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Sleeping in your workspace: tips on making a studio apartment work

There are ways to help make your small space a restful refuge
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This image provided by California Closets shows a comfortable and cozy sleeping area in a studio apartment. Murphy beds 含羞草研究社 wall beds that can be tucked up into their own frame with accompanying storage 含羞草研究社 can be great space savers. (California Closets via AP)

There含羞草研究社檚 a lot to be said for the work/play energy of a nice studio or other small apartment during the day. But how do you bring that energy down to get a good night含羞草研究社檚 sleep?

With electronics, cookery, clothes and books all in one space, it can be a challenge to create a restful refuge.

Design and sleep experts have some tips:

Prioritize a sleep space, starting with the bed

Everyone needs good sleep to stay healthy.

含羞草研究社淭he primary rule, maybe the only rule of small space design, is people have to be honest about how they really live,含羞草研究社 says Olivia Hosken, House Beautiful含羞草研究社檚 deputy managing editor. 含羞草研究社淲hen there含羞草研究社檚 limited square footage, there含羞草研究社檚 less allowance for things that don含羞草研究社檛 function optimally.含羞草研究社

So, spend your money on a proper bed or a quality sleep sofa. Skip big tables or chairs you won含羞草研究社檛 use, she added.

Andrea Morris of Lancaster Place Interiors in Wilmington, North Carolina, is a fan of wall beds, which rest flush with the wall when closed, then flip down for sleeping. They含羞草研究社檙e better known as Murphy beds, named after William Murphy, who came up with his version in 1900 while living in his own San Francisco studio apartment.

Some Murphy beds combine a sofa with a wall bed.

Create a buffer zone

To separate your sleep area from the rest of the apartment, you could get a freestanding screen, room divider or 含羞草研究社渇loating含羞草研究社 (hanging) wall.

And as much as you can, keep that area strictly for sleeping.

含羞草研究社淎void doing work or anything stressful from your bed,含羞草研究社 says Jeff Kahn, co-founder of the Chicago-based sleep-research company Rise Science, which developed a sleep-tracking app, Rise.

含羞草研究社淭his helps to maintain what sleep medicine practitioners call 含羞草研究社榮timulus control,含羞草研究社 which helps your brain associate the bed with sleep, rather than wakefulness and stress,含羞草研究社 he says.

If the bed is the only place of refuge, still do what you can to keep wakefulness and sleep in separate zones. Lisa Strauss, a psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral treatment of sleep disorders, has suggested designating different sides or ends of the bed for reading and sleeping.

Freshen the air, lower the lights, cut the noise.

含羞草研究社淢ake sure your space is well ventilated, and consider an air purifier,含羞草研究社 says Kahn. This is especially important if you含羞草研究社檙e cooking in the same space you含羞草研究社檙e sleeping in.

Consider a diffuser for similar reasons, says Spruce editor Mia Ingui. She suggests using calming scents like lavender or chamomile just at bedtime, to 含羞草研究社渟et the tone for restful sleep.含羞草研究社

Also, be sure that computer, TV and other screens, which are just a short distance away, are turned off. Their light at night can disrupt our internal clocks, or circadian rhythm.

If the buzz of nearby appliances or street sounds are keeping you up, consider a noise machine. Ingui likes the Hatch Restore, a 含羞草研究社渟unrise lamp含羞草研究社 that provides soothing sounds and lights up gradually in the morning. She also suggests blackout curtains.

Keep things tidy

含羞草研究社淥ne of my don含羞草研究社檛s when it comes to studio living is leaving beds unmade,含羞草研究社 says Morris. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 amazing how much better you feel after a hard day entering a space with a made bed. And in a studio, it含羞草研究社檚 often the sofa, too. So make it inviting for yourself and others.含羞草研究社

Stow away electronics overnight and out of sight; side tables with plugs and ports are handy and an efficient way to reduce clutter.

Choose flexible, storable bedding

Ingui recommends choosing breathable materials for bedding if it含羞草研究社檚 difficult to regulate your studio含羞草研究社檚 heating and cooling.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 also great to invest in a duvet cover/insert rather than a bulky comforter 含羞草研究社 this way, you can easily keep multiple foldable, storable covers on hand and swap them out, rather than hoarding a bunch of large comforters you don含羞草研究社檛 have space for,含羞草研究社 she says.

With some thoughtful choices, your small space can have the vibes we all want from home life: cohesive, calming and sleep-friendly.

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