Why I Make My Bed Every Day-5 Tips to Create a Peaceful & Relaxing Bedroom

 

While I love an organized, clean, and peaceful home I’ll be the first to admit that mine is not always that way. In fact, there are many days you will find clutter and disorganization reigning in my home.

I really wish I could have a peaceful home every day. Don’t you? I know it’s possible, but sometimes life is too demanding to make it happen. And that’s ok. We all have seasons of life that are more chaotic and overwhelming than others.

However, amid the chaos and disorder that sometimes happens in my home, I have one small oasis that makes everything more peaceful…my bed.

I have made it a habit and priority over the last 18+ years to make my bed every day. Why? That’s a good question. I never really thought about it until I read this quote from a commencement speech given by Retired Admiral William H. McRaven at the University of Texas Austin in 2014.

If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed… If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed, will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right. And if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made, that you made. And a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.

This quote reminded me of why I started making my bed daily and have continued to do so for almost two decades.

When I had my son 19 years ago (Yikes! I can’t believe I have a 19-year-old!) I became a stay-at-home mom. Having one parent at home with our kids was a priority for my husband and me. In fact, it was such a high priority that we had agreed on it before we even got married.

I’ll admit I had a bit of a struggle adjusting from being a full-time employee to becoming a stay-at-home mom. While it was a dream of mine to be at home with my kids, I still had a difficult time adjusting.

For the first time in my life, I actually had control over my job and all the responsibilities that came with it. The first few months at home were hard with a newborn. I didn’t always wear regular clothes or put on makeup. The bed stayed unmade because I was often in and out of it due to being up all night with my son.

After a while, though, I decided I needed to make some changes in my life to make me feel better about myself and to do a better job as a wife, mom, and homemaker. So, I decided two things would be nonnegotiable.

First, I would always make my bed. Making my bed helped me feel like I got at least one thing accomplished. No matter what else happened that day, I would still have a peaceful feeling when I walked into my room and saw the neatly made bed.

Second, I would always get dressed for the day. I’m sure many of you know how easy it is to kind of let yourself go when you have a newborn. Especially if it’s your first one. Lack of sleep and attending to their needs leave you feeling exhausted. Taking a shower and getting dressed is the last thing on your mind. I determined that I would at least get a shower daily, wear regular clothes, and get some type of makeup on to make me feel ready for the day. It’s amazing how much better I felt when I did those things.

I have been following these two self-imposed rules ever since and they have definitely helped me to experience a more peaceful and productive life.

Because making my bed gave me such a great feeling of accomplishment, I decided that I would make my whole bedroom relaxing and peaceful. That way, no matter how messy or chaotic the rest of my house is, I have one room that is consistently organized and peaceful.

Could you use some help making your bedroom more of a retreat to help you unwind at the end of the day?

Check out these tips to create a relaxing and peaceful space:

1. Clear out the clutter

It’s hard to relax in a room that is full of clutter. I know, I’ve been there before. Books and magazines have been piled high on my nightstand. The chair I have for relaxing often held clothes I’d worn once and needed to be put away. And the floor often housed different items that really didn’t belong in my bedroom.

So the first step to a relaxing and peaceful space would be to remove all of the items that do not belong in your bedroom. Then you need to find a place to store items that belong there in such a way that they are not cluttering your bedroom. You may need to invest in new nightstands or other storage pieces to help with this.

2. Assess how you want to use the room

Yes, I know sleeping is the primary function of a bedroom. However, there are other functions that would be appropriate when you’re considering creating a relaxing and peaceful space.

Maybe you need a place to get away from the chaos in your home during the day. Setting aside space for a reading or writing spot with a cozy chair, small side table, and lamp could be an added benefit to you.

Or perhaps you like to unwind for the day with a cup of coffee or tea. If you have space, you could set up a small table to house a coffee maker and supplies so you can fix it right there.

3. Evaluate your decor

A vividly decorated room may keep you from relaxing and falling asleep. Consider a softer color palette that is soothing and relaxing.

Bedrooms are a good place to display family pictures and other personal items. Create a space that uniquely reflects your life and tastes.

4. Set a relaxing mood

One of my favorite ways to wind down in my bedroom is to light a candle. A soft, soothing scent always puts me at ease.

Another way I like to set a relaxing mood is to diffuse essential oils. I have a diffuser on my nightstand and love to diffuse lavender as I’m reading before I go to bed. The scent relaxes me so I can fall asleep quickly.

5. Be careful with electronics

I’ve heard it said we should not have a tv or our cell phones in our bedrooms. The type of light they emit can disrupt our sleep.

Because we do not have a landline, we can only be reached on our cell phones. So I feel it’s important for mine to remain in the bedroom at night in case a loved one has an emergency. However, I try to not spend a lot of time on my phone once I get in bed. And I turn it over so if any notifications come through, the phone does not light up the whole bedroom.

I do the same with my tv. We honestly don’t watch it as much as we used to. But when we do we try to turn it off before we’re ready to go to bed so we aren’t as affected by the light.

What tips do you have for turning your bedroom into a relaxing and peaceful space?