I have never been particularly stellar at sleeping; add the past few years of uncertainty, and I am in the habit of restless sleep. So, with the promise of a dream-inducing mattress and a calming colour scheme, our bedroom has never looked or felt better, says editor Trudi Brewer. Read on to learn more.
The bed
Have you ever slept on an uncomfortable bed? I have for two years, and I have got the aches and pains to prove it. This bedroom makeover all started with the Ecosa Zen Bed. In my business, it's my job to keep across trends, and when this new look bed popped into my Instagram feed, it spurred a new look in our master bedroom. To give you the back story, we had invested in an expensive designer German bed a few years back; that was quite frankly crap. Uncomfortable, bulky (too large for our cosy-sized bedroom), and while it promoted itself as an ergonomic masterpiece, I was waking up most mornings with a stiff neck, feeling knackered after tossing and turning all night. I had already been gifted Ecosa flax linen bedding and the Ecosa mulberry silk pillowcases (they do stop your skin creasing while you sleep). And, I could not be without our Ecosa Silk Quilt. It looks beautiful, but the Ecosa Zen Bed is also compact, not bulky like our ergonomic monstrosity. Thanks to the Zen's curved edges, no more bruised shins or stubbed toes from vacuuming around the bed. The base is slated, tough, and looks timeless, made from American ash timber; we chose a lighter shade of the two colourways. It's super lightweight to move, idiot-proof to put together (it comes with clear instructions), and as the brand says, "It's a creak-free zone that can hold 600kg each night." I have yet to test both of those benefits.
The Mattress
Our preference is a firm mattress, so the Ecosa Pure Mattress ticks more than one box. It's also eco-friendly, made from natural, breathable latex harvested from rubber trees, and OceanCycle certified. Using 80 plastic bottles collected from the sea and repurposed into the Pure Mattress cover is machine-washable. But here's the best news, this mattress has layers with thousands of micro coils and pocket springs along with the latex that works together to offer contoured support. You can choose your comfort preferences by switching between medium, medium-firm or firm by removing layers from the mattress. Also, the 'no disturbance technology' means no more disturbed sleep from a partner who likes to watch Netflix into the wee hours while you sleep. Finally, if you don't like the feel of your Ecosa mattress, you have 100 nights to decide, and the brand will refund you, then donate the mattress to charity. So how was the first night in the new Ecosa Zen bed? I woke up without that familiar achy feeling, alert and ready to face a frantic day.
Ecosa Zen Bed base, in King, $1620. Ecosa Pure Mattress in King, $3700. Lukeke Deflated Pendant Lamp, $750. Ecosa Flax Linen Bedding, Queen $260.
Lighting
Don't underestimate how mood lighting can transform your bedroom into a tranquil hideaway. We chose the deflated pendant lamps from Lukeke in gold ruby on each side of the bed. Doubling as intimate reading lamps, at the same time, there's something to be said about the way these pink orbs reflect the room's paint colour. At night these bespoke lamps offer an ambience of a much-needed embrace - exactly the vibe I was trying to create in our bedroom.
The Paint
Creating a peaceful bedroom that fills you with joy starts with the paint. I will be honest; it took some convincing from me for my husband to like the idea of painting our main bedroom pink. However, after a few days of sharing the benefits of colour psychology (according to research, pink in all its shades is the most calming colour and helps reduce anxiety) and six test pots in different shades of pink, we agreed on Resene Pale Rose. I painted three coats on the walls, complemented perfectly by Resene Half Black White on the ceiling, wardrobe doors, window frames and skirting. It's everything I hoped it would be. I believe an interior refresh is as simple as fresh paint, clever lighting, the finishing touches like cushions, plants, and that treasured piece of upcycled furniture- before you know it, you have a room that feels like home.
Resene Pale Rose, available from Resene Colour Shops. Philodendron Pink Princess, $159. Resene Half Black White, available from Resene Colour Shops. Ecosa Flax Linen Bedding in Rose, from $340.
The take-home
A few weeks of hard work have paid off. I love our new bedroom; it feels serene and makes our room look more spacious and lively thanks to the playful colour pop. The bed (that inspired the room makeover) is genuinely a game-changer for comfort. Keeping the linen white, complemented by white linen curtains over our blackout blinds, adds that extra layer of warmth that I can’t wait to enjoy with winter coming while keeping the overall feel of the room light and airy. Our existing vintage furniture fits well with the rest of the decor in our 50s bungalow. My goal was to create a tranquil yet retro feel, and I can say I honestly say I have the bedroom of my dreams.
Before & After
How to embrace these tones in your home.