To serve as a catch-all for any practice that is healthy or close to nature. At home, creating an organic bedroom essentially describes the curation of a chemical-free space that’s intended to promote relaxation and support restful sleep. Sounds pretty dreamy, doesn’t it?
The truth is, going organic is the best way to build a peaceful sleep sanctuary - and that’s no small thing. But creating an organic space is about so much more than aesthetics alone. It’s important to make sustainable choices that truly support our health and sleep, and that may involve approaching details like bedding materials, paint and carpeting, and even accessories a little differently. To help, we’ve assembled this guide on how to create an organic bedroom, along with why it matters.
Why Creating An Organic Bedroom Is About So Much More Than Style
Before we get into precisely how to create an organic bedroom, let’s review why it’s worth doing at all. The organic aesthetic may be trending, but the idea goes well beyond fashion. Rather, it’s a commitment to sustainability and your own health and well-being. When you choose organic, eco-friendly materials for your bedroom, you’re making an intentional decision to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals and contribute to a healthier sleep environment. After all, sleep is one of the four pillars of health, and sleep quality directly affects every facet of your waking hours. That’s why doing everything you can to ensure you’re getting restful sleep should be the goal, whether that’s embracing sleep hygiene, committing to a regular bedtime, or skipping that afternoon caffeine hit. An organic bedroom aligns with that effort quite nicely.
A word on indoor air quality
When we think about air pollution, we tend to think outdoors. But indoor air quality is a serious concern exacerbated by poor ventilation and high temperature and humidity levels. What’s more, indoor air pollutants can be detrimental to your overall health—and your sleep likely pays the price.
You’re inadvertently contributing to indoor pollution in your own home when you simply live your life - cooking dinner, using certain kinds of cleaning and personal care products, or burning scented candles. Then there’s the off-gassing associated with things like building materials, newly installed flooring and even the very mattress you spend hours sleeping on night after night. But recognizing that your indoor air quality could be improved, and understanding exactly how your choices play a role, is an important first step to a cleaner, healthier home and bedroom.
Pro tip: Most indoor air quality issues are related to poor ventilation, so make an effort to open windows when you can, maintain heating and cooling systems, and clean regularly to prevent dust from building.
How To Create An Organic Bedroom From The Ground Up
So much of creating an organic bedroom comes down to how your choices affect your ability to sleep well. We tend to focus solely on comfort, which is understandable. But when you think about how specific materials in and on your bed, on the floor, and on the wall contribute to your health and well-being, you’ll begin to see the bigger picture. Here’s what to keep in mind as you create an organic bedroom.
Choose a non-toxic mattress, comforter and pillow
Are you familiar with volatile organic compounds, or VOCs? These chemicals are an unfortunate byproduct of mattress manufacturing—a telltale chemical odor especially detectable in new mattresses made with memory foam or polyfoam. At room temperature, these chemicals off-gas into the air where they’re readily inhaled. Released indoors—say, from your mattress or pillow in your bedroom—VOCs are associated with immediate health effects, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, skin reactions, and respiratory and/or eye irritation. Most bedding manufacturers who use foams are quick to point out that you can minimize the risk by allowing new mattresses or pillows to air out in a ventilated room before sleeping on them, but it can take weeks before the odor is no longer detectable. What’s more, there is little data on the long-term effects of VOCs, which continue off-gassing at a lower rate for a timeframe that still hasn’t been determined.
A safer alternative to promote cleaner air? Choose a mattress that has no VOCs to begin with, which means looking for valid certifications like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS), CertiPur, or Greenguard. A claim that a mattress is “natural,” with no certifications to back it up, doesn’t mean anything, so don’t be fooled.
At Woolroom, we’re firm believers in the incredible benefits of wool bedding. But beyond its unerring suitability for sleep, wool is also renewable and biodegradable. And when it’s humanely sourced according to rigid ethical animal practices and expertly crafted into bedding materials like mattresses, toppers, protectors, pads and pillows, just as it’s done here at Woomroom, it handily reduces VOCs in your bedroom, too. Another feather in its cap is wool’s natural ability to regulate temperature and absorb moisture. Wool contributes to a drier environment that reduces irritants and allergens like dust mites and mold or mildew, making for a fresher, cleaner spot to sleep.
Don’t overlook the materials in your pillows or bedding, either. Switching to organic linens and pillows made with non-toxic, eco-friendly materials is an easy way to eradicate unwanted chemicals from your sleep space. Remember that certifications are key to guiding you towards options that are truly organic—made without chemical treatments or synthetic materials but instead derived from a natural (and ideally, renewable) source. Organic cotton and linen are great options. You can extend these materials to your window coverings as well. Not only do well-chosen shades curb your exposure to toxins, they contribute to a darker sleep environment - a priority for sound sleep.
Avoid synthetic carpet and paint
VOCs aren’t limited to that foam mattress or pillow. They’re rampant in synthetic carpets and conventional paint. If you’re creating your dream organic bedroom from the ground up, opt for hardwood flooring or carpeting made with wool or another natural material to limit VOCs. Choose your paint color with care as well. Low and no-VOC options are readily available, and it’s an impactful way to reduce your exposure to harsh chemicals that directly contribute to indoor air pollution. Consider soothing shades to promote relaxation.
Bring in live plants
House plants can be a cost-effective way to build out your fully organic bedroom. Beyond the lush vibrancy they add to your space, a Clean Air study determined they play a role in removing organic compounds in the air, which mitigates their harmful effects. Plants like the peace lily and the snake plant, for instance, are adept at removing toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air.
To get started, consider how much natural sunlight your bedroom gets, along with its size and scale, and choose plants accordingly. Look for plants with wider leaves—the larger surface area means they’re more adept at clearing toxins. Don’t forget to wipe down the leaves regularly to minimize dust so the plant can effectively cleanse the air.
Be mindful of accessories
Just like your bed linens, your pajamas spend a lot of time directly in contact with your skin. Avoid synthetic pajamas in favor of those made with soft, organic materials that are gentle and non-irritating. If you’re a fan of aromatherapy, consider using a diffuser with pure essential oils instead of mass-produced candles. Love the flickering candlelight when you’re winding down at night? A soy or coconut-based wax scented with essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance is your best option.
Declutter and stick to a consistent cleaning schedule
An organic bedroom should truly be a peaceful oasis, so try to limit your bedroom activities to sleep and sex. This creates an association that can support healthy sleep habits. Minimize distractions by decluttering, keeping only the sleep essentials you need to be comfortable and relaxed. Banish electronics from the bedroom, along with any items you can relocate or tidy, including fitness equipment, work distractions, and piles of laundry. Contribute to a healthier sleep environment for following a regular cleaning schedule, too.
The bottom line on creating an organic bedroom
The benefit of an organic bedroom isn’t just a pretty space - it’s a healthier body and mind. By reducing your exposure to irritants, contaminants and allergens, you really can support better sleep. And with Woolroom’s collection of organic wool bedding, it’s easy to get started, especially if this is a project you need to tackle a little at a time. Start with a new wool pillow or comforter, and take comfort in the fact that you’re on your way to creating the organic bedroom of your dreams.