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Imagine a clutter-free space dedicated to luxuriously restful slumber — a room where everything from the scent in the air to the sheets is carefully chosen to enhance feelings of relaxation, peace and (yawn …) sleep. You’ve got the blackout shades, now here are 10 little things, from bedtime rituals to smart storage solutions, to help turn your bedroom into the ultimate sleep cave.
1. Choose a Nightstand With Closed Storage
Drawers or a small cabinet below your nightstand can help keep visual clutter to a minimum.
Use the storage inside to tuck away books, your journal and pen, lip balm, reading glasses and other essentials.
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2. What to Keep on Your Nightstand
Keep the top of your nightstand simple and clutter-free, with just a few of these bedtime items:
Bud vase of fresh flowersCurrent bookCandle (unlit) with a relaxing scent (try lavender)Cup of herbal tea or carafe of water
Browse nightstands in the Houzz Shop
3. Make Comfort Your Priority
Too many fussy details like beading and sequins, or stiff and scratchy bedding materials, make for a less than restful night’s sleep. When choosing bedding, make sure whatever you choose is delightfully touchable — think crisp cotton sheets and a cozy cashmere throw.
4. Choose the Right Sheets
Always choose breathable natural fibers, not synthetics, which don’t allow your skin to breathe. Higher thread count doesn’t always mean higher quality, so trust your fingers to determine the feel of the sheets, and read reviews from those who have been living with the sheets for a while to get an idea of how well they hold up.
Linen is cool in summer and can last forever if well cared for. It can feel nubby (even a bit rough) or smooth and quite soft, so try to feel your sheets in person before you buy.Cotton percale is what you want if you love the feel of “crisp” sheets. This classic fabric is smooth but firm and performs well in warm weather.Cotton sateen is very soft and smooth, almost silky in feel. It may not be the best choice in hot weather.Shop for cotton sheets
5. Try One of These Soothing Bedtime Rituals
Brew a cup of herbal tea (try chamomile with honey).Read something soothing or uplifting, like a few beautiful poems or an inspirational book.Gradually lower the lights over the last hour before bedtime.Take a bath with relaxing lavender or rose oil.Spritz lavender-scented linen spray on your sheets and pillow.Listen to the same relaxing playlist each night before drifting off.
Brew a cup of herbal tea (try chamomile with honey).Read something soothing or uplifting, like a few beautiful poems or an inspirational book.Gradually lower the lights over the last hour before bedtime.Take a bath with relaxing lavender or rose oil.Spritz lavender-scented linen spray on your sheets and pillow.Listen to the same relaxing playlist each night before drifting off.
6. To Carpet or Not to Carpet
Carpeting feels plush underfoot, making it especially appealing to step out on first thing in the morning, and it can help muffle sounds for a more restful mood. However, if you have a dust allergy, carpeting is notoriously difficult to keep dust-free, so it’s best to skip it. If you love the feel of carpet but need to be able to thoroughly clean the floors often, compromise with a washable area rug atop hard flooring.
11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them
7. Rethink the TV
Screens emit a blue light than can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Keep the TV (and other devices) out of the bedroom, and commit to reading a real book (on actual paper, not an e-reader!) before bed.
8. Clean the Air
Allergies or no allergies, we can all benefit from sleeping in a cleaner, healthier bedroom. Here are a few ways to keep the air in your bedroom fresh and pure all year long.
Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to remove dust, pollen and air pollutants.Keep a houseplant or two in the bedroom (rubber plants are especially good at cleaning the air).Make the bedroom a no-shoes zone.Vacuum and dust weekly (including under the bed), more often if you have allergies.Open the windows to air out the space for at least 30 minutes each morning.Choose natural fibers and materials that don’t contain harmful VOCs.
9. Make Use of Baskets, Bins and Wall Hooks
Keep laundry, accessories and spare linens neat and tidy by stashing them in easy-to-use baskets and bins.
Hooks on the wall behind a door can keep favorite jewelry in order, while small French market baskets make a chic stash spot for random small items.
10. Give Once-Worn Clothes a Home
Rather than piling your lightly worn clothing on the chair in the corner (or worse, the floor), give it a dedicated home in a basket or bin.
Make a habit of refolding clothes you plan on wearing again before laundering, and place these items in the basket each night.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
2. Kids Corner
The “before” photo of this Seattle under-deck area shows how it was a hodgepodge of clutter. The homeowners wanted to create plenty of room where their young children could play, as well as space for dining and lounging.
Landscape designer Rebekah Rongo of SCJ Studio Landscape Architecture answered the call, and a sheltered area that wraps around a corner is part of the result. It’s designed for the kids, with a picnic table on one side, two bright red chairs on the other and a wraparound concrete step connecting the two. Tight-knot western red cedar walls warm up the space, create continuity in the yard’s design and conceal an easy-to-access storage area.
Note the light-colored under-decking too, to ensure that the spaces below stay dry on Seattle’s frequent drizzly days. Any water can drain through the permeable patio paver joints. After this photo was taken, the homeowners added a projection screen under the deck for movie nights.
Read more about this project
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
1. Drop-Down Dining
Designer: Gloribell Lebron of G. Lebron Interiors
Location: Davie, Florida
Size: 440 square feet (41 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. A kitchen that evokes warmth and nostalgia reminiscent of Puerto Rico, where one of the owners is from. “They desired a welcoming atmosphere that combined elegance with a relaxed feel,” designer Gloribell Lebron says. “We focused on creating an open, airy design with a cohesive blend of textures and materials that reflect the homeowner’s heritage and style while creating areas of total functionality, like the coffee station, improved pantry storage and more seating space.”
Lebron uses Houzz Pro business software to help manage design projects. “We used Houzz Pro to quickly send invoices and proposals to the client, and also to provide alternatives to some of the sourced items so that the client could quickly make decisions,” Lebron says.
Kitchen island. Extra-long with counter-height seating and a drop-down dining table. “It was designed to maximize functionality and social interaction,” Lebron says. “The island’s countertop is made from white porcelain with subtle veining, paired with maple-finish wood cabinetry with solid wood trim and a drop-down table made of solid white oak wood. This design was chosen for its blend of durability and aesthetic appeal, seamlessly integrating the cooking, dining, beverage and socializing areas.”
Other special features. “Open shelving with carefully selected tiles in a soft terra-cotta color served as the perfect backdrop for the beverage station,” Lebron says. “These sunset-toned tiles in the backsplash evoke the colors of the client’s island sunsets. To enhance these tones, we used brass fixtures that add a touch of elegance and warmth. The arches used to enhance the pantry door and beverage station are reminiscent of Spanish architectural features on the island.”
Designer tip. “Incorporating open shelving with a mix of decorative and functional items can make a kitchen feel more personalized and inviting,” Lebron says. “It allows homeowners to display their favorite pieces while keeping essentials within reach.”
Cabinetry: Custom, Earth Sourced Design; cabinet paint: Toque White, Sherwin-Williams
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This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Designer tip. “Coating the walls, ceiling, and trim in a single paint color creates a cohesive, moody atmosphere while allowing key elements and finishes to take center stage,” Jensen says. “This unified approach adds depth and prevents the space from feeling overly busy or disjointed, with accent finishes providing just the right amount of contrast.”
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