Winter hibernation special – Podcast show notes S5 Ep3
So we are halfway through the fifth season of The Great Indoors already and we would like to say a huge thanks to John Lewis & Partners for sponsoring us, our producer Kate Taylor and of course, you, our lovely listeners!
On with today’s show…and if you haven’t done so already, you can catch the episode here) On our winter hibernating special we discuss ways to cope with the changes that come about with the new season and we review some of the latest interiors books. We both agree that there is nothing better than hunkering down with a good book, and while Kate enjoys a juicy read, I love to flick through the pretty pictures and so our book review round up has something for everyone. But first of all….
Sleep
My blue bedroom. I don’t have any trouble sleeping! Rug Made By Alternative Flooring In Liberty Flowers Of Thorpe Summer Garden. Walls Painted in Smalt By Little Greene. Dazzling Blue bedlinen by Secret Linen Store. Photography By Alun Callender
Possibly my favourite pastime, I love to sleep and yet the nation is apparently in a sleep crisis! Kate was in her element with a notebook full of stats! In 1942 we had an average of 7.9 hrs sleep a night, by 2013 gone down to 6.9 hrs , and in 2016 the Centre of disease control and prevention weighted in to say a third of adults don’t get the minimum 7 hours required for health and wellbeing. So what can we do to make sure we get the best nights sleep possible?
A recent American study showed that those of us who have a blue bedroom has the best night’s sleep (that’s me!) then the next most soothing colour for the bedroom is moss green, then pale yellow (not sure I agree with that one) and then silver – which is weird but I think a pale grey would be restful! Then red is known to be bad for your heart rate and blood pressure so not ideal for the bedroom – however, my son’s bedroom has red walls and he has absolutely no problem sleeping. He’s a zonker like his mother.
My son’s bedroom is Atomic red by Little greene. Red is a terrible choice for bedrooms but my son loves it and sleeps like a dream
As you may know by now I use colour psychology as a framework for many of my schemes and commissions and we often hear that the soft, cool, muted tones like pale blue, green and lilac, for instance, are relaxing and lower the rate. However, for me, I think they will have the opposite effect just look at my bedroom, not a soft, pale tone in sight. So as usual these are guidelines and not rules. Colour is a personal thing and take the time to work out what makes you feel happy and relaxed.
Dark bedrooms are a great choice for those of us who love to hunker down, and look great at night with wall lights. John Lewis & Partners share my passion for colour in the bedroom – with all those gorgeous velvet textures it creates a warm and cosy vibe!
Some tips for creating a relaxing bedroom…
- Declutter – banish the laundry, clothes scattered on the floor and piles of books – don’t be distracted by things that could make you feel stressed
- If full-on colour and pattern is a bit much for you, have more subtle, calmer colours and wallpapers that you can see from the bed and then really go for it on the headboard/wall so you don’t have to look at it while trying to relax at night.
- No technology or devices allowed! Bedrooms are for sleeping and sex. No Tv or computers allowed!
- Avoid a bedroom come office – if space is an issue try and screen it off or hide the work stuff so it’s not on view as psychologically it may make you feel anxious and your brain will not be able to switch off.
- Sleeping is a very tactile experience so go for luxury in the form of soft and plush rugs next to the bed, quality bed linen and textures that you love to touch.
- Buy the biggest bed you can fit in the room. You should be able to lie with your hands behind your head, without touching whoever is next to you.
- Think of something cosy underfoot like a soft rug
- Block out the light and sounds at night with thick interlined curtains and blinds. You can close the blind when the radiators are on and draw the curtains for extra cosiness at other times.
- Invest in an electric blanket, 13 tog duvet and turn your heating down or off. And if your raving mad like Kate, you can even open the window!
On to probably the most important thing – the mattress.
After Kate’s family ‘fun’ day out at the John Lewis & Partners bed department she was told that firm isn’t always the way to go – there are many things to consider and with everyone at different weights and have very different sleeping habits – it definitely isn’t a one size fits all scenario. So, when lying on your side your spine should be straight and if a mattress is too firm it will push your hip and shoulder up which can, in turn, cause misalignment. You also need a bed big enough for the both of you. I am lucky enough to have an Emperor (6ft) bed – but it had to be done as my husband is a very light sleeper!
In summary…
- Try before you buy
- Get some expert advice on the softness v firmness of your mattress
- Go for as large as you can afford and fit into the room
- Look into how you’re going to get rid of the old mattress to ensure it doesn’t end up in landfill! Will the company you’re buying one from dispose of it responsibly? John Lewis & Partners’ range of natural mattresses are chemical and glue free so they can be fully recycled which has to be the future right?
- Current advice is to change your mattress every 7 years so how we recycle after use is an issue.
My guest bedroom is a riot of pattern. Soft pinks and greens are great colours for sleep. I’ve chosen a subtle pattern for the walls from Molly Mahon and kept the busy pattern on the floor and Society of Wanderers bedlinen.
Getting ready for winter
As well as getting the slow cooker out, lighting the fire, snuggling up with a nice warm jumper and slippers and not forgetting my Himalayan salted cacao hot chocolate there are some practical things to consider too. We’re trying to watch how much energy we use and the underfloor heating we installed downstairs last year seems to be very efficient and we are super pleased with it, you can read about the installation here. Upstairs, however, we still have the traditional radiators, so, I’m now thinking that electric blankets are the way forward – teamed with a big fluffy duvet.
Don’t forget about the lighting – we’ve all been guilty of going for style over substance, and we do need a little extra at this time of year so think about where you need that extra light.
New interior books
As we are doing a winter special, who doesn’t love curling up with a good book on a winters evening! We have three great new book launches to share with you, kicking off with Faded Glamour by Pearl Lowe who we interviewed back in season 3 of the podcast and you can see my notes from the show here. I love this book, not only for the fabulous photography and the whole aesthetic but for the fact that I feel like I can totally lose myself in it and fantasise about being in a huge country pile stacked full of gorgeous vintage loot. It’s a sneak peek into a very glamorous world although as the title suggests they are a little rough around the edges, filled with vintage and pre-loved pieces. Be warned though it will give you the urge to visit the odd vintage fair or car boot sale as it certainly did for me!
Known for their dark and moody style and online homewares, it was quite a (pleasant) surprise to see this colourful book by Rockett St George. Extraordinary Interiors in Colour came about as founders Lucy and Jane launched a paint collection of 18 colours last year, made by Craig & Rose, and they had to do a lot of research into colour, so were instantly hooked. The book is not just a great flicker as it does go into detail. For example, it takes a look at the history of colour, the technical, scientific and applied theory and some easy to implement tips on how to put schemes together. It’s also stacked full of fab fashionable interiors to boot. Our favourite subject was the way they had put together the trends through the decades, including what music we were listening to, what we were watching on TV and the looks and trends of the era.
Lastly, hot off the press from America, architect and founder of an award-winning consultancy for the workplace, Donald Rattner introduces My Creative Space, which looks at the scientific study on the impact our surroundings have on our creativity. Whilst Kate and I work in the creative field and work at home this book is a fascinating read if you work at home or have a creative hobby. In summary, Rattner says that many books feature ideas on the where the home is the object of creativity i.e decorating and creating schemes and creative activities within the home, cooking for example, but this book shows how to use the home to motivate and encourage creativity. In addition to the somewhat expected advice, use natural light, bring nature in etc etc, he goes into the scientific explanations, why they work, and how you can do it. It’s a great book and an essential addition to any interior designers bookshelf.
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