A place for dreaming

The bedroom: the site of all my favourite S-words. Sleeping, snoozing, slumbering and sex. That’s why I think bedroom design is so important. Everyone’s idea of the perfect bedroom is different but there are a few essentials that you cannot do without: air, light and peace and quiet.

The light issue is an interesting one. If you’re a night owl who likes to sleep in, then keeping light out is likely to be more of an issue than letting it in. If you’re one of those crazy morning people, then you’ll love nothing more than the feel of the sun’s first rays on your pillow. Most people like to have a degree of control over the amount of light entering their bedrooms by using blinds or curtains.

When I see some gorgeous contemporary apartments with extensive glazing I have to smile when I imagine the occupants trying to sleep in past 6am on those bright late October mornings. Lots of glass can look great, but it’s so difficult and expensive to supply blinds that suit. Even early morning winter sun can be unbearably hot through glass, and that’s why light control is so important in the bedroom.

Air is another important factor. There’s nothing worse than a stuffy, airless bedroom. Ventilation is essential to a good night’s sleep and you need to be able to air a bedroom during the day to rid it of those -“ let’s face it -“ none-too-pleasant night-time odours. I like to sleep with a window open during summer, but this can be tricky if you live in a noisy area.

This brings me to perhaps the most important consideration in bedroom design: noise. The best and healthiest sleep is the uninterrupted eight-hour night. Disturbances due to traffic noise, inconsiderate neighbours or your flatmate arriving home at 4:30am will eventually affect your health, so you need to find a way of making your bedroom as quiet as possible. Choose a room away from potential noise sources, ensure window and door seals are sound and make sure your housemates are aware of your sleeping patterns.

Apart from these basic requirements, there is virtually no limit to what you can do with -“ or in -“ your bedroom. It’s entirely dependent on your personal needs. Whether you choose a restful pastel-themed colour scheme, a vibrant in-your-face theme or one more suited to your extensive collection of S+M equipment is up to you. Provided you have the essentials, good sleep -“ and hot sex -“ are assured.