How to Create a Cozy Sleep Environment
bwsit • February 24, 2017

The main thing about a bedroom is sleep. Although most people think decorating is all about color, the truth of the matter is that light, scent, texture as well as color contribute to a good night’s sleep. Custom window treatments ensure it looks cozy and inviting as well.

Light

It is now common knowledge that the blue in the light spectrum disrupts efforts to sleep. Removing the TV from the bedroom, closing down the computer for the night and shutting down the cell phone all play a part in removing this blue light from a room ready for bed. However, are you aware that simply  reducing the strength of your light bulbs helps the body prepare for sleep ? Putting a dimmer on the light switch is also beneficial to a body that yawns when the sun goes down. If you’re the kind who needs absolute blackness in which to sleep, might we suggest custom blinds, plantation shutters or blackout curtains? For a pretty and attractive look, match the color of your blinds, plantation shutters or blackout curtains to your bedding.

Comfort

Here are some things you can do to make your bedroom more comfortable:

  • Adjustable blinds and shades allow star gazing before falling asleep.
  • Most people sleep better in cooler climates, and they make it so with ceiling fans.
  • De-cluttering a bedroom gives it space, so its inhabitants can relax. To that end, you can buy bedroom furniture with storage included, such as drawers in the bed frame and storage devices beneath the eaves combining shelves, drawers and open spaces for knickknacks.
  • Noise is jarring. It disrupts sleep patterns, causing fatigue and mental disorder to the body the next day. Soothing sounds like water trickling in a stream, the sound of the surf against the shore or the trees moving with the breeze on a mountainside can be obtained through CDs playing softly in the background.

Scent

The aroma of certain foods brings back memories. Perfumes instantly take us back to a time when the ladies who wore it taught us or took care of us. It’s not too difficult to make potpourri. Slip it between the pillow and its case, put it in a bowl on the dresser or a shelf, or place it close to a vent. Sachets can be pinned to custom shades and curtains; the scent will waft through the room with each breeze. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind a pot of flowers in your loft or attic bedroom. Some scents, like vanilla and lavender, induce relaxation and reduce stress. Here are some more scents that will make your loft or attic bedroom stand out:

  • Valerian is well known as a sleep aid. Its flowers might not smell as sweet as daisies, for instance, but if you can handle the smell, the sleeper enjoys deeper more restful sleep with greater efficiency the next day.
  • Jasmine is a sweet-smelling flower with pretty blooms. Sniffing this scent will not only put you to sleep, but give you more restful, better quality sleep.
  • Chamomile is a very small daisy-like flower, whose calming effects are very well known. Stress is a goner, and chamomile’s anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral effects promises a body well-rested and able to take on the world the next day.
  • Lilac is a delicate little flower, but its scent induces sleep, relaxes and kicks insomnia to the curb.

You can also experiment with essential oils to make your own scent that makes your loft or attic bedroom smell nice as well as inducing a restful night’s sleep.

Plants

Nothing says home as much as plants, animals and kids.  Plants double as décor throughout the house, but their main function is to condition the air.   Removal of detrimental things from the air contributes not only to a healthier body and good sleep, but also to indoor air quality. If homeowners are selling their homes, then make sure you have plenty of plants on hand!

  • Aloe plants produce oxygen at night, making sleep more natural and restful.
  • Gardenias are good for those suffering anxiety and insomnia.
  • English Ivy not only purifies the air, but asthmatics and allergy sufferers benefit from its presence in their bedrooms
  • Gerbera daisies also produce oxygen at night as well as helping asthmatics and sleep apnea sufferers

Plants need plenty of light in order to live. Make sure your custom blinds, shades and curtains are open where the plants are placed for the necessary light. The other parts of the blinds and shades can remain closed or adjusted as you see fit.

While the purpose of a bedroom is to sleep, it should wrap you in cozy comfort to invite that sleep. It should also make people who see it want to stay in it. Homeowners redecorating their homes want to use their available space to best advantage as well as making it look nice. We can help with custom window treatments when you  contact us   to learn more about it.

