We’ve all read countless articles and studies about how physical factors can affect your sleep. Light, noise, temperature and even your diet can contribute to insomnia (this just in, washing down a pizza with a six pack of beer and passing out in your clothes with the music blaring does NOT contribute to restful slumber).
However, there is overwhelming evidence that emotional and mental factors can also affect sleep. And because colors have been shown to impact people’s mood, it makes sense that the colors you choose for your sheets, curtains and walls in your bedroom can influence your sleep.
Red, for example, appears to be the worst possible color to add to your bedroom. Red is often associated with intensity, blood and violence. Psychological testing has shown that when subjects are exposed to the color red, blood pressure rises and the heartbeat speeds up. These physiological changes can stimulate appetite (red is often used in restaurants) and further exacerbate nervousness and tension (which could affect your ability to perform in academic situations). Therefore, your red bedroom walls could potentially leave you tired, overweight and even less intelligent!
Blue, on the other hand, has been shown to lower blood pressure and stimulate the pituitary gland, which regulates and controls the release of adrenaline into our system. Psychologically, most people associate the color blue with the coolness and calm of night. Green has a similar effect, stimulating relaxing thoughts of nature and renewal. Thus, a bedroom with cool shades of blue and green has the most potential in terms of helping you sleep.
If you are one of millions of Americans struggling to sleep at night, before turning to pricey doctors and sleep aids, why not try giving your bedroom an inexpensive makeover? A fresh coat of paint, a new pair of sheets and of course, a soothing new . water pillow . to enable stress-free, uninterrupted sleep – and you might be surprised at how slightly altering you mental state helps improve your physical well-being.
Sources:
http://insomniacuredjs.com/how_colors_can_affect_your_sleep.php
http://thesleepsecretebook.com/blog/tag/pituitary-gland
http://www.colourlovers.com/blog/2008/04/25/avoid-before-exams-can-a-color-make-you-dumber
