The Beauty of Peaceful Sleep

When architects and designers begin working on a master bedroom, we all approach it from a different perspective. Some want big, open spaces with lots of windows and a sense of vastness. Others want the comfort of closeness, smaller windows, and an atmosphere with dim light, giving a sense of safety to enhance rest and peace. 

My approach is very modern and minimalist. Less is more—less pillows, less furniture, less STUFF! As a rule, women prefer the room and its furnishings to be on the softer side, with curved forms, while men prefer the room to be more straight lines and clean edges. A happy medium can certainly be achieved to meet the needs and desires of the owner.

To get started, a lack of clutter/chaos will calm the mind and spirit, creating a sensation of peace and harmonious flow in the room. This is a very positive feature for sleeping conditions. Minimizing the amount of furniture helps tremendously with this aspect. Focus on the main, necessary pieces—bedframe, headboard, nightstands, and a small sofa or comfy chairs. (My preference is also no television in the bedroom). For balance, use pieces with natural materials (wood) or warm toned upholstery if your floors are porcelain tile or marble. Use more “cold materials” (metal), lacquered in grays, or darker, cool toned upholstery if your floors are wood or carpet.

Put smaller objects away in drawers, closets or wardrobes/dressers, leaving a few books on your bed stand for pleasure and inspiration. The atmosphere can also be enhanced by your actions. Use simple techniques to calm all of your senses, not just sight and touch. Keep sounds, including your voice, at a lower tone in the bedroom, playing music softly to promote relaxation. Use lavender or eucalyptus spray to add a delicate scent to your pillows and linens. The goal is to create a serene sleep environment utilizing the calming embrace of nature. Remember, interior design is an Art Installation, and it includes all the senses.

Natural light during the daytime, and warm lighting for the nighttime will add to the beauty and peace you want to permeate the atmosphere of a master bedroom. Warm light generally falls within the 2700K to 3500K range on the Kelvin scale, producing a cozy, yellowish glow similar to traditional incandescent bulbs and creates a soft environment for relaxation. Save the bright lighting for the master bath, where it is needed for ablutions, make-up and dressing.

Choose the best quality furnishings within your budget. Stick to neutral tones except for a few accent pieces. This keeps the room from feeling too “busy” to be restful. Choose accent pieces and art that you love, giving you a sense of joy and serenity when you enter the room. And in the minimalist style, one wall ornament on the bed wall is enough wall art for the whole bedroom. 

Starting and finishing your day in a place of peace can be a gamechanger. Consider what you might need to change in your own master bedroom to make it a place of order, beauty and comfort. The benefits are peace, joy and rest.

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