New research about humans comes out all the time as scientists continue to uncover mysteries about the human brain. One topic which is especially popular at the moment—probably because it affects everyone—is sleep!

We set out to discover the ways in which we can promote a healthier sleep cycle to not only fall asleep faster, but to stay asleep until our alarm goes off at 6am. Turns out, a lot of what we do to help babies sleep is still helpful in adulthood. Let’s dive in and learn how to make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary!

Blackout Shades

It’s fairly difficult to coax a baby to sleep when it’s daylight out—and we have the same problem as adults. In order for the natural melatonin to kick in, it’s essential to have a dark, cozy room. We recommend investing in some quality blackout shades to get rid of all natural light until it’s time to turn off the alarm.

Shades that mount inside the window frame will be the best at blocking things out, but if you don’t mind a leak or two, standard blackout curtains would work just as well.

Switch to Breathable Linens

While a linen duvet is aesthetically pleasing, it isn’t as great for sleep as you might think. If you’ve made a switch to linen or silk sheets, which have both been pretty popular lately, try going back to a classic percale weave for a bit to see if you notice a difference.

Pay Attention to Wall Color
While wall color doesn’t necessarily have a direct correlation to sleep, calming colors like cool blues and greens, taupes, and grays are ideal for bedrooms. The goal is to create a sanctuary, a calming space that promotes relaxation. Which leads us to…

Reducing Blue Light Before Bed

Many doctors are still divided when it relates to the benefits of blue light glasses, but there is one thing they can agree on: reducing your exposure to blue light promotes a healthy night’s sleep. This is due to the fact that short-wave blue light is much stronger than the standard blue light we find in nature, which affects melatonin production and makes your brain believe you should be awake.

How can this be implemented in your nighttime routine? Maybe you charge your phone across the room at night so you aren’t tempted to check it right when you wake up, or consider removing the TV from your bedroom.

Try a Weighted Blanket

This one isn’t really applicable to babies and nurseries, but quite a bit of research has shown that people sleep better with weighted blankets. While scientists are still trying to fully understand this phenomenon, you can certainly add a weighted blanket into your bedtime routine. No judgement here if you end up liking yours because it feels like an adult swaddle.

If you’re looking for something that will look good sitting on the end of your bed all day long, search for handmade styles with open knit construction. They tend to be the most breathable, too.

We hope these tips help you get a little bit closer to a good night’s sleep. If you give any of these a try, let us know in the comments below!