Likely Dreaming | Exploring Dreams & Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is easier when your room is completely dark. Light messes with your body’s natural rhythm and makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Here’s how you can make your room pitch black — yes, even in a Finnish summer where night looks like noon.

Why Does Darkness Matter?

Your body produces melatonin, the sleep hormone, mostly when it’s dark. Even small amounts of light can lower melatonin levels and disturb your sleep cycles. So the darker your room, the better your chances of deep, restful sleep. Kids or adults using a nightlight for “better sleep” are just afraid of the dark—let’s be honest.

Common Light Sources That Sneak In

• Streetlights or car headlights shining through your window
• LED lights from electronics like chargers, clocks, or TVs
• Light leaking in through gaps around doors or windows

Simple Ways to Block Out Light

• Use blackout curtains or heavy blinds—they make a huge difference
• If you can’t get your room fully dark, try a comfortable sleep mask
• Cover or unplug devices that have bright lights at night
• Seal light leaks around windows and doors with weather stripping or tape

Extra Tips for Total Darkness

• Consider blackout shades that cover the entire window area
• Rearrange your furniture so light sources don’t shine directly on your face
• Use dim red or orange night lights if you need some light—these colors mess less with your melatonin
• Block gaps around vents or cracks where light can sneak in

Final Thoughts on Creating a Dark Room for Better Sleep

Making your room completely dark isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the effort. Better darkness means better melatonin production, which means better sleep and better energy for the day ahead. Try these tips and see how much difference it makes.

I’m planning to replace my thin curtains with proper blackout blinds to block all the light coming through the window. Summer nights in Finland are incredibly bright, and it definitely makes both falling and staying asleep harder.