Did you know that changes in lighting bring on changes in your brain chemistry and can interrupt your sleep? This is why the lighting conditions in your bedroom play an important role in achieving adequate rest. Your challenge: make your bedroom darker.
Even if you are able to sleep in a dimly lit room, your brain can sense the light coming through windows and from artificial sources like night lights, street lights, mobile devices, alarm clocks and baby monitors. These light sources can inhibit your body’s natural release of melatonin, the chemical which promotes sleep and regulates your daily sleep cycle.
The message? Make your bedroom darker to encourage deep and restful sleep. How dark is up to you. I usually recommend making it as dark as you can, without letting your bedroom feel like a bat cave. If you need to get up during the middle of the night I don’t want to be responsible for stubbed toes.
The following tips should help you get a good handle on reducing the amount of light in your bedroom.
Eliminate artificial light
Start by conducting a circle check of your bedroom. There are probably a lot more artificial light sources than you realize. Remove them, dim them and/or cover them up.
Evaluate the effectiveness of your window coverings to block out early morning sunshine and street lights or yard lights
Blinds and drapes are a good start and generally inexpensive, but they will only block out a certain amount of light. Lining drapes and/or mounting them from the ceiling can help to block out a lot more of the light sneaking in from the perimeter of the window. You can also have custom black out shades made for your space. Warning: the cost of custom window treatments is not for the faint of heart!
Visit the craft supply store
It might not win you any interior design awards, but taping black bristol board to the glass is a quick, cheap and easy way to darken up your space. Check out the results here.
Grab yourself an eye mask
You can always try an eye mask as a first step to determine if a darker bedroommakes a difference for you. Check out Etsy for some great handmade options.
We live in a world that is full of light stimulation. Our brains are exposed to more artificial light than ever before. It’s no wonder that so many of us don’t get adequate rest. Take the initiative to create a dark bedroom, and you could be be sleeping better in no time!
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