Written By: Emily Laurent

OPENING NOTES FROM TRACIANA

Rest begins long before we close our eyes.

Emily’s design reflections remind us that our homes can become sanctuaries for sleep.

—Traciana

A Q&A with Emily Laurent

Who are you?
I’m Emily Laurent, an interior designer from Canada. My work focuses on creating spaces that nurture wellness, from how we eat and gather to how we rest.

What is this article about?
It’s about how bedroom design directly affects sleep quality. From color choices to lighting and clutter, our surroundings quietly dictate how well we rest each night.

Why was it so important to you to research and develop?
Because I’ve seen clients exhaust every solution—new diets, supplements, routines—without realizing the problem was the room itself. When we shift the design, rest often follows. That’s a transformation worth sharing.

What I See in My Clients’ Bedrooms

I once had a client who woke up tired every morning. She thought it was stress, or maybe her mattress. But when I walked into her bedroom, I saw it immediately: a neon yellow accent wall glowing behind her bed. Her space was wired for energy, not rest.

That’s the part most people don’t realize: every design choice—color, linens, clutter—either works with your body’s need for restoration, or against it.

Things to Reflect On in Your Own Bedroom

When I work with clients, I often remind them: your bedroom tells a story about how you rest. The design choices that surround you at night either invite restoration or quietly steal it away.

Here are some questions to help you reflect on your own space:

• Does your room have piles of books, tangled cords, or clutter?
• Are the colors on your walls soothing — or overstimulating?
• Could plants bring more calm and life into your space?
• Do you feel overheated or chilled while you sleep?
• Is the lighting in your room soft enough to invite rest?
• Is your bed positioned where you feel most grounded?

How Does Bedroom Decor Affect Sleep?

Every itty-bitty detail of bedroom design has the potential to affect sleep quality

Color. I’ve seen firsthand how color transforms rest. Pale blues and moss greens quiet the nervous system, while bold neons keep the brain buzzing long after lights are out. It isn’t just the hue—it’s saturation and brightness that set the tone.

Linens. Clients often underestimate this. Some relax instantly in cotton, while others need silk or fleece to feel soothed. The right linens aren’t about luxury; they’re about which textures your body trusts enough to let go.

Temperature. One of the most common complaints I hear is, “I wake up at 3 a.m. overheated.” Regulating air flow and cooling the room down to around 65°F can completely reset sleep patterns. The best temperature for sleep is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If your bedroom temperature sways away from this, take measures to regulate it. Commonly, rooms tend to heat up. Use ceiling or floor fans coupled with open windows to improve air ventilation. If the temperatures rise too high, consider installing air conditioners.

Light levels. I’ve seen people fall asleep faster just by swapping bright overheads for soft bedside lamps. Light teaches the body when it’s time to slow down—too much, or too harsh, and the message is lost.

How To Prime Your Bedroom for a Better Night’s Sleep: 7 Steps

1. Position the Bed in Feng Shui’s Commanding Position
   To maximize feng shui and the flow of good energy, place your bed where you can see the whole room without being directly in line with the door. A centered headboard against the main wall (ideally diagonal to the door) creates balance and leaves space for bedside tables on both sides.
2. Incorporate Plants
   Plants add life, texture, and calm to a room. Beyond aesthetics, they purify air and support tranquility. Aloe Vera, Areca Palm, Bromeliad, Bamboo Palm, and English Ivy are excellent for sleep spaces. In feng shui, plants are best placed toward the east and south, but make sure they get enough light to thrive.
3. Use Soothing Colors
   Color psychology shows that earth tones, pale blues, and moss greens help quiet the mind and body. A calming palette transforms a restless bedroom into a serene sanctuary, making it easier to fall asleep. Opt for colors that have soothing effects, such as monochromatic earth tones. Pale blues and moss greens are famous favorites — they bring in a sense of serenity and calmness, toning down your buzzing brain and helping it sleep better. This is backed by color psychology, too; some colors certainly help you sleep better than others.
4. Regulate the Temperature
   The optimal sleep temperature is around 65°F. Overheated rooms can disrupt rest. Use ceiling or floor fans, open windows for ventilation, or install AC if necessary.
5. Install the Right Lighting Fixtures
   Keep bright ambient lighting for daytime, but switch to dim, warm-toned lights in the evening. Bulky window treatments help regulate natural light. Red or amber bulbs can further promote relaxation. And remember—screens are the worst form of bedtime lighting. You may have ambient (general) lighting to illuminate your space and large windows to allow natural light to enter. Be sure to pair these with dim lights and bulky window treatments to use around bedtime. If your ceiling lamps are already equipped with ambient lighting, you can swap out their bulbs for warmer tones or invest in lamps to use in the evening. Red (or amber) lights are also believed to improve the mood and form an integral part of interior decor for sleep. Remember, lights from gadgets are a big no close to bedtime!
6. Invest in the Sweet Dreams Kit
   For clients seeking rituals, I recommend a kit that includes a pillow spray, essential oil roll-ons for meridian points, and a blend of chamomile, sandalwood, peppermint, cedarwood, and clary sage oils. These sensory cues signal the body it’s safe to wind down.
7. Cut the Clutter
   A messy bedroom keeps the mind restless. Clear surfaces near the bed, hide cords and piles in drawers or storage boxes, and create intentional calm. A clutter-free room helps the body and mind settle into deep rest. Too much junk can contribute to stress and disrupt sleep. This includes piles of books, tangled charging cords, and excess clothes placed around the space. So, cut down the clutter and improve your interior decor for sleep hygiene. You can begin by clearing the surfaces near your bed — make room for a glass of water on your bedside table and make a space for your phone farther away from the bed. If you lack storage space to hide away your excess items, you can always hide them in storage boxes, drawers, or shelves; consider investing in a bed with pull-out storage, shelf lamps, or bedside tables with drawers.

The Surprising Thing About Design

What surprises my clients most is how quickly the shift happens. After changing colors, adjusting lighting, or cutting clutter, they don’t just sleep better—they feel calmer, lighter, and more present during the day.

Design is not decoration. It’s the unseen hand shaping how we rise, rest, and return to ourselves.

CLOSING NOTES FROM TRACIANA

Our homes can hold us—or hinder us. Designing for rest is designing for life. Reading Emily’s blog reminds us that “Rest begins long before sleep. It starts with the spaces we create.”

—Traciana

About the Writer
Emily Laurent is a Canadian interior designer specializing in wellness-focused spaces. Her work bridges aesthetics and psychology, creating homes that are not only beautiful but also deeply restorative.

Disclaimer
This piece is for informational and reflective purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a qualified professional for personal guidance. Read our full non-disclaimer →