By Micheal Lambie

Micheal Lambie Interiors

“Lifestyle Designed” is my tagline. My mantra. What I do isn’t just about the physical look and feel, but also the overall results and how they represent who you are or who you want to be.

So, when we’re exploring design options throughout a home, one of my favourite, and most important (and, ideally, impactful) exercises focuses on the bedroom. Sleep is such a huge part of what keeps us happy and healthy, that a well-designed space for your slumber is a must-have.

Bedding

One of the easiest, but also most important components of your sleep space is your bedding. Sure, we all love getting into bed, but the bedding itself can make or break the experience. Thread count, material, and how it fits your mattress all play a part in having a great set of bed linens.

Rule of thumb: Always level up and/or spend a little bit more than you were initially comfortable with. You will never regret great bedding!

The bedding component is so important that I decided to partner with one of Europe’s finest makers of bespoke bed linens, Mirabel Slabbinck. Together, we are launching a line of custom, hand-made bedding as part of my new Micheal Lambie Home Collection (available on my site soon).

So far, we have three that deliver the ultimate designer sleep:

• The 416: Blacks, greys and whites with accents of red or gold
• Picture included
• The Beaches: Sandy neutrals with whites and taupe accents
• Picture included
• The Yorkville: Crisp clean whites with white and light grey accents

Support

Pillow(s)

Are you a back sleeper? Side sleeper? Stomach sleeper? Combo? Do you like a firm or soft pillow? These are all important factors when it comes to choosing the correct neck support for your perfectly-designed sleep.

Rule of thumb: Treat pillows as an exercise in trial and error.

Once you figure out what works best, then you can spend a little more money on that type of pillow/neck support choice. Again, like many things, you often get what you pay for, so spending a little more on your pillow will likely ensure it lasts longer and the extra care and attention to this will drastically improve your sleep quality. Also, determine if you need multiple pillows that can address your various sleeping styles.

Mattress

Finding the right mattress is crucial to enjoying your bed and getting a deep sleep. Too soft and it won’t provide the support your back, hips and spine need. Too firm, and it won’t allow your body to sink into a totally neutral position and the results can lead to not only restless nights, but back spinal pains.

Rule of thumb: Do not purchase a mattress if you can’t test it for at least 30 days.

Bed Frames

There are many different types of bed frames to choose from. What you choose will often depend on the space. Do you need more storage? Do you have a boxspring?

Rule of thumb: Have fun. Seriously. The bedding, mattress and pillows will determine the quality of your sleep. The frame is more of a statement, so if you love it, buy it.

Just keep certain factors in mind… the size and proportions of the room have to be taken into consideration. Don’t cram an oversized bed/frame in just because you love it, because the result will be an uncomfortable space.

Sure, a canopy/four-post bed can be beautiful, but the effect will get lost if it’s scratching the ceiling.

Headboard

If you’re unsure what type of bed frame you want, it’s also important to keep a headboard in mind.

These are an exercise in texture and are more about making a statement. Form, rather than function.

Rule of thumb: Whether it’s wood, metal, upholstered, natural fibres (like wicker or rattan), or leather (faux or real), the headboard is like the filling in a great sandwich.

It sits between the wall and your pillows like the perfect combo of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and your favourite sliced meat (unless you’re vegan or vegetarian, in which case, substitute your favourite sandwich toppings accordingly).

A headboard can really add something to the other components in the sleeping space. For example, for that lux feel you can’t go wrong with a beautiful fabric that is natural enough to work with a decent wallpaper and some vibrant accent pillows.

The Bedside

Where the headboard is more about form than function, what fits at your bedside should marry the two.

Rule of thumb: Whatever you choose, plan on keeping your bedside space as clean and clear as possible. Clutter doesn’t make for a well-designed sleep.

The goal? Create a serene and relaxed facade that will be the last thing you see before you fall to sleep, and the first thing you pay attention to when you wake up in the morning.

If you have a headboard, make sure you select something that complements it, not the other way around. A side table isn’t the star of the show, and you shouldn’t be afraid to be understated here.

Other considerations include open shelving, something in solid wood, glass, mirror, fabric, or floating options.

Lighting

As I’ve said in previous articles, light is arguably one of the most compelling components of any design project.

When it comes to your bedroom lighting, this couldn’t be more true.

Rule of thumb: Regardless of your main, overhead lighting solution (see below), bedside lighting is a must.

Refer back to “The Bedside” section and remember that clean and clear is the goal, so if you can keep your lights OFF of your bedside solution, you should.

That means opting for wall sconces or pendant lighting. Make sure they are installed with their own dimmer switches so they can be adjusted and easily turned off without having to get out of bed.

When it comes to your overhead, or centre lighting solution, my other rule of thumb is to NOT use pot lights.

They can be great for the outer edges of a space, but for overall room lighting a semi-flush or suspended centre light is the best way to add more personality and a statement to your sleeping space.

Window Treatment

Rule of thumb: Three words: Black. Out. Blinds.

Regardless of all the other design choices we’ll make throughout the rest of your sleeping space, the overall goal is to facilitate the best sleep possible. Nothing ensures that more than pure darkness, so black-out blinds or drapes are key.

At the end of the day, remember that this is the room that needs to exude comfort and relaxation. All the style in the world won’t matter if you can’t get a good night’s sleep, so spend up on the things that will make that happen, and if you follow the rest of my guidelines, everything else should fall into place.