Creating a Sleep Retreat You’ll Never Want to Leave

Why is it important to create a great sleeping space?

Our bedrooms are our safe havens, somewhere we spend half of our entire lives. A good night’s sleep produces a clear mind and ready body for the strenuous and demanding day that follows.

The right sleeping space can cocoon and comfort you at the end of your workday and provide a safe place to freely be yourself.

Here are the steps I follow to accomplish a restful sleep retreat:

Layered Bedding

Using all sorts of bedding means you’re giving yourself options. As a Canadian, I am well versed with the seasons and fluctuation of weather temperatures. Summer nights are hot and winters are terribly cold. In the spring and fall, you could feel like getting cozy one night or want a light sheet another night. Most often, I find that when I layer sheets, duvets, coverlets and throw blankets, the physical weight of those layers holds me securely and keeps me from tossing and turning through the night.

Here’s what you need:

• Fitted sheet
• Flat sheet
• Coverlet
• Duvet
• Quilt or throw blanket

Textiles

I’ve never been a good sleeper and, sadly, that’s the reality for a lot of people in the world. We are busy creatures and a lack of good sleep can really throw us off. In my case, having a dark and quiet room can make a world of difference. Textiles are natural sound dampeners and can block out light for a cocoon-like feel.

Here’s what you need:

• Large plush area rug or carpet that is cozy and sound dampening. For a king-size bed, you’ll need a 9-foot-by-12-foot minimum; a queen bed needs an 8-foot-by-10-foot rug. If your bed is smaller than a queen, though, I’d still recommend an 8-foot-by-10-foot rug.
• Blackout draperies. They help dampen sound and light and help regulate a room’s temperature. If you’re extra particular about light leaking in through the windows, you can use a return drapery rod, which allows drapes to wrap all the way to the wall for maximum blackout effect.

Layered Lighting

All good designers know the importance of lighting and how it affects a room. I like to think of lighting as the emotion of a room, because different types of lighting can really change its mood. Bright lights are utilitarian, whereas dim lights are romantic and relaxing. Sometimes all we need is a task light for putting on glasses, reading or helping guide the way to the bathroom. If you give yourself as many lighting options as possible to choose from, your room will begin to work for you and your lifestyle.

Here’s what you need:

• Overhead or flood lights, such as pot lights.
• Decorative fixture. This gives you an opportunity to add some personality and acts as a flood light.
• Hidden lighting. This could be used under or in cabinetry, lining closet systems or around the perimeter of the bed. This type of lighting is meant to highlight the architecture or furniture in a room, which enhances your experience of it.
• Task lighting. This includes table and floor lamps at appropriate places.
• Night lights. You can interpret this how you’d like, but I do think it’s important to have discreet lights in your room to help you get from point A to point B without waking yourself up, so to speak.

Personal Touches

Your room is yours after all, so it wouldn’t feel like yours without those special touches and items that mean something to you.

Here’s what you need:

• Pictures of loved ones.
• Favorite fragrance(s).
• Favorite small treats (such as candies or mints). Dress your room like a hotel and you’ll always feel pampered.
• Mementos or pieces acquired that hold special meaning.