This week, a lot of attention will be paid to the topic of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation just released its annual study on March 8, 2010 and Daylight Saving Time begins on March 14, 2010. While sleep disorders and their consequences are on the rise, many people could benefit from making a few changes to their bedrooms.
First, your bedroom should be a place where you can rest, relax and sleep. Does your room help you rest, relax and sleep? If not, a bedroom tune up may be in order.
Start by eliminating clutter and allergens. Clutter* and allergens**, like dust, contribute to stress.
Next, check the room temperature. We sleep best in cool rooms – somewhere between 65-70°F or 18-21°C – so turn down the thermostat by a few degrees in the evening. You’ll improve your sleep and decrease your heating bill.
Lastly, to foil the waking effects of light, your room needs to be dark. Some light sources are easy to control. It is relatively easy to turn off inside lights, reposition your alarm clock or turn off the television. Other light sources require you to act like a bouncer, permitting or denying access on your terms.
Your window coverings and the features you add to them are the first line of defense against the sleep-disrupting light from streetlamps and bright moonlight.
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Room darkening liners – Shift workers and urban residents may benefit most from adding these to your new window treatments. These block the most light from entering the room creating the dark environment that’s most conducive to sleep.
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Routless louvers – If you’ve ever slept in a room with blinds, you may have noticed that light seeps through those tiny holes through which the internal lift cords run. Routless louvers eliminate those tiny little holes, darkening the room so you can sleep.
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Cloth tapes – If you still want the routholes, you can still counter the light that seeps through those tiny rout holes by covering them with cloth tapes. Not only will you block the light, but you’ll benefit from the decorative effects of cloth tapes.
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Drapery Panels – A small gap exists between the window covering and the window frame regardless of how well the window is measured. Custom window coverings tend to have a smaller gap than off-the-shelf versions. If light is seeping in and disturbing your sleep, drapery panels do double duty as decorative pieces and functional light blockers. As an added bonus, drapery panels can help dampen sounds, too.
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Cornice boxes and valances – Cornice boxes and valances are decorative touches that are highly effective at blocking light that may seep in through the headrail of a window treatment.
Your Budget Blinds style consultant can help you find the perfect combination for your bedroom.
Sources for this article:
* http://stress.about.com/od/managetimeorganize/a/homerelaxation.htm
** http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/remedies-to-help-sleep
*** http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/cant-sleep-adjust-the-temperature