Depending on who you ask, the bedroom is the most important room in the house. True, the kitchen has food and the living room has socializing and the bathroom has, well, bathroom stuff; but the bedroom has sleep, the great equalizer that we all have to pay homage to for at least a few hours every evening. That’s unless you’re a college student; this group is a species all their own and can choose to be exempt from this rule when it serves them best.
But for everyone else, we’re all a big fan of the bedroom for one reason or another. Want to step up your bedroom game (not your game in the bedroom – that’s an entirely different situation, and one I’m not qualified to give advice on) with some high-tech touches? Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Lighting
Personally, I am a big fan of straining my eyes to see my entire room from the glow of my phone screen – or plugging in fairy lights. Or a lamp, or literally anything other than my overhead light. But there are more options!
Philips has an entire line of hue lights, providing alternative ways to light your path without groping in the dark or tripping. Specifically, I’ve seen a wide selection of ambiance light strips mounted underneath the bedframe to light the room from below. The range of colors means mood lighting anytime you need it. For a touch that isn’t so fancy, grab a hue lightbulb for your lamp!
If getting out of bed in the morning poses a regular problem, Philips has a gadget for that, too: an alarm clock that simulates the sunrise! It is designed to waken you from sleep in a much more natural and comforting way than the jarring alarm sounds we tend to set on our mobile devices. Using your body’s biological clock and natural response to the sun to wake yourself up is guaranteed to improve the start of your day.
Sleeping
Considering how little we as a society sleep, it’s a wonder we function at all! Sleep really is incredibly important for our bodies; small changes can easily improve your overall wellbeing.
Not sure what your regular sleep schedule is? Feeling like you’re not getting enough rest? Invest in a sleep tracker to gain a better understanding of your nocturnal activities. Pick up one of the various Fitbit devices or buy an Apple Watch and have the data automatically uploaded to your smartphone. If you’re part of the 1 percent and want to show off how rich you are (seriously, these things start in the $2,000 range), pick up the pod by Eight Sleep; it’s a dynamic mattress cover that not only tracks your sleeping patterns, but will also heat or cool the bed to your preference.
Looking for better sleep without going into major debt? Consider a weighted blanket, designed to bring all the comfort and joys of cuddling for those without a partner. Bonus: these are great for helping those who struggle with panic disorder or anxiety, as the blanket becomes a useful grounding tool.
Another simple touch you can make is adding a white noise machine to your room that can create gentle humming noises every night. If you find yourself distracted by every little creak your home makes – or any car driving down the road – this nifty device can help drown all of that out to help you achieve a better sleep.
If you are plagued with seasonal allergies or are a fan of cleaner air, snag an air purifier to improve your overall sleep. Or, you can always purchase a plant as your natural air purifier.
Convenience to the Max
And finally, if you’re just trying to amplify your laziness, add a smart home hub to your room. These devices can control your lights, turn on the TV and change channels, play music, and more, all without you having to lift a finger.
If you’re a fan of BBC’s Sherlock, you may recall a scene in which Sherlock explains the area surrounding the phone’s charging port to Watson. He notes that the phone’s charging port is chipped and scratched because every night, the alcoholic owner, fumbled to plug in the phone. Don’t be like that guy. Instead, buy yourself a side table that doubles as a wireless charger; impress your friends and be lazy, all in one!
There are plenty of ways to spruce up your bedroom with modern technology; these are just the tip of the iceberg. Moving into a new home is a great time to embrace a new bedroom aesthetic; but these are also ideas that can be implemented at any point in your life. For more design inspiration, head over to NewHomeSource’s Learning Center and follow us on social media.
Kian Zozobrado joined Builders Digital Experience (BDX) in 2019 as a content writer. A graduate of Southwestern University with a degree in English, Kian is passionate about the written word and making connections. Outside of work, Kian also serves as president of the Board of Directors for the Writers’ League of Texas.
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