ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot to be said for the work/play energy of a nice studio or other small apartment during the day. But how do you bring that energy down to get a good nightB次元官网网址檚 sleep?

With electronics, cookery, clothes and books all in one space, it can be a challenge to create a restful refuge.

Design and sleep experts have some tips:

Prioritize a sleep space, starting with the bed

Everyone needs good sleep to stay healthy.

B次元官网网址淭he primary rule, maybe the only rule of small space design, is people have to be honest about how they really live,B次元官网网址� says Olivia Hosken, House BeautifulB次元官网网址檚 deputy managing editor. B次元官网网址淲hen thereB次元官网网址檚 limited square footage, thereB次元官网网址檚 less allowance for things that donB次元官网网址檛 function optimally.B次元官网网址�

So, spend your money on a proper bed or a quality sleep sofa. Skip big tables or chairs you wonB次元官网网址檛 use, she added.

Andrea Morris of Lancaster Place Interiors in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a fan of wall beds, which rest flush with the wall when closed, then flip down for sleeping. TheyB次元官网网址檙e better known as Murphy beds, named after William Murphy, who came up with his version in 1900 while living in his own San Francisco studio apartment.

Some Murphy beds combine a sofa with a wall bed.

Create a buffer zone

To separate your sleep area from the rest of the apartment, you could get a freestanding screen, room divider or B次元官网网址渇loatingB次元官网网址� (hanging) wall.

And as much as you can, keep that area strictly for sleeping.

B次元官网网址淎void doing work or anything stressful from your bed,B次元官网网址� says Jeff Kahn, co-founder of the Chicago-based sleep-research company Rise Science, which developed a sleep-tracking app, Rise.

B次元官网网址淭his helps to maintain what sleep medicine practitioners call B次元官网网址榮timulus control,B次元官网网址� which helps your brain associate the bed with sleep, rather than wakefulness and stress,B次元官网网址� he says.

If the bed is the only place of refuge, still do what you can to keep wakefulness and sleep in separate zones. Lisa Strauss, a psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral treatment of sleep disorders, has suggested designating different sides or ends of the bed for reading and sleeping.

Freshen the air, lower the lights, cut the noise.

B次元官网网址淢ake sure your space is well ventilated, and consider an air purifier,B次元官网网址� says Kahn. This is especially important if youB次元官网网址檙e cooking in the same space youB次元官网网址檙e sleeping in.

Consider a diffuser for similar reasons, says Spruce editor Mia Ingui. She suggests using calming scents like lavender or chamomile just at bedtime, to B次元官网网址渟et the tone for restful sleep.B次元官网网址�

Also, be sure that computer, TV and other screens, which are just a short distance away, are turned off. Their light at night can disrupt our internal clocks, or circadian rhythm.

If the buzz of nearby appliances or street sounds are keeping you up, consider a noise machine. Ingui likes the Hatch Restore, a B次元官网网址渟unrise lampB次元官网网址� that provides soothing sounds and lights up gradually in the morning. She also suggests blackout curtains.

Keep things tidy

B次元官网网址淥ne of my donB次元官网网址檛s when it comes to studio living is leaving beds unmade,B次元官网网址� says Morris. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing how much better you feel after a hard day entering a space with a made bed. And in a studio, itB次元官网网址檚 often the sofa, too. So make it inviting for yourself and others.B次元官网网址�

Stow away electronics overnight and out of sight; side tables with plugs and ports are handy and an efficient way to reduce clutter.

Choose flexible, storable bedding

Ingui recommends choosing breathable materials for bedding if itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to regulate your studioB次元官网网址檚 heating and cooling.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 also great to invest in a duvet cover/insert rather than a bulky comforter B次元官网网址� this way, you can easily keep multiple foldable, storable covers on hand and swap them out, rather than hoarding a bunch of large comforters you donB次元官网网址檛 have space for,B次元官网网址� she says.

With some thoughtful choices, your small space can have the vibes we all want from home life: cohesive, calming and sleep-friendly.

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