The bedroom should be a place for rest and relaxation and a retreat where you can go to rejuvenate your body and soul after a long hectic day. Although a third of our lives is spent sleeping, the bedroom tends to be one of the most overlooked rooms in the home. Here are some simple tips and tricks to helping you create the bedroom of your dreams.

• Declutter
Start by looking at your bedroom objectively – is the overall impression one of calm or chaos? If it is the latter then you can be guaranteed you’ll struggle to clear your mind at the end of the day for relaxation and sleep. Try to remove clutter from bedside tables, chests of drawers and floors. Add furniture like, contemporary bedroom furniture to your room that will help keep it clutter-free on an ongoing basis and utilize storage baskets, small stackable boxes and even trunks or chests for the end of your bed. If your laundry has a habit of ending up on the floor as opposed to the laundry basket, why not invest in a new laundry basket that will blend in with your contemporary bedroom furniture, while still allowing you to keep floors and surfaces laundry free. There are some great contemporary storage bed options for bedrooms with space challenges. Underbed drawers sleekly conceal storage space that is rarely used in most bedrooms.

• Mattress
One of the most important things in your bedroom is the mattress. A good mattress is not only a long-term investment for your home but also in your wellbeing. It is widely known that good sleeping patterns improve memory and the ability to learn. Sleeping may seem like a straightforward process but while your consciousness is in a state of relaxation, your subconscious is busy processing and comprehending information. Therefore, by improving the quality of your sleep, you will also improve your ability to learn. Good sleep also reduces the risk of infections, diabetes, heart disease, exhaustion and other conditions. Just like healthy eating and exercise, a good mattress is a vital investment in your health and wellbeing. So take time to consider what mattress will suit you best – firm or soft, memory-foam or pillow-top. Make sure you test the bed in the store and research retailers that offer a money-back guarantee or exchange if you are not 100% satisfied, having slept on the mattress for a period of time.

• Shed some light
Lighting is also tremendously important in creating a relaxing space for your bedroom. When choosing lighting, consider style and function. Bedside lamps are really functional but if you choose a stylish design, they can also be a decorative piece in the bedroom. Floor lamps and sconces can create softer alternatives for lighting when overhead lighting is too severe. Wherever possible have dimmer switches installed to allow you create the perfect lighting for reading, relaxing and sleeping.

• Color
Finally, the color of your bedroom will play a big role in the ambience. When selecting paint colors you should take into consideration which direction the room is facing and choose your colors based on that. Colors are affected by daylight and the direction it enters the room. If your bedroom doesn’t have a lot of natural light you may want to choose a warm color to make the space more welcoming. Research has shown that greens, blues and whites all have a calming effect on the senses. Above all, make sure you choose a color that works for your personality and style.

By using these guidelines you can create your own dream bedroom and enjoy endless nights of rest and relaxation.