Make your nightstand a sanctuary
A few years ago I stayed at the Four Seasons in Boston. On our second day, housekeeping left our nightstands neatly organized, including a few Four Seasons-branded leather cord wraps. Seeing how they cleaned up the space so easily, I realized I had let that chaos go on at home, on my own nightstand. When we arrived home, I immediately addressed the entire nightstand situation.
We often overlook the nightstand when it comes to design; however, it is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see before you go to sleep. Think about this as an investment in yourself and your psyche.
No. 1: Edit Ruthlessly! Channel your inner Marie Condo when you address your nightstand. If you won't be using it in the next week or two, move it elsewhere. This is not a storage zone!
No. 2: Treat it like a display. Organize the drawers neatly to hold everything, and the things you decide to keep out should be stored in bottles or boxes. The water goes in a carafe. You get the idea.
No. 3: Your favorite books. I like to read things that inspire me or get my imagination going. Then when I have trouble sleeping, I design in my mind and have the most amazing dreams of formal gardens.
No. 4: Soft Light. We are not doing surgery here! Get a 2700k bulb, nothing higher, and put it on a dimmer.
No. 5: A notebook and a pencil. I am a night owl, so inspiration and ideas often strike me late at night. I need to write them down before they disappear forever!
