Does bedroom size matter when it comes to designing your sleep space?
We spend more time in our bedrooms than we do in any other room in our homes. While your bedroom may be an oasis of peace in this busy world, it might also serve as an ad hoc home office or a family gathering place. It’s where we begin our days and end them. It’s where we dream, hope, plan – and hopefully find a good night’s sleep.
But does size matter when it comes to designing your bedroom? Is there a perfect sized dream bedroom? According to an article in Forbes Magazine, “An organized and well-considered space can improve your mood when you need to get to sleep, and get your day off to a good start when you wake.” While we agree (in theory), we’re pretty sure most people don’t sleep in rooms that could double as a yoga studio.
How to plan your bedroom
How much space you have will determine what size bed you buy for it. A room for sleeping – according to most building codes – should be at least 70 square feet, which is the size of a small nursery (7’ X 10’).
Keep in mind that many sleep doctors recommend a king size mattress for the best undisturbed sleep. If you have the space and your budget will allow, a king size mattress will deliver a better night’s sleep for most couples.
Measure how large of a bed can fit in your room and still walk around it. Then ask yourself a few questions…
- Can you fit nightstands on either side of the bed?
- What other furniture can you fit comfortably in the room?
- Do you need more than one dresser and/or armoire?
- Do you have room for a seating area?
While most bedrooms contain a closet, having a built-in space for clothing is a relatively new addition to our sleeping space. Generations ago, a wardrobe or armoire – or a closet in a nearby room – would have sufficed.
If you can add or remove walls, take a page out of Eduardo Arruga’s style book and create a half wall to create interest. “The bed rests on a wall that does not reach the ceiling, cleverly dividing the sleeping area from the storage space.”
Once you know what furniture you can fit into the room, it’s time to plan where you’ll put everything. Where does the sun rise and set and do you want to see the show from your bed? You’ll also want to consider where to position the bed in relation to the door. In feng shui, the “commanding position” for the bed is as far away from the bedroom door as possible, but which still allows you to keep an eye on the room’s entrance, according to HGTV.
The kitchen may be the heartbeat of a happy, healthy home but our bedrooms are its soul. Your bed is (or should be) the most comfortable place in your home and the envoy of lots of good things, including sound sleep. It’s the place where we greet our days and where we wave farewell to them. It’s where we cuddle and canoodle with our lovers, our children and our pets.
If you’re hungry for bedroom design inspiration, check out these bedrooms of interior designers.
For a full list, please visit all designers in Bedroom Therapy
