So that one does not optically feel “overwhelmed” in bed, it is advisable to place the wardrobe alongside the bed. If it is unavoidable that there is a large cupboard opposite the bed or the foot of the bed, it may help if the bedroom cupboard is “hidden” behind a loosely falling curtain.

The Far Eastern furnishing and living philosophy Feng Shui offers further suggestions for a sensible arrangement of the furniture in the bedroom.

Optimal temperature and humidity in the bedroom

In general, a room temperature of 16 ° C to 18 ° C is recommended for the bedroom. In bedrooms for children or older people, the optimal temperature is usually a little higher – around 20 ° C, as these usually have a greater need for warmth.

The humidity is closely related to the temperature in the bedroom. 40% to 50% are ideal here. If the humidity in the bedroom is less than 40%, which is usually caused by excessively high temperatures, this is a burden on the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, can trigger coughing and in the long term be responsible for an increased susceptibility to respiratory diseases.

To prevent the air in the bedroom from becoming too dry, hygienic air humidifiers (regular maintenance), green plants, damp towels hung over the heater or clay vessels filled with water are recommended.

If, on the other hand, the humidity in the bedroom is too high – more than 55%, this is also a burden for the organism. In addition, excessively high humidity promotes the development of mold and creates optimal living conditions for house dust mites .

Fresh air in the bedroom

The bedroom should be well ventilated during the day, which means that the window or windows should be fully opened for about a quarter of an hour at least in the morning and in the evening. In this way, on the one hand, the moisture (approx. 0.2 to 0.5 liters per person) that is released into bed linen and room air through breathing and sweat during sleep can dry off.

On the other hand, fresh air gets into the bedroom again through ventilation. This means that there is enough oxygen available for a good night’s sleep. – In this context, an adult person needs around 160 liters of oxygen per night. If the air in the bedroom or the air you breathe contains too little oxygen, the body accelerates breathing in order to ensure an adequate supply of the brain. Faster breathing means a higher level of activity, which in turn has a negative effect on the quality of sleep.

In connection with an adequate supply of oxygen during sleep, the size of the bedroom is also important. Ideally, this should be at least 7.5 m² per person.

Many people sleep in the bedroom with the window open. In this way, fresh air and thus fresh oxygen comes into the room all night. Basically everyone has to decide for themselves whether they prefer to sleep with the window open or closed. However, drafts should be avoided in any case. In addition, it is better to leave the bitter winter cold outside and, in livelier residential areas, shut out any road or ambient noise by closing the windows.

Plants in the bedroom

Thanks to the variety of leaf shapes, indoor plants are ideal for setting appealing accents in the home. They are therefore often one of the essential elements of room decoration in the bedroom.

The thesis that plants, through their photosynthetic activity, are able to convert the carbon dioxide exhaled during sleep into oxygen and thus contribute to improving the air quality in the bedroom is fundamentally correct.

In practice, however, two or three houseplants placed in the bedroom do not achieve any measurable improvement in air or oxygenation. To achieve the right effect, you would have to transform your bedroom into a greenhouse-like urban jungle. However, this would then again have numerous disadvantages such as maintenance costs that should not be underestimated, possibly unpleasant smells and an unfavorably high level of humidity for sleeping.

If you want to use plants to humidify the air in the bedroom when the air is too dry, you are well advised to choose moisture-loving plants. These include B. Ficus Benjamini, room linden or cyprus grass. In plants of this type, around 90% of the irrigation water evaporates through the leaves.

One should be a little careful with the use of strongly scented plants in the bedroom. – Blooming gardenias or lilies can impair sleep. In addition, very sensitive people can get headaches due to the essential oils released by the plants.

Important!

If plants are “kept” in the bedroom, one should make sure that they are healthy. – Diseased plants are not only unsightly to look at, they are popular places to stay for vermin such as aphids or spider mites.

Better not to have plants in the allergy-free bedroom

Allergy sufferers should generally refrain from using plants in the bedroom. As a rule, they are much more sensitive to odors, pollen or fungal spores in the potting soil than healthy people.

Those with a latex allergy should avoid a Ficus Benjamini when choosing plants. The ficus carries milky sap, which z. B. when accidentally damaged or torn off a sheet and can trigger an allergic reaction on contact.