Aug 27, 2009, 7:20 GMT
Munich - Despite fresh sheets on the bed, a sufficient airing of the room and care taken not to consume too much coffee during the day, falling asleep is still illusive.
Unfortunately, there's no patented method for getting a restful night's sleep. But there are a few rules about arranging the bedroom, and while they might not ensure sweet dreams, they should help create a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere.
Step 1: Less is more
'Actually, a person can do whatever he wants do to in his apartment, but in the bedroom peace and quiet can be quickly destroyed,' said Nicole Maalouf, an online interior decorator in Germany.
In this room fully furnished doesn't mean comfortable, rather simply crowded. Compared with other rooms, as little as possible should be fitted into the bedroom. It should be light and plainly decorated and offer a calm view from the bed. A mattress and night table are sufficient furnishings, principally.
It is in the nature of bedrooms that they are dominated by one piece of furniture. 'That's why you should otherwise put as little as possible in the room,' said British designer and author Terence Conran. In a calm, straightforward room it is easier to shut down the senses and rest up for the new day than in an unsettled environment full of trivial things.
Step 2: What belongs in the bedroom
When space is so precious that every square metre of an apartment has to be used, the bedroom becomes a room for working, sorting clothes and romping children.
'You have to think about precisely what the bedroom is used for,' said German interior decorator Katharina Dobbertin. 'Do you watch television in bed, eat breakfast in bed?' Sometimes to meet these needs there has to be more than a mattress and night table.
Most bedrooms have a wardrobe. Maalouf recommends selecting one single piece and putting it as close to the bed as possible, but not in a place where its doors could swing open and hit you. She also recommends a nice old chair or stool to lay clothing on because, she said, based on personal experience, pants, shirts and sweaters seldom are put away right after they are taken off.
Step 3: What to leave out: Computers and clutter
When the last thing seen before falling asleep is a stack of files that weren't taken care of during the day, it can badly disrupt sleep. 'A workplace in the bedroom just doesn't belong, otherwise you can't shut down,' said Dobbertin.
Step 4: Use careful amount of targeted accessories
The rules that apply to bedroom furniture also apply to bedroom accessories. A small amount is sufficient. A fluffy rug and a pair of short candles - for especially cozy light - can supplement pillows and linens. That's actually all that's necessary. Dobbertin said it's also important to give the bed a back, either a headboard or something different such as painting the wall behind the bed a different colour or wallpapering it. This creates a 'secure backing' and brings calm to the room.
Step 5: Apply the right colour and light
Relaxing, homey, harmonic: Whether or not this atmosphere prevails in the bedroom depends on a conscious combination of colour and light. Maalouf recommends light tones such as gray and blue, which can make the room feel more expansive.
For lighting she recommends getting by with as few sources of light as possible. This allows the light to adjust to different moods. 'Do without an overhead light in any case because this type of light is almost always blinding in particular when you are lying in bed,' Conran warned. Wall lamps or a pair of matching lamps for the night tables provide a good alternative.
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