Essence of the Bedroom
With universal design aiming to make every aspect of our life a little easier, there is a great deal we can improve when it comes to sleeping quarters. But what is the essence of the bedroom ? More than just another space within our home, bedrooms play a crucial role in our well being. Bedroom walls nest our rest.
Escape From The World.
The average adult spends about 30 percent of its time in the bedroom. It is not hard to see that those rooms are more than just a place to get our beauty rest.
Turn by turn a sanctuary or a peaceful place to listen to some music “en solo”. An enclosure where we can isolate from the rest of the household for a quick nap or a space to put the world on pause. An interlude for sitting down with a good read to recharge, as the day goes by and becomes more than we can handle. A soft and safe haven to lay down when we feel under the weather. Curled up under the down feather duvet, white linen sheets soothing our aches.
Regenerate.
Bedroom walls nurture us and are key to the way we handle to day ahead. So since making us rest and recover is their primary role after all, bedrooms do need to function as a sleep enhancer. The bedroom should be, first and foremost, comfortable. We need to make sure we can have a space to feel at ease and settle down when time comes to get some zzzs.
We might be part of the vast majority that gets to sleep by night. But our reality might just as well have us working nights, as a routine or for an unwelcome certain period of time. Which means, in this case, that we need to adapt our sleeping quarters to reverse function. Having to go against the flow while the rest will follow mother nature’s lead. In this case, special accommodations are in order to promote a sound sleep. We will likely have to put in place special features to block surrounding light and noise, for example, when the world around us is still on the daylight mode.
We might also suffer from insomnia. So having some elements especially designed to help us settle during this restless mode is primordial since this is an aspect of our very lifestyle. And the same applies if we tend to be more of an night owl at heart, someone who simply likes living by night. Or if we find ourselves awake all or part of the night because of physiological issues or health conditions.
Being Our True Self.
Ultimately, designing our bedroom space should be a reflection of our lifestyle, our habits and our realities. Those will change throughout the course of our life. Pregnancies, single life, new couples, old couples, widowhood, surgeries or sicknesses. Life has it in store for all of us. And at any given point, we might have to think about accessibility too.
Keep in mind that one of the main barriers to aging in place is to actually not have a bedroom on the ground floor. So, whenever possible, you should seriously consider having the bedroom on the main level. Sure, it is great to have some spare rooms upstairs for a better view or to enhance the privacy aspect when we are able to enjoy it. But having a space to shelter your bed on the same level as the rest of the conveniences is quite a luxury if you think down-the-road.
So consider converting an underused space, a craft or media room that do not get a lot of traffic. Or make it double duty with a day bed acting as a couch when not in active use. It will look great and bring a cozy casual feel to the room too.
When planning your bedroom, take into consideration quite trivial things like door openings, hallways, flooring, lighting, closet space, maintenance. All of those will matter at some point, and changes can be made today to benefit our daily tasks of tomorrow. And no need to wait another 20 years to enjoy those upgrades.
Think Ahead.
Thinking ahead and preparing our walls to overcome unexpected challenges is the best approach we can have when it comes to aging in place. One we should think about when we still can. When we are physically able to do so, yes, but also when we are ready to make significant decisions about how we want to live on a daily basis.
We need to learn to adapt our accommodations to make the most of our space so we can feel good at home and resource, recharge and get ready for the beautiful days that are sure to come ahead.
