We spend around a third of our lives sleeping, so selecting bedroom materials that support the best night’s sleep, whilst inspiring ambitious design and long-lasting durability, simply makes sense.
Bedrooms are the very first and very last spaces we interact with each day, and aside from setting the tone in their design, their materials impact our health and wellbeing too.
Better air for better sleep
The average person will spend an astonishing 33 years of their life in the bedroom, in which they are breathing mostly recycled indoor air, getting little ventilation from the outside. Amplified by how long we spend there, the levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the space are hugely impactful on our health and wellbeing. Though these chemicals are invisible in the air, they are linked to an array of harmful symptoms, ranging from shortness of breath, dizziness and headaches to organ damage in situations of extended exposure to high concentrations.
Many materials can emit VOCs into the indoor environment, such as furnishings, cleaning products, paints and – importantly – floor coverings. Though the release of these compounds (known as off-gassing) happens from many sources, the large surface area of presented by flooring means floor coverings can be major culprits if not considered.
The best way to reduce concentrations of VOCs in a bedroom is to ensure designers choose products which are innately low emitters. Whilst artificial carpets have become common in homes and spaces, their nylon, polyester or polypropylene pile fibres derived from petrochemicals and hydrocarbons mean they can be serious emitters of damaging VOCs – not just in the initial off-gassing period, but for the life of the product.
By opting for natural floor coverings, which instead use organic fibres in their surface piles, designers can significantly reduce VOCs and create bedroom environments which foster good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Whether animal-coat or plant derived, organic fibres in natural carpets have an array of benefits:
Naturally pure – aside from being very low emission, natural floor coverings such as wool can also absorb VOCs and airborne contaminants such as fumes, deodorants and cleaning chemicals, trapping them for as long as 30 years in their core. Absorbing a range of potentially harmful compounds, natural floor coverings can passively purify the indoor air to help us breathe better.
Stable humidity – many natural fibres are hygroscopic, which means they help to stabilise the humidity levels in a room – absorbing moisture when the air is damp, and releasing it when dry – helping to combat the risk of mound and fungus, and discouraging the breeding of dust mites. This improves indoor comfort whilst reducing irritation for better quality sleep.
Caring for allergies – many natural fibres have been shown to be hypoallergenic, thanks to their core plant’s antimicrobial properties. This helps to reduce the aggravation of allergies for those inside, ensuring easier breathing and a more restful sleep.
By designing for good air quality from the outset with natural materials, those crafting a bedroom space can promote the best quality of sleep before a head ever hits the pillow.
Design and feel
Aside from the wellbeing benefits of a healthier bedroom, natural materials offer unique opportunities in design – from colours and patterns to characterful weaves. Reflecting the personalities of those within, designers can create unique bedroom environments which look and feel the part.
Colour and pattern
Using the finest dyes, wool carpets in particular are incredibly versatile in their design. Whether a solid neutral colour or a multi-tone pattern, they can support a wide range of design aesthetics.
Texture and weave
Natural fibres can be composed in many different ways to fit a bedroom space. From a stylish modern Herringbone forming a chevron-type pattern, to a chunkier Panama basketweave, embracing the natural tones of plant fibres in all manner of textured forms help to add unmistakable identity to the space.
Layering and structure
Natural floor coverings can also take the form of rugs, which can help to add structure to a space, like framing the bed or defining a walkway. Atop a contrasting hard floor or another layered soft covering, these can be matched with coloured and textured borders to make the perfect statement piece.
In practice
Set in 70 acres of mature Somerset woodland, Combe Grove wanted to create a calm and restful environment in the heart of nature. For the bedroom spaces of their wellness retreat, they chose a Sisal Malawi Twine floor covering to fit the feel of their beautiful space.
Guests now enjoy the indoor air benefits of natural materials alongside the aesthetic character and feel of a unique sisal weave. The innate durability of the hardy fibre lends itself well to the movement throughout the space – dampening the sound of footsteps for the best night’s sleep and insulating the space from the ground below.
Combining design, health and wellbeing, and resilience, natural floor coverings give designers the opportunity to craft characterful bedroom spaces without compromise. Plus, as we all aim to build and furnish more sustainably, natural materials allow for responsible sourcing, healthier living and more a more considered product lifecycle, as the industry works to improve the processing of these coverings’ biodegradable components.
For the finest bedroom spaces, natural floor coverings allow for the most creative, considered designs.