It’s not uncommon to hear somebody say that they would love a bedroom makeover, but they can’t afford it. The thing is, even something as simple and affordable as new bedding can make a huge difference.
Giving your bedroom a new look no longer demands the attention of an interior decorator! There are so many great ideas out there, you can do it yourself on a budget.
A mistake some people make is to describe the bedroom as ‘no more than somewhere to sleep’. In other words, it’s not that important. They are so wrong!
Create Your Private Sanctuary
Your bedroom should be your peaceful, private sanctuary — a personal space you can use at any time of day. It should be welcoming, comfortable, serene, away from the hustle and bustle of the home.
Why does this matter? Because research shows that a messy room and bed adversely affects your health.
US psychologist Dr. Pamela Thacher studied this. She found that people surrounded by clutter took longer to fall asleep. The lack of sleep then increased stress and depression. It even slowed down thinking.
What’s more, if you are a bit of a clutter junkie, you are also at risk of developing a hoarding disorder.
Good For Your Health
The importance of a good night’s sleep cannot is crucial. It affects about everything we do. Our bodies need that time to recover and replenish.
Sleep helps our brains function. It also repairs our hearts and blood vessels, reducing our risk of stroke or heart attack. It balances our hormones and insulin levels, helping us maintain a healthy weight. It also strengthens our immune systems, helps our digestive system, and so much more.
Amazing to think that buying new bedding could actually end up saving your life!
Coping With Sleep Disorders
Many different factors go into achieving a good night’s sleep. If it was easy, we’d all be doing it, right? One look at the statistics tells you a lot of people are doing it wrong.
In the US, 40 million people suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders. Another 20 million reporting occasional sleep problems.
We know serious sleep disorders may need medical intervention. Yet, for most insomniacs, a few small changes could make a world of difference.
Create A Welcoming Environment
So how do you create the perfect sleeping space?
The room itself should be welcoming and, as mentioned earlier, uncluttered. It should be light enough to be cheery but, when the time comes, dark enough to sleep.
Your choice of bed, mattress and bedding are crucial. There are a million different variations out there so find what works for you. Even the height of the bed can make a difference.
Decide whether you like a firm or soft mattress. We recommend firm, but you don’t want to feel as if you’re sleeping on a board! Many people prefer futon mattresses for this reason.
Mattress Matters
Did you know that you should replace your mattress every 10 years at least? If you have back problems, allergies, or live in a humid climate, change it every five to seven years.
We recommend using mattress protectors. It’s far easier to wash a mattress protector than a mattress! It will also prolong the life of your mattress, and make it more comfortable.
Pillows are another key factor. Can you believe how many different types are out there? Firm pillows, soft pillows, neck pillows, body pillows, memory foam pillows . . . it’s endless. But if you don’t get it right, you’ll end up with a stiff neck, which leads to a headache, and it all starts again.
Can you believe how many different types are out there? Firm pillows, soft pillows, neck pillows, body pillows, memory foam pillows…the choices are endless. But if you don’t get it right, you’ll end up with a stiff neck.
Some people swear by buckwheat pillows. They say the small pieces of grain move around to match the shape of your head. Others love a chilled pillow in summer to cut down on night sweats.
Pillows are inexpensive. You can afford to invest in a good one!
Huge Choice Of New Bedding
These days, there is a huge choice of new bedding on the market. For some, nothing beats a bed made with sheets and blankets. Others prefer the ease and comfort of a duvet or a comforter.
Did you know there’s a difference between a duvet and a comforter? And what about a doona or a quilt?
A duvet, doona or continental quilt is basically a bed cover. It is usually white, filled with feathers, down, wool, or a synthetic material. It is placed inside a washable cover and used to add comfort and warmth to your bed.
Makes Decorating A Breeze
The great thing about a duvet is the huge choice of covers, making decorating the bedroom a breeze. Simply change the cover to match your mood or the decor.
Choosing new bedding? Remember that duvets come in different weights for different seasons. For example, winter weight is the warmest.
A comforter is like a duvet, but thinner. The cover can’t be changed, so you need to wash the whole thing if it gets dirty. It works more as a decorative topper for your bed.
All-season comforters are often filled with down. They usually carry different ratings, between 600 and 800 fill power. The higher the rating, the warmer the comforter.
New Sheets Are Divine
And now to the sheets themselves. Is anything better than slipping between a pair of fresh new sheets? It’s so comforting.
Sheets come is a whole range of fabrics and thousands of colors and designs. Of course, it’s all about the thread count. Basically, the higher the count, the better quality the sheet, and the bigger the price tag.
The price is also affected by the size, with the range going from standard single to king-size or custom. Did you know that entire new bedding sets can be customer designed and made for you? Even using a favorite photograph that you have taken!
