SLEEP, REBRANDED

Architects, interior designers and industry insiders share how today’s homeowners want modern spaces designed for better slumber

- By SNEHA TIWARI JAIN

For a long time, sleep was overlooked in conversations about health and wellness. It was seen as unproductive—even lazy—something to cut short in favour of getting more done. In recent years, however, it has undergone a profound rebranding—from a passive, expendable state to a vital cornerstone of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. “Sleep is the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day,” writes neuroscientist Matthew Walker in Why We Sleep. In a society that often glorifies hustle and productivity, the value of rest is finally being reclaimed. This shift has propelled the design world into a new era, where creating spaces that support deep, restorative sleep is not just desirable, but essential. From calming palettes to technology-free zones and sleep-enhancing architecture, homes are being reimagined with rest at their heart, setting new standards in how we design for well-being.

Separating Rest from Stimulation

Urban living, marked by high density and constant overstimulation, often leaves little room for mental rest. In the relentless rhythm of city life, the bedroom has emerged as a sanctuary making it vital to carve out spaces that encourage disconnection, both physically and psychologically and play a crucial role in restoring wellbeing by offering a buffer from the noise—literal and figurative—of daily life.