1. Clear your space (especially under your bed). Examples of items not related to sleep that are often found in the bedroom might be: an exercise bike, a desk (for bill-paying), a computer, a television, or a headboard containing books and other objects non-related to sleep. 2. Never use the bedroom for anything but sleep or sexual intimacy. Do not eat in bed, read, meditate, watch TV (REALLY a bad habit), or other similar pastimes.
3. Do not have electronic devices such as radios or clocks or televisions near your bedside. If you must have them in your bedroom, keep them out of sight (in a cabinet or closet).
4. Try to keep your bedroom completely dark. If you are not comfortable without some type of light, try to use a very dim night light. This is not ideal, but if it helps you maintain a comfort level, just make sure it is not very bright.
5. Good bedding is very important. Bed sheets and bedspreads should not be patterned, and the sheets should be of natural material with a very high thread count. Cotton is best.
6. Cool colors such as blues, lavenders and soft greens are more conducive to restful sleep. This pertains to the use of color on your walls as well as accessories and bedding.
7. The use of water beds, platform beds, and beds with metal springs is strongly discouraged.
8. The use of a headboard AND a footboard is recommended for your bed. Having both a headboard and a footboard will make a person feel more stable.
9. Electric blankets should not be used. These blankets are categorized as another electronic device and are not recommended for restful sleep.
10. The position of your bed should be such that you can see the door to your bedroom open and close. This will provide a feeling of security. It is also a good idea to not have your feet aligned with/across from the door.
11. The use of overhead ceiling fans or beams is strongly discouraged. Referring to the ceiling beams, if you have either of them over your bed and cannot change them, try to either position your bed so that your body is aligned with the length of the beam(s), or paint the beams so that they are not apparent. You can also utilize a canopy on or over your bed to disguise the beams or fans.
12. Even if you have a weapons collection, never store or display them in your bedroom. Guns, swords, knives etc. signify violence and have no place in your rest area. You might also want to evaluate the art that hangs on your bedroom walls. Your works of art should evoke peaceful, happy feelings.
13. Do not keep family pictures in your bedroom. Strange as it may seem, they will “watch” you and that can impart anxious feelings, therefore deter restful sleep.
14. Your bedroom should not contain plastic or dried flowers, and definitely not have any dead flowers in it. Live plants, however, are very good and very soothing.
15. Your bedroom should always be kept very clean.
16. Keep your closet and adjoining bathroom doors closed. Also try to keep traffic at an extremely low minimum—none is ideal.
17. If you have twin beds, DO NOT push them together, particularly if you have a sleep partner. As the twin beds separate during the sleep period (and they always do), it can signify separation between the partners.
18. Try to have a bed that is sized to fit the people sleeping in it. This is very important for restful sleep.
19. It is suggested that a small “dream catcher” (traditionally a Native American object) be placed on or near your bed. It does not have to be a specific size and can be as small as a 50-cent piece. The legend behind dream catchers is that they ward off evil spirits and nightmares as you sleep.
20. EVERTHING in your bedroom, i.e., temperature, lighting, and your bed and pillow should ALL be of the utmost comfort.
*Feng Shui—the Chinese art of auspicious orientation, placement, or arrangement. A practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it. A harmonious arrangement of your environment.
