How to sleep better – a guide to your bedroom design
- estellebogros
- Sep 4
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 10
As we’re slowly heading towards the end of summer and preparing ourselves to get back to work, or back to school, there's a few things to do to get ourselves geared up and fully ready to get back into it. We might usually start by unpacking and storing our luggages, cleaning up the house and buying a few necessities. You might also be ready to take a serious look at your work space and making it the best it can be for a productive work day, for that I've written a whole article right here for you. And for those of you who are ready to go even deeper, I'll now be tackling the basis of what makes us function as human beings: sleep.
Lack of sleep can be caused by a number of things and I'm not going to pretend I'm a doctor on the subject. What I will do however is show you how interior design can influence your sleep and how I make sure my clients get the best possible sleep thanks to smart home design. So, let's dive in and if at any time you feel this is overwhelming or you simply do not have the time, that is what I do as an interior designer so drop me a line.
The first question we need to ask ourselves, as always, is: what am I working with?
Are you sleeping in a studio apartment, where everything is in the same room?
If you have a separate room, are you only using it to sleep in or does it need to have multiple purposes? (a work desk, an entire wardrobe, a craft station perhaps etc.?)
And, are you sleeping alone, or designing for two (three?) people? Remember that in a master bedroom, everyone’s desires need to be addressed.
Now that you’ve written down your list of constraints and needs, we can begin space-planning for the best sleep you’ve ever had.
1 – How to sleep better – Space Planning your bedroom design
A – Windows & doors
Light & Air - It should go without saying that every bedroom needs at least one window, however I’ve seen many examples where this is not a given so I’m going to be stating it here: do not sleep in a bedroom without a window. And if you absolutely cannot manage it, then create a glass divider to see and catch the daylight from the room next door (second-jour). This technique can be very useful when living in a studio apartment and divide the area for example, but never use this for a child’s bedroom as children need light for their development.
The View - I personally love for my beds to be facing the window so I can have a beautiful view in the morning. And if that means that the head of the bed is next to a door, then I’ll add a divider to create a less intrusive opening into the bedroom and a subtle sense of security. In the US there’s a lot of bed placement shoved up in front of windows, which I absolutely don’t understand, and if you want to follow Feng Shui rules, then it’s also a no-no. It's important that the first thing you see when you open your eyes is something nice, and if that can be nature, then I don’t think you can top that.
The Flow - Avoid placing anything too close to your bedroom windows and door in general, you want to be able to open them multiple times a day, letting the air and light flow in, ventilating and renewing the energy. Imagine that when you open your bedroom door, you should be able to access everything seamlessly and not shuffle around your furniture. Same thing when you open your window, let’s see the outside world without interruption. And if, on the contrary, you do want to create some privacy from the outside world (let’s say there’s a building, or a busy street right in front of your window), then create a layer on the outside, adding lots of plants with the help of planters and window boxes. Plus, they’ll be easier to manage outside.
B – Closets & Wardrobes
For the lucky ones with a separate walk-in closet, you can skip this paragraph.
Assess your needs – If you can you clear out your closet Mari Kondo style, and only then assess the capacity you truly need, that’s the best. But for those of us living in Switzerland, we do need to accommodate 4 (sometimes brutal) seasons and from snow-gear to lake-dip, space is needed. I like to have at least 1 linear meter for hanging clothes and 50 linear cm for folding clothes per person, and if need be, switch up winter and summer closet.
Doors – Ok this might sound weird, but have them! And choose them wisely. An open closet means you’ll see and feel all the things and clutter from your bed, this is a recipe for restless nights. The more your clutter is visible, the more your brain will be cluttered, why? Because your open eyes take in all the information of your surroundings, so if it’s busy right before you close them, it’ll take all that information to process while you close them. I’ll also advise against sliding doors and curtains, the first because they're not convenient and take up more space then they create with some things made hard to reach, the second because it won’t protect your clothes from dust. I also find both mostly cheap looking and/or ugly (but that’s a phase 2 topic).
Niches & Nooks - If you feel that you have a small bedroom, or, on the contrary, it feels too big and the bed is lost in the middle of an empty space, a good way to fix those opposite problems is to create a nook with wardrobe storage surrounding your bed. You need about 50 cm on both sides of the bed to create the wardrobes that will go all the way up to the ceiling and link them with upper cabinetry above your headboard. Don't forget to leave an empty space at the height of your bed to use as bedside table, or plan for a bedside table to fit in there. Whether your bedroom is small or big, this will create a comfort zone, a nice safe place for your unconscious.
C – Desks, bathtubs & other functions
Sometimes our sleeping zone needs to accomodate more than just our beds. It could be because you're renovating a studio and need all of the functions in one room, or because the bedroom is gigantic and you want to thoughtfully design all the areas of this room. Let me give you a few bedroom ideas to accomodate both problematics.
Desk – If your bedroom also needs to serve as your office or study, I find it crucial to create a clear separation between “work mode” and “rest mode.” The easiest way to achieve this is by positioning your desk so that it is not the first or last thing you see when you’re in bed – otherwise, your brain will keep associating your place of rest with to-do lists and deadlines. Ideally, you can introduce a visual divider (a screen, a bookcase, etc.). And if space is tight, a wall-mounted desk that folds away when not in use is a great solution to keep work out of sight.
Sitting corner – I love having a chair in bedrooms, it's a wonderful way to transition between the activity of your day and the calm of your night. Think of it as your wind-down spot: a place where you can read, journal, or simply leave your clothes. If you’re short on space, even a small upholstered stool or a vintage armchair tucked into a corner can create a sense of comfort and ritual. For those with larger bedrooms, I often suggest a pair of chairs with a small round table – it brings in cosiness and warmth, turning the bedroom into an inviting retreat. This is a particularly good design idea when you have a large bedroom in a vintage home, draw your inspiration from the original features of the house.
Studio – When you live in a studio apartment, the biggest design challenge is defining zones without closing the space off completely. Here, your bed becomes an anchor point and every other function needs to orbit around it with intention. A few tricks: use rugs to visually separate areas (one under the bed, one under the desk, for example). Use shelving or lightweight dividers to create a sense of privacy without losing daylight. And keep your storage as vertical as possible so that the floor stays uncluttered – the less visual noise, the calmer your studio will feel. In a studio, the ultimate goal is for the bed to remain a sanctuary, not an afterthought squeezed between kitchen and sofa.
2. How to sleep better – Style, Design and Ergonomics for a good bedroom design
Now that you’ve defined the functions and layout of your bedroom, it’s time to focus on how it feels. Style and ergonomics aren’t just about making things look pretty — they directly influence how your body and mind can rest. A beautiful room that doesn’t function is frustrating, and a purely practical one that ignores atmosphere won’t soothe you at the end of the day. Let's dive in.
A - Bedroom design ergonomics
I'm going to start with the part most people forget. The way your body interacts with the room is key to good sleep. Your mattress and pillow are the obvious players here — invest in the best you can, this is where the bulk of your budget should be allocated to. And try different brands, understand how your body feels on a soft mattress vs. a firm one, how big does your pillow need to be for it to be comfortable for you? etc. But ergonomics extends beyond the bed:
The height of your nightstand should align with your mattress so you don’t stretch awkwardly.
Light switches should be reachable from bed.
If you sit at a desk in your bedroom, make sure your chair supports you properly. More on this topic right here.
When everything is designed for ease and comfort, your nervous system can let go — and that’s when deep sleep comes naturally. And if you're not really sure how to make this works while still making it look good, get in touch and let's work together on creating a bedroom beyond your wildest dreams!
B - Sleep inducing colors and patterns
Colours and materials are the foundation of how a room makes you feel. They affect not only the look of your bedroom but also your nervous system, your mood, and ultimately the quality of your sleep. Think of this step as creating the cocoon that will hold you at night.
