Bedrooms for Better Sleep!

March 3, 2020

If you find it easier to sleep in the winter when nights are longer and cooler, the idea of summer coming may not be as welcome to your slumber as to your outdoor activities. But sleep doesn’t have to be elusive during the warmer months and to prove it we rounded up the best advice to make your bedroom the ultimate refuge for rest and relaxation.

Soothing Colors for Better Sleep

No doubt you’ve heard the experts recommend low lights and soothing colors for the most conducive sleeping environment. According to Our Sleep Guide, the best bedroom color for sleep is a shade of blue – lighter is very relaxing and deeper, darker blue is more dramatic but still soothing. The next best color for sleep is yellow! This one surprised us since we think of sunshine, but in a study of over 2,000 Travelodge guests, it was the second-best color for sound sleep.  Participants in the study got 7 hours and 40 minutes of sleep – on average – in a canary-yellow bedroom.

Light and darkness play a huge role in facilitating restful sleep. The absence of light sends a critical signal to the brain that it’s time to switch off and get some rest. When you expose your brain/body to light at the wrong time, it alters your internal sleep clock. Red light helps you sleep better, and blackout shades and curtains help keep natural summer light from waking you too early – like at say, 5:00 a.m.

In a recent Wirecutter blog, 12 models of blackout shades were tested to find the most effective shades that block out light. The Select Blinds Classic Cordless Blackout Shade proved to be the best, and a panel unanimously agreed it was both attractive and efficient — with a wide selection of sizes and colors. The runner-up proved to be IKEA’s Trippevals with the only drawback being the limited number of sizes and colors.

Check out the looks and options (70 in total) for covering your windows and blocking any or all light at The Sleep Judge. 

Pillows and Mattresses for Your Sleeping Style

Sleepopolis says that unless you have back pain, a firm mattress will generally be more comfortable. On a firm surface, your bones will absorb most of the pressure, relieving stress to the muscles, veins and arteries. A firm mattress improves circulation since the body weight is more evenly distributed.

A softer mattress is generally better for side sleepers since it cushions hips and shoulders better and aligns the spine. While it’s all a matter of preference, the drawbacks for bed-sharers are conflicting preferences. Of course, right? Sleepopolis has plenty of in-depth reviews to peruse if you’re in the market for a new mattress, including some split mattresses for bed sharers.

Pillows are another one of those individual partialities. People who opt for soft and malleable, have trouble understanding a preference for firm and rigid. For the 10 best pillows to buy in 2020, check out the reviews at Good Housekeeping. From best adjustable and best cooling pillows, to the best pillows for side, back and stomach sleepers, you’ll see the top picks for down, foam, organic latex and down alternatives.

And let’s not forget the sheets. Oprah has always been pretty particular about her sheets and among her favorite things two years ago were these Cozy Earth bamboo sheets which go for about $290. But in independent tests conducted by USA Today, the best bed sheets are actually half the price from Brooklinen. They’re weighty, sateen and wrinkle resistant. 

R&R Bedrooms in Stunning Southshore

The kitchens may wow you in the new homes of Southshore, and the family rooms may impress your company but it’s the master bedrooms that home buyers can’t wait to relax in. Take a tour of the brand new homes from Taylor Morrison, Richmond American Homes and Toll Brothers for a taste of Life at the Lake. These ranch and two-story designs are priced between the $400s and the $700s and are close to everything you might need – but away from it all!