Choosing Your Fabric
The sheet material can make a huge difference to your comfort. Pure cotton and cotton flannelette are popular choices. And Egyptian cotton are considered a luxury. If you can’t stand ironing, poly cotton blends are a great option. So, too, are microfleece and microsuede.
If you are planning a bedroom redesign, your new bedding should set the tone or theme. If you love vibrant colors and designs, neutral colored walls will work best.
It depends how daring you are! If you want to make a bold statement, it’s okay to clash those colors, patterns and textures.
Color Matching
Did you know that the color of your new bedding can also affect how you sleep? For example, blue may slow down your heart rate and reduce blood pressure. This, in turn, will lead to a better night’s sleep.
Green and yellow shades are nearly as good as blue for sleep quality. Purple can stimulate your brain to the extent that it will keep you awake.
No bedroom makeover is complete without new bedding. Yet sometimes new bedding is all you need to achieve a new look. Did you know we can customize the color of your bedding to fit the mood of your room?
Making A Plan
If you’re on a budget, here’s a plan that is simple, affordable, and will make a huge difference.
Clear Away Clutter
Be brutal! Go through your bedroom and make three piles – keep, throw and donate. With clothes, if you haven’t worn it for a year, you’re never going to wear it. Get rid of it!
Is your bedside table littered with dozens of empty perfume and product bottles? Then get rid of them. Invest in a jewelry box, or make your own from an old shoe box.
Put clothes and shoes away, rather than cluttering up the bed, chair or even floor. Tidy up books and magazines.
At this stage you can give the room a good clean. If you’re planning to clean the carpets, or paint, now is the time to do that.
Create Your New Look
If your bedding is old and worn, get rid of it and start afresh. You’re never going to get a good night’s sleep on those threadbare sheets, lumpy pillows and worn out duvet.
Why not replace the lot with new bedding? We’re talking sheets, pillows and pillow cases, duvet and duvet cover, blankets, everything.
If you’re on a budget, and can’t afford a new bed right now, at least flip the mattress over. If you’re using a futon, stick it out in the sunshine for a few hours to fluff back up.
Window Wonders
Your new bedding is going to look even better if you pay some attention to your windows, too. Choose curtains to match or compliment your new bedding.
There are some amazing curtain designs out there, or you can custom order both the fabric and size. The reason many people choose blinds over curtains is that they just can’t get anything to fit. So imagine being able to get any size, any color and any design!
Of course, it could be that you are making over a child’s bedroom, rather than your own. In which case you’ll love themed curtains. From racing cars to wild animals, you can create something quite magical.
Customizing Your Room
Children’s rooms are sometimes quite small. Yet there are plenty of ideas to open up and brighten the space. The bed is a good place to start.
Choosing a bed with built-in storage might mean you can cut down on furniture in the room. To get clutter off the floor, think shelves, shelves and more shelves! Colorful storage boxes and baskets can also work very well.
Another way of dressing up a bedroom is with coordinating accessories. You’ve probably seen examples of this on the many TV property shows.
Throw cushions can look great in a corresponding fabric, and provide extra support in bed. In a child’s room, throw pillows make great extra ‘seats’ for mates.
Great New Products
Our enthusiasm for makeovers and renovations has prompted many more choices and ideas. It has also spurred the introduction of some great new products.
These range from allergy-sensitive pillows and duvets, to new bedding made from bamboo. It’s so easy to create a much healthier home environment.
The new breed of bedding fabric is recommended for its breathability. It is also less likely to attract dust or mold, both of which can be detrimental to your health.
When you choose patterned or printed bedding, always check the label for toxicity. The product should be made using eco-friendly, water-based dyes. This is better for your health. It’s also less likely to fade.
Benefits Of New Bedding
When you consider that we spend a third of our life asleep, it’s easy to see the many benefits of buying new bedding.
And it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Thanks to online shopping, it’s now possible to buy top quality new bedding for a fraction of the price.
A sleeping survey revealed some very interesting results about new bedding. For example, 73% of people said they sleep better on clean sheets. 86% reported improved sleep when they slept on comfortable sheets. And 73% said comfortable sheets improved their romantic lives.
Six out of 10 people said they changed their sheets at least weekly, if not more often. And 71% said they slept better when their sheets had a clean, fresh scent.
Other factors included:
- Quiet, dark room
- Fresh air
- Cool room temperature
So do you toss and turn at night? Do you wake up more tired than when you went to bed? Are you moody and grumpy during the day? The chances are that new bedding should be on your shopping list.
You’ll notice an improvement straight away. The benefits of getting a good night’s sleep include:
- Improved memory
- Less aches and pains
- Higher levels of inflammatory proteins
- Enhanced performance
- Healthier body weight
- Improved mood
- Reduced signs of aging
And finally, new bedding could even help you live longer! A 2010 study revealed some fascinating results. Women who slept more than 6.5 hours a night lived longer than those who only slept five hours or less.
Isn’t it time you invested in a bedroom makeover?