8 Steps to Make Your Bedroom Greener and Healthier All Round

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As our homes become more important to us as a place of safety and sanctuary from the outside world, our interior schemes play an important role in conveying a sense of wellbeing and protection where we feel happy to retreat to. And there’s no better space for taking refuge than in the comfort of our own bedrooms.

So, if you’re hankering after a haven of tranquillity, then take the lead from the bed experts at Koala. They share their top styling tips for transforming your sleep space into a dream place that’s full of super-green credentials and health benefits to make it the perfect rejuvenating retreat.

Why it's Better to Buy Sustainable Not Fast Furniture

1. Choose an Eco-Friendly Bed

First and foremost, you must pick a bed that not only looks good, it must feel great as well. A timber-frame bed not only channels the wholesomeness of natural materials, but by choosing a design that’s made from 100 per cent recyclable and sustainable materials, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment and will feel even better about your choice.

Go for a robust design that will last. With a tool-free and slat-free design, you can build and dismantle the sturdy bed frame with just one pair of hands time and time again, making it ideal for people constantly on the move.

2. Consider Basic Passive Solar Principles

Passive solar design is the least expensive way to heat or cool your home, as it utilises natural sources, such as the sun and cool breezes, saving energy and your bank balance. New builds that stick to good basic principles of passive design will minimise unwanted heat gain or loss by orientating the building and its windows to the best positions for the climate.

However, existing properties can also benefit from passive solar design by taking the time to understand how your home works with the daily and seasonal climate, such as when to open and close bedroom doors and windows, and where to add extra shading.

Great ways to shade your home. Did you know direct sun can generate the same heat as a single bar radiator? Therefore, reducing heat gain in your bedroom using effective shading can block out up to 90 per cent of the intense summer sun. Adjustable fixings, such as a window awning, shutters, and even ingenious planting, can reduce the summer heat without blocking the winter sun, making your bedroom a comfortable temperature all year round.

3. Care for Your Mattress and It Will Care for You

A good mattress can seriously improve your life. Don’t believe us? Then simply take a look at this recent sleep study that claims to have found a connection between fewer hours of sleep and living shorter lives.

Getting a full night’s sleep has been proven to reduce stress, lower your blood pressure, reset your immune system and put you in a better mood, as well as many other benefits. Therefore, buying a luxuriously comfortable bed and mattress is vital.

Open-cell foam mattresses not only provide snug support around your body, they also offer just enough bounce – the perfect combination. A breathable mattress also encourages a healthier sleeping environment as it allows hot, humid air to escape and a constant body temperature to be maintained.

Take good care of your mattress. A good vacuum, every six months, will keep your mattress fresh and dust-free, while rotating it from end-to-end every three to six months will reduce sagging in one area. Choose a design with a removable cover that’s machine washable (bonus points if it doesn’t stretch) for easy cleaning.

How to Make Your Bedroom Greener and Healthier All Round

4. Select Greener Bedding

Continue your green credentials by choosing bedding made from sustainable sources and free from harmful chemicals, for the ultimate comfort against your skin. Bedding made from natural fibres, such as Eucalyptus fibre, are also super-soft, as well as being naturally hypoallergenic, and a great regulator of temperature.

Similar to an open-cell foam mattress, a gel-infused memory foam pillow is ventilated to allow airflow and conduct heat and moisture away from the head, to help you maintain a comfortable temperature.

5. Introduce Natural Remedies

Introducing natural remedies before bedtime can deeply sooth the body so you experience a full and rejuvenation sleep, and wake up feeling relaxed but recharged.

Lavender has been proven to help you relax and unwind, so a little plant or pouch of dried seeds next to your bed will spread the scent, while a quick chamomile spray on your pillow will have a mild sedative effect and be a natural sleep-inducer.

Think about using natural cleaning products. The advantages of using natural, eco-friendly products to wash your bed linen and clean your bedroom’s surfaces is that these non-toxic solutions are less harmful on the environment and gentler on your skin at night.

6. Choose the Right Paint Colour

There’s nothing worse than decorating your bedroom in a colour and then changing your mind once you’ve seen it on the walls. After all, your bedroom should be an enticing sanctuary that encourages you to kick back and relax. So, choosing the right colour first time is crucial to your happiness, wellbeing and ability to rest easily at night.

Before deciding on a colour, think about the overall look you want to achieve. Do you have furniture that the colour must complement, or do you want to create a particular ambience? Whatever you do, try out as many shades, tones and colours in the space before making that final decision.

Take the patch test. Paint your desired colour on a large piece of card and stick it to the wall that you’ll be painting. Then, revisit the colour at different times of the day to see how the light in the room effects it. East-facing rooms with sunlight in the morning can appear bluer and would therefore benefit from a warm tone, whereas west-facing rooms will have dramatic light in the afternoon and would benefit from a lighter colour to cool the whole effect down.

8 Steps to Making Your Bedroom Greener and Healthier All Round

7. Bring in the Plants

Not only do plants add a lush colour and organic texture to spaces, they also naturally purify the air, creating a healthy environment in which to sleep. Place plants within your breathing zone, which is about two square metres around where you normally sleep, and you’ll get the full benefits.

When we connect with nature we experience feelings of positivity, wellbeing and rejuvenation, therefore it’s no surprise that a bedroom dotted with houseplants will have a warm and comforting impact.

8. Switch Off

Consider your bedroom as a ‘me-time’ sanctuary that’s not just for sleeping – somewhere you can switch off from the day and reboot for the next. With a bit of planning and rejigging, your bedroom can become a nurturing living space where you can relax and chill, too. Squeeze in a compact sofa for a reading nook or a shelf and mirror for a make-up station. Whatever extras you can fit in will truly push the potential of your bedroom as a true haven.

Ban tech from the bedroom. To really disconnect yourself from the day and refocus your mind, banish any technology from the bedroom, such as tablets, phones and TVs, so you can simply be yourself without any influences from the outside world.

Vote now!
We’ve seen your dream bedroom schemes, now it’s time to vote for your winning Koala Sketch design in our competition. Plus, to find out more about Koala‘s beds, mattresses, and bedding here, click here.

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This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content Team