The bedroom reset
Inside our NEW issue of House and Home magazine, we chatted to the experts about how to design your bedroom for better sleep; the best calming colours, lighting designs, layout ideas and finishing touches to create a soothing sanctuary.
Words: Róisín Carabine
Some of the topics we covered:
- Paint
- Lighting
- Layout
- Finishing touches
PAINT
We chatted with Fleetwood Prestige Interior designer Arlene McIntyre about using organic paint.
They’re non toxic Contain low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), are crafted from non-toxic ingredients, and use safe, gentle pigments, unlike traditional paints that can quietly release harmful chemicals for months after application.
Air purifying Some, like Prestige Air Purifying Scrubbable Matt, can actually improve your home’s air quality by helping to break down pollutants that come from everyday items like new carpets, curtains, or flatpack furniture
Child-friendly Prestige Satinwood, for example, is certified Toy Safe, making it a perfect choice for nurseries, children’s furniture, or anywhere your little ones explore.
Extremely durable Gone are the days when ‘eco-friendly’ meant a trade-off in quality. Natural paints offer rich, lasting colour with excellent coverage and a professional-grade finish.
Easy to use Usually doesn’t require a mask to work with
Easy to apply Often requires fewer coats than traditional paint. On existing painted surfaces
Non-toxic wall paint brands to spruce up your space
- Kraftsmann Paint, Kraftsmann.com
- Farrelly & Co, Farrellyandco.com
- Little Greene, Littlegreene.ie
- Paint & Paper Library, Paintandpaperlibrary.com
- Alchemist, Thepainthub.ie
- Tikkurila, Thepainthub.ie
- Fleetwood Paints, Fleetwood.ie
- Earthborn Paints, Earthbornpaints.co.uk
- Biofa Paints, Biofaireland.ie
FINISHING TOUCHES
HOW TO GET A BETTER SLEEP
We chatted with Anne Marie Boyhan, insomnia expert and founder of The Sleep Care Company, who has teamed up with DFS Sleep Hub to share her tips for a successful sleep.
- Buy a better bed Seeing as we spend approximately one-third of our lives asleep, it’s a good idea to invest in a great quality bed and mattress.
- Spend time outside Get plenty of natural light during the day, especially before 10am. This tells your circadian rhythm that everything is in check and boosts the production of our sleep hormone, melatonin.
- Avoid late night exercise Exercising too close to bedtime leaves you feeling energised and stimulated, raising your body temperature for about four hours post-exercise. This physical reaction can delay sleep.
- Keep it dark Sleep in a pitch-black bedroom. Use blackout blinds or wear an eye mask to block any light from getting in.
- Banish blue light No blue light (from TV, smartphone, computer) one hour before bed. If you must look at a screen in the evening, then wear a pair of blue-light blocking glasses.
- Create a routine A bedtime routine is a set of activities you perform every night, in the same order, from a half-hour to an hour before you go to sleep; this not only helps sleep quality but reduces the risk of sleep disorders, like insomnia.
- Stick to a sleep schedule Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day trains the brain to naturally feel tired come bedtime.
This bedroom feature in our current issue is bursting with so many insider tips. Don't even attempt to start revamping your bedroom without this stellar know-how in our NEW issue of House and Home magazine.
On shelves, now.
In a hurry? Get your hands on it straight away by downloading if via our app. Plus, don't forget to follow us on Instagram.
