What Is The Nap Aesthetic Décor Trend And How To Get The Look

Picture this: you've spent all day lying by the beach, enjoying the poolside, or exploring the city. Now, all that's left to do is to come home, wash up, have a snack, and fall into bed for a delicious afternoon nap. Taking a well-deserved nap is one of the best feelings in the world and a treat that more than 80% of Americans regularly indulge in. But a good nap is more than just closing your eyes for a few minutes or hours. It's about the relaxation ritual, listening to your needs, and resting your body. Like many other self-care-aware trends today, the nap aesthetic has weaved its way into home interior design. The nap aesthetic centers around clean and calming rooms, soft textures, dim lighting, and neutral colors that aim to make us all feel more relaxed and at ease in our homes.

While it might initially seem abstract, this trend can apply to much more than just the bedroom or living room sofa. You don't have to take frequent naps to enjoy the nap aesthetic! Learn more about the dreamy details behind the nap aesthetic and how you can invite the cozy trend into your home. 

It can be hard to pinpoint exactly where the aesthetic comes from, but some speculate that the importance of napping is a leftover habit from our quarantine days. When we were all required to stay in our homes for days, we craved comfort and relaxation and often passed the time with an afternoon nap. Even today, we still value a cozy, inviting living room over one that feels too strict and stiff. The nap aesthetic is about more than just creating a good environment for sleeping; it's about achieving a generally peaceful, soothing, and safe feeling in your home. The room doesn't have to be warm and dark, but it should evoke a sense of security that makes you want to lie down, read a book, or rest your eyes for a moment. 

Some key elements of the nap aesthetic include a neutral and cohesive color palette, a good couch, dim lighting, and overall cleanliness. Excess clutter causes stress and makes it hard to wind down for a nap, so a tidy space is vital to the nap aesthetic. At the same time, the room should feel comfortable and not too sterile; everything you need should be within reach. Dim lighting and soft sunlight are important and better than a dark room to avoid oversleeping. Other nice touches may include soft music, a calming TV show, and light and clean scents like cotton, lavender, or sandalwood.

If this trend has you dreaming of the perfect nap space, you'll need a few things to achieve the aesthetic. Of course, your top priority should be the perfect nap couch. The ideal couch or lounge chair shouldn't be too soft or stiff, have good armrests to lean against, and be large enough to stretch out comfortably. The viral cloud couch could be a prime example! The nap couch should be in a place that feels subconsciously safe, like having the back against the wall. Once you've found your perfect couch and couch placement, toss on a few comfortable throw pillows and a substantial throw blanket that's big enough to snuggle up in.

Remember that the rest of the room is just as important! To create the perfect nap aesthetic, have a table within reach to hold your phone, a glass of water, or a leisurely book. Turn off the overhead lighting and opt for dim, warm lamps. Hang soft curtains or shades over your windows to filter in sunlight and provide the perfect vibe for snoozing, or if you're a serious nap enthusiast, go all-out with blackout curtains. Finally, light a subtle candle or play soothing music at a low volume, then kick your feet up and catch some afternoon Z's.