Creating Your Perfect Sleep Sanctuary: A Step-by-Step Guide

In today's fast-paced world, your bedroom should be more than just a place to sleep – it should be your personal sanctuary. At Truly, we believe in creating spaces that nurture both body and soul. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through transforming your bedroom into a haven of tranquillity.

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The Science of Sleep

Understanding how your environment affects your sleep quality is the first step to creating the perfect bedroom sanctuary.

Research shows that factors like temperature, light, and air quality play crucial roles in sleep quality.

Optimal Temperature: The ideal sleeping temperature is between 16-18°C.

Light Control: Are blackout curtains are essential? The science behind light control goes beyond simply blocking out morning sunshine. Quality sleep depends heavily on your body's natural circadian rhythm, which is significantly influenced by light exposure. Here's why investing in proper light control is essential:

Our bodies produce melatonin (the sleep hormone) in darkness
Even small amounts of light can disrupt sleep patterns
Street lights and early morning sun can affect sleep quality
Blue light from devices is particularly disruptive
Air Quality: Learn the importance of proper ventilation
Choosing the right bedding: your bedding choices can make or break your sleep experience

Silk is an incredible resource when it comes to bedding; we wrote a blog on its benefits a little while ago.

Silk Pillows

Creating Optimal Air Flow

Natural Ventilation

Open windows for 15-20 minutes daily
Create cross-ventilation when possible
Best times: early morning or evening
Consider window position when arranging furniture

Air-Purifying Elements

Choose natural materials that breathe
Incorporate air-purifying plants
Regular cleaning of soft furnishings
Maintain optimal humidity levels (30-50%)

Embroidered Edge Bedding Collection

Colour and Fabric Psychology

The colours you choose for your bedroom can significantly impact your sleep quality and overall mood. Research shows that certain colours are more conducive to rest than others:

Soft Blues: The most sleep-friendly colour, associated with calmness and reduced heart rate
Gently Greens: Connected to nature and relaxation
Warm Neutrals: Create a cocooning effect perfect for rest
Colours to Avoid: Bright reds and purples that can stimulate rather than soothe

We'll guide you through selecting the perfect materials for every season...

Let's start simple: Cotton.
Cotton has long been a staple in bedding due to its natural softness, breathability, durability, and hypoallergenic qualities. As a plant-based fibre, cotton is prized for its ability to regulate temperature, keeping sleepers cool in summer and warm in winter. Its breathable weave allows air circulation, helping to wick away moisture and promote a comfortable night's sleep.

Cotton Characteristics:

Crisp, cool feel
Matte finish
Lightweight and breathable
Best for hot sleepers, Summer months, hotel-style bedding

What is percale?

Percale is a type of weave used in fabric that creates a crisp, matte finish and a cool, lightweight feel. It is made with a plain weave, meaning the threads are woven one over, one under in a tight, consistent pattern. This results in a smooth, durable fabric that feels cool and breathable, making it ideal for warm sleepers or summer bedding.

Percale Characteristics:

Silky smooth finish
Subtle sheen
Warmer feel
One-over-one weave
Best for cold sleepers, winter months, luxury master suites, silky feel

What is sateen?

Sateen is a type of weave, not a fiber, that gives fabric a smooth, silky feel and a subtle sheen. While it sounds similar to "satin," sateen is typically made from cotton, whereas satin is usually made from silk or synthetic fibers like polyester.

Sateen Characteristics:

Soft and smooth to the touch
Lustrous or slightly shiny finish
Slightly heavier and warmer than plain-weave fabrics like percale
Drapes well and resists wrinkles better than crisper weaves
Four-over-one weave
Best for cooler climates, cold sleepers, soft feeling bedding, elegant interiors

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Let's talk Egyptian Cotton and thread count...

Egyptian cotton is still a part of the cotton family, just on the more luxurious end of the scale. Grown in Nile River Valley in Egypt, this fibre has limited production, and is therefore generally in a higher price bracket. Egyptian cotton possesses longer fibres than regular cotton is exceptionally soft, and extremely durable, which lends itself to the luxury namesake.

There is often a misconception around thread count that suggests that the higher count, the higher the quality. This isn't necessarily always true. The optimal thread count range is between 200 and 600. The quality of the fibre is often more important than thread count. Choose your fibre quality based on season; Summer bedding is best at a 200 to 400 thread count, which focuses on breathability and temperature regulation. When looking for Winter bedding, choose a higher thread count; lean towards 400 to 600 thread count to provide you with extra warmth, and maintains breathability. If you're looking for a versatile, year-round bedding set, look to the 400 thread count area. This will carry you through the seasons as it balances between wamth and coolness.

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A note from Truly's textile expert:

When it comes to luxury bedding, it's not just about the numbers. The quality of the cotton fibre, the weave, and the finishing process all play crucial roles in creating Truly exceptional bedding.

Lighting

Creating the perfect lighting scheme is crucial for maintaining your natural sleep-wake cycle and setting the right mood for rest. Layer your lighting and aim for ambience; use soft overhead lighting with dimmers. bedside reading lights are a great way to move away from bright overhead lights.

Judge your lighting choices by time of day:

Morning: Choose bright, cool lighting to energise
Evening: Choose warmer lights and dim them to signal your body to rest
Night: Choose blackout solutions for optimal and deep sleep

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Storage

A clutter-free space is essential for a peaceful mind and better sleep. Combine functionality with beautiful design for incredible storage solutions.

Under-Bed Storage:

Ottoman beds are a great option to maximise space. If you have space under your bed or in a wardrobe, try to use shallow storage boxes to hide away your seasonal items. Vacuum bags are also a great alternative to slim down storage space on bedding and soft seasonal items.

Bedding

Expert Tips for the Best Sleep

The 90-minute rule:

Begin to wind down 90 minutes before bed. Remove your electronic devices from the room and begin a relaxing ritual, for instance reading for an hour or so. Create a consistent routine, and you will see consistent results.

Temperature Control:

Keep your bedroom temperature between 16°C and 18°C for optimum sleep. Layering your bedding is also an incredible way to keep versatility without all of the effort: consider choosing your fabric weights based on season for further ease.

Air Quality:

Open windows daily for ventilation, and natural materials that breathe. Air-purifying plants are also a great introduction to your room that also provide a beautiful link to nature and calm.

Remember, creating your perfect lseep sanctuary is an investment in your wellbeing. Start with the essentials and build your collection over time, focusing on quality pieces that will last.