As any of the Starks would tell you, winter is coming. To prep for the coldest months of the year, it’s time to make a few key changes to your bedroom. From painting your walls a different color to swapping your sheets, we’ve got all your winter bedroom needs covered.
How to create a cozy winter bedroom
Here are five tips for making over your bedroom this season so that it looks-and feels-cozier all winter long.
1. Refresh your bedroom colors
Winter is the perfect time to repaint your bedroom. Cool tones, like blue, have been shown to help you relax. It makes sense, given that blue is associated with soothing images like the sky and ocean. Green, which is associated with nature, also promotes zen. Neutral shades like taupe, beige, and gray, muted tones, and pastel hues are calming as well. Once you’ve picked a color scheme, move on to updating the rest of your bedroom.
2. Layer your bedding
The most important aspect of your winter bedroom would, of course, be your bed. Keep in mind that the optimal temperature for sleep, according to the National Sleep Foundation, is 60° and 67° Fahrenheit, so don’t crank up your heat as high as it can go. The best way to ensure you’re comfortable while you sleep is to layer, layer, layer. That way you can add or take things away as needed.
3. Add an area rug
A fuzzy rug could be just the element your bedroom needs this winter to make it feel cozier. First, you have to decide where to put your area rug. You could put it under your bed, but you don’t necessarily have to do that. A general rule of thumb to follow is that your rug shouldn’t touch your walls. You should leave at least five inches of space between the rug and a wall (you can leave more space-up to two feet-if your bedroom is larger). Your rug also shouldn’t bunch up against the edges of any furniture in your bedroom. (Here’s how to choose the best bedroom rug size.)
4. Set the mood with the right lighting
The winter blues are real, and one way to keep your spirits high this time of year is by adjusting the lighting in your bedroom. Since there’s more darkness in the winter, add a couple extra lamps or light sources to make up for lost daylight. You don’t need a fireplace to make your bedroom extra-cozy this winter, though: A bedside lamp that emits a soft glow is perfect for this time of year. Lanterns add another nice seasonal touch. Set lanterns or floor lamps in corners or spots in your bedroom that tend to get very dark.
5. Burn a scented candle
Who doesn’t love the smell of gingerbread cookies, pine trees, and peppermint? Warm up your bedroom and fill the air with your favorite winter scent by using a candle. Look for a candle that comes in a pretty jar so that it works as a decorative item in your room too.
Another way to stay warm while you sleep this winter? Put on a pair of socks. Here, learn about the benefits of sleeping in socks.
