Just in time for the weekend is this bedroom makeover checklist that you can achieve in less than a couple of days. Bedrooms are often the overlooked room in our houses, and yet they’re probably where we spend the most time. According to a research article pulled together by Dreams (a British bed retailer) we spend an average of 33 years in bed! So maybe we need to start paying more attention to how our bedroom looks.

The average person spends about 26 years sleeping in their life which equates to 9,490 days or 227,760 hours. Surprisingly, we also spend 7 years trying to get to sleep. That’s 33 years or 12,045 days spent in bed!

1. Declutter!

The first and easiest step to creating a restful bedroom space is to tidy up! Get those wet towels off the bed, the day old clothes off the floor, and unpack that suitcase that’s been sat there for weeks – I know we all do it! Clearing away the clutter is free and can make a big impact not only to the overall look of the space, but to your mental health as well. According to Psychology Today “Messy homes and work spaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed.” And being that bedrooms are a space for rest and relaxation, having a clutter-free space will aid a restful night’s sleep.

2. Make Sure You Have Storage

If you really can’t part with your clutter, then at least hide it away. A basket like this from Amazon is a stylish way to hide unused pillows and blankets, or those day old clothes that you really can’t be bothered to hang up. Wall shelves are another great option for moving the clutter off the floor. But be careful not to simply move the clutter, if it looks unsightly hide it in storage boxes on the shelves. Lidded storage boxes are great for hiding clutter and come in a variety of sizes and materials.

3. Fresh Paint

The next thing you should do is to think about changing the paint color, or at least painting a fresh coat of paint. Paint can get worn and scuffed over time, so a fresh coat of paint will quickly and dramatically freshen up your bedroom. You can easily achieve this in a weekend, or if this is too daunting then just paint one feature wall behind the bed in a contrasting color. You’ll be amazed at how quickly and cheaply you can transform your room. Check out this blog post on how to Paint an Easy Feature Wall.

4. Add Blackout Curtains or Blinds

Adding blackout curtains or blinds can aid a restful night’s sleep, and are commonly used in hotels to block out unwanted traffic noise and light. There are different degrees of light filtering, Blindster does a great job of explaining the difference “Blackout shades use a fabric that blocks 100% of all incoming light, while “room darkening” usually refers to almost any shade that uses a fabric that blocks between 95% and 99% of the light that enters your room. Anything that blocks less than 95% of the light is usually referred to as light filtering.” If you find 100% light blocking blinds disorientating (speaking from experience!) then try room darkening or light filtering options instead.

5. Create a Hotel Style Bed

Hotels know a thing or two about creating a restful night sleep, from the luxury mattress to the perfectly laundered white sheets with hospital corners. Now i’m not saying to go out and spend thousands on a brand new mattress this weekend, (although if you want to, don’t let me stop you!), but you can make your bed feel more luxurious with a few simple tweaks. Firstly, go out and buy fresh white bed linen. Have you ever seen a hotel with anything other than white sheets? Hotels tend to use percale bed linen for its easy care, wrinkle free appearance that can withstand frequent cleaning. Swapping out your sheets can really add instant impact to the way your bedroom feels.

Then there’s how you make it. This is an important step in making your bed feel like you’re in a 5 star hotel and only costs a bit of extra time. This video from HGTV shows how easy it is to do.

6. Swap Out Pillows / Cushions

Then there’s the ‘Great Pillow Debate’ – how many is too many? If you’re on my husband’s side, then he’d probably say “none”, if however you’re on my side, then “at least two” is where I’m at. I’m talking about decorative throw pillows, and not the kind you rest your head on. With the one or two white pillows you each need for your head, layer on top of that at least two decorative pillows to add color and interest to your bedroom. The great thing is, you can easily change them out to quickly change the style of your bedroom. Try changing them with the seasons, lighter colors and textures like linen for the summer, and cozier knitted or fur pillows for winter.

7. New Nightstands / Bedside Tables

If your room allows it, it’s always a good option to have two bedside tables around a double bed, with two lamps. You don’t need to go out and spend hundreds on a new set, you can try to pick something up second hand and upcycle it with paint and new knobs. Or try low cost retailers like IKEA, who have some great options from $10-$150 / £9-£129.

When choosing nightstands it’s important to consider a couple of things. Make sure it’s the right height for your bed. You want it to be around the same height as the top of your mattress, slightly above or slightly below is also fine, so you’re not reaching way down or up for things on them.

And then there’s scale. You want the nightstands to be in proportion with your bed. Don’t choose tiny tables if you have a California King sized bed. And if you want to create a more luxurious look, then opt for wider nightstands.

8. Add a Rug

If you don’t already have one, try adding a rug underneath your bed. It’s a good way to bring in a new color, texture or pattern to your bedroom. You could go bold and add a brightly colored or loud pattern to your bedroom with the rug. Or you could make your bedroom feel more cozy by adding a shag rug or sheepskin. In terms of scale, you want the rug to be slightly wider than your bed, and position it so that you can see the end of it too.

9. New Artwork

Another easy way to quickly update your bedroom is to add or change out the artwork. Again, you can bring in some color to the design, or pattern, or even texture. It doesn’t have to be a painting, it can be a more sculptural piece. One idea that looks great, is to hang an array of different size baskets on the wall like these ones from Pottery Barn. For a cheaper alternative, try finding baskets from your local thrift store or charity shop.

10. Add Some Greenery

We’ve all heard that plants are good for us, not only do they look great, but they also reduce the carbon dioxide and dust levels in our homes. An article from Bob Vila goes on to say that certain types of plants can actually help you sleep better, so are perfect for your bedroom. Choose from these 8 plants for a more restful night’s sleep:

• Lavender – reduces blood pressure and heart rate
• Jasmine – improves the quality of your sleep and increases your chances of waking up with a better attitude and less anxiety
• Peace Lily – reduce the microbe count in your home’s air, which can relieve allergy symptoms
• Aloe Vera – promotes better air quality
• Valerian – helps you fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer
• English Ivy – can drastically reduce airborne mold
• Gerbera Daisies – at night they emit oxygen and absorb toxins and carbon dioxide
• Rosemary – reduces anxiety and stress

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Thanks for reading! Until next time.

Jo