We reached out to wellness experts from that neck of the woods to learn how Scandinavians set the scene for deep sleep night after night, and how people stateside can do the same: Norwegian wellness coach Wenche Reinstein adds that part of living in tune with the seasons means designing a space that maximizes natural light. She tells mbg that bedrooms in Scandinavia often face East, so they get summer sun in the morning but stay slightly darker in the evenings. Most households also have blackout curtains to block out some of that summer sun and set the stage for uninterrupted sleep. “On the other hand, during the winter, a lot of people are starting to use sun lamps,” she adds, to brighten the mood and keep sleep-dictating circadian rhythms in check. And in master bedrooms, you’ll often find two duvets on the bed at a time—one for each bed partner. A step down from sleep divorcing, this solution helps keep one person’s tossing, turning, and blanket-snagging from interrupting the other. It also means that both people can have their own duvet that keeps them at their ideal sleep temperature; no compromise necessarily. This tradition gives the body plenty of time to digest before snoozing, which can lead to deeper, less interrupted sleep. Thanks to solid health care, parental leave, and vacation policies, they have more time on their hands to focus on the important things in life. And yes, they consider sleep to be super important! “There’s really an entirely different perspective at play [in Scandinavia], and there’s not the same relationship to bragging about things like overworking or undersleeping,” Brones says. “A lot of Swedish design revolves around natural materials and a mix of textures,” says Brones. “Think beautiful wooden chairs and tables and wool blankets; textures that feel good to the touch and bring a sense of warmth and coziness to your space.” Freshly picked wildflowers in summer, bare branches in a vase in winter, and unscented candles all year round are also popular. These natural, inviting materials are often styled in a clean, minimalist fashion. This is especially important in the bedroom, where piles of clutter can keep us up at night. It all adds up to a beautiful style that Brones says facilitates “a simpler, more joyful way of experiencing the everyday.” Emma received her B.A. in Environmental Science & Policy with a specialty in environmental communications from Duke University. In addition to penning over 1,000 mbg articles on topics from the water crisis in California to the rise of urban beekeeping, her work has appeared on Grist, Bloomberg News, Bustle, and Forbes. She’s spoken about the intersection of self-care and sustainability on podcasts and live events alongside environmental thought leaders like Marci Zaroff, Gay Browne, and Summer Rayne Oakes.
