The outside world is hectic, lively and demanding in both exhilarating and taxing ways. So when we return home, we are looking for a haven. Whether it be to shelter us from stress and overwhelm or to put up our feet from fulfilling and productive activities. We need our homes to be a space in which we can be restored, especially our bedrooms, the place where we rest the most. So how do you create a restorative bedroom?
Our bedrooms can be more than somewhere we flop down onto a bed in and go to sleep. They can be a place we can sink into relaxation and find peace and solace. And it doesn’t need to take much to flip your bedroom into somewhere you LOVE to spend time either. With little tweaks and some intentional action, you can create a sanctuary that restores you.
the benefits of rest
And we need rest + restoration. It’s essential for our health, happiness, productivity and mental clarity. When we get great sleep and take time for rest it gives us the ability to show up in our lives. We can do that workout or come up with creative ideas for your passion project. We can be present with our kids, knock a few extra things off the to-do list and feel good.
And the list of benefits is a long one. From better memory and performance to less weight gain to better mental health and a decreased risk of illness. Sleep and rest are the basis of good health.
Not only does rest build our physical and mental health but it also builds our self worth. When we make it a priority, we’re showing ourselves love and care, which is a reflection of our self worth.
3 ways to create a restorative bedroom
No matter what your budget, busyness level or space, you can create a restorative bedroom. This involves action more than decorating, however being intentional with your decor can have big impact as well.
1. Declutter, declutter, declutter
Nothing is more stress inducing than being surrounded by clutter. Piles of undone tasks, things that need to be put away and seeing and feeling the dust collecting around it is the opposite of restorative.
This step takes zero money, just a little effort and you can find peace in your bedroom. Start by decluttering surfaces, allow the eye to relax. Whether it’s your nightstand or your dresser top, get real about what you are actually using and what is just taking up space. If you took 20 minutes each evening, by the end of the week you could be looking at a drastically different space. No stack of unread books on the night table, decor that’s just collecting dust or laundry that needs to be put away (but has somehow found a permanent fixture on your dresser top).
Simple action and a commitment to creating space for yourself will lead to results fast.
2. Unbusy your space
When there is a lot going on visually, it’s hard for our minds to relax. There is a reason when you go into a spa that the spaces aren’t colourful or full of pattern, it’s relaxing to be in. Now that’s not to say you can’t have pattern but assess what’s happening in your room. Do you have a loud, floral duvet AND curtains, lots of decor bits on the dresser and 12 throw pillows?
What can you simplify? Where can you soften?
When we get intentional about what we bring into our spaces, we can create the feelings we want to have. Allow your mindset to shift towards the benefits of simplifying vs the sense of scarcity it can evoke. Love pattern? Go for it! Just make sure it’s adding value in your space and not just ‘there’.
3. De-techify
You know what I mean. If you want to create a restorative bedroom, you need to be thoughtful about technology.
Staring at a screen right before you doze off affects your sleep. I also recently learned in Feng Shui, that having too many electronics in your room can lead to feelings of being ‘wired’. So what can you unplug in your room?
If you have a television or lots of gadgets, trying moving them out for a week and see how you feel. No one says you have to stick with it but isn’t it worth a try to get a sense of how tech is affecting you and your sleep?
be intentional
The more thoughtful and intentional we are with our spaces, the more we can gain from them. Our homes are our safe spaces. The place we go to shelter from the world, so each step you take to make them more restorative, the more peace you can cultivate in your life.
And taking the time to make our bedrooms calm, clutter free and a place we can restore ourselves is a gift of self care we all deserve.
