In my constant and never-ending mission to get a good 4 minutes of sleep each and every night (I'm very strict about this) I pitched a fit and moved everything in my bedroom around to make it more ... sleepable. And wakeable. Just more able.
For anyone new here, half of my blog is a series of posts where I complain about a room in my house, move everything around in it, and LOVE IT for exactly 3.5 months.
At that time I wake up one morning with a fresh perspective of disgust and hatred towards it.
And repeat. For a lifetime.
The last time I complained about a room of mine was when I Took a Sledgehammer to My Living Room. That was 3 months ago.
As such, you have exactly 2 weeks until the next installment of I have a powerful hatred of everything I see in my living room. My furniture rearranging has always been more regular than my period.
Speaking of periods. I don't have those anymore.
What I *do* have are sleeps that are as peaceful as wearing shorts woven out of fire ants & corn syrup. This has been going on for years. I'm constantly in a state of Sure, I'll try that! to make my sleep better.
Please don't recommend sleeping naked even though I know the majority of you reading this right now do sleep naked.
I did come up with a 3 tier bedtime routine a few years ago that has made sleeping much better though.
My 3 Tips for Instantly Better Sleep
The motivation for this particular brand of bedroom crazy was waking up one weekday at the crack of 10:45 a.m.
I slept through 2 alarms, the usual morning gaggle of school kids and the cutoff point for ordering breakfast at any chain restaurant.
I have no idea what time I fell asleep (for the first time) the night before. I'm a whiz at falling asleep. I usually fall asleep 7 or 8 times a night.
For 20 years I've known the layout of my bedroom was wrong but I'd convinced myself there was no other way to arrange the furniture.
Also, I can't get rid of any of my bedroom furniture because the only way to get it out is through an old window that's hidden behind drywall.
I know this because to get the bedroom furniture into the house I had to smash out the drywall, hire a moving company to shove it up onto their moving truck parked in my neighbour's driveway and slide it in the window. At which point I had to put up a new sheet of drywall, tape it, sand it & repaint.
3.5 months later I was sick of the bedroom suite.
So there's that.
This is the before layout about 15 minutes into the rearranging. NOTE: Many of these photos were taken with a wide angle lens so the room looks huge.
The bedroom measures 11' x 16'.
k, but seriously why do this?
Light
In the summer from 9 at night until 2 in the afternoon, my bedroom is dark. In the winter it's always dark. There is no sunrise dancing across my sheets tickling my consciousness until I giddily awake to greet the day.
Solution: Reposition the bed so it faces a window. Any window. But preferably an Eastern facing window because that is where the happy sun apparently rises. I wouldn't know.
My Body Literally Told Me To
I often wake up in the morning lying straight across the width of my bed. I do a 90° counter clockwise turn at some point in the night so that I'm facing East. True story. I imagine it's a very graceful.
Solution: Make the bed face the way my body naturally wants to lay.
Updating
Because of the whole can't remove the furniture without ripping out a wall thing I'm keeping the furniture. Did I mention I also had the bed custom made out of 2 single beds? They were cut into pieces and then reformed into a bed that is neither a queen NOR a double sized bed.
Because I can't get rid of this stuff, I wanted to update the bedroom with some elements of this era. Other than the Ikea bedside lamps everything in the room is old. Actually they're probably 15 years old themselves.
Let the rearranging begin
This isn't even a proper before shot of my bedroom. I've taken out some accessories. Picture it the same but with more junk on the dresser to the left and piles of books on the floor.
Speaking of books ...
First the bed got moved into the only other position possible in the room, which happens to face a window the size of a cereal box. Not even a Costco sized cereal box; a regular one. You can't see the window from this shot but the window does face East.
Once I knew the bed was going to work in this position I spent 6 hours lugging and sliding other things around. The tallboy dresser got moved outside of my bedroom into a small alcove at the top of my stairs where it almost fits.
I went through the selection of eccentric lamps in my basement and brought 2 modern, brass 70's lamps upstairs.
For a variety of reasons the bed can't be properly centred under the sloped ceiling. It's O.K. It'll only bother you when you look at it.
I then carried a 55 lb arched mirror up my winding 26" wide staircase because the room still wasn't right and neither was I. I was getting anxious, angry, sweaty & stupid but there was no stopping the wicked witch of the rest.
I was going to create a bedroom I could sleep and wake up in like a coffee commercial dammit or I would die trying. Death by redecorating is probably underreported.
The big mirror reflects even more light into the general bed area plus it tempers all the old stuff. As do the brass lamps.
This isn't a working fireplace, but the bump out behind it is my chimney so putting a mantle there makes sense.
But wait ...
That is a 12 hour long YouTube video of a fire playing on a flatscreen television set inside the mantle. That's O.K., go scroll back to the previous photo. You can see the small red power light of the television around the right lower corner of what appears to be a black hole.
When the television is off you don't see or notice anything. It's just dark. Other than the power light.
One press on the remote and it's a pretty convincing fireplace complete with crackling sounds.
Which I can see, along with the cereal box window from bed.
On the fireplace mantle are 2 of my favourite paintings. One of my house done by Jody Joseph, the other a rural landscape scene I got at a garage sale for a few dollars.
By the bed an antique rug I got from my friend Robbie, and a vase of honeysuckle. Whatever flower is in season will be there in that vase. I'm contemplating a newer rug and will definitely be replacing the Ikea lamps.
I also flipped my mattress and box spring, put new percale sheets on the bed and got myself set up for the Sleepy-time trifecta that first night.
The Sleepy-time Trifecta
Freshly laundered sheets 🛏️ Shower before bed 🚿 Freshly laundered pajamas
And then just before I went to bed it started to rain, turning bedtime into the mythical Sleepy-Time Superfecta. Sheets, shower, pajamas, rain. Sleep narnia.
In the very early morning a streak of light slipped across my face and I opened my eyes, smiled - and went right back to sleep.
Next up? A new mattress, a big cartoon hammer to konk me out at night and a singing George Michael hologram to wake me up before I go go back to sleep.
I like the feel of the bedroom a lot more now and I do sleep much better. I just don't sleep well.
Mark 3.5 months from today on your calendars folks, and we will reconvene.
Golly you’re so lucky. The best sleep I had recently was during and after my colonoscopy about 2 months ago.
Your new arrangement looks and feels settled, calm. Hopefully you will like it maybe 4 months. You remind me so much of my daughter and always make me laugh!
I REARRANGED IT AGAIN LAST NIGHT!!😆 Major pieces stayed put but added and subtracted lighting/accessories. ~ karen!
Since you have a tv in the fireplace, have you tried the black screen programs of rainstorms or ocean waves? The soothing sounds last for 8 to 9 hours. Really helps me sleep.
Hi Gwinelle. I used to fall asleep with classical music playing, i may try that again. ~ karen!
The room is amazing. It reminds me of my childhood room. All the slanted walls and tiny windows. I love your style.
Thank you Linda. Now all I need is a slightly bigger window than your childhood bedroom window. :) ~ karen!
Your results of the remake are awesome! You have to be a genius to resolve the issues. I love decorating with creativity and you went to the max! Bravo!!
Thanks Edie! I got a tiny bit lucky. If the tallboy dresser didn't fit on the landing everything probably would have gone back to where it originally was. ~ karen!
I like it!!! I am also sleep deprived. So, I can relate. I moved my bedroom downstairs from a loft overlooking the great room. I moved because my geriatric dog could no longer navigate stairs and would pace the wood floors. I couldn't stand the idea of him missing me so moved into a guest room.
He passed away 2 weeks ago and I am seriously considering moving back upstairs. I have to have it dark and cool to even try to get to sleep. No windows upstairs so that is a huge plus.
Bedroom downstairs has a south-east window. No amount of blackout curtains shuts out the light.
I move and rearrange furniture constantly, always have always will LOL
JC
Hi JC. I'm so sorry about your dog. It's just so awful when a pet dies. I absolutely love my foyer. Yet ... I know I'll move everything in it again one day. ~ karen!
JC - Anyone who would feel guilty about their dog pacing and missing them, must have been a SUPER doggie parent. So sorry about your dog.
As a person on Dog #15, you KNOW I've had my heart broken into a million pieces at least 14 times.
I have come to the realization that, after a sufficient period of mourning, I can't live without a dog and just welcome another hard luck case into my life.
Your next "special someone" is out there - just waiting for you...mark my word, it'll happen.
It's good! It's good! Love the floors. Wish they were in my house.
Thanks Babs! I love them so much too. If I ever moved they would be the thing I missed the second most. (the fireplace being the first). ~ karen!
I like it! I understand your need for the modern chair. A bit of modern with the older furniture keeps it light. Now the search is on for the perfect lamps although those don't bother me either. I have a larger bedroom than yours and I can never move anything, a large window taking up one wall, a wall with 2 doors another where the door from the other wall into the room and a door that opens into a closet and then the final wall that has another closet door and that's the only one we can put the king bed on. Ugh. So all I can do is change up the bedding and curtains to get a change. Hey as long as you get some decent sleep right
Thanks so much. I'm disproportionately excited about getting a new mattress. ~ karen!
I love everything about the way you have the bedroom arranged. It looks so happy and airy and I would just love to curl up in that fluffy bed and nap.
Do you let Lip sleep with you? I sleep with my dog (Ralphie). He's a little bitty thing though, but since my husband died I don't feel so alone having him to snuggle with.
I waited for over a year for Lip to choose to jump on the bed with me. He finally did but then he'd jump off after 5 minutes or so. Now he jumps up and stays on the bed all night and lays horizontally across it in the middle. It's an issue.😆 ~ karen!
The rearrangement looks great! The only thing that truly matters is how the flow makes you feel. I am a long-time re-arranger; and you just know when it feels like its supposed to. Then I move on to rearranging the décor every couple of months. ;)
Karen--I agree with you: The furniture rearrangement you did is much more pleasing. Looks great! Question: Since you say that overheating is a big impediment to your ability to sleep well, have you considered trying a sleep cooling system? I've never used one myself, but have checked out this one before, which gets good reviews: https://sleep.me/
I only discovered their existence a couple of weeks ago! Honestly, I think having that big honking thing under the bed would drive me crazy. ~ karen!
You may have already tried this, but linen sheets are the be-all-to-end-all for hot sleepers. I've gone through all manner of cotton, silk and flannel. Linen changed my life. Truly!
Hi Amy! I've been sleeping on Rough Linen sheets for about a decade. Maybe more! I bought my first set that weren't Rough Linen recently (the percale sheets on the bed). They're O.K. but I definitely prefer linen sheets. ~ karen!
Absolutely love this new look! One question, what is the round tub thing on the shelf of your end table? Looks like a wax warmer for feet but wrong shape and I’m sure there is a purpose..like I won the prize for being the first to ask?!
Hey Peggy! There's one on either side. They're just white ceramic bowls but they keep things like Kleenex, remotes, linen spray, etc. hidden and tidy. ~ karen!
I haven’t slept well since menopause. Broken sleep is a fixture of my life now.
I love that painting of your home so I clicked on the link to check out Jody’s work. She’s amazing. How great to have supported a local artist with such talent!
Seems more cozy and really special with the early morning sunlight! The glowing fireplace view with fire is icing (for those loving icing). I need your fire for my fake fireplace. Please do a follow up on how you did it!
I say this with all love and kindness, but you may want to rethink the big white tray on the desk at the end of the bed. It made me think of a bed pan. Eeek! LOVE your blog!!!
Lol! I was given the impression of those old wash basins. Doesn't make much sense, but better than a bed pan lol!
Agree! I would switch for a large, antique jewellery box (black and gold? blue and white?) or a plant that spills a little over the desk. Or a set of beautiful books.
I WOULD CUT IN A HUGE WINDOW INSTEAD OF THE BOX SIZE. HMMM THINK IT'S TIME AGAIN TO REARRANG MY BEDROOM, I PLAN TO ADD CASTERS TO EVERYTHING. :)
I think your new furniture arrangement is lovely! Have you tried a sleep study to check for apnea? Waking up multiple times during the night and rotating in your bed are common signs. I took my son in for an overnight study a few weeks ago for doing the same thing, and it was not as scary as people had led us to believe. I hope you get some good rest in your new room!
HI Gillian! I have not checked for sleep apnea, but I don't feel like that's the problem. It's the fact that I get hot and my mattress is 25 years old and has absolutely no support. But who knows! ~ karen
Hi Karen. Always enjoy reading about your rip and tear ideas. How about a pic of your fourth bedroom wall and your staircase. Am still trying to figure out your downstairs layout. Once in awhile I think I've got it, then it's gone. btw, I sleep like a log (sorry)
I've asked Karen before for a quick floorplan sketch of her downstairs but she never listens... i think I've almost figured it out after all these years of pics.