Bedroom Oasis

The bedroom is the first place you see in the morning and the last place you see at night. It's a place for relaxing, dreaming, and loving. Many people don't realize how important it is to keep the bedroom sacred, much like a temple. The reason for this is that you don't want to carry any of the 'world' into this place of peace. Of all the rooms in the home, this should be the one where you can escape the pressures of the day.

You can't walk into your bedroom, have to move a pile of unfolded laundry, shoo the dog out, and then see a stack of bills on your nightstand and not feel some level of anxiety. Don't we have enough to deal with all day? Shouldn't we all have one place in this world where we can breathe a sigh of relief and just...be? The answer, in my humble opinion, is a resounding YES! The best part is that you don't need to have lots of money, fancy furnishings, or a feng shui expert to accomplish this. I do lots of my decorating by shopping at thrift stores, consignment shops, and best of all, vintage hand-me-downs from my Mom-in-law and my Grandma.

Simply by doing a little housekeeping, then following a few easy rules, anyone can turn their bedroom into a boudoir.

Here's my basic plan...hope it helps someone.

1. Clean your room. Yes, I know this is stressful to read, but trust me...it's worth it. Just do it right once, and the upkeep is easy if you follow the plan. Vacuum, dust, and throw away- or find new places/homes for clutter. Clutter is the enemy of a peaceful house, and even more so the bedroom! Also, make your bed every day...even if it's just throwing the duvet over the rumpled sheets (the best I manage.) It really makes a difference in how the room feels. Trust me, try it!

2. Get throw pillows, lots of them- for reclining, reading in bed, putting your feet up, etc...and simple, clean sheets, with throws and blankets you love. Get rid of anything scratchy, loud, and in my opinion, not made from 100% natural fibers.

3. Change your light bulbs to soft light, or consider a dimmer switch.

4. Set the mood with scented candles. Avoid cloying or over-powering scents. Stick to light, classic scents like vanilla or lavender. If you don't want candles in your room for safety purposes, consider a Scentsy. I received one as a gift last Christmas and love it so much! I'm pretty sure you can buy these sorts of wax warmers in lots of places, probably for cheaper than the brand name one.

None of the following should be allowed in the bedroom:

a. Arguments, or talk about bills, work, deadlines, carpools, gossip of any sort...you get the picture, right?

b. Speaking of pictures, lots of experts agree that family photos should be saved for the family rooms. Glancing at a picture of great-grandma could lead to worrisome thoughts of her health, etc...

c. No pets in the bedroom. This one was difficult for us because we have 3 dogs and a cat, all of whom love to stay underfoot; but I can tell you from experience that banning them from the bedroom increased the peacefulness dramatically.

d. Instead of TV to numb your mind into sleep, consider a small, indoor fountain, or a CD of relaxing music as a lullaby.

By following this, or a similar plan to create a peaceful space in your home, you'll probably fall asleep faster, and enjoy better quality sleep, so you can wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to face a new day. It's small changes in ones life such as these that, little by little, increase the overall quality of living.

Now I'm off to bed...G'nite!