Colors – In the bedroom, the goal is to slow down the mind. Pick cool and muted shades such as soft blues, dusty greens, warm neutrals, and earthy tones, proven to promote relaxation. Avoid overly bright or stimulating colour schemes (like neon or pure red) unless used in very small, intentional doses. A good trick is to look at nature for inspiration: sand, sky, stone, leaves — these palettes are timeless, calming, and easy to live with. Walls in a subdued tone paired with layers of slightly deeper or lighter shades in textiles will add depth without noise.
Materials – Natural materials are always my first choice for bedrooms. Linen sheets that breathe and regulate temperature, wooden furniture that grounds the space, wool rugs that add softness underfoot. Try to limit synthetics wherever possible, as they tend to trap heat, generate static, and feel less soothing against the skin. Texture is also key: matte finishes calm the eye and cosy-up a room, while glossy surfaces bounce too much light and can feel restless.
Balance – Remember your bedroom design ideas are about creating harmony. If your walls are painted in a calm neutral, you can introduce colour through a throw, cushions, decor, artwork. If your furniture is sleek and minimal, play with the walls with wallpaper that introduces natural patterns or wood panels. Paneling is a great way to introduce design without being overwhelming to the eye. Overall, think of mixing tactile comfort and visual calm is what allows the bedroom to feel both inviting and restful. You can always bring personality in through art, books, or a small number of treasured objects — but keep them curated. Your bedroom is not a showroom, it’s a sanctuary.
C - Bedroom Design Lighting
Our bodies follow a circadian rhythm, which is deeply influenced by light exposure. The right lighting plan will help you wind down in the evening, sleep more deeply, and wake up gently in the morning. I like to plan bedroom lighting design accordingly.
Natural light – as I said in Part I : bedrooms should absolutely have access to natural daylight. Exposure to morning light helps regulate your internal clock and signals to your body that it’s time to wake up. If your window faces east, let it work in your favour. If it doesn’t, you can mimic the effect with a wake-up light alarm that gradually increases brightness before your set time.
Artificial light – Avoid a single ceiling light as your only source, particularly one with a cold white bulb. Instead, layer your lighting into three categories:
Ambient lighting for general visibility, you can choose a beautiful pendant light in the center of the room with a neutral warm toned bulb.
Task lighting for activities like reading, layer with a simple bedside lamps, wall-mounted sconces, or even a focused floor lamp (ideal if you have that little seating area I talked about earlier). These can have a cooler tone but don't go too cold either, this still needs atmosphere.
Accent lighting for mood, go for candles (even fake ones), or a small table lamp on a dresser with a very warm tone, but please don't go for that LED strip headboard trend, they can truly ruin the atmosphere (sorry Gen Zs).
Blackout & balance – Lastly, make sure your room can get truly dark. Streetlights, neighbour’s windows, even small LEDs from electronics can disrupt sleep cycles (my personal pet peeve in hotels, I tend to unplug everything). Long black out curtains or layered window treatments are worth the investment, especially if you live in a city. For balance, remember to also let natural light flood in during the day — light by day, dark by night, that’s how your body thrives.
Last words for your bedroom design
I hope this post gave you plenty of bedroom inspiration. At the end of the day, good sleep isn’t just about routines and habits — it’s also about the environment you create for yourself. Your bedroom is one of the most intimate areas of your home, and it deserves thoughtful design that supports both function and feeling. From how the light flows in, to the colours you surround yourself with, to the way your furniture shapes the room, every choice has an impact on your rest. Start small if you need to — clear the clutter, swap your lightbulbs, refresh your bedding — and you’ll already feel the difference. And if you’d like someone to guide you through the bigger picture, I’d love to help you design a bedroom that feels calm, personal, and truly restorative. After all, when you sleep better, you live better.
Author - Estelle Bogros
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