If you’re dealing with restless children at bedtime, then you might want to try redesigning their room. Here, Nick Acaster from Rugs Direct shares his top tips for decorating a bedroom to help your little one sleep better.
Getting your child to sleep can be a challenge at the best of times, but did you know that their bedroom environment could be contributing?
The placement of furniture, and accessories, as well as the temperature and light can all affect your child’s ability to settle and fall asleep. Below, I’ll be going through some of the ways your child’s bedroom décor can impact their sleep, and the changes you can make to help them drift off more easily.
Focus on Feng shui
When it comes to interior design, the placement of each piece of furniture in the room is key. Feng shui is a Chinese practice that describes the arrangement of furniture to create a sense of harmony and balance within the home. And, whether you choose to follow the practice or would just like to know how to place your child’s bedroom furniture better, there are a few rules you might want to follow:
Bed placement: The headboard of their bed should be against the far wall in a position that can be seen from the door. This is called the command position and can make your child feel more in control of their room and therefore more secure.
Colour scheme: Colours should complement the child’s personality, with blue, pink, and green being good options. However, avoid too many bright colours, as this can stimulate their mind and make it harder to drift off. One or two bright accent colours would be fine, though.
Theming: Your child’s bedroom decorations should reflect their interests, whether it’s dinosaurs, unicorns, or something else. So, look for wall stickers, prints, bunting, and other accessories in your little one’s favourite theme. This will help them feel happier and more at ease, which can make it easier for them to drift off.
Clutter: Just like bright colours, too much clutter can overstimulate your child’s mind and make it harder for them to fall asleep. To help them drift off easier, items such as toys should be put away. A couple of storage boxes, bags, or bins should help keep everything organised.
Air quality: Air quality is very important for sleep, so it’s important to let air circulate throughout your home during the night. This means it can be a good idea to leave your child’s bedroom door open as they sleep. Not only will this help ventilate the room, but it can also give them a much bigger sense of security as they can see who is coming and going.
Opening bedroom windows regularly will also let fresh air in and keep your child’s room the best place for sleep. You could also consider adding a few air purifying plants, such as a peace lilies or spider plants, to their room.
Incorporate accessories
Along with furniture placement, accessories can help to make your child’s room cosier and more inviting. Look for accessories that will be reassuring for your little one, such as a couple of stuffed animals and plush fabrics like pillows, blankets, and rugs.
Fluffy, high pile rugs, such as shag and sheepskin rugs, can work great in a child’s bedroom, as they can feel soft and comforting underfoot. You can also get a great selection of themed rugs featuring fun characters and scenes that your kids will love.
Replace tired bedding
Comfy bedding is essential to a good night’s sleep, so make sure your little one has everything they need to keep them warm and comfortable all night. Along with their duvet and pillows, it might be a good idea to include a throw, so they can easily pull it over them on colder nights.
Your child will be sleeping on their sheets every night, which means regular wear and tear can occur as well as frequent washing. This means that the fibres can eventually start to break down and become worn. To keep your little one at optimum comfort, you should be replacing their sheets at least once every two years. This includes fitted sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases.
Mattresses and duvets will often last a lot longer (up to 10 years) and it’s likely your child will outgrow their bed before this time comes. However, if their mattress or duvet starts to feel flat and the filling feels limp, then it’s best to replace them with a new one.
Get the lighting right
Ideally, your little one’s bedroom should be completely dark to help them get the best night’s sleep, which means lamps and overhead lights should be turned off as they’re going to bed. However, a small amount of light from a night light won’t make too much of a difference, and the extra sense of security might help them drift off easier. You could also install dimmer switches so you can keep the lights low as you read them a bedtime story, then turn it off once they’ve fallen asleep.
To help keep any light from outside, such as from streetlamps and the moon, from brightening up your little one’s bedroom, it can be a good idea to install blackout blinds or curtains.
Adjust the temperature
It’s not just the décor and lighting that can have an effect on your child’s sleep, because the temperature of the room can also impact their ability to drift off. A room that’s too hot or too cold can leave your child uncomfortable in bed, and their sleep will be disturbed.
If your little one is a baby or toddler, the best temperature to have their bedroom at is around 18°—21°C, according to Sleep Advisor. However, if they’re a little bit older, then it’s perfectly fine for their room to be a little colder (around 15°–22°C).
If their room is too hot, you can open a window to let some cool air in. If it’s too cold, you can easily help them layer up with a few extra cosy blankets.
If your little one is struggling to fall asleep at night, it could be down to the design of their bedroom. By making just some of these changes, you could make bedtime a little more relaxing for them!
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