9 Things to Buy for a Healthier Bedroom
Photo:
Getty Images
Great lighting can set the mood in your bedroom. You'll need a good table lamp for bedside reading, or late-night chats with your partner. But there are also some high-tech lighting options out there now that will help you wake up easier, combat seasonal affective disorder, and actually help you sleep better.
The Phillips alarm clock does double duty because it acts as a traditional clock, but it also is equipped with a lamp that provides light therapy and simulates the sunrise, so you can wake up more peacefully. Another plus? You won't have to rely on your phone as an alarm, which means you can block out blue light or other temptations (like Instagram and emails) that prevent you from getting better sleep.
Another option is this Glow Light from Casper (yes, the mattress brand). It's self-dimming, which can lull you to sleep, and it gives out a warm, well, glow, so that if you need to get up in the middle of the night, it won't be so jarring to turn on the light. It's also controlled by an app and charges wirelessly, because we are living in the future.
If you're prone to seasonal affective disorder, you might want to keep a light therapy box in your bedroom. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep, easing SAD symptoms. Using a light therapy box may also help with other types of depression, sleep disorders and other conditions."
We've gone on and on about the benefits of essential oils and aromatherapy, so it goes without saying that a diffuser can affect your mood for the better. Use it in the bedroom to help you relieve stress and get some sleep.
Blackout curtains come in handy if you need complete darkness in order to get a good night's sleep. Even if you don't, if your bedroom windows seem to let in a lot of light at night, you might want to invest in some heavy-duty curtains.
You might not be getting restful sleep because you aren't exactly comfortable in your bed. If you don't remember the last time you bought brand-new sheets, or if your comforter is looking a little threadbare, it wouldn't hurt to invest in new bedding.
It's recommended that you get new pillows every one to two years. Older pillows won't be as firm and give you the support you need when you're sleeping, which might lead to neck pain. Not to mention, your pillow can be a source of dust mites if you don't clean it.
Plants are known to purify the air and make you feel better. Plus, they just look so dang good in a bedroom. So why not cultivate a mini indoor garden in your space?
You can set the mood with your diffuser, but a couple of candles can help, too. Choose ones with soothing fragrances and light them while you're going about your self-care routine to unwind.
We know journaling can help with mental health, but you can also use a journal to track your sleep cycles, which comes in handy especially if you have been having trouble sleeping recently.
Like blackout curtains, a sleep mask will bathe you in complete darkness so you can catch some z’s. Plus, they make such luxe ones now (like the Slip silk versions) that you’ll feel oh so comfortable.
