How to Make Your Bedroom More Sustainable

a metal frame bed piled high with pillows and a woollen blanket draped over the end.
A Panda bamboo hybrid mattress is a great addition to a sustainable bedroom

Hybrid bamboo mattress from Panda London

As we become more aware of the effect of how we live and the impact that the purchases we make have on the world around us, many people are looking for more sustainable ways of living.  

Sustainability is no longer limited to just recycling a few bottles and tins in the kitchen. People are looking for broad sustainable solutions, which include the cars they drive, the purchases they make, and the homes they live in. With that in mind, today’s post will look at how you can make your bedroom more sustainable.  

Ideas to Help Make Your Bedroom More Sustainable  

Purchase the Right Mattress 

A bed with no headboard covered in linen bedding with a wooden stool beside.

The mattress you choose for your bed is essential, not just to ensure you have a restful night’s sleep but also for the environment. A mattress made from sustainable material, such as ethically sourced bamboo, is excellent for the environment and the people involved in the manufacturing process. 

The bamboo hybrid mattress is a perfect example of this and is made using ethically sourced organic bamboo. Bamboo is a sustainable material that can be grown and processed without the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides. Due to its growing structure, each bamboo grass, which can grow as big as a tree, can be harvested for many years. This is beneficial to the surrounding area, as its root structure holds the soil together, preventing soil erosion and improving the soil quality over time.   

Be Mindful of Lighting & Electrical Appliances 

a bed next to a bedside table with a wall light above from Original BTC

Original BTC x Beata Heuman Alma wall light

Using natural light as much as possible and choosing light bulbs that are energy efficient, such as LED lights, are all excellent choices for the environment. Also, keeping appliances to a minimum will help create a restful bedroom perfect for a good night’s sleep.  

These small changes will make the room more sustainable by reducing energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, a greenhouse gas causing global warming. 

Choose Low VOC Paint

paint brushes dipped in orange paint next to orange paint strokes and tester cap lids

Choosing eco-friendly paint that is free from harmful VOCs has become much easier in recent years, with many options available in DIY stores. This choice makes sense for both the environment and the people painting and sleeping in the bedroom, as exposure to VOCs in the paint can cause eye, throat, or lung irritation.   

Choose Bedding in Natural, Breathable Fabrics  

a metal frame bed piled high with pillows and a woollen blanket draped over the end.

The weather is often changeable, and it can feel like we have three seasons in one day. Layers of bedding made from a sustainable material or using the ones you already have and adding a few additions in a breathable fabric, such as organic bamboo, is a great sustainable option.   

The layers help keep you warm without overheating, which is the main reason people say they wake up and often have difficulty getting back to sleep.    

Recycle, Repurpose & Refurbish  

A wardrobe and a chest of drawers that have been painted in black chalk paint by Annie Sloan with white botanical patterns stencilled onto them

Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan was used to update this bedroom furniture.

Using items you already have or can recycle, repurpose and refurbish is ideal for creating a sustainable bedroom. A cute stool can make a quirky bedside table, and a vintage dresser could easily be sanded and repainted to give it a fresh new look. This is a fun, creative way to look after the planet and maybe even give a cherished item a new lease of life.   

Bring in Lots of Plants   

An ottoman bed from Furniture & Choice in a large bedroom featuring many plants

Furniture & Choice Kenley ottoman bed in oatmeal

Using plants in the bedroom can help to create a tranquil, restful space, ideal for sleep and quiet time. Plants are also brilliant at filtering and cleaning the air through their leaves, improving the air you breathe.   

Some plants have mood-boosting benefits and have been proven to relax and energise us.

As we have seen, creating a restful haven for sleep doesn’t have to be at the expense of the environment. Keeping the environment in mind and making simple changes like having a hybrid mattress, choosing eco-friendly light bulbs and repurposing some items you already have can make your bedroom more sustainable, which is good for you and the planet.