Can Interior design cure insomnia?  I say, Yes!  Experts agree that certain criteria are necessary to encourage a good night’s sleep.  They all have found that calming, clutter-free rooms are essential.  If you need to get a better night’s sleep, evaluate your bedroom as if you have never seen it before.

Dr. Rafael Pelayo of the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine shared, “We sleep best when we feel safe, when there’s serenity in our lives.  But we often lack serenity.  One of the things we do with our patients is create an environment of serenity in the bedroom-we make their bedrooms sanctuaries.  You shouldn’t view sleeping as a chore.  It’s a reward-it’s a place and time to enjoy.”

Here is where interior design enters to change lives.  Hardwood floors are very popular, but carpeting is a better choice in a bedroom.  Quiet is necessary to help with sleep.  Your devices are not welcome.  They can wreak havoc on the body’s circadian rhythm.  There should not be a desk or any piece of furniture or accessory that speaks of work including the laundry basket.  The most important piece of furniture is the bed.  Bedside tables, comfortable chairs, sofas or benches are welcome.  The experts say that sleeping requires room darkening window treatments.

Please choose a comfortable mattress and pillows.  There are many options in the market.  The bed should be dressed with luxurious fabrics and sumptuous pillows.   Patterns should be horizontal rather than vertical.  Vertical lines are active, horizontal lines are calming.  Soothing colors are essential.  This example is a clear statement of drama, not a relaxing experience. 

Bedding should be seasonal, accommodating those warm summer nights and snowy winter experiences.

Lighting is very important.  It should all be dimmable.  Bedside lighting for reading is key.  In today’s vernacular, chandeliers are a wonderful statement.  Change out that harsh out-of-date ceiling fixture for a charming drum chandelier.