The release of The Tortured Poets Department on Friday has seen Google searches for ‘Taylor Swift’ increase 228% in the past week worldwide.
The sleep experts at Happy Beds have designed five bedrooms inspired by Taylor’s iconic albums and eras which will improve sleep by reducing stress and anxiety, promoting relaxation, and reducing heart rate.
Read on to uncover why Rex Isap, sleep expert and CEO at Happy Beds recommends enhancing your bedroom decor with eras-inspired elements.
These 5 bedroom designs inspired by Taylor Swift album eras will improve sleep, say experts…
1. Country Cosiness: Inspired by the ‘Evermore’ era
For this album-inspired bedroom, the focus is rustic charm. Think decor that reminds you of warm wood, cosy blankets and earthy tones throughout. This bedroom design might be modelled on the artist’s country roots, but the earthy style could help you sleep.
Bringing nature indoors creates a calm sanctuary that allows us to unwind, bringing down our cortisol levels (our ‘stress’ hormone), which is the opposite of what we need when attempting to sleep.
Wood also has an extremely positive impact on sleep, and studies have found that it can increase comfort levels and even reduce insomnia.
The smell of wood also has sleep-inducing effects. So, to start small, you could incorporate the smell of cedarwood oil into your room with diffusers or pillow mist sprays.
2. City Sleek Sleep: Inspired by the ‘1989’ era
Perfect for those who live in the hustle and bustle of a busy city, this decor features clean lines, modern decor and soothing colours to mimic the serenity of a city skyline. This bedroom – boasting a very ‘1989’ vibe – uses a soft colour palette with serene blues and warm cream tones. And, of course, those blues will help you sleep, with blue often tipped as the best colour for a bedroom due to its association with peace and relaxation. Blue colours have even been reported to reduce heart rate.
In addition, the clean lines and lack of clutter can promote feelings of restfulness, with clutter said to disrupt sleep and increase feelings of anxiety. Another benefit to this type of bedroom – certainly when looking at the inspiration behind the style – is the nostalgic elements, which can be seen in the Polaroid pictures.
Previous research has found that feelings of nostalgia can improve emotional well-being and release positive emotions, which can help you fall into a deeper slumber. It’s also said that these emotions can make you more resilient when stressed, which can only help you sleep.
3. Gothic Elegance: Inspired by the ‘Reputation’ era
Warm, dark lighting – such as reds, which befit this decor – has sleep-promoting benefits. Switching to red light at night is recommended as it helps with melatonin production.
Soft, luxurious textures – as shown in this style of bedroom – help stimulate the feeling of touch, which can also help lull you to sleep. Think of the luxurious textures as a warm hug or stimulating the pressure of a hug. Hugging releases oxytocin, and this feeling can help you sleep.
Silk sheets and pillowcases, in particular, can also help you sleep as they allow your skin to breathe, reducing the amount you sweat at night. In addition, silk is lighter on the skin than other materials and less likely to cause friction when you sleep. If you have ever woken up with lines on your face from your pillowcase due to friction, opt for breathable materials for your bedding.
4. Starry Serenity: Inspired by the ‘Midnights’ era
Starry lights – as depicted by projectors – are often used in children’s bedrooms, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be used in yours. The soft, warm lighting can help promote relaxation and restfulness, essential for a better night’s sleep. Any feelings of stress or negative emotions significantly disrupt your sleep, as it can increase the production of cortisol. This is the enemy of sleep and the ‘sleep’ hormone, melatonin.
Blue tones are also often associated with calm and relaxation, with the colour strongly associated with relaxation due to its ability to make us think of nature and the sky. This type of room is ideal for both morning and night, with warmer lights for the evening to help you sleep and switching to brighter white lights in the morning to help you wake up.
5. The Romantic Retreat: Inspired by the ‘Lover’ Era
The ‘Romantic Retreat’ features a dreamy pastel sky that oozes romance – it’s perfect for a ‘Lover’. Think soft pastels, dreamy textures and fairy lights for a romantic bedroom escape. These lights not only look stylish, but they can help you sleep better, too.
Fairy lights are less stimulating than bright lights, helping to promote relaxation and sleepiness. Big, bright lights affect our circadian rhythm by inhibiting melatonin production, also known as your ‘sleep hormone’. This study found that participants fell asleep faster when the lights were dimmed before bedtime.
The twinkling lights have a soft and warm glow, creating a calming and soothing atmosphere – the ideal remedy for stress and anxiety. In one study from 2022,researchers found that coloured lights positively regulate one’s mood, which can help promote a more calming sleep.
However, we recommend opting for muted, warmer colours at night instead of bright lights, as the brighter lights can inhibit your sleep. In the morning, you could still opt for the bright lights as they will help with the production of cortisol, which keeps you alert during the day.
