10 Quick and Easy Steps to Refresh Your Bedroom

You spend a third or more of your life in your bedroom lounging, watching TV, reading and, of course, sleeping, but if you’re like most of us, it’s a part of your home that’s given the least amount of attention when it comes to décor. Here are some suggestions for a few simple and affordable touches that can turn your bedroom into a pleasant retreat conducive to sleeping and relaxation.:

1. Make Your Bed Daily. Many of us are guilty at least occasionally of failing to make the bed a part of their regular morning routine. A bed is the bedroom’s focal point, so taking a few minutes to remake it first thing in the morning will cause the entire room to immediately look and feel better. Even if the rest of the room is clean and organized, an unmade bed will give it a disheveled and disorganized look and feel. Making your bed first thing each morning is a fast and easy way to spruce up your bedroom. It’s also a great way to begin your bedroom refresh program.

1. Put Clothes Away. Rather than stacking clothes on the closest flat surface, draping them over the back of a chair or dropping them on the floor, get in the habit of putting clothes where they belong. Dirty clothes should be kept in a hamper until laundry day. Clean clothes should be hung neatly in a closet or folded and placed in dresser drawers, on closet shelves or in storage bins. Keep footwear on a shoe rack. Make the most of storage space beneath the bed by putting rarely worn or seasonal items in plastic storage bins. At least once a year, go through your closet and donate items that are no longer wanted or needed to charity. These simple measures will instantly make even a small bedroom appear to be larger and feel more organized.

3. Get Rid of the Clutter. A bedroom without at least a few personal objects lacks character and gives a feeling of being unfinished. Too much “stuff”, however, accumulated on dresser tops, shelves, bedside stands or books and magazines stacked on the floor detract from the room’s ambiance and otherwise tranquil feeling. Decide what you want to keep on display and either put the rest of the things where they belong or get rid of them altogether.

4. Add Some Greenery. A vase of fresh flowers or a potted plant or two on a shelf or hanging from the ceiling will instantly add color and life to a bedroom. In addition to the visual pleasure they provide, live plants will absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses, which can help keep the bedroom’s air fresh and clean. Even if you don’t have a green thumb or don’t want to be bothered with taking care of plants, there are some very realistic artificial plants available that can help cheer up a room.

5. Change the Room’s Color. If your bedroom’s walls are beginning to look a little drab, consider repainting them, which can brighten both the room and your mood. Blue, yellow and green hues tend to have calming and relaxing effects. Purple shades, which are thought to stimulate mental activity, should be avoided in the bedroom, as should somber colors such as browns, greys and taupes.

6. Add a Mirror. Forget the feng shui rule that discourages having mirrors in the bedroom. When properly placed, a mirror or mirrors hung across from windows will brighten the room by reflecting natural light during the day and making the most of the room’s artificial lighting in the evening. A large mirror hung on the wall or a full-length mirror mounted on a closet door will instantly make the bedroom look and feel more spacious.

6. Create a Reading Area. Space permitting, add a comfortable chair, small side table, a lamp and possibly a magazine rack to create an area used for reading a book or relaxing with a crossword puzzle. Ideally, the chair should be placed near a window to take advantage of natural light during the day.

8. Consider Adding an Area Rug. Putting down a rug will add warmth, texture and color to the bedroom, as well as creating a visual perimeter around the lower portion of the bed. An area rug is not only an inexpensive way to add to the bedroom’s décor without taking away useable space, it keeps your feet from coming into contact with a cold floor first thing in the morning.

9. Change the Lighting. The right lighting can immediately change the bedroom’s mood and appearance. Adding a wall-mounted decorative sconce to replace a bedside lamp will free up space on a bedside table. Adding a ceiling fan with a lamp will keep the air circulating on hot summer nights as well as provide an additional source of lighting when it’s needed. Consider investing in a lamp with a dimmer control that allows you to adjust the lighting to a level that matches your mood.

10. Replace Your Mattress and Bedding. Because the bed is the focal point of the bedroom, replacing your sheets, pillowcases and quilts or bedspreads with new colors and patterns will instantly give the room a new look and feel. While you’re at it, think about your mattress: how long has it been since it was last replaced? It may be time to replace your mattress if it’s more than 8 years old or if it’s saggy or lumpy and you find that you’re not sleeping well. The knowledgeable sleep consultants at each of Sit ‘n Sleep’s 38 conveniently located Southern California mattress superstores are on duty 7 days a week. They’ll use our exclusive bedMATCH diagnostic system to help you choose a mattress that’s best for your unique situation. The system uses more than a thousand calculations across 18 categories, including body size and shape, degree of lumbar curve, back and neck pain, allergic reactions and preferred sleeping position.

Here are a few more simple and inexpensive tips for breathing new life into your bedroom:

• Use a scented candle or lavender linen spray to freshen the air
• Occasionally swap out the room’s wall art with pieces from other areas of the home
• Use white noise or a sound machine to mask exterior noise with soothing sounds
• Place a colorful throw or some small accent pillows on the bed
• Add a bench at the foot of the bed for additional seating and storage space

Commit to refreshing your bedroom today and you’ll rest better tonight knowing you’ll soon have a room that’s a more comfortable place to sleep and relax!