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

What Your Window Treatment Says About You: A Personality-Based Guide

April 23, 2025
Your selection of window treatment products and services is not merely about getting a job done. Rather, if you look hard enough, you can find direct correlations between the type of person that you are and the window treatment that you select. We have created this personality-based guide to help you best discover what kind of window treatment truly matches your spirit. The Dependable Type: Wooden Blinds You are the person that all of your friends can count on. You are the type of person who truly sticks to your plans when you make them, and you are the type of person who will choose wooden blinds for your home. Privacy is important to you when selecting your blinds, and that is why you find yourself pulled into the idea of putting up wooden blinds. Besides that, they happen to be highly functional, and that's not something that you are willing to pass up either. The Planner: Blackout Curtains Those who value truly getting the most value out of their blinds or anything else that they install in their homes will think very carefully about their options. For those people, going with blackout curtains makes a lot of sense. They want to gain as much value as possible out of their options, and they know that they can significantly improve their quality of sleep and so much more when they opt for blackout curtains. These also happen to be a great option for those who work night shifts or other odd hours and yet still want to enjoy their sleep. They need blackout curtains to help increase the quality of that sleep and allow themselves to get their day started right. The Tech Enthusiast: Smart Shades They roam among us: The type of people who are quick to adopt any new technology and get to work figuring out how it can improve their lives. These people are great because they are not afraid to take a risk and because they help to move our society forward. They simply want to get more out of each day, and they often do so by adopting and using the latest technologies. These individuals will gravitate towards smart shades for the following attributes: Innovation - Who wants to stick with the boring old ways of shading one's house? Smarter options are now available, and you better believe that the tech enthusiasts among us are willing to latch on to them. Efficiency - These shades are a more efficient option for those who care about that kind of thing. They can be easily activated and set up to open or close automatically (how cool is that?!). Progressive - The "cool" factor is a big deal for people who fall into this category as well. They might not admit to it right off the bat, but they care deeply about what others think about them. As such, they want window shades that have that cool factor attached to them. The Dreamer: Sheer Curtains Finally, we land upon the dreamer. This is the person who views every day for the possibilities that it can bring. They are not scared off by those with a negative attitude. If anything, they believe that they can change those people! Instead, the dreamer wants sheer curtains because they bring in soft light, open spaces, and bring about a feeling of possibility all throughout the house. Sheer curtains are the ideal option for someone who classifies themselves in this way. They will receive plenty of compliments on their curtains, and they will appreciate how open they are to the world.  Which kind of person are you and which window treatment option makes the most sense for your personality? For more inspiration and ideas, reach out and contact us today.

5 Unexpected Places Homeowners Are Installing Outdoor Shades

March 13, 2025
We all know and understand the concept of installing outdoor shades on a patio. It is the classic way to create a cool and comfortable space for yourself and your friends to spend some quality time together outdoors. There is nothing wrong with that, but it is limiting to think that the patio is the only part of one's property where outdoor shades are appropriate. There are some surprising and unexpected places where homeowners have taken to installing outdoor shades recently. We want to take a look at some of these to provide you with ideas for your next home improvement project. 1) Balconies Some homes are built quite close together, and some homeowners naturally feel like they would like to do more to protect their privacy. Although their neighbors might not intentionally be looking through their balconies, it is easy for the human eye to drift. Thus, some city-dwelling homeowners have made the choice to install outdoor shades in this area. On top of keeping prying eyes off of your property, outdoor shades also block the sun rays from your balcony as well creating a more comfortable space to spend some time. 2) Outdoor Kitchens One of the most delightful social experiences that someone can have is to invite over a large group of friends for a meal cooked outside. It gives everyone the opportunity to share stories, laughes, and a bit of food all at the same time. Of course, this is best done in an outdoor kitchen. Your outdoor kitchen is a space where you should feel comfortable and have the ability to entertain a large group of people all at the same time. This means looking at installing outdoor shades to provide an extra layer of protection from the heat of the sun. Thus, this has become another area where homeowners are quickly installing outdoor shades. 3) Poolside Lounges Now we are really talking! Who doesn't love to kick back with their favorite cold beverage and spend some time relaxing next to the pool? That is what you can enjoy more completely when you set up a poolside lounge with outdoor shades. Poolside lounges are meant to be a place where you can spend several hours at a time. However, it can get pretty hot while doing so if you don't put some outdoor shades in place. Get those shades up so you can let all of your worries melt away as you take in the smell of pool water and sunscreen. 4) Garden Areas Do you enjoy a little gardening in your downtime? You might like it even more after setting up outdoor shades that protect you from the excessive heat of the sun. Gardening is labor-intensive work and can take several hours of diligent labor to do it properly. However, you don't want to overextend yourself and end up getting physically overworked. Keeping some of the sun away is an excellent way to ensure that you don't overdo it. Just make sure that you check up on the sunlight needs of the various plants that you intend to put into your garden before installing outdoor shades. 5) Exterior Windows Did you know that it is possible to reduce your energy bills by installing outdoor shades? It's true! If you place outdoor shades on the exterior windows of your home, you can reduce the strain placed on your air conditioning by naturally reducing the overall temperature within your living space. This means less money out of your pocket and more money for working on your next project.  There are many interesting places where homeowners are installing outdoor shades these days. For more creative ideas on what you can do with yours, reach out and contact us now.