces that are deeply personal, you've no shortage of options to help make your bedroom a serene sanctuary where you'll want to spend your time.

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