A Revibed Bedroom: Creating a Grounding Retreat

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We bought our home in February 2020, and every room— well, most every room— has been updated, painted, decorated.

Except for our bedroom.

It’s a perpetual work in progress but my goal was to create a place to rest, to feel grounded. I wanted a grounding retreat. I’m no interior designer, but here’s what a revibed bedroom looks like. At least at this point.

Grounding Room Elements to Use to Create a Retreat

When creating a grounding retreat, think of your favorite place outside— this could be a place on specific nature trail you tend to frequent, a memory of being near the lakeside, gardening in your backyard… What you’re trying to channel is what the earth offers us: a fresh breeze, the warm sun, the cool, heady scent of dirt. The opposite of these elements are cold, hard plastics, unorganized geometric shapes and unnatural smells. When gathering or collecting the grounding elements to decorate with, go for pieces that invoke those same feelings you get when in that favorite outdoor space.

Raw, natural items

When you surround yourself with grounding elements in a room, you’ll find these pieces are raw, natural, earthy and generally make you feel calm. For example, the found seashells Matt made into a hanging wall decor using other raw elements like the driftwood and twine.

Colors

Colors can also be grounding also. The root chakra— or Muladhara chakra— is known by the color red. While you may picture apple red, remember red comes in many hues. I tend to think of more earthy tones such as green, brown, creams or muted yellows or peaches.

Scents

Scents play a huge role in making you feel grounded. Anyone who really knows me knows that my favorite essential oil scent is patchouli. If you’re unsure of whether you’ve smelled it or not, think dirty hippie. Haha. Ylang ylang, vetiver, sandalwood and myrrh are also grounding scents. Interestingly enough, they are also used in opening or channeling the root chakra.

Textures

Textures are important when creating a grounding retreat in the bedroom. In general, I don’t much prefer synthetic fabrics so it was second nature for me to use only natural fabrics for the bedding, couch cushion and throw pillows. Look for linen or 100% organic cotton fabrics. Sometimes, organic materials cost more than the budget allows— it’s ok! Your body would fare better with any cotton /natural fabric. There are affordable natural comforters and organic sheets options for any budget. I will admit, the carpeting in our room is as old as the house and hasn’t been replaced yet. It’s costly to replace the carpeting and with four old dogs, I’m not quite ready to make that investment yet. The point is, it doesn’t feel great on the feet and I know when we can finally afford new flooring, a warming wood or natural fiber carpeting will be what I’ll go with.

Plants

Live plants placed in your room are the fastest and most unique way to create a grounding retreat. Pothos are easy to maintain and can work well in both bright or low light. Snake plants or mother-in-law’s tongue also grow without much sunlight if your room tends to be dim. However, allowing sunlight to come streaming in during the day will make your room feel as if the sun is within reach, just as if you were outside. Visit your local nursery and see which plants you’re naturally drawn to. Nursery staff will be able to help you out if you’re unsure of how well the plants will thrive in your room’s environment. Pots made of natural clay add

The Dresser

Our old dresser wasn’t even old. It was a brand new Ikea dresser that our third daughter, Emma, decided didn’t vibe with her room. So, we traded her the one we had and called it a day.

I didn’t realize how out of place it looked in our bedroom until last week when I happened upon a gorgeous mid-century modern dresser at a local Goodwill and moved that Ikea dresser out.

Being the ever-frugal girl, I made sure to use the monthly Goodwill coupon and ended up scoring the dresser for $48. Matt and I unloaded it from the car and I got to work cleaning it up. The top was pretty damaged and some of the veneer was coming off but it cleaned up nicely! I still have yet to polish the metal handle brackets.

It instantly warmed up our space and was the key element to bringing in the grounding warmth and comfort that we want our home to feel like. The natural walnut wood and clean lines make for a nice contrast with the more unfinished, natural pieces in the room.

The Big Wall

I’m not really sure what else to call this wall. Our bedroom has loft ceilings and therefore, a huge wall that was empty for eight months. I’d stare at it while getting into bed wondering what was in store for its life with us. But then being so exhausted, I just didn't care enough, or have any time the next day, to do anything about it.

When we first bought the house, the bedroom was painted an awful light blue color. But because this is a big wall in a big bedroom, we also decided we like not experiencing a fall off of a ladder, so we finally bit the bullet and hired a painting company after we painted almost every room ourselves.

Once the dresser was in, the whole vibe of the room changed and this wall was screaming for earth elements to adorn it.

It was the perfect spot for the Southern California ocean shell wall hanging Matt made for me after our wedding. He used a piece of driftwood we found on our (COVID cut short) honeymoon and the shells from Point Loma where he proposed to me. The outcome was a cherished gift that makes me smile every time I see it.

The “M & J” sign I made and printed myself for under $20.

The plants add the balance of earthiness from the wood and shells. I found the little Smith & Hawkin plant stand at Target on clearance for $28. I loved the natural wood top and the simple, black lines of the metal base. Plus, the price sealed the deal for me.

Other Revibed Grounding Bedroom Elements

I believe a bedroom should be a sanctuary. So, I’m going to fill it with pieces that make me feel grounded, safe and relaxed. The live plants bring life and the soft fabric and muted vases tone down the green. I added a variety including succulents, ferns and pothos. The salt lamp adds an organic, warming glow and the shells add character that only the ocean can provide.

Adding personal touches makes the room yours. The champagne cork on the dresser is from a special moment Matt and I shared where he inscribed the date.

We still need to switch out the comforter but for now, what we have will have to do. ;) Hey, as long as it keeps me warm at night, I’m ok for a little while! I’ve had my eye on one from Urban Outfitters for a while, though Pottery Barn has stolen my heart many times— only when there’s a fantastic sale, of course!

When creating a grounding retreat, remember to combine clean lines with rough, natural pieces. Plants will tie these earthy vibes together to bring the outdoor element inside. Use natural essential oils that invoke a feeling of being in the woods or standing near a lake on a sunny day— a scent that makes you feel closer to nature. Natural fabrics are a must especially when bedding is involved. Your skin against breathable fabrics will make a difference in your sleep quality.

More importantly, don’t rush— don’t expect to find all of the pieces of your room at once. It will be a slow process to bring everything together. You want to make this space yours. Add items and textures that make the space feel soft and welcoming. This means you may find a new linen comforter on sale months later than you wanted or a year or two from now, you happen to stumble upon the perfect plant pot at a neighborhood garage sale. Allow the room to grow and develop at a slow, natural pace.

Namasté,

Jen