zen and the art of sleep maintenance.

today i'm sharing some simple ideas for creating a calming, soothing space to rest your pretty head.

as i write this it’s raining, and mind you, it’s may. may gray, for sure, but showers? i thought those were reserved for april. anyway, it’s been like this for weeks here along the pacific, and i for one, am getting tired of it. so tired, in fact, i’m finding it hard to remove myself from beneath the covers of my cozy bed. so, i’m just going to embrace it today and talk a little bit about what i’m calling ‘zen and the art of sleep maintenance’ — yes, like the book, but instead of motorcycles, i’m sharing with you some inspiration for creating a calming, soothing space to rest your pretty head.

the idea here is to keep your bedroom furnishings minimal and bed linens in natural fibers, and white linen, and use the softest sheets you can find. i swear by these sheets, and any houseguest i’ve had thinks they must be super pricey, but surprise — they are not! i also love the idea of creating a loft curtain if you’ve got the kind of space that lends itself to this look — easily created with ikea's curtain wire or some of the curtain rods, track systems, and loft curtains i’ve linked to below. it creates the coziest sleeping space you could ever hope for. you could also use beaded curtains for a funkier look, and i like these japanese norens in linen, too. keep bedding patterns to a minimum, too — simple stripes or a border trim is always pretty but still calming. simple low to the ground bedframes feel very zen, too, and a unique wall sconce or pendant lamp for reading in bed is always my preference. here’s hoping you get some good night zzzz’s.

clockwise, l to r: loft curtain via today line; crate and barrel solano tufted headboard cushion; loft curtain via my scandinavian home; clothespins via tily decorations; toast uk organic cotton pajama stripe housewife pillowcase; loft curtain rod from nuts and woods; toast uk hand quilted velvet throw in slate; sleeping beauty poster from hype sheriff; celina mancurti lumbar linen pillows in oatmeal; urban outfitters big dot bamboo beaded curtain; schoolhouse channeled cotton quilt; loft curtain in linen from rideau; wood platform bed from nuts and woods; ornate vintage daybed via raw ideas; privacy curtains via houzz; imagine peace via yoko ono; toast uk assam stripe hand-woven cotton housewife pillowcase. below: you sentimental idiot art print by rikkianne van kirk from artfully walls; and palm braided leaf thatch pendant lamp from ethnic crafts morocco.

• photography credits: click on the image, which will take you to its original source.