Choose a calming color scheme
Do you find that certain colors *speak* to you more than others? The study of color psychology has proven that color impacts the way we feel, displaying a powerful effect on our mood and physiological reactions. Whether you want to feel happy, uplifted, energized or calm, there will be a color palette to reflect your chosen emotion. When it comes to the bedroom, choosing a calming color scheme is imperative to a peaceful night’s slumber. "What you want to avoid is any color that's overly stimulating or highly saturated," says Tash, Lick's Head Color Specialist. Instead, choose more nurturing shades such as palettes of green and blue that reflect the sea, sky, and countryside.
Invest in your bedding
We spend a third of our lives asleep, so it's important that we're comfortable! There’s no better feeling than sinking into fresh, great quality bed linen at the end of the day - in fact, we feel sleepy just thinking about it. Investing in high-quality natural textiles is one of the best things you can do for your sleep, and not choosing the right set could be coming between you and your best-ever sleep. Ideally, your bedding should be hypoallergenic and kind to your skin, while helping you regulate your body's temperature to keep you cool while you sleep. We would highly recommend the Eucalyptus Silk range from Mela, made from 100% Eucalyptus Silk, which feels equivalent to 1000 cotton thread count. Their weighted blankets are also a must-have if you struggle with night-time anxiety.
Embrace the power of plants
You know that feeling of calm you experience when you’re surrounded by nature? Indoor plants bring that feeling of the outside, in! As well as introducing calming shades of green into your bedroom, research has shown that plants help reduce stress and make you feel more at ease. While our leafy friends look pretty and help regulate our mood, they also purify the air we breathe by releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. As if we needed another excuse to buy MORE houseplants!
Remove all distractions
We firmly believe your bedroom should be your sanctuary, your place to escape. To create this feeling of peace, you need to remove all distractions from your space, whether that’s your laptop, phone or TV (check out our top tips on how to ban your phone from your bedroom!). Your digital devices not only make it difficult for you to switch off, they also emit alerting blue light which confuses your sleep/wake cycle by decreasing the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone), making you feel wide awake. Instead, get lost in a good book, meditate or practice gratitude journaling to help you drift off to sleep.
Get an alarm clock
Sounds simple, right? But most of us still rely on our phone's anxiety-inducing alarm to jolt us from sleep. It's often said that a great night's sleep starts the minute you wake up, and we couldn't agree more. That's why we suggest you make the change and wake feeling refreshed and ready for the day with our Bodyclock sleep/wake-up lights. Did you know that light is crucial for keeping our circadian rhythm in check? Our internal body clock synchronises to the 24-hour day and is the reason we go to sleep when it’s dark and wake when it’s light! Just like our ancestors synchronised their body clock to the natural rising and setting of the sun, Lumie wake-up lights slowly send you to sleep with a fading sunset and rouse you from sleep with a gentle sunrise. This gradual light helps your brain to distinguish day and night in our modern world of technology, alarms and unusual working hours. Say goodbye to your phone's harsh alarm and hello to a restful sleep environment!
Time for your best-ever sleep
Now, we're not saying that changing your bedding or putting a plant on your bedside is going to magically improve your sleep. But, these are just a few small steps you can take to improve the environment in which you sleep, and reframe the way you think about winding down. The few hours before bed really should be your 'you-time', so the power of creating a restful space where you can prioritize yourself and your wellbeing should never be underestimated. Sleep